archive

Friday, February 04, 2005

iRobot: Getting in on the Ground Floor

February 4, 2005 Helen Greiner, one of the founders of the iRobot Corp. talks about the company's consumer hit: the 'Roomba' line of robotic vacuum cleaners. However, Greiner says the company has bigger things in mind than hunting dust bunnies, including military robots and vehicles.

Summary

On Talk of the NationPlaylist

Making False Memories

February 4, 2005 New research looks at how the brain makes memories. Though there's no shortage of research on memory formation, this study has a twist — the researchers imaged the brains of the study subjects as they made memories of events that didn't actually happen.

Summary

On Talk of the NationPlaylist

Costly Repairs, and the Future of the Hubble Telescope

February 4, 2005 The Hubble Space Telescope is in need of repairs to keep it operating safely — however, NASA administrators are not sure that they want to attempt a costly and risky repair mission. And some recent press reports have indicated that funding for a repair mission may already have been stricken from the federal budget.

Summary

On Talk of the NationPlaylist

Missing Matter, Found

February 4, 2005 Researchers say they may have identified some of the "missing matter" in the universe, in intergalactic clouds of very diffuse gas.

Summary

On Talk of the NationPlaylist

Thursday, February 03, 2005
Friday, January 21, 2005

Science

Science and Religion: Physical Sciences

January 21, 2005 Where did the universe come from — and where is it going? Some people find answers to such questions in scientific theories, while others look to religion for answers. We talk about whether there can be common ground between science and religion in the study of the physical sciences, including physics and astronomy.

Summary

On Talk of the NationPlaylist

Space

Sorting Data from the Huygens Probe on Titan

January 21, 2005 Scientists are trying to make sense of the data from last week's Huygens probe on Saturn's largest moon, Titan.

Summary

On Talk of the NationPlaylist

Space

Scientists Find Meteorite on Mars

January 21, 2005 Scientists operating the robotic Mars rovers say they've made a startling discovery — a large, iron-heavy meteorite resting on the surface of the red planet.

Summary

On Talk of the NationPlaylist

Science

Science and Religion: Biological Sciences

January 21, 2005 How do centuries-old religions adapt to new discoveries or new technologies? How do different religious traditions view genetic engineering, cloning, or stem cell research? Can science and religion co-exist?

Summary

On Talk of the NationPlaylist

Thursday, January 20, 2005
Thursday, January 13, 2005

Space

Space Science Update: Big Stars, Titan Landing

Artist's conception of the Huygens probe nearing the surface of Titan, Saturn's largest moon.

January 13, 2005 NPR's Madeleine Brand speaks with Ira Flatow, host of Talk of the Nation Science Friday, about the most recent discoveries in outer space, including three giant stars, evidence of black holes and a space probe set to land on Saturn's biggest moon.

Summary

On Day to DayPlaylist

Thursday, January 06, 2005
Friday, December 31, 2004

Environment

'Talk of the Nation's' Annual Bird Show

December 31, 2004 NPR's Ira Flatow hosts our annual bird show. Call in with your sightings and questions.

Summary

On Talk of the NationPlaylist

Thursday, December 30, 2004
Friday, December 24, 2004

Space

New Galaxies Found in Earth's Backyard

December 24, 2004 Astronomers working on NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer project have just discovered new galaxies right here in Earth's backyard. Team member Tim Heckman joins NPR's Ira Flatow to talk about the findings.

Summary

On Talk of the NationPlaylist

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