Category: Episodes

Gang Science – David Pyrooz

Gang Violence in Aurora last summer

CU Boulder Criminologist David Pyrooz explains the science of understanding gang violence.  He shares why immigrant gangs such as Tren de Aragua catch so much media attention, even though they represent only a small part of national gang violence.  Pyrooz also shares what drives gangs, ways to reduce gang violence, and his personal work with the City of Aurora Project SAVE  (SAVE is short for “Stand Against Violence Every Day.)

Executive Producer: Beth Bennett
Show Producer/Engineer:  Shelley Schlender

 

 

 

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:05 — 33.1MB)

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What’s Up with the Polio Vaccine?

Today on How on Earth, Beth speaks with Professor Vincent Racaniello of the Columbia University Medical Center. He has been studying viruses, particularly the polio virus, for over 40 years. Professor Racaniello is passionate about teaching virology to the World. His virology lectures can be found on YouTube. He blogs and produces the podcast ‘This Week in Virology’. We cover the history of the different polio vaccines and why the oral vaccine has contributed to the resurgence of the disease in underdeveloped populations in for example, Africa, and recently, Gaza. But it’s popping up here, in the developed nations also. You’ll also hear from How On Earther Tom Yulsman speaking with author and photographer Jon Waterman about his recent book on the effects of climate change in the Arctic.

Executive Producer: Beth Bennett
Show Producer: Beth Bennett
Additional Contributions: Tom Yulsman
Engineer: Jackie Sedley

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:13 — 22.9MB)

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Tackling PFAS, From Wastewater to Tap Water

Credit: USEPA

Tackling “forever chemicals” in tap water (start time: 6:11): In this week’s science show we discuss the scientific findings and societal implications of a new study showing of dangerous PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in treated wastewater that ends up in the drinking water of more than 20 million Americans. We also explore the public health risks of these  cancer-causing and otherwise toxic compounds–found in so many consumer products, including water-resistant clothing–and what’s being done on the national, state and local fronts to protect source water and our health. Listen to host Susan Moran’s interview with Kate Dunlap, the drinking water quality manager for the City of Boulder; and Bridger Ruyle, a research assistant professor of environmental engineering at New York University and lead author of the new PFAS study.

Show Producer/Host: Susan Moran
Engineer: Jackie Sedley
Executive Producer: Beth Bennett
Headline contributors: Beth Bennett, Joel Parker

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:34 — 37.9MB)

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Opiate Epidemic Update from 2024

In today’s show Beth reviews the latest data on the opiate epidemic in Boulder. You’ll hear from a pharmacologist who studies substance abuse, a DEA agent who oversees the task force on fentanyl, and our state senator who discusses legislation at the state level, as well as a story on a novel, implantable device to monitor for overdoses and autonomously inject the antidote – naloxone.

Executive Producers: Joel Parker and Shelley Schlender
Show Producer: Beth Bennett
Additional Contributions: Benita Lee
Engineer: Jackie Sedley

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:14 — 30.9MB)

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Science Stories from 2024

cc NOAA Science Graphic

 

We share the How on Earth team’s picks for of science stories of 2024:

    • Tom Cech Talks RNA (starts at 1:56)
    • Avian Flu (starts at 9:33)
    • Artificial Intelligence (starts at 13:13)
    • Colorado, the Quantum State (starts at 19:19)

Executive Producer: Shelley Schlender
Show Producer and Host: Joel Parker
Additional Contributions: Shelley Schlender, Beth Bennett

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:00 — 37.1MB)

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Ibogaine // Ice Cores // Neurospsychologist June Gruber & Awe Walks

Eboga Plant – Source of Ibogaine

Ibogaine (starts 1:00) The New York Times just featured Ibogaine for PTSD.  We revisit a discussion of Ibogaine with Boulder Trauma Therapist Andrew Linares.

 

 

Stored Ice Cores

Ice Cores (starts 10:00) The National Science Foundation Ice Core Facility in Lakewood houses thousands of ice cores collected from around the world.  Ellen Mahoney takes us there for a first person look.

 

CU Boulder Neuroscientist June Gruber teaches “Science of Happiness”

CU-Boulder Neuroscientist June Gruber (starts 16:15) June Gruber leads one of CU-Boulder’s most popular classes about the science of happiness.  Now Gruber discusses ways to care for health during the darker days of winter, including an ongoing study of “Awe-Walks.”

 

 

Executive Producer/Show Producer: Shelley Schlender
Host: Benita Lee
Additional Contributions: Ellen Mahoney
Engineer: Jackie Sedley

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:58 — 37.1MB)

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Move Your Body!

On today’s show Beth plays portions of a chat (full version here; actual talk starts at 1 minute in) she had with Katy Bowman who is a nationally-known biomechanist, author, and movement educator. They spoke at the Boulder Bookstore, where Katy discussed her new book, My Perfect Movement Plan. Bowman combines big-picture lessons on biomechanics, kinesiology, physiology, and natural human movement with simple and practical solutions and exercises to get all your body parts moving better. Her ‘Movement is Nutrition’ approach addresses the need of our bodies for a wide variety of daily movements in order to work well. Building off the idea that movement is more than exercise, Katy wants to us to create a movement diet that will provide both macro- and micronutrients that the body needs in order to stay well and work well.

Executive Producer: Shelley Schlender
Show Producer: Beth Bennett
Additional Contributions: Joel Parker
Engineer: Jackie Sedley

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:08 — 29.8MB)

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Move Your Body – Extended Version

If you listened to Beth’s chat with author Katy Bowman about her book (Your Perfect Movement Plan) – complete with some audience questions – and want to hear more, here is the full hour plus session. (Actual conversation starts about 2 minutes into the file.)

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:31 — 70.3MB)

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Plastic Pollution: Sources, Impacts, Solutions

Credit: Monterey Bay Aquarium

Tackling Plastic Pollution (start time: 3:50) In this week’s show, host Susan Moran interviews science journalists Fionna Samuels, an assistant editor at Chemical & Engineering News, a publication  of the American Chemical Society; and Priyanka Runwal, an associate editor at C&EN. Along with  other colleagues, they wrote cover articles in the November 28th issue of C&EN on the sources and impacts of plastic pollution. Indeed, plastics, mostly made from fossil fuels, are wreaking havoc on our environment and potentially our bodies. Although it’s still unclear precisely how much our bodies are accumulating tiny plastic particles, and to what effect, scientists are warning that nanoplastics could be altering our brains, our reproductive system, and our metabolism. Recently, representatives from many nations, including the United States, met to reach a first-of-its-kind United Nations global treaty to tackle plastic pollution. They failed. But outside the realm of treaties, a lot is being done, and far more can be done, to reduce the production, use, and waste of plastic.

Show Host/Producer: Susan Moran
Cohost/Engineer: Joel Parker
Executive Producer: Shelley Schlender

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:42 — 36.7MB)

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Xmas Bird Count

Spotted Towhee

Field Report (starts 1:00) We join Boulder naturalists Steve Jones and Ruth Carol Cushman on a Christmas Bird Count as Boulder’s winter water saunas.

Xmas Bird Count’s Bill Schmoker (starts 4:28) Boulder’s Annual Xmas Bird Count is Sunday December 15th.  Bill Schmoker is the organizer of this Count, which is one of the longest-running and largest in the nation.  He explains how it’s done, and why it’s important to the science of bird ecology.

Host: Benita Lee
Show Producers: Elena Klaver/Shelley Schlender
Additional Contributions: Ruth Carol Cushman, Steve Jones
Executive Producer: Shelley Schlender

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:58 — 37.1MB)

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