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Scientific Interviews --
Dr. Ken Alibek
Soviet Germ Warfare
Bio-Hazard: The Chilling Story of the Largest Covert Biological Weapons Program in the World -- Told From Inside by the Man Who Ran it
Biological warfare is the use of weapons that cause death by disease. The largest and most sophisticated biological weapons program in the world, which cultivated and stockpiled anthrax virus, brucellosis, the plague and genetically altered strains of small pox, employed more than 6000 people at over 100 facilities in the former Soviet Union. For 15 years, ending in 1992, Dr. Ken Alibek, a doctor of medicine and a Ph.D. in microbiology, was the scientific leader of Bio-Preparat, the civilian branch of that secret biological weapons program, masquerading as a pharmaceutical company. In 1992, Dr. Alibek defected to the United States. Several years later, he wrote “Bio-Hazard,” a book detailing the development of biological weapons, the horrors of his former life and why he chose to defect. This is a two-part program with Dr. Ken Alibek, recorded in 1999.
Dr. Ken Alibek recommends "Prevent," by Richard Preston & "Vector," by Robin Cook.
Originally Broadcast: May 11, 1999 & May 18, 1999
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How Did That Person Die?
Dead Reckoning, the New Science of Catching Killers
In the fascinating world of medical discovery, the interpretation of how and when a person died can often be explained by looking at the bugs that are found on the body. Dr. Michael Baden, Chief Medical Examiner for the New York State Police, is the author of “Dead Reckoning, the New Science of Catching Killers,” and our guest in a two-part series on forensic pathology, the study and public discussion of how, when and where people died.
Dr. Michael Baden recommends "The Moonstone," by Wilkie Collins.
Originally Broadcast: January 22, 2002 & January 29, 2002
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Judi Bari
Conversation with Judi Bari
Judi Bari, our guest in this archive edition of Radio Curious, was one of the leading environmental activists on the North Coast in the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, notwithstanding that she was a victim of a car bombing in 1990 and severely injured. Presumably, the bomb was intended to stop her activities as a leader and organizer for Earth First!. The bomb that injured her exploded in May 1990 while she was driving in Oakland, California, took a tremendous toll on her physically and resulted in a lawsuit she brought against the FBI and the Oakland, California Police Department. In the weeks before this interview which was originally broadcast in November 1993, when Radio Curious was called Government, Politics and Ideas, Judi Bari obtained approximately 5,000 pages of FBI documents which she gathered as part of her lawsuit. We spoke about this information and about Judi’s background.
Judi Bari recommends “A Taste of Power: A Black Women’s Story,” by Elaine Brown.
Originally Broadcast: November 29, 1993
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The Science of Affection
Love at Goon Park: Harry Harlow and the Science of Affection
In an unknown and dilapidated laboratory on the University of Wisconsin campus in the 1950s and 1960s, a brilliant, alcoholic, work-obsessed psychologist conducted research on love, a pursuit that was previously ignored and considered unworthy of scientific study. “Love at Goon Park: Harry Harlow and the Science of Affection,” written by journalist Deborah Blum, is the story of how Professor Harry Harlow, one of the most important and controversial psychologists of the 20th century, altered our understanding of love.
Deborah Blum recommends "The Life of Pi," by Yan Martel.
Originally Broadcast: July 15, 2003
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Roger Brandt
The Oregon Caves
The Oregon Caves, located about 70 miles northeast of Crescent City, California in the Oregon Caves National Monument, are a place full of interest, mystery, and history. The caves were located in 1874 when Elijah Davidson chased his dog into the what appeared to be a hole in the earth. The Oregon Caves are very unique possibly due to the fact that it is one of the few cave systems located on tectonically active ground, known as a subduction zone. Their uniqueness may also be due to the fact an old growth Douglas Fir forest grows directly above the caves, or the fact that they were created from what used to be a tropical reef that was pushed about 12 miles below the surface of the earth and then brought back up to its current location, and is still rising. I visited the Oregon Caves in 2006 and knew at once it would be a unique experience. I spoke with Roger Brandt, the manager of visitor services and education of the Oregon Caves in the summer of 2006 about the caves. We began when I asked him about the Oregon Caves and what they represent.
Roger Brandt recommends “Golden Days and Pioneer Ways” by Ruth Phefferle.
Originally Broadcast: February 21, 2007
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The Earth and Economy in Crisis
Plan B: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble
Our earth is in big trouble. The environment and our economy are in crisis. Essentially, we have created a bubble economy in which we are over-consuming the earth’s natural resources. In this program, we will visit with Lester R. Brown, the author of “Plan B: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble.” Lester Brown is the president of the Earth Policy Institute, a nonprofit interdisciplinary research organization based in Washington DC.
Originally Broadcast: October 7, 2003
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Dr. Gene D. Cohen
Do We Get Smarter As We Age
The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain
Do people over a certain age necessarily loose mental acuity? According to Dr. Gene Cohen, the answer is “no.” Dr. Cohen, a psychiatrist and gerontologist has determined that certain genes are activated by experience as we age, allowing our personalities to grow and change. The brain has reserves of strength and agility that compensate for the effects of aging on its other parts. Dr. Cohen has found that the information processing justify in the 60 to 80 year old brain achieves it's greatest density and reach. He explains these and other developing concepts in brain research in his book “The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain.” I spoke with Dr. Cohen in March 2006 from his office in the justify on Aging, Health & Humanities, in Washington D.C., where he is the director. We began our conversation with his description of the importance of the role of creativity.
Gene Cohen recommends "Tuesdays with Morrie: A Young Man, An Old Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson," by Mitch Albom.
Originally Broadcast: April 18, 2006
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John Darnton
Who is Charles Darwin?
The Darwin Conspiracy
Who was Charles Darwin and what led him to describe what we now call “the theory of evolution?” These curious questions are ones that I have been following since I was about ten years old. In 1978 I had the good fortune of visiting the Galapagos Islands, 600 miles west of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos Island in 1831 for month as part of a five-year voyage around the world. There he saw birds and animals that helped him formulate some of his ideas about evolution he published “The Origin of the Species,” 22 years later in 1853. And the world has not been the same since. Now, at a time when concepts of evolution and natural selection are attacked certain from theological and political perspectives, a novel called “The Darwin Conspiracy,” has been written by John Darnton, a writer and editor for the New York Times. “The Darwin Conspiracy,” although fiction, is said by John Darton to be 90% accurate, and covers Darwin’s life and thinking before and after the publication of “The Origin of the Species.” I spoke with John Darton from his home in New York City at the end of October 2005. He began by describing who Charles Darwin was, in his time and place.
John Darnton recommends "Snow," by Orhan Pamuk.
Originally Broadcast: November 29, 2005
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Your Body Clock
The Body Clock Advantage: Finding Your Best Time of Day to Succeed in Love, Work, Play, and Exercise
Dr. Matthew Edlund, Director of the Gulf Coast Sleep Institute, believes that our body clocks affect us in every aspect of our lives. Dr. Edlund is the author of “The Body Clock Advantage: Finding Your Best Time of Day to Succeed in Love, Work, Play, and Exercise."
Dr. Matthew Edlund recommends "The Master and Marguerita," by Mikial Bulgakov.
Originally Broadcast: March 11, 2003
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Sanford Elberg, Ph.D.
Microbiology and What It Does for Us
Microbiology, what it is and how it benefits society is the topic of this edition of Radio Curious. Our guest is Dr. Sanford Elberg, a retired professor of microbiology and bacteriology and later the Dean of the Graduate School at the University of California at Berkeley. One of his scientific successes was the development of a vaccine for brucellosis, a disease in farm animals causing the female to abort early in pregnancy. This interview with Professor Elberg, who received a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of California at Berkeley in 1930 was recorded at his home in Mendocino County, California in March 1998. Dr. Elberg begins with a definition of microbiology and bacteriology.
Sanford Elberg recommends “The Plague Tales,” by Ann Benson.
Originally Broadcast: March 30, 2006
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Dr. Ron Epstein
Genetically Modified Food
Genetically engineered food products are an issue that concerns many. In more recent years, Mendocino County has gone so far as to pass a resolution legally prohibiting their growth in the county. My guest in this program, recorded in the late summer of 1995, is Ron Epstein, a philosophy professor at both the Buddhist University in Talmage, CA and San Francisco State University. He has given considerable consideration to the problems of genetic engineering of the plants and vegetables that we eat.
Dr. Ron Epstein recommends "Algeny," by Jeremy Rifkin.
Originally Broadcast: September 18, 1995
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Dr. Ron Epstein
Genetically Modified Food, Part Two
Not so long ago in human history, wars were fought with sticks, slings and rocks. Now, with the ability to modify the DNA of disease causing organisms, war is very different. Evidence is appearing that genetically engineered war has, in fact, been used in our world. With this program, Radio Curious will begin a series of discussions on environmental and social effects of genetically engineered war. This program’s guest is Dr. Ron Epstein, a research professor at the Institute of World Religions in Berkeley, California, and a lecturer in the Philosophy Department at San Francisco State University in San Francisco, California. We discussed the scientific and ethical dangers of genetic engineering.
Dr. Ron Epstein recommends "The Cobra Event," by Richard Preston & "Biotech Century," by Jeremy Rifkin.
Originally Broadcast: September 4, 1998
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Ira Flatow
Science Changes
Present at the Future: From Evolution to Nanotechnology, Candid and Controversial Conversations on Science and Nature.
The chance to interview another interviewer is an opportunity I like to take. A chance came on September 4, 2007, when I was able to visit with Ira Flatow, the host of “Science Friday,” a part of "Talk of the Nation," on NPR. We talked about some of the ideas and concepts in his book, “Present at the Future: From Evolution to Nanotechnology, Candid and Controversial Conversations on Science and Nature.” I think that after thirty-five years as a science journalist, Ira Flatow has seen enough to expect unexpected changes. He refers to that at the close of the introduction to his book and writes: “After watching science do its thing for a while, you realize knowledge is really a moving target. What we know today will probably be wrong tomorrow. And science is that tool for discovery. When science tells us something, chances are that it will tell us something different a few years from now.” And that’s where Ira Flatow and I began our conversation.
www.iraflatow.com
Ira Flatow recommends "The World Without Us," by Alan Weisman.
Originally Broadcast: September 5, 2007
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The Future of Food
The director of, The Future of Food
“The Future of Food,” a film written and produced by Deborah Koons Garcia, discusses our food’s conflicting relationship with both mass agri-business and local agriculture. Our discussion was conducted in the context of the passage of Mendocino County’s Measure H, banning growth of GMOs in the county.
Deborah Koons Garcia recommends "Women's Diaries fo the Westward Journey," edited by Lillian Schlissel.
Originally Broadcast: April 25, 2004
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Kevin Z. Golden
Lawsuit to Ban Genetically Modified Alfalfa
The consequences of growing genetically modified alfalfa were deteremined by the United States District Court in San Francisco, California to be so uncertain and so potentially dangerous that they were outlawed nation-wide in litigation brought by the Center for Food Safety based in San Francisco. In this edition of Radio Curious we visit with Attorney Kevin Zelig Golden, who, along with others from the Center for Food Safety, litigated this landmark case which banned the planting of genetically modified alfalfa as of May 3, 2007.
Kevin Z. Golden recommends "Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals," by Michael Pollan.
Originally Broadcast: May 7, 2007
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Temple Grandin, Ph.D.
What Autism Can Tell Us About Animals
Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior
Do animals think? The book, “Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior,” by Professor Temple Grandin gives us some clues. Temple Grandin is a person with autism who teaches animal science at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colorado. Autistic people can often think the way animals think, putting autistic people in the perfect position to translate “animal talk.” Grandin explores the world of animals; their pain, fear, aggression, relationships and communication. When I spoke with Professor Grandin from her office in Ft. Collins, Colorado, we began with her definition of autism.
Temple Grandin recommends “Our Inner Ape,” by Frans De Waal.
Recorded March 21, 2006
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Facing Illness With Success
The Anatomy of Hope: How People Prevail in the Face of Illness
Hope is one of the most fundamental and powerful of human emotions, and also one of the least studied and understood. “The Anatomy of Hope: How People Prevail in the Face of Illness,” by Dr. Jerome Groopman, a Professor of Medicine at Harvard University and a writer for the New Yorker magazine, examines the role hope plays in the practice of medicine, and the ways in which hope can release chemicals powerful enough to change the outcome of otherwise fatal diseases.
Dr. Jerome Groopman recommends "The Old School," by Tobian Wolff.
Originally Broadcast: February 20, 2004
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Steve Jones
Origin of Species Updated
Darwin's Ghost: The Origin of Species Updated
The Origin of the Species,” written by Charles Darwin, after his trip to the Galapagos Islands off of the northwest coast of South America, approximately 150 years ago, fundamentally changed, the understandings of how our species came to be. Steve Jones, Professor of Genetics at University College in London, England, has written a sequel to Darwin’s book called “Darwin’s Ghost, the Origin of the Species Updated.
Steve Jones recommends “The Basque History of the World: The Story of a Nation,” by Mark Kurlansky and "The Book of Pi," author unkown.
Originally Broadcast: May 9, 2000 May 16, 2000
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Tracing The 'Y' Chromosome
Y, The Descent of Men, Revealing the Mysteries of Maleness
Professor Steve Jones, author of the book, “Y, The Descent of Men, Revealing the Mysteries of Maleness,” discusses biological aspects of maleness created by the Y chromosome. Jones explores the effect of male hormones, hair loss, and the hydraulics of man’s most intimate organ. He lays out the case for and against masculinity.
Steve Jones recommends "Cherries, the Worst Journey in the World: A Biography of Alexy Cherry Gerard," by Sarah Wheeler.
Originally Broadcast: August 12, 2003
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Prof. Alberto Kattan
Argentinan Environmental Issues in 1993
The late Professor Alberto Kattan, a Professor of Law at Buenos Aires University and one of the foremost litigators of environmental issues in Argentina, is my guest on this archive edition of Radio Curious. In our conversation originally broadcast in March 1993, we discussed the future of the penguins that he was and endeavoring to protect, dolphins, the use of 245T, and problems with the tobacco industry in Argentina.
Originally Broadcast: March 7, 1993
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Glenn Langer
Enhancing Education and Heart Disease
Understanding Disease, How Your Heart, Lungs, Blood, and Blood Vessels Function and Respond to Treatment
In this two-part series with Dr. Glenn Langer, former Professor of Medicine, specializing in Cardiology, at UCLA we discuss the Partnership Scholars Program and heart disease. In the first interview Dr. Langer describes the Partnership Scholars Program and how attention and exposure to new ideas can create a whole new world for children, whose life experiences might otherwise be forever limited. In the second program, we discuss folklore, literature, psychology as they relate to cardiology and the heart. Dr. Langer is the author of “Understanding Disease, How Your Heart, Lungs, Blood, and Blood Vessels Function and Respond to Treatment,” a book attempting to demystify medicine. Both parts of this program were originally broadcast in October of 2000.
Glenn Langer recommends “Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea,” by Gary Kinder and “Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Biography,” by Marion Meade.
Originally Broadcast: October 24, 2000 and October 31, 2000
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Marc Lappe
Roadside Spraying, For Better or Worse
Break Out
Spraying of herbicides to kill weeds and/or plants that are considered by some to be pests is a phenomenon of the 20th century. These sprays, in many cases, pollute the water we use in our homes; they destroy and sometimes permanently alter not only the growth cycle of what we are intending to kill, but also other plants, animals, and sometimes people. Dr. Marc Lappe was a widely recognized Ph.D. toxicologist who has studied the effects of the use of the sprays. He was the founder and a director of The justify for Ethics and Toxics, located in Gualala, California. He was also the former director of the California State Hazard Evaluation System. He’s been a fellow at the Hastings justify for the Study of Bioethics in New York, published 112 articles and eleven books on the subject of toxicology. Dr. Marc Lappe died in May, 2005.
www.cetos.org
Marc Lappe recommends "Break Out, " by Dr. Marc Lappe.
Originally Broadcast: February 5, 1997
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Dr. Daniel J. Levitin
Music On The Brian
This Is Your Brain On Music: The Science of a Human Obsession
The understanding of how we humans experience music and why it plays a unique role in our lives is this topic of two interviews with Dr. Daniel Levitin, author of “This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession,” recorded from his home in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in late October 2006. Professor Levitin runs the Laboratory for Musical Perception, Cognition and Expertise at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He asserts that our brains are hardwired for music and therefore we are all more musically equipped than we think and that music is an obsession at the heart of human nature, perhaps even more fundamental to our species than language. Professor Levitin believes that the music we end up liking meets our expectations of what we anticipate hearing just enough of the time that we feel rewarded, and the music that we like also violates those expectations just enough of the time that we’re intrigued. In the first interview Dr. Levitin begins by describing how the human brain learns to distinguish between music and language. The second interview begins with a discussion of what happens when people listen to music they like.
www.yourbrainonmusic.com
Dr. Daniel J. Levitin recommends "Another Day in the Frontal Lobe," by Katrina Firlik, and "The Human Stain," by Philip Roth.
Originally Broadcast: November 1, 2006 November 8, 2006
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Was Einstein Wrong?
Faster than the Speed of Light: The Story of a Scientific Speculation
Joao Magueijo, a Professor of Theoretical Physics at the Imperial College of London, disputes some of Einstein’s most accepted theories. In his book, “Faster than the Speed of Light: The Story of a Scientific Speculation,” he argues that the speed of light is not constant, questioning the basis of the Theory of Relativity.
Dr. Joao Magueijo recommends "Angela's Ashes," by Frank McCourt.
Originally Broadcast: February 25, 2003
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The Slow Food Movement
How can we assure ourselves that the food we eat is safe, nutritious and energy-efficient? If we are what we eat, we ought to know what we will become. That may be the concept underlying what is coming to be known as the slow food movement. Glenn McGourty is the wine growing and plant science advisor for the University of California Cooperative Extension for Lake and Mendocino Counties in Northern California.
Glenn McGourty recommends "The Origins and Ancient History of Wine," by Patrick McGovern.
Originally Broadcast: January 4, 2005
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Dr. Steven Miles
A Blind Eye to Torture
Oath Betrayed: Torture, Medical Complicity, and the War on Terror
The silence of doctors, nurses and medics during the physical abuse of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan and the information provided by physicians and psychologists to determine how much and what kind of mistreatment could be delivered to prisoners during interrogation is the topic of this edition of Radio Curious. Our guest is Dr. Steven Miles is the author of “Oath Betrayed: Torture, Medical Complicity and the War On Terror,” a book based in part on eyewitness accounts of actual victims of prison abuse and more than thirty-five thousand pages of documents, autopsy reports and medical records. Dr. Miles is a professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School and its justify for Bioethics. He is a recognized expert in medical ethics, human rights and international health care. This interview with Dr. Steven Miles was recorded in mid-July 2006 from his office in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We begin when I asked him about his motivation to write a book about the treatment people who are disarmed and imprisoned.
Steven Dr. Miles recommends “Bury The Chains: Profits and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire’s Slaves,” by Adam Hochchild.
Originally Broadcast: July 20, 2006
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Dr. Abraham Morgantaler
Viagra: Is it for You?
The Viagra Myth: The Surprising Impact on Love and Relationships
Viagra, a drug with infinite name recognition and touted benefits, is, as we know, pervasively advertised on television and the Internet. But what is the truth and what is the fiction about this drug. These and other questions about increasing expectations of sexual performance and pleasure are answered by Dr. Abraham Morgantaler, an associate clinical professor at Harvard Medical School and the author of “The Viagra Myth: The Surprising Impact on Love and Relationships.”
Dr. Abraham Morgantaler recommends "Why I Can't Get Through To You," by Terrance Real.
Originally Broadcast: March 23, 2004
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Elliott Norse
Trawling the Ocean Floor
Once, fishes as big as turkeys and sheep swam the seas. Now, most of their few remaining descendants would fit into a frying pan. Dr. Elliot A. Norse, president of the Marine Biology Conservation Institute in Redmond, Washington, believes that this radical reduction in the size and number of the world’s fishes comes not only from over fishing, the catching of fish at a faster rate than they can breed, but also from bottom trawling. Dr. Norse writes that bottom trawling crushes, buries, and exposes marine creatures like lobsters, crustaceans, clams, corals and sponges that live on or in the seabed, damaging or killing them. In August of 1999, Dr. Norse visited with Radio Curious to discuss the effects of bottom trawling, how and where it’s done, and some of the concerns and causes of global warming and the effects it has on the oceans.
Elliott Norse recommends “The Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinction” by David Quammen.
Originally Broadcast: November 27, 1998
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Sherwin Nuland
What Is It About Our Species That Allows Us to Learn So Much About Ourselves
The Wisdom of the Body
From developmental perspectives, both in individuals and in mankind as a whole, the brain, language, and civilization have separated our species from the rest of the animal kingdom. In May of 1997, I discussed these issues with Sherwin Nuland, a professor of Medical History at Yale University Medical School and author of many books, including Wisdom of the Body.
Sherwin Nuland recommends “The Meaning of Yiddish,” by Benjamin Harshav.
Originally Broadcast: May 21, 1997
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Dr. Donald Perry
A Ride Through a Rain Forest in Costa Rica
Life Above the Jungle Floor
In the middle of the Costa Rican rain forest, about an hour west of San Jose, Costa Rica, on the east side of the continental divide, you can find the Rain Forest Aerial Tram located on a private rain forest reserve. It’s a series of small, open-air cars that hold about five people each held together by a three kilometers long cable. The tramcars carry visitors through, above and below this portion of the Central American rainforest canopy. The Rain Forest Aerial Tram was the brainchild of Dr. Donald Perry, a biologist trained at the University of California at Los Angeles, who, beginning in 1970, has specialized in the study of the flora and fauna of the Central American Rainforest. In April of 1995, I visited the Rain Forest Aerial Tram with Dr. Perry.
Dr. Donald Perry recommends "Life Above the Jungle Floor," by Dr. David Perry.
Originally Broadcast: April 1, 1995
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Nature or Nurture?
Genome & Nature via Nurture: Genes, Experience and What Makes Us Human
Are we humans defined by nature or nurture? Matt Ridley, the author of “Genome,” published in 2000, has more recently written “Nature via Nurture: Genes, Experience and What Makes Us Human.” He argues that genes are enablers, rather than constrainers; thus, we are continually shaped by everyday life.
Matt Ridley recommends "Dot Con," by John Cassidy.
Originally Broadcast: February 3, 2004
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The First Idea
The First Idea: How Symbols, Language and Intelligence Evolved From Our Primate Ancestors to Modern Humans
“The First Idea: How Symbols, Language and Intelligence Evolved From Our Primate Ancestors to Modern Humans,” is a book by professors Stanley Greenspan and Stuart Shanker. Their hypotheses assert that our ability to use symbols and language depends on specific types of nurturing interactions and other cultural practices passed down, learned anew and further developed by each generation, dating back to prehuman and even nonhuman primate cultures. I spoke with Professor Shanker about these and other topics.
Stuart Shanker recommends "The Trees in my Forest," by Berndt Heinrich.
Originally Broadcast: November 23, 2004
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Evan Schwartz
The Inventor's Juice
Juice, The Creative Fuel That Drives World-class Inventors
Albert Einstein suggests: “To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old questions from anew angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance.”
Thomas Edison suggests: “The inventor has a logical mind that sees analogies.”
And Winston Churchill comments: “Success consists of going from one failure to another without loss of enthusiasm.”
The mind of an inventor works differently than the mind of a non-inventor. What inspires the inventive mind? What is different in the way an inventive mind perceives the world that is different from other minds? What is the role of the role of invention in our society? In this interview, recorded in January 2005, Evan Schwartz, author of “Juice, The Creative Fuel That Drives World-Class Inventors” discusses inventing and inventions. According to Evan Schwartz, the creative energy of inventors, their “juice” gets applied to problems, products, companies and markers through the use of creativity patterns. Invention is a set of strategic thinking strategies that can be learned, taught and practiced, just as with other skills, like cooking, acting or sailing. He began our conversation by describing what differentiates an inventive mind from other types of minds.
www.gotjuice.org
Evan Schwartz recommends "Chronicles Volume One," by Bob Dyland.
Originally Broadcast: January 3, 2006
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Dr. Sally Shaywitz
How to Identify and Overcome Dyslexia
Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level
Approximately one child in five suffers from dyslexia, a condition that makes learning to read difficult and in some cases seemingly impossible. In this edition of Radio Curious, originally broadcast in August of 2003, we visit with Dr. Sally Shaywitz, a Professor of Pediatrics at Yale University and the co-director of the Yale justify for the Study of Learning and Attention. She discusses early diagnosis of dyslexia in young children, older children, and in adults, and what can be done to assist people who suffer from this disability. In her book, “Overcoming Dyslexia,” Dr. Shaywitz describes how current research, including new brain imaging studies, are uncovering the mechanics underlying this problem, and have led to effective treatments.
Dr. Sally Shaywitz recommends "Emperor of Ocean Park," by Stephen Carter & "Samaritan," by Richard Price.
Originally Broadcast: August 5, 2003
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Dr. Harvey Simon
Healthy Men
The Harvard Medical School Guide to Men’s Health
Dr. Harvey B. Simon is the author of “The Harvard Medical School Guide to Men’s Health” and the founding editor of the Harvard Men’s Health Watch newsletter. His book discusses a multitude of health issues that are unique to men and some are common to women as well.
Dr. Harvey Simon recommends "An Equal Music," by Vikram Seth.
Originally Broadcast: December 31, 2002
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Janna Malamud Smith
Why Mothers Worry About Their Children
A Potent Spell: Mother Love and the Power of Fear
Is the concept of “mother blame” a method to control women? Is motherhood really a fearsome job? Will a mother’s mistakes or inattention damage a child? “A Potent Spell: Mother Love and the Power of Fear” is a book written by Janna Malamud Smith, a clinical psychotherapist and daughter of the writer, Bernard Malamud.
Janna Malamud Smith recommends "Biography of Samuel Pepys," by Clair Tomilin.
Originally Broadcast: February 18, 2003
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Blood: A History
Blood, an Epic History of Medicine and Commerce
Human blood has been compared historically and sociologically to a river that defines human society over the millennia. That river has been charted in a recent book and television series entitled, “Blood, an Epic History of Medicine and Commerce,” by Douglas Starr. This work traces the history of blood in medical, political and economic terms, from the earliest days of bloodletting to the era of AIDS.
Douglas Starr recommends "Instance of the Finger Post," by Ian Beers.
Originally Broadcast: September 14, 2002
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The Y Chromosome May Disappear
Adam’s Curse, A Future Without Men
The Y chromosome, compared to the body’s 45 other chromosomes, is very fragile. It has been worn down by millions years of attrition and over time has lost many of its genes. It is unable to exchange genetic material or repair itself because it does not combine with other chromosomes like the X chromosome does. Professor Bryan Sykes, author of “Adam’s Curse, A Future Without Men,” explains the degeneration of the Y chromosome.
Bryan Sykes recommends "Mismatch," by Andrew Hacker & "Burgdorf Blondes," by Plumb Sykes.
Originally Broadcast: June 1, 2004
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Joshua Tickell
Biodiesel: An Oil-less Fuel
From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank: The Complete Guide to Using Vegetable Oil as an Alternative Fuel
Biodiesel, an alternative to the dwindling supply of fossil fuels, is created from processed vegetable oil and is available anywhere vegetable oil is grown or used. Joshua Tickell is the author of “From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank: The Complete Guide to Using Vegetable Oil as an Alternative Fuel." In this program, he shared his ideas on the topic.
Joshua Tickell recommends "Connections," by James Burke.
Originally Broadcast: July 22, 2003
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Gilbert Van Dykhuisen
Sea Life Mysteries Explained
71% of the earth’s surface is covered by oceans which are home to 99% of the life on earth. About 250,000 species of ocean life have been discovered so far, but the ocean is home to an estimated 10 million species. The Monterey Bay Aquarium on the central coast of California holds more than 300,000 creatures, representing over 500 species that live in 34 major aquarium galleries. Under the direction of Giilbert Van Dykhuisen, a senior research marine biologist, the Monterey Bay Aquarium has created deep-sea life exhibit which is reflective of the deep-sea canyon located in the Monterey Bay and comparable in size to the Grand Canyon.
Gilbert Van Dykhuisen recommends “The Universe Below,” by William Broad.
Originally Broadcast: October 3, 1999
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Dr. Frank Vertosick
Evolutionary Intelligence
The Genius Within: Discovering the Intelligence of Every Living Thing
Neurosurgeon Dr. Frank Vertosick is the author of “The Genius Within, Discovering the Intelligence of Every Living Thing,” a book that discusses learning among all species. He talks about learning through evolution or alteration of the genetic structure as compared to learning the way we more commonly think of it, by studying or by experience.
Dr. Frank Vertosick recommends "Linked: The New Science of Networks," by Albert Lazlso-Barbasi.
Originally Broadcast: October 9, 2002
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Fred Watson
What a Telescope Reveals
Stargazer, the Life and Times of the Telescope
The history of the telescope is a rich story of human ingenuity and perseverance involving some of the most colorful figures in the scientific world. In this edition of Radio Curious we visit with Dr. Fred Watson, the Astronomer-in-Charge of the Anglo-Australian Observatory at Coonabarabran, New South Wales, Australia. Dr. Watson’s book, “Stargazer, the Life and Times of the Telescope,” reveals the science and technology behind the telescope and its impact in unveiling the mysteries of the universe, and concludes with a fictional epilogue in the year 2108. This epilogue looks back 48 years at the object, one kilometer in diameter, that had a 99.9% probability of impacting the earth in April 2060 and how it was diverted. Dr. Watson was in his office in New South Wales, Austrailia, when this interview was recorded and begins by explaining the importance of the epilogue.
www.aao.gov.au/local/www/fgw
Fred Watson recommends "The Transit of Venus," by Peter Autin.
Originally Broadcast: July 19, 2005
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Jonathan Weiner
Genetic Control
Time, Love, Memory: A Great Biologist and His Quest for the Origins of Behavior
How much of our personalities are truly within our control? What is currently known about how the genes we inherit affect our behavior? The science that studies these questions is now called molecular biology. Looking at life from the genes up, molecular biology has given us insight into the hard links between genes and behavior. Seymour Benzer, a pioneer scientist who studied the genetics of fruit flies, is the hero of a book called “Time, Love, Memory: A Great Biologist and His Quest for the Origins of Behavior," by Jonathan Weiner. Weiner, who won the Pulitzer prize in 1995 for his work on the finches of the Galapagos Islands, provides a current analysis of Benzer’s genetic studies and raises questions about molecular biology the 21st century.
Jonathan Weiner recommends “The Missing Moment,” by Robert Pollack.
Originally Broadcast: May 26, 1999
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The Peopling of the World
The Journey of Man, A Genetic Odyssey
Around 60,000 years ago, a man - identical to us in all important genetic respects - lived in Africa. Every person alive today is descended from him. This is known because the secrets of human evolution are hidden in our genetic code. In this edition of Radio Curious, we visit with geneticist Spencer Wells, author of the book and movie, “Journey of Man, A Genetic Odyssey.”
Spencer Wells recommends "No Logo," by Naomi Klein.
Originally Broadcast: February 10, 2004
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