Podcasts
Through weekly interviews with guest researchers and our own knowledgeable staff, the Museum's podcasts offer an in-depth look at the latest in science and technology.
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- Engineering For Our Changing Climate (Podcast)
- The Massachusetts Climate Change Adaptation Report was recently released. Hear about what this means for the state from local experts including the Chief of Environment and Energy for the City of Boston, architects for the new Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, and employees of Environmental services at MASSDOT Highway Division ... (details).
February 03, 2012
- Early Bow And Arrow Use | Making A Better Grid Battery (Podcast)
- Archaeologist Justin Pargeter describes current evidence for the first bows and arrows believed to have been used in South Africa over 60,000 years ago. Also, find out how we can improve our electrical power grid with storage batteries made with new nanomaterial technology. (details).
January 27, 2012
- Diamonds and Light (Podcast)
- Dr. Marko Loncar and two of his graduate students talk about using diamonds to create optics based computers that are smaller, faster, and 'cooler' than our current computational machines. (details).
January 20, 2012
- Earth-like Planets | Better Prosthetic Limbs (Podcast)
- In the search for Earth-like planets, NASA's Kepler Telescope has recently discovered several planets either similar in size to Earth or a similar distance from its star as Earth is from the sun, but not both. Also, Arthur Petron from the MIT Biomechatronics Group talks about his research with developing better prosthetic limbs ... (details).
January 13, 2012
- Playing Soccer For Energy | Emotions and Perception (Podcast)
- Hear how Soccket co-inventor Julia Silverman is solving energy problems all over the world with the energy harnessing soccer ball. Also, Jolie Baumann from Northeastern University discusses her research into the effects of emotions on our perception of objects. (details).
January 06, 2012
- Our Museum Bees | Forensic DNA Fingerprinting (Podcast)
- Listen to the museum's very own bee keeper Bill Coleman talk about our bee hive exhibit and the missing bees from the summer. Also, find out about forensic DNA fingerprinting and the controversy behind familial DNA testing. (details).
December 30, 2011
- Top 10 Science Stories of 2011 (Podcast)
- From cutting edge technologies to natural disasters, the Current Science and Technology team has been keeping up with innovative research and the latest in breaking scientific news all year. We chose the 10 most interesting and important of those stories to present to you in this podcast. (details).
December 23, 2011
- The New Madrid Earthquakes, 200 Years Later (Podcast)
- To recognize the bicentennial of the New Madrid earthquakes that started in the central U.S. on December 16, 1811, three earthquake experts -- John Ebel from Boston College, Jim Kaklamanos from Tufts University, and Paul Morey from FEMA -- share their views on earthquake science and preparedness, and ... (details).
December 16, 2011
- The Fuss About Fracking (Podcast)
- Dr. Rob Jackson from Duke University describes a controversial method for extracting natural gas from deep rock layers and discusses his research investigating possible effects of gas drilling on drinking water in the Marcellus Shale in the northeastern US. (details).
December 09, 2011
- Curiosity Heads for Mars | Mind-reading Technology (Podcast)
- As the Mars Science Laboratory mission starts its 8-month journey, learn about its sophisticated rover Curiosity. Also, discover technology that's taking the first step toward turning a person's thoughts into movies. (details).
December 02, 2011
- Python Hearts | Safety of Nanotechnology (Podcast)
- After a python eats a very large meal, its heart can grow significantly larger. Find out how we may be able to use that information to help human hearts. Also, while nanotechnology is quickly growing in importance, many researchers are determining ways to make it as safe yet effective as possible. (details).
November 25, 2011
- Antarctic Expedition (Podcast)
- Penguins, underwater robots, and strange microorganisms star in this podcast about a recent oceanographic expedition to Antarctica. Several researchers describe some surprising discoveries and the importance of studying long-term ecological change. (details).
November 18, 2011
- Bomb Detecting Nanosensors | Listeria Outbreak (Podcast)
- Dr. Daniel Heller from MIT describes how he uses nanosensors and bee venom to detect explosives. PhD candidate Kyle Perry from Harvard gives the facts about the recent Listeria outbreak connected to cantaloupes. (details).
November 11, 2011
- Violent Volcanoes: Vesuvius and Beyond (Podcast)
- Volcanologist Dr. Steve Carey from the University of Rhode Island discusses the 79 AD eruption of Vesuvius and the impacts a similarly violent eruption would have on modern society. He also describes his current research on explosive underwater volcanoes. (details).
November 04, 2011
- Better Hurricane Forecasting (Podcast)
- Dr. Richard Yablonsky from the University of Rhode Island talks about shortfalls of current hurricane forecast models and how different approaches to hurricane modeling could improve forecasts in the future. (details).
October 27, 2011
- Wrinkly Fingers | World's Smallest Motor (Podcast)
- Find out why our fingers get wrinkly in water. Also, Dr. Charles Sykes from Tufts University describes the world's smallest motor. (details).
October 21, 2011
- Curing the Common Cold | La Nina Is Back (Podcast)
- Dr. Todd Rider from MIT's Lincoln Lab describes a potentially revolutionary new antiviral drug. La Nina is back, so find out what that means for our coming winter. (details).
October 14, 2011
- Puzzle of the Bones (Podcast)
- Researchers in South Africa are unearthing remarkably complete skeletons of human ancestors that are 2 million years old. Anthropologist Dr. Jeremy DeSilva from Boston University discusses some of the surprising findings. (details).
October 07, 2011
- Body Liquefaction | Searching for New Earths (Podcast)
- Learn why body liquefaction is a more environmentally friendly alternative to burial or cremation. Also, hear about the discovery of the latest earth-like planets orbiting other stars . . . and whether they can support life. (details).
September 30, 2011
- Sleeping in Space | New Nano Flame Retardent (Podcast)
- Caroline Lowenthal from the Man Vehicle Lab at MIT talks about the importance of sleep on the International Space Station. Also, learn about a potential new flame retardant for clothing using nanotechnology. (details).
September 23, 2011
- Regenerating Human Organs (Podcast)
- Dr. Anthony Atala, Director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, describes the types of human organs his group has been able to grow and details the technology involved in these efforts. (details).
September 16, 2011
- In Space: Antimatter and Astronauts (Podcast)
- Jim Bickford from Draper Laboratory discusses antimatter and how it might be captured for human use. Then, learn about the relationship of the Russian Soyuz program to astronauts on the International Space Station. (details).
September 09, 2011
- Earthquakes in New England | Nano Sized Medicine (Podcast)
- Learn about the recent 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Virginia that was felt all the way up in Boston. Also, Dr. Jim Wilking from Harvard University talks about his research into developing very tiny pharmaceuticals. (details).
September 02, 2011
- Sequencing Cancer Genomes | Watching Bacteria Build (Podcast)
- Dr. Franziska Michor, a computational biologist from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, discusses her work with analyzing cancer genomes. Naveen Sinha then talks about how he is using applied physics to study bacterial biofilm formation. (details).
August 26, 2011
- Is It Functional: A Tattoo or a Stegosaurus Tail? (Podcast)
- Heather Clark from Northeastern University talks about her lab's work using a nanosensor tatoo and an iPhone to check glucose levels in the blood. Also, discover how dangerous that spiky Stegosaurus tail actually was. (details).
August 19, 2011
- Visiting An Asteroid | Reading A Brain (Podcast)
- Space exploration continues with the Dawn spacecraft currently in orbit around the large asteroid Vesta. Also, a new technology may be able to help teach the brain how to control the body in accident or stroke victims. (details).
August 12, 2011
- Massachusetts Tornadoes | Dating Rocks on Earth and Mars (Podcast)
- First, Eleanor Vallier-Talbot from the National Weather Service in Taunton, Massachusetts talks about the recent tornadoes that swept through central Massachusetts on June 1. Then, Dr. Ben Weiss from MIT explains how to use magnetism to date dinosaurs and planets. (details).
August 05, 2011
- Cognitive Radios | Taking Dinosaur Temperatures (Podcast)
- Dr. Kaushik Chowdhury from Northeastern University discusses radios that can think, learn and adapt. Then, learn how scientists can measure the body temperatures, and even metabolism, of long extinct dinosaurs. (details).
July 29, 2011
- Engineering Cancer Drug Delivery (Podcast)
- Dr. Sangeeta Bhatia from MIT describes how her team has improved delivery of chemotherapeutics to tumors by linking nanoparticles to our body's own blood clotting system. (details).
July 22, 2011
- Sending Humans To Space | Detecting Disease Faster (Podcast)
- Dr. Ryan Kobrick from the Man Vehicle Lab at MIT talks about some of the lab's projects to help prepare humans for long distance space travel. Also, hear about a new device that uses nanoparticles to detect harmful diseases faster than before. (details).
July 15, 2011
- Mummy Studies | Closer To Invisibility (Podcast)
- Hear how scientists are using modern technology to study Otzi the Iceman. Also, learn about engineered materials that can guide light around objects. (details).
July 08, 2011
- How Do Bats Fly? How Do People Sleep? (Podcast)
- Learn new information about why bats are such amazing aerial acrobats. Also, find out how sleep affects baseball players, college students, and married couples. (details).
July 01, 2011
- Exploring Asteroids and Sexy Necks in Dinosaurs (Podcast)
- Students from MIT present their theoretical mission to retrieve an asteroid and bring it closer to earth for study. Also, find out why some dinosaurs had really long necks. Was it sexy? (details).
June 24, 2011
- Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2011 (Podcast)
- Stephen Cass, special projects editor for the MIT publication Technology Review, discusses several of the top 10 technologies that could have the largest impact on the world, the country, or the individual. For the complete list, see the website below. (details).
June 17, 2011
- What Is A Dinosaur? | How To Mend A Heart (Podcast)
- Everyone has a favorite dinosaur, but what is a dinosaur? Is it a reptile? Is it a bird? Dinosaur paleontologist David Varricchio discusses these extinct animals. Also, learn how we may one day be able to mend a broken heart . . . after a heart attack. (details).
June 10, 2011
- Buck-Toothed Demon Lizard | How To Confuse A Mosquito (Podcast)
- Dr. Hans Sues from the National Museum of Natural History discusses the new T. rex relation he recently identified. Also, learn how we might avoid mosquitoes by confusing their ability to hone in on us. (details).
June 03, 2011
- 3D Transistors | Planets Without Stars (Podcast)
- Michael Mayberry, Director of Components Research at Intel, describes their new and innovative 3 dimensional transistor that will be released later this year. Astrophysicist Lisa Kaltenegger comments on the hypothesis that there are planets in the galaxy without their own star. (details).
May 27, 2011
- Renewable Energy Fair Guests (Podcast)
- The museum hosted dozens of guest researchers at its Renewable Energy Fair. Hear about the latest in wind power, solar power, lithium ion batteries, and more from many of the event's participants. (details).
May 25, 2011
- Bacteria-Busting Nanoparticles | Tornado Outbreak (Podcast)
- Learn how a new approach to combating bacteria could lower the incidence of antibiotic-resistance and then hear about the devastating twisters of April 2011. (details).
May 20, 2011
- Billion-Dollar Bats (Podcast)
- Dr. Thomas Kunz from Boston University, aka Bat Man, discusses the economic and ecological benefits of bats, and warns of current threats to their survival. (details).
May 13, 2011
- Earth Month Guests: A Giant Earthquake and Mercury in the Atmosphere (Podcast)
- April is Earth Month, and we had many guests here at the museum to present various earth related topics. Dr. Alan Kafka talks about the recent Japan earthquake and earthquakes in general. Then, Dr. Noelle Selin discusses her work on studying mercury in the atmosphere. (details).
May 06, 2011
- Harvard's Forest Laboratory | Fighting Fire With Electricity (Podcast)
- Ecologists from Harvard Forest describe some of the research that is done in the 3500 acre forest in Western Massachusetts. Also, we will learn how electricity may be used to blow out a fire. (details).
April 29, 2011
- Addicted to Chocolate? (Podcast)
- I love chocolate, but am I addicted to it? Harvard graduate student Naveen Sinha talks about the science of chocolate. Also, Dr. Ashley Gearhardt discusses the new issue of food addiction. (details).
April 22, 2011
- Welcome to NanoDays: Nanotubes, Quantum Dots, Nanobiology (Podcast)
- Once again NanoDays introduced us to dozens of researchers studying the very small. We learned about nanotubes in space, the "magic" of quantum dots, and nano-biotechnology. (details).
April 15, 2011
- RACE: The Boston Marathon and Human Classification (Podcast)
- Coach Rick Muhr talks about training the Museum of Science Marathon Team for the 2011 Boston Marathon on Monday April 18. Also, Dr. Michael Carson discusses the other definition of race and whether or not there is a genetic basis for the human classifications. (details).
April 08, 2011
- Meet Two MIT Innovators (Podcast)
- Two distinguished MIT scientists discuss their inventions in this podcast. Dr. Alice Chen, this year's Lemelson-MIT student prize winner, discusses the medical uses for her humanized mice. Then, Dr. Boris Katz describes how his natural language question-answer system enabled the development of a Jeopardy! champion ... (details).
April 01, 2011
- Violent Weather: From Tornadoes to the Sun (Podcast)
- Dr. Joshua Wurman from Storm Chasers describes his latest tornado chasing with the VORTEX 2 project. Also, Dr. Nicholas Gross talks about space weather and new ways that scientists can predict how the sun will affect the earth. (details).
March 25, 2011
- Turmoil In The Pacific: Tsunamis and Volcanoes (Podcast)
- This week we will hear from two experts in Hawaii looking at some of the natural phenomenon occurring in the Pacific. Dr. Nathan Becker will talk about the tsunami created by the recent Japan earthquake and Dr. Matthew Patrick will describe the recent eruptions at Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii. (details).
March 18, 2011
- Glowing Nanotubes and Making Diamonds (Podcast)
- Dr. Daniel Heller from MIT explains how glowing carbon nanotubes may be used to detect a number of different molecules and even cancer. Dr. Gary Harris from Howard University describes how to make synthetic diamonds . . . for electrical engineering purposes. (details).
March 11, 2011
- Diabetes in Diverse Populations (Podcast)
- Dr. William Hsu and Dr. Enrique Caballero from the Joslin Diabetes Center talk about the prevalence of diabetes in various ethnic populations. Also, find out why the incidence of type II diabetes is increasing in these populations in the United States and all over the world. (details).
March 04, 2011
- How Great Is Your Good Cholesterol? (Podcast)
- Dr. Marina Cuchel from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine describes her studies of high density lipoprotein, aka HDL or good cholesterol, and discusses why measuring HDL level is not the best way to understand risk of heart disease. (details).
February 25, 2011
- Giant Sauropod Dinosaurs | Dispersant Effects on the Gulf (Podcast)
- How did the largest of all land animals, the sauropod dinosaurs, get that huge and stay that huge? What are the long term effects of the chemical dispersant used in the Gulf oil spill? (details).
February 18, 2011
- Inside the Kinect and a New Blast Detection Badge (Podcast)
- Guest Alfred Thompson from Microsoft describes how the new XBox Kinect works. Also, we will learn about a blast detector badge being developed for soldiers. (details).
February 11, 2011
- Perspectives on Climate (Podcast)
- Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that 2010 was tied for the warmest year on record. Hear some perspectives on this information from researchers at the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change. (details).
February 04, 2011
- Making More Stuff! (Podcast)
- Material scientist Dr. Zvonimir Dogic talks about using biology as inspiration for new synthetic materials. Also, producer Chris Schmidt from Nova's "Making Stuff" talks about the process of making the new series and even mentions some interesting research that was left out of the final cut. (details).
January 28, 2011
- Race, Place, and Health Science (Podcast)
- Researchers from the Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute talk about their health studies in the Boston area. First, we will hear about potential health risks from living too close to highways in Somerville. Then we will hear about the state of parks in Lawrence and how that may affect obesity rates ... (details).
January 21, 2011
- Studded Tires Causing Health Problems | Parasitic Worms Alleviating Colitis (Podcast)
- Studded tires used in winter can prevent accidents, but grinding up the pavement can also cause negative health effects. Parasitic worms are being used and studied to alleviate bowel diseases like colitis. (details).
January 14, 2011
- Advances in HIV Prevention and Treatment (Podcast)
- In 2010, there was much scientific progress in preventing and treating HIV infections. We devote this segment to exploring a number of advances in this field. (details).
January 07, 2011
- Top Ten Science Stories of 2010 (Podcast)
- From natural disasters to cutting edge technologies, the Current Science & Technology team at the Museum of Science has been keeping up with new research and innovations all year. Hear our choices for the Top 10 science stories of 2010 in this podcast. (details).
December 31, 2010
- US Human Embryonic Stem Cell Clinical Trial (Podcast)
- Dr. Robert Lanza, Chief Scientific Officer at Advanced Cell Technology, describes their human embryonic stem cell clinical trial to cure Stargardt macular degeneration in humans. (details).
December 24, 2010
- Giant Flying Reptiles | 2010 Hurricane Season (Podcast)
- How did a 40 foot pterosaur get off the ground to fly through the sky? Listen here to learn about its unique launch style. Also, find out why 2010 was such a busy hurricane, and why we did not feel many of the effects in the US. (details).
December 17, 2010
- Energy Solutions: UMass Wet Lab and a Better Battery (Podcast)
- John Miller from the Marine Renewable Energy Center talks about the future University of Massachusetts wet lab to be used for wind, wave, and tidal energy research. Also, Dr. Donald Sadoway from MIT describes his research on making better batteries. (details).
December 10, 2010
- Making Stuff! (Podcast)
- Material scientists Dr. Amy Moll and Dr. Ainissa Ramirez join us for Nova's Making Stuff Day. They talk about their own research on how to make electronics stronger, smaller and greener. (details).
December 03, 2010
- Concussions and Beyond (Podcast)
- Learn about repetitive head trauma from Dr. Ann McKee from Boston University and the Bedford VA Medical Center. Then, find out why it isn't only big hits that can cause brain damage. (details).
November 26, 2010
- Mountain of Fire | Skin Cells to Blood Cells (Podcast)
- Learn about the ongoing Merapi volcanic eruption on the island of Java. Also, discover how researchers have transformed skin cells into blood cells. (details).
November 19, 2010
- Energy Saving Technologies (Podcast)
- Dr. Angela Belcher from MIT talks about how her lab makes solar cells and batteries with living organisms. Her former student Shakeel Avadhany, CEO and co-founder of Levant Power, introduces GenShock, a novel technology that harvests energy from vehicle shocks and transforms it into electricity. (details).
November 12, 2010
- Tiny Carbon: For Harvesting Heat and Sequencing DNA (Podcast)
- Hear about an interesting technology, developed by Dr. Long Que at Louisiana Tech University, that can produce electricity from a range of different energy sources . Also, learn about the potential use of graphene in improving the speed of DNA sequencing. (details).
November 05, 2010
- T. rex Cannibalism | Where Do Antibiotics Come From? (Podcast)
- Did Tyrannosaurus rex eat other Tyrannosaurus rex? Cannibalistic dinosaurs? Where do antibiotics come from? A bacterial social system? (details).
October 29, 2010
- Superbugs (Podcast)
- Dr. Stuart Levy from Tufts University School of Medicine discusses how bacteria combat the special chemicals we often use to treat infections, and describes why antibiotic resistance is a growing problem on our planet. (details).
October 22, 2010
- Archaeology in Boston? A Virus That Causes Obesity? (Podcast)
- October is Massachusetts Archaeology Month and local archaeologist Ellen Berkland talks about some very local Boston dig sites. Also, hear about a virus that may cause obesity in children. (details).
October 15, 2010
- How To Read Minds and Filter Water (Podcast)
- What am I thinking right now? Find out how scientists are trying to read the minds of paralyzed patients. Also, learn about new filters to purify drinking water. (details).
October 08, 2010
- Our Stormy Sun (Podcast)
- Dr. Mike Stevens, a space physicist at the Boston University Center for Integrated Space Weather Modeling, describes some of the dynamic phenomenons that occur on the sun and affect us here on Earth. Hear how scientists study this space weather now and about plans for future solar missions. (details).
October 01, 2010
- Food For Thought: Transgenic Salmon (Podcast)
- A Waltham, Massachusetts company is looking for FDA approval to be able to market their salmon as the first transgenic animal ever to be sold as human food. Listen here for the pros and cons of this controversial food issue. (details).
September 24, 2010
- Head Trauma | Potential for Diabetes Treatment (Podcast)
- Learn about head trauma in this podcast and decide whether Lou Gehrig really did have the disease that bears his name. Also, hear about a new finding in Type 2 diabetes research that could help prevent the disease in the future. (details).
September 17, 2010
- Protecting with Probiotics | Hunting for Hurricanes (Podcast)
- Harvard graduate student Sarah Fankhauser talks about the importance of gut bacteria and probiotics. We will also hear details about the 2010 hurricane season so far. (details).
September 10, 2010
- Jupiter Collision | Using Ivy in Sunscreen (Podcast)
- Discover how during the formation of our solar system, Jupiter may have been involved in a massive collision which has forever altered it. Switching from the very large to the very small, hear about ivy-based nanoparticles that may be used to make a better sunscreen. (details).
September 03, 2010
- Friends Can Help You Live Longer (Podcast)
- Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad from Brigham Young University describes her massive comparative study on social relationships and mortality. The results show that having positive social interactions (aka friends) can increase your lifespan. Being lonely is a risk factor tantamount to smoking, alcoholism, and obesity ... (details).
August 27, 2010
- Improving Autism Diagnoses | A New Identity for Triceratops (Podcast)
- Dr. Tal Kenet from Massachusetts General Hospital discusses her work through the Transcend Research Program to identify consistent ways of diagnosing autism. Also, find out how a relative of Triceratops is an even more important family member than previously thought. (details).
August 20, 2010
- Hot Summer In The City | A Surprise Primate Fossil (Podcast)
- Yes, this summer has been exceptionally hot and you can find out why in this podcast. Also, Dr. Iyad Zalmout and Dr. Bill Sanders join us from the University of Michigan to talk about the discovery of a new primate ancestor. (details).
August 13, 2010
