Groks Science Radio Show and Podcast

Who doesn't want to live a longer, healthier life? What can a laboratory worm, the nematode, teach us about longevity? On this episode, Professor Ted Anton joins us to discuss The Longevity Seekers.

The alimentary canal is a structure that most would rather not explore to deeply, metaphorically or literally. Yet, on this program, Mary Roach discussed her adventures through the alimentary canal.

We are constantly compelled to fit what we know, or think we know, about the past into some kind of narrative, which are sometimes wrong. On this episode, Dr. Marlene Zuk discusses her book, Paleofantasies.

Are social networks a good way to mobilize masses of people from around the globe for a common cause? On this program, Alex Rutherford talks about locating balloons through the DARPA Network Challenge using social networks.

Euclidean geometry seems fundamental to the way the world operates, so much so that we often take for granted its basic tenets. On this program, Dr. David Berlinski discussed his book, The King of Infinite Space: Euclid and His Elements.

Bioengineering is changing the way we think about the nature of biology. What do the advances in biotechnology mean for the future? On this program, Emily Anthes discussed bioengineering and her book, Frankensteins Cat.

Humans have wanted to know the weather tomorrow for as long as there have been todays. On this program, Dr. Ian Roulstone discussed Invisible in the Storm: The Role of Mathematics in Understanding Weather.

Americans eat too much. They drink too much. They just about do everything in excess, except sleep. On this program, Prof. Kenneth Wright discussed how lack of sleep influences our metabolism and its effect on weight gain.

Where did the atoms in our bodies come from? How did Jupiter shape the evolution of life on Earth? And, how do you make an apple pie from scratch? On this episode, evolutionary biologist and paleontologist Neil Shubin discussed The Universe Within.

How does a biological system, like the brain, give rise to an emergent property, like the mind? Can quantum physics provide the answers? On this program, Prof. Werner R. Lowenstein discussed physics in mind.

Astrophysicist experiments can involve attaching expensive, heavy telescopes to giant helium balloons. Surprisingly, this is one of the most effective ways to study how stars are born. Tristan Matthews described his recent experiments in Antarctica.

Our current biosphere depends on oxygen to live but that was not always true. On this show, Joe Kirschvink discusses the visciousness of oxygen, the evolution of cyanobacteria, and the Medea hypothesis.

Not many laboratories house mice in 3000 pounds of sand, but then not many labs research the burrowing habits of Peromyscus, either. Dr. Hopi Hoekstra discussed oldfield and deer mice.

What is the cause of the current epidemic obesity and can a starch diet be of benefit? On this program, Dr. John McDougall discussed the starch solution.

What are the roots of our current psychological notions of individuality and the inner self? On this program, Dr. Jessica Grogan discussed the history of humanistic psychology.

Bacteria are everywhere. How do you study the microbiome? On this episode, microbial ecologist Jack Gilbert discussed the Earth Microbiome Project.

What does it take for a website to keep growing? What makes a social network sticky? On this program, Terry Chay discusses social networks, viral marketing, and the Obama campaign.

There may be 20 billion neurons in your brain but that is not nearly enough to allow each cell to hold its own unique bit of information. On this program, Dr. Jason MacLean joined us to discuss Hebbian plasticity and the past, present, and future of research on neuronal networks.

The threat of a global pandemic resulting from a disease crossing over from animals to humans has become more likely in the hyperconnected world of today. On this episode, David Quammen discussed animal infections and the next human pandemic.

What can scientists learn from brain scans, and how can they avoid the Four Horsemen of the Brainscanpocalypse? Dr. Dorothy Bishop joins us to discuss the potential, and potential problems, of studies involving fMRI or other brain scanning techniques.

Is the scientific enterprise driven by the truth or by social good? How should the truth inform our world view? On this program, Terry Chay discussed the relationship between science and social activism, and the open web.

Why are some scientific discoveries, like the geologic age of the Earth, discounted by so many people? On this episode, Dr. Phil Plait discusses how science is presented in the media and why people sometimes believe very strange things.

The technological singularity is the idea of a vast increase in intelligence arising from technological advances. How will such a singularity affect global economics? On this program, Prof. James D. Miller discussed the economic impacts of a technological singularity.

Protein folding is an incredibly complex problem. To solve it, scientists use super computers and even online video games. On this episode, University of Chicago biophysicist Tobin Sosnick joins us to discuss this fascinating and confounding biological problem.

Why do humans have blood types? On this program, Laure Segurel talks about her work in finding out the origins of the ABO blood type. Alexei Kitaev also joins us to talk about quantum computing error correction.

Bletchley Park was the center of code breaking in the United Kingdom during World War II. On this program, Sinclair McKay joins us to discuss his book, The Secret Life of Bletchley Park.

Psychopaths often conjure images of characters like Hannibal Lecter, cool and charismatic, yet violently brutal. But, are there traits that psychopaths have that could be beneficial in daily life? On this episode, Dr. Kevin Dutton discussed the wisdom of psychopaths.

What can science tell us about the weighty philosophical questions in life? Can science and philosophy be combined? On this program, Prof. Massimo Pigliucci discusses the combination of science and philosophy.

Have you ever wanted to try the universal translator on Star Trek? Would it make it easier to communicate with people who speak other languages? On this episode, Nataly Kelly discusses her new book, Found in Translation.

Nature does not bluff but she also does not show her cards readily. That is at the root of the climate problem. On this program, Dr. Scott Barrett gives an overview of the international climate regime to reduce greenhouse gases and explains how uncertainty in climate predictions hamper negotiations.

Several recent books walk the reader through human history by describing the history of specific objects or commodities such as salt, cod, coffee, and even the lowly toothpick. In this episode, Tom Jackson discusses his new series of books, Ponderables.

Concussions are a serious issue among athletes and can be even more serious for young athletes. On this program, Dr. Robert Cantu discussed recognizing and treating concussions in young athletes.

Certain individuals with developmental disorders such as autism sometimes develop remarkable musical, mathematical, or artistic abilities. Psychiatrist Dr. Darold Treffert, an expert on the savant syndrome, joins us to discuss this fascinating condition.

Particulates in the air act as nucleation sites for the formation of rain clouds. But what are they made of? On this episode, Dr. Mary Gilles discussed their discovery of potassium salts and fungi as seeds for clouds.

Is a PhD in science a good idea? And do graduate programs give students the tools necessary to help PhDs in science capitalize on good ideas? Dan Lametti, Jennifer Dugas-Ford, Yelena Grinberg, and Aya Pusic share their thoughts.

What can super-massive black holes tell us about the structure of our galaxy and the universe? On this program, Dr. Caleb Scharf discusses astrophysics and black holes.

Have you ever wondered how structures like limbs and jaws evolved? Paleontologist Michael Coates joins us to discuss how the devastating End-Devonian extinction impacted vertebrate life on Earth.

Back pain is a common health issue, but one that most will endure rather than treat. On this program, Dr. Julie Silver discussed treating back pain.

For ages, earthquakes were thought to under the control of the divine. But what happens when massive amounts of fluid is injected into the ground? In this program, Dr. Cliff Frohlich join us to talk about human induced tremors.

We can't always forecast what difficulties lie ahead but we can prepare ourselves to thrive despite these challenges. Andrew Zolli joins us to discuss his new book Resiliency: How Things Bounce Back.

The theory of relativity is a landmark in modern physics, but one that can not be divorced from the socio-political climate of its time. On this program, Dr. Steven Gimbel discusses Einsteins Jewish Science: Physics at the intersection of politics and religion.

How can understanding Darwins theory of natural selection help us feed the planet? Dr. R. Ford Denison joins us to discuss his new book, Darwinian Agriculture: How Understanding Evolution Can Improve Agriculture.

What research paper has 2500 authors on it? The one for the Higgs Boson! Dr. Ian Hinchliffe talks about the science of this elusive particle and the enormous effort that went into detecting it.

Have you ever had the feeling that you're being watched? Dr. Julie Horvath from the Nature Research Center at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences has that feeling every day. She and her lab are in the middle of a museum and viewable to the thousands of people who pass by every day. We talk to Dr. Horvath about her work, her lab, and how the Nature Research Center inspires and educates.

What are the connections between the immune system and the brain? How could these interactions give rise to mental disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism? On this program, Prof. Paul H. Patterson discused Infectious Behavior.

Fifteen years ago, gene therapy was a promising technology with the potential to revolutionize medicine. Since then some of that potential has been fulfilled but the path from the lab to the clinic has been bumpy. Dr. Ricki Lewis joins us to discuss that path and her new book, The Forever Fix.

Over the past 20 years, coyotes have been moving into large midwestern cities like Chicago. Dr. Stanley Gehrt, the Principal Investigator of the Cook County Coyote Project, joins us to discuss the fascinating biology of these wily, urban coyotes.

The 20th century is marked by a dramatic increase in the global human population. But, can this go on? Will this lead to the collapse of civilization? On this program, Prof. Kentaka Aruga discussed the two main schools of thoughts on how the human population will progress.

What are the origins of moral behaviors in humans? Did they spontaneously emerge or are there precursors in the natural history of human evolution? On this program, Prof. Richard Boehm discussed our moral origins.

A wide variety of apocalyptic prophecies and movements have occurred throughout history. But, what accounts for their continued emergence? On this program, Prof. Richard Landes discussed the history of millenial movements.