Groks Science Radio Show and Podcast

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.