Groks Science Radio Show and Podcast

Homo sapiens has come to dominate the planet, but what are the traits that have allowed humans to have such a position. On this episode, Dr. Liat Ben David discussed her book, The Story of Our Lives.

World War II was a time of great historical upheaval, where many moments in time could have drastically altered the course of history. On this episode, William Martin explores these scenarios in his book, December 41.

A career in science is challenging, but even more so after serving time in prison. How can the barriers facing former inmates be overcome? On this episode, Dr. Stanley Andrisse discussed his book and organization, From Prison Cells to Ph.D.

Although emotional expression through language is often viewed as supplemental to rational thoughts, the actual organization may be reversed. On this episode, Dr. Mark Changizi discussed his book, Expressly Human.

Changes to the global environment are now causing major economic changes across the globe. How are economic issues influencing the climate debate? On this episode, Bob Keefe, discussed his book, Climatenomics.

The video game industry of the early 80s was dominated for a time by the Atari VCS. But, the fall of the industry has been attributed to one video game, E.T. On this episode, Howard Scott Warshaw discussed his new book, Once Upon Atari.

Can achieving good health and wellness be influenced by integrating healthy lifestyle choices? On this episode, Neil Cannon discussed health and wellness and his new book, The Vitality Code.

Although changes to the global environment and climate seem to be increasing, is it possible to restore the climate for a sustainable future? On this episode, Peter Fiekowsky discussed his new book, Climate Restoration.

In a worldwide plague with societies under lockdown, how can human communities survive? On this episode, Umar Turaki discussed his new novel, Such A Beautiful Thing to Behold.

Creativity is an elusive feature of the human mind that many would like to harness. How does it arise and how can we cultivate it? On this episode, Matt Richtel discussed his new book, Inspired.

The great questions of science and philosophy continue to undergo rigorous exploration and experimentation. What is our understanding of these questions? On this episode, Alan Lightman discussed his new book, Probable Impossibilities.

Coral reefs are an amazing microcosm supporting life in the oceans, but their existence continues to be threatened. On this episode, Juli Berwald discussed her new book, Life on the Rocks.

Apollo 13 holds a unique place in the history of the early space missions. The lunar pilot on the flight had a unique perspective on the mission and the evolution of the space program. On this episode, Fred Haise discussed his new book, Never Panic Early.

The laws of thermodynamics and quantum physics may seem to operate at completely different physical scales, but is it possible to combine these different physical principles? On this episode, Dr. Nicole Junger Halpern discussed her book, Quantum Steampunk.

How can we help preserve the biodiversity of the planet? Can preserving half the land on the planet be the solution? On this episode, Tony Hiss discussed his book, Rescuing the Planet?

How could an aspiring supervillain take over the world? Are the comic book schemes of supervillainy supported by modern science? On this episode, Ryan North discussed his new book, How to Take Over the World.

The search for the physical basis of consciousness continues to challenge scientists. Wherein lies the mind? On this episode, Dr. Thomas R. Verny discussed his book, The Embodied Mind.

Our understanding of the brain owes to several foundational discoveries by the Spanish neuroscientist, Santiago Ramon y Cajal. On this episode, Benjamin Ehrlich discussed his life and new book, The Brain in Search of Itself.

How does our expectation of events affect the physiology of our bodies? New scientific advances have shown a profound effect. On this episode, David Robson discussed his new book, The Expectation Effect.

The ability to track time has been a hallmark achievement of human ingenuity. How has the history of timekeeping evolved? On this episode, Dr. Chad Orzel discussed his book, A Brief History of Timekeeping.

Heartbreak can be a devastating experience, but one where science is beginning to make new discoveries as to its biological origins. On this episode, Florence Williams discussed her new book, Heartbreak.

The changes to the global environment seem daunting to those who wish to act. Can part of the solution be in our own backyard gardens? On this episode, Emily Murphy discussed her book, Grow Now.

The gut microbiome can greatly influence the health of the organism, but is often overlooked when considering lifestyle dietary choices. On this episode, Dr. William Davis discussed his new book, Super Gut.

Although the chronological age of an individual may be indicative of overall health, a better measure of biological age may be found in DNA methylation patterns. On this episode, Kara Fitzgerald discussed her new book, Younger You.

The aging demographics will put tremendous pressures on modern societies. How can the world adapt to the aging of the populace? On this episode, Bradley Schurman discussed his book, The Super Age: Decoding Our Demographic Destiny.

Although the inequities across the globe require philanthropic solutions, most projects can do more harm than good. Is there another way? On this episode, Prof. Kirk Bowman discussed his new book, Reimagining Global Philanthropy.

The production of meat is an inefficient process that can be substantially improved using modern biotechnology methods. On this episode, Dr. Karthik Sekar discussed his new book, After Meat.

Although no one wants or expects a disaster to occur, how can one be the best prepared for such a situation. On this episode, Creek Stewart discussed his book, The Disaster Ready Home.

How did the concept of property arise in human society and is this a uniquely human attribute? On this episode, Prof. Bart J. Wilson discussed his book, The Property Species.

Although there are many claims for improving our ability to think and brain health, how can we assess which of these claims have validity? On this episode, Dr. Emily Willingham discussed her book, The Tailored Brain.

Parsing scientific fact from fiction has become increasingly difficult in the age of misinformation. On this episode, R. Philip Bouchard discussed his book, The Stickler Guide to Science in the Age of Misinformation.

The changes to the global climate are often too vast to accurately comprehend. However, with appropriate visual aids, these changes become readily apparent. On this episode, Dr. Brian Buma discussed his book, The Atlas of a Changing Climate.

Freedom of therapeutic choice in the field of medicine has had a long history in American society. On this episode, Prof. Lewis Grossman discussed his new book, Choose Your Medicine.

Mental illnesses contribute significantly to the health burden in the country, but finding good treatments is often more difficult than necessary. On this episode, Dr. Margaret Chisolm discussed her book, From Survive to Thrive.

The development of the next generation of medicines will likely benefit from the vast number of compounds produced by plants around the world. On this episode, Dr. Cassandra Leah Quave discussed her new book, The Plant Hunter.

Technology is quickly evolving in several different domains, but how will these changes affect our future? On this episode, Steven Hoffman discussed his book, The Five Forces That Change Everything.

Although some decisions are never easy, they can be made even more complicated by the manner in which they are presented. On this episode, Dr. Eric J. Johnson discussed his new book, The Elements of Choice.

Mathematics underlies so much of the modern world, but how can it help us to think better? On this episode, Marcus du Sautoy discussed his book, Thinking Better.

Although anxiety levels have been increasing lately, can this actually be used for good? On this episode, Dr. Wendy Suzuki discussed her new book, Good Anxiety.

The heart is a remarkable organ, but one whose natural history may have been unappreciated. On this episode, Dr. Bill Schutt discussed his new book, Pump.

Treatments for Alzheimers disease and related dementias continue to be developed, but with poor outcomes. What is the best way forward? On this episode, Dr. Daniel R. George discussed his book, American Dementia.

Social media has many positive and negative sides. How can we best utilize this technology. On this episode, Dr. Brian Primack discussed his book, You Are What You Click.

Water is crucial to our survival and underlies the organization of our societies. What does the history of water teach us? On this episode, Giulio Boccaletti discussed the history of water.

Science is continually under attack from science deniers. What is the best way to talk about science with a science denier? On this episode, Dr. Lee McIntyre discussed his book, How to Talk to a Science Denier.

Anxiety can be a debilitating issue for many, but how can we manage anxiety effectively? On this episode, Elke Scholz discussed her book, Anxiety Warrior.

Food allergies and related conditions appear to be increasing in prevalence. But, how do we diagnose and treat these conditions. On this episode, Dr. Ruchi Gupta discussed her book, Food Without Fear.

The changes to the global environment can cause much consternation, but how does one develop the resolve to address these issues? On this episode, Mary M. Clare and Gary Ferguson discussed the Full Ecology Project.

The early response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to draw much criticism, with many lessons to be learned. On this episode, Damian Paletta discussed the early administration responses in his book, Nightmare Scenario.

How did the universe begin? The big bang theory was perhaps popularized by a public debate between two physicists, George Gamow and Fred Hoyle. On this episode, Paul Halpern discussed his book, Flashes of Creation.

The tree canopy holds almost half of the land species on earth, but we would know very little about it were it not for the arbonauts. On this episode, Dr. Meg Lowman discussed her work as an arbonaut.