Dan Charles archive

October 31, 2008 In the northeastern United States, bats have been dying by the thousands, struck down by a strange ailment called "white-nose syndrome." Researchers have identified a previously unknown fungus that flourishes in the cold and that may be a cause of the syndrome.

Transcript

On Morning EditionPlaylist

October 29, 2008 All over the world, frog populations are declining because of diseases and the destruction of wetlands. A new study suggests another reason: a cascade of environmental changes set off by farmers who spray crops with the weed killer atrazine.

Transcript

On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

October 23, 2008 Holding something warm or cold influences your attitudes toward others, new research suggests. In an experiment at Yale University, student volunteers thought more favorably of strangers when handed a cup of hot coffee than when holding iced coffee.

Transcript

On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

October 9, 2008 The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded this week to three scientists working in the United States with a jellyfish protein that glows in the dark. But the scientist who isolated the gene for that protein, and gave it to the eventual Nobel winners, is no longer working in the field. He now drives a shuttle bus for an auto dealership.

Transcript

On Morning EditionPlaylist

October 8, 2008 Three scientists — a Japanese citizen and two Americans — who created a method for unveiling the previously invisible machinery inside living cells, using a protein that glows in the dark, won the 2008 Nobel Prize for chemistry.

Summary

October 3, 2008 A recent study found that volunteers conditioned to feel a lack of control were more likely to see patterns that didn't exist. Faced with powerlessness, the human mind seems to make up patterns to explain the world around it.

Transcript

On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

August 7, 2008 For some farmers in Honduras, high food prices mean greater profits. But others can't afford the higher costs for fertilizer and pesticides, so they're cutting back on production.

Transcript

On Morning EditionPlaylist

August 6, 2008 Many Third World countries have banned genetically modified crops, but Honduras is encouraging farmers to plant them in response to the global food crisis. The trend could extend to other countries, too, if it's proven to make a difference in farmers' lives.

Transcript

On Morning EditionPlaylist

August 5, 2008 Small farmers in Honduras are increasingly selling their crops to Paiz, a chain owned by Wal-Mart. It's helping to fuel the economy. But farmers face a challenge creating facilities that meet Wal-Mart's safety standards.

Transcript

On Morning EditionPlaylist

August 4, 2008 In light of the global food crisis, the Honduras government is changing policies to put money into farming and food production. It's a signal that farmers aren't forgotten anymore — and that feeding the poor is priority.

Transcript

On Morning EditionPlaylist