Talk of the Nation

  

Intelligent talk of the news of the day, as well as discussions on the real issues behind the headlines.

Science Friday is heard on Talk of the Nation every Friday!


Permalink

Mon-Thur
11:00a - 1:00p
on The News Station


Talk of the Nation Website

Latest Headlines

 
What Grosses You Out?
In That's Disgusting: Unraveling the Mysteries of Repulsion, psychologist Rachel Herz discusses the origins of disgust — what she calls the 'instinct that's learned' — and why humans turn up their noses at smelly feet but devour expensive cheeses cultured with some of the very same stinky bacteria.
mp3 file |  windows media



Study Tracks Alzheimer's Progression In Mice
Amyloid plaques and tangles of protein in the brain are two of the key signs of the form of dementia known as Alzheimer's disease. In new work reported in the journal PLOS One, researchers tracked the spread of tangles of tau protein from neuron to neuron in the brains of mice. Study co-author Karen Duff of the Columbia University Medical Center discusses the findings.
mp3 file |  windows media



Blue Marble: The Making Of
NASA's iconic images of Earth from space date back to the late 1960s--with snapshots taken by Apollo astronauts. The modern "blue marble" images are captured by machines and they're not photos. They're datasets collected by instruments aboard satellites and then translated into imagery on the ground.
mp3 file |  windows media



Drone Technology Reaches New Heights
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are replacing boots on the ground in some wars. Commercially, UAVs are being used for things like crop-dusting and flood mapping. Experts discuss advances in drone technology and how to address legal and privacy concerns that stem from their use.
mp3 file |  windows media



Listening In On The Brain To Decode Speech
Reporting in PLoS Biology, researchers write that they were able to correlate words a person was hearing to specific electrical activity in the brain. Study co-author neuroscientist Robert Knight discusses future applications of this research and concerns that it amounts to mental wiretapping.
mp3 file |  windows media



IBEX Spacecraft Intercepts 'Alien' Particles
As it circles Earth, NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer hunts for particles streaming in from beyond the solar system. It has intercepted hydrogen, helium, neon and oxygen atoms. IBEX principal investigator Dave McComas discusses how the abundance of those atoms hints at the Milky Way's composition.
mp3 file |  windows media



The Future Of America's Manufacturing Jobs
More and more factory work in the United States is being done by machines, and the industry increasingly relies on highly skilled workers. NPR's Adam Davidson explores the shifts in the manufacturing industry, and Tim Aeppel of the Wall Street Journal discusses the implications for the U.S. economy.
mp3 file |  windows media



Mike Pesca's Guide To Super Bowl XLVI
The New York Giants face the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday. In 2008, the underdog Giants beat the Patriots 17-14. NPRs Mike Pesca preview's the nation's biggest sporting event and talks about what to expect from the 2012 rematch.
mp3 file |  windows media



Celebrating The Legacy Of Langston Hughes
The works of Langston Hughes reflect the lives and struggles of African Americans, and celebrate the richness of the culture. February 1, 2012 marked the 110th anniversary of the late poet, musician and playwright's birth.
mp3 file |  windows media



Anthony Mackie Makes His Mark In Hollywood
Actor Anthony Mackie is best known for playing uptight Army Sgt. JT Sanborn in the Academy Award-winning movie The Hurt Locker. Mackie is also no stranger to off-Broadway plays and independent films. The Julliard graduate stars in Man on a Ledge, and has several other productions scheduled for release in 2012.
mp3 file |  windows media