Radiolab
Radiolab explores the blurring boundaries between science, philosophy and human experience. Curiosity is king as Radiolab investigates the world and shakes up the way you think. Produced by WNYC, Radiolab podcasts come out every other week, and each year 10 new hour-long episodes air on NPR stations around the country.
New Language Discovered: Prairiedogese
()Deep in the Arizona desert, one man has been deciphering the chatter between rodents, hoping to prove that communication among highly social animals is more sophisticated than we think.
Why A Brush With Death Triggers The Slow-Mo Effect
()A scientist takes a scary plunge to find out why time seems to slow down when we fear for our lives.
Agatha Christie And Nuns Tell A Tale Of Alzheimer's
()Those trying to diagnosis Alzheimer's say some answers may be in the writing.
The Nun Study's Youngest Sister()
May 28, 2010 At age 94, Sister Alberta Sheridan is the youngest sister alive from the Nun Study. Launched by Dr. David Snowdon, this is one of the most in-depth research projects focusing on dementia in the world.
Seeing Impostors: When Loved Ones Suddenly Aren't()
March 30, 2010 Two different patients. Two different stories. But a shared delusion. Each is convinced that someone they love dearly is
Carl Sagan And Ann Druyan's Ultimate Mix Tape()
February 12, 2010 Floating through space right now is a golden record carrying sounds of Earth: a mother's first words to her baby, the sound of a kiss, and music from all over the world. Ann Druyan helped to create the NASA project as a guide to Earth for aliens. And like any good mix tape — interstellar or not — it led to the man of her dreams.
Willpower And The 'Slacker' Brain()
January 26, 2010 The reason for a lack of willpower may be that you're working your prefrontal cortex too hard. If you give it too many jobs to do, it gets tired, calls it a day and gives into temptation.
Holy Baboon! A 'Mystical' Moment In Africa()
December 22, 2009 A biologist reflects on an awe-inspiring experience in Africa, when a group of baboons united in some kind of amazing "mystical" moment.
How Do You Amputate A Phantom Limb?()
March 18, 2009 Many amputees say they can still feel the presence of a missing limb, and often what they feel is intense pain. But how does a doctor treat pain in an arm or a leg that no longer exists? Oddly enough, one researcher used a cardboard box and a $2 mirror.
Golden Rule Develops Early But Doesn't Come Easily()
March 9, 2009 A 2-year-old, it turns out, knows the difference between right and wrong. And by age 4, children are getting the grasp of empathy. While the seeds of morality may be at least partially built into our genetic makeup, for children, developing a moral sense can still be a battle of impulses.
Minty E. Coli And Other Bioengineering Feats()
April 29, 2008 Scientists all over the world are matter-of-factly amending, changing and rearranging living creatures for all kinds of reasons, some silly, some profound. Take the case of the MIT team that made the icky-smelling bacteria E. coli and gave it a wintergreen-scented twist.
Radio Lab: Into the Brain of a Liar()
March 6, 2008 We all lie — once a day or so, according to most studies. But a few of us make a habit of it. Researchers have found evidence of structural differences in the brains of people with a history of persistent lying.
