Groks Science Radio Show and Podcast

Conspiracy theories surrounding the 9-11 tragedy have taken on a life of their own, divorced from the empirical data. Do these theories have any basis in fact? On this program, James Meigs, editor-in-chief of Popular Mechanics, debunked these conspiracy myths.

Billions of people around the world still do not have access to basic power or commmunications. On this program, Laura Mellow joins us to talk about the Inveneo efforts to bring internet access to developing regions of the world.

Happiness as a state of being often defies attempts to attain it, leading most on an ever elusive quest. On this program, Dr. Matthieu Ricard, biochemist and Buddhist monk translator for the Dalai Lama, discussed the science of happiness.

The recent debate over what defines a planet has been partially motivated by the discovery of a candidate tenth planet. On this program, Dr. Ken Croswell discussed this newly discovered tenth planets.

Stem cells have the potential to cure many diseases, but viable therapies are mainly still experimental, especially those involving umbilical cord blood stem cells. On this program, Dr. David Steenblock discussed these stem cell therapies.

Ethics is a sometimes nebulous concept in the world of business, where it is often shunned at the expense of the bottom line. On this program, Prof. Tom Morris discussed the philosophy of ethics.

The Templeton prize is awarded every year for advances in our understanding of the intersection of religion and science. On this program, Nobel laureate Prof. Charles Townes from U.C. Berkeley joined to discuss science, religion, and the Templeton prize.

The discovery of a Martian meteorite in Antartica over a decade ago ignited the public imagination when it was claimed that the meteorite held signs of life. On this program, Kathy Sawyer discussed the story of the rock from Mars.

The internet has become a venue where one can obtain just about anything. On this program, Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist, discussed the internet marketplace. In addition, Prof. Margaret Torn from Lawrence Berkeley Labs discussed new models of global warming.

While science continues to push the boundaries of human knowledge, most of us puzzle over more entertaining questions, like does anything eat wasps? On this program, Ivan Semeniuk gives the last word on these everyday science questions.

Art and science are inexorably intertwined, with advances in one often inspiring advances in the other. Nowhere is this more evident than in the work of Leonardo da Vinci. On this program, Prof. Bulent Atalay discussed math and the Mona Lisa.

Domestic wiretapping has become an incendiary issue. What are the rights of the people and the government in this regard? And, how effective is the technology? On this program, Jack ONeill discussed the Echelon wiretapping system.

The connection between inflammation and aging may be related in part by the foods we eat. On this program, Dr. Nicholas Perricone discussed his theory for a healthy diet.

The sun is currently a middle-aged star, and will inevitably decline as all stars must. But, it may be possible to extend the stellar lifetime. On this program, Joe Pappalardo discussed the life cycle of stars.

Grassroots journalism has been enabled by the internet. The potential impact of citizen media is far and wide-ranging, as discussed on this episode with Dan Gilmor.

Understanding the key concepts in science requires a knowledge of the language of science. On this program, Steve Kleinedler discussed science words every college graduate should know.

All countries are eligible for membership into the World Health Organization (WHO) with one notable exception. On this program, Dr. Julin Tang and Dr. Sophia Yen discussed the Taiwanese efforts to join this health organization.

One little hormone can make a big difference in the life of men, especially when those levels start to drop. On this program, Dr. Shafiq Qaadri joined us to discuss the testosterone factor.

SARS may have faded from our memory, but many key lessons can be learned from the outbreak of 2003. Karl Taro Greenfeld joined us on this program to talk about his firsthand experiences in China reporting this epidemic.

Celiac disease is a disorder caused by the inability to tolerate gluten. The effects of the disease are wide ranging, resulting from the inability to absorb certain nutrients. On this program, Rory Jones discussed this hidden epidemic.

Organizations across the country are sponsoring activities for Earth Day. On this episode, Erica Pringsheim-Moors from the California State Parks Foundation joined us to talk about their activities. Also, Max Rosenblum talked with Dan Woods about the Maker Faire.

Traveling near the speed of light may soon be possible thanks to recent theoretical advances. On this program, Dr. Franklin Felber discussed the physics of near light-speed travel.

In spite of the controversies surround the ethics of animal cloning, progress has been made in reproducing animals through their genetic material. On this program, biologist Sir John Gurden joined us to talk about developmental biology and challenges to cloning.

Alan Turing was a prominent figure in the development of the computer, and is well known for many important computing concepts, including the famous Turing Test. On this program Prof. David Leavitt discussed the life of Alan Turing.

Preserving wildlife populations that are displaced or actively diminished by human activity remains essential for maintaining biodiversity. Nowhere is this more evident than in Africa, where many wildlife species are being driven to extinction by human activity. On this program, Paul Raffaele discussed wildlife preservation in Africa.