biology http://www.npr.org biology en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 06:32:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg biology http://www.npr.org yes An Eclectic Mix Of Giants Takes On The Origin Of Life Not only is there no consensus yet on how life might have started on Earth, there is not even any agreement on <em>where</em> it started. But still, many think the mystery of life's origin can be solved. Commentator Wim Hordijk revels in the subject at a conference hosted by Princeton University. Sun, 10 Mar 2013 06:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/03/10/172875449/an-eclectic-mix-of-giants-takes-on-the-origin-of-life?ft=1&f=128191401 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/03/10/172875449/an-eclectic-mix-of-giants-takes-on-the-origin-of-life?ft=1&f=128191401 Not only is there no consensus yet on how life might have started on Earth, there is not even any agreement on <em>where</em> it started. But still, many think the mystery of life's origin can be solved. Commentator Wim Hordijk revels in the subject at a conference hosted by Princeton University. no Not only is there no consensus yet on how life might have started on Earth, there is not even any agreement on where it started. But still, many think the mystery of life's origin can be solved. Commentator Wim Hordijk revels in the subject at a conference hosted by Princeton University.

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]]> Do We Know How Life Began? Not Really We know a great deal about life and its pre-biotic precursors. But do we now understand how life is built from non-life? This is still an open question. Philospher Alva Noë considers this state of affairs in the context of the storm of controversy surrounding Thomas Nagel's book. Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:42:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/02/08/171463418/do-we-know-how-life-began-not-really?ft=1&f=128191401 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/02/08/171463418/do-we-know-how-life-began-not-really?ft=1&f=128191401 We know a great deal about life and its pre-biotic precursors. But do we now understand how life is built from non-life? This is still an open question. Philospher Alva Noë considers this state of affairs in the context of the storm of controversy surrounding Thomas Nagel's book. no We know a great deal about life and its pre-biotic precursors. But do we now understand how life is built from non-life? This is still an open question. Philospher Alva Noë considers this state of affairs in the context of the storm of controversy surrounding Thomas Nagel's book.

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]]> Scientists Look For New Drugs In Skin Of Russian Frog Secretions from a brown frog's skin contain chemicals that might be useful in fighting bacteria. Russian researchers are cataloging compounds in the slimy goo. Although the odds against them are long, the researchers hope their work will aid the search for new drugs. Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:04:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/12/17/167255929/scientists-look-for-new-drugs-in-skin-of-russian-frog?ft=1&f=128191401 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/12/17/167255929/scientists-look-for-new-drugs-in-skin-of-russian-frog?ft=1&f=128191401 Secretions from a brown frog's skin contain chemicals that might be useful in fighting bacteria. Russian researchers are cataloging compounds in the slimy goo. Although the odds against them are long, the researchers hope their work will aid the search for new drugs. no Secretions from a brown frog's skin contain chemicals that might be useful in fighting bacteria. Russian researchers are cataloging compounds in the slimy goo. Although the odds against them are long, the researchers hope their work will aid the search for new drugs.

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]]> From A Tennessee Forest, Singing The Beauty Of Nature And Science Anchoring himself to a tiny patch of Tennessee forest, a scientist takes notes on what he sees and hears. He conducts no experiments and collects no samples. Commentator Barbara J. King offers an appreciation of evolutionary biologist David Haskell's approach to science. Thu, 08 Nov 2012 13:23:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2012/11/06/164398469/from-a-tennessee-forest-singing-the-beauty-of-nature-and-science?ft=1&f=128191401 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2012/11/06/164398469/from-a-tennessee-forest-singing-the-beauty-of-nature-and-science?ft=1&f=128191401 Anchoring himself to a tiny patch of Tennessee forest, a scientist takes notes on what he sees and hears. He conducts no experiments and collects no samples. Commentator Barbara J. King offers an appreciation of evolutionary biologist David Haskell's approach to science. no Anchoring himself to a tiny patch of Tennessee forest, a scientist takes notes on what he sees and hears. He conducts no experiments and collects no samples. Commentator Barbara J. King offers an appreciation of evolutionary biologist David Haskell's approach to science.

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]]> Are The Mind And Life Natural? Can natural science find a place for us in its vision of the cosmos? Thomas Nagel, in a new book, demands we take this question seriously. He is right to do so. Fri, 12 Oct 2012 10:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2012/10/12/162725315/are-the-mind-and-life-natural?ft=1&f=128191401 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2012/10/12/162725315/are-the-mind-and-life-natural?ft=1&f=128191401 Can natural science find a place for us in its vision of the cosmos? Thomas Nagel, in a new book, demands we take this question seriously. He is right to do so. no Can natural science find a place for us in its vision of the cosmos? Thomas Nagel, in a new book, demands we take this question seriously. He is right to do so.

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]]> Think You Know Silicon Valley? Take A Closer Look Entrepreneurs are just one part of the organic machine that is Silicon Valley. Replicating the Valley's success isn't possible without bringing all of the pieces together in a symbiotic system. Mon, 09 Jul 2012 08:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2012/07/09/156383644/think-you-know-silicon-valley-take-a-closer-look?ft=1&f=128191401 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2012/07/09/156383644/think-you-know-silicon-valley-take-a-closer-look?ft=1&f=128191401 Entrepreneurs are just one part of the organic machine that is Silicon Valley. Replicating the Valley's success isn't possible without bringing all of the pieces together in a symbiotic system. no Entrepreneurs are just one part of the organic machine that is Silicon Valley. Replicating the Valley's success isn't possible without bringing all of the pieces together in a symbiotic system.

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]]> Culture, Not Biology, Shapes Language Forget language genes or innate linguistic universals; language is not only learned, it's also powerfully shaped by the culture we live in. Fieldwork among Brazilian Indians led linguist Dan Everett to see culture as the leading determinant of language. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:27:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2012/04/24/151310809/culture-not-biology-shapes-language?ft=1&f=128191401 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2012/04/24/151310809/culture-not-biology-shapes-language?ft=1&f=128191401 Forget language genes or innate linguistic universals; language is not only learned, it's also powerfully shaped by the culture we live in. Fieldwork among Brazilian Indians led linguist Dan Everett to see culture as the leading determinant of language. no Forget language genes or innate linguistic universals; language is not only learned, it's also powerfully shaped by the culture we live in. Fieldwork among Brazilian Indians led linguist Dan Everett to see culture as the leading determinant of language.

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]]> Do Plants Have Minds? There is good evidence that plants exhibit signs of intelligent behavior. Is this because they are robots? Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:20:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2011/12/02/143041917/do-plants-have-minds?ft=1&f=128191401 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2011/12/02/143041917/do-plants-have-minds?ft=1&f=128191401 There is good evidence that plants exhibit signs of intelligent behavior. Is this because they are robots? no There is good evidence that plants exhibit signs of intelligent behavior. Is this because they are robots?

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]]> Kids' Sugar Cravings Might Be Biological Research shows children are hardwired from birth to prefer sweets, which may have once been an evolutionary advantage. But it appears they begin to scale back on their sugary preferences once they stop growing. Mon, 26 Sep 2011 04:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2011/09/26/140753048/kids-sugar-cravings-might-be-biological?ft=1&f=128191401 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2011/09/26/140753048/kids-sugar-cravings-might-be-biological?ft=1&f=128191401 Research shows children are hardwired from birth to prefer sweets, which may have once been an evolutionary advantage. But it appears they begin to scale back on their sugary preferences once they stop growing. 263 no Research shows children are hardwired from birth to prefer sweets, which may have once been an evolutionary advantage. But it appears they begin to scale back on their sugary preferences once they stop growing.

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]]> Biologist Pins Big Bird's Genus And Species Big Bird's one of <em>Sesame Street</em>'s most beloved characters. But what the heck kind of bird is he? Biologist Mike Dickison has figured it out. Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:44:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/talk/2010/06/29/128191080/biologist-pins-big-bird-s-genus-and-species?ft=1&f=128191401 http://www.npr.org/blogs/talk/2010/06/29/128191080/biologist-pins-big-bird-s-genus-and-species?ft=1&f=128191401 Big Bird's one of <em>Sesame Street</em>'s most beloved characters. But what the heck kind of bird is he? Biologist Mike Dickison has figured it out. no Big Bird's one of Sesame Street's most beloved characters. But what the heck kind of bird is he? Biologist Mike Dickison has figured it out.

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