NPR People: Christopher Joyce http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100689&ft=1&f=2100689 Christopher Joyce is a correspondent on the science desk at NPR. His stories can be heard on all of NPR's news programs, including NPR's Morning Edition., All Things Considered., and Weekend Edition.. In addition to his work with the science desk, Joyce is the editor and a correspondent for NPR's Radio Expeditions, a documentary program on natural history and disappearing cultures produced in collaboration with the National Geographic Society that can be heard frequently on Morning Edition. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:00:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg Christopher Joyce http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100689&ft=1&f=2100689 yes Researchers Get Dirty To Clean Up Chesapeake A team of scientists is studying mud, ooze and other material from the bay's bottom to help the EPA crack down on pollutants. The tubes of glop they've collected from throughout the Chesapeake Bay are like biopsies — they indicate where the bay is healthy and where it's dying. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120191137&ft=1&f=2100689 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120191137&ft=1&f=2100689 A team of scientists is studying mud, ooze and other material from the bay's bottom to help the EPA crack down on pollutants. The tubes of glop they've collected from throughout the Chesapeake Bay are like biopsies — they indicate where the bay is healthy and where it's dying. 293 no A team of scientists is studying mud, ooze and other material from the bay's bottom to help the EPA crack down on pollutants. The tubes of glop they've collected from throughout the Chesapeake Bay are like biopsies — they indicate where the bay is healthy and where it's dying.

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]]> Senate Hearing On Climate Bill Heats Up A Senate committee has begun hearings on a massive climate bill that would remake the energy economy. Supporters say it will protect the environment and create a new green industry. Opponents say it will kill the fossil fuel industry — costing millions of jobs. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:26:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114254764&ft=1&f=2100689 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114254764&ft=1&f=2100689 A Senate committee has begun hearings on a massive climate bill that would remake the energy economy. Supporters say it will protect the environment and create a new green industry. Opponents say it will kill the fossil fuel industry — costing millions of jobs. 203 no A Senate committee has begun hearings on a massive climate bill that would remake the energy economy. Supporters say it will protect the environment and create a new green industry. Opponents say it will kill the fossil fuel industry — costing millions of jobs.

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]]> Using Trees To Curb Climate Change Not So Simple Forests are fast becoming a great green hope for slowing climate change. Climate planners are keen to create forest carbon banks, places designed to store carbon and keep it out of the atmosphere. But banking carbon in forests turns out to be something of a mystery. Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114062725&ft=1&f=2100689 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114062725&ft=1&f=2100689 Forests are fast becoming a great green hope for slowing climate change. Climate planners are keen to create forest carbon banks, places designed to store carbon and keep it out of the atmosphere. But banking carbon in forests turns out to be something of a mystery. 240 no Forests are fast becoming a great green hope for slowing climate change. Climate planners are keen to create forest carbon banks, places designed to store carbon and keep it out of the atmosphere. But banking carbon in forests turns out to be something of a mystery.

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]]> Slo-Mo Cricket Chirps Reveal Secret Serenades The slight differences in the patterns of cricket chirps are undetectable to the human ear, but may actually determine how crickets recognize their own kind. Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113435034&ft=1&f=2100689 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113435034&ft=1&f=2100689 The slight differences in the patterns of cricket chirps are undetectable to the human ear, but may actually determine how crickets recognize their own kind. 171 no The slight differences in the patterns of cricket chirps are undetectable to the human ear, but may actually determine how crickets recognize their own kind.

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]]> Do Offsets Really Help Reduce Emissions? The climate bills working their way through Congress are the biggest effort ever to limit greenhouse gases for the U.S. One huge concession to industry is a system of offsets, by which companies that need to lower their carbon "footprint" can pay to reduce carbon emissions somewhere else. But offsets are seen by critics as a dodge for companies that don't want to clean up at home. Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113781791&ft=1&f=2100689 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113781791&ft=1&f=2100689 The climate bills working their way through Congress are the biggest effort ever to limit greenhouse gases for the U.S. One huge concession to industry is a system of offsets, by which companies that need to lower their carbon "footprint" can pay to reduce carbon emissions somewhere else. But offsets are seen by critics as a dodge for companies that don't want to clean up at home. 280 no The climate bills working their way through Congress are the biggest effort ever to limit greenhouse gases for the U.S. One huge concession to industry is a system of offsets, by which companies that need to lower their carbon "footprint" can pay to reduce carbon emissions somewhere else. But offsets are seen by critics as a dodge for companies that don't want to clean up at home.

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]]> Move Over, Lucy; Ardi May Be Oldest Human Ancestor Scientists working in Ethiopia have discovered what they say is the biggest trove of fossils yet from the earliest known human ancestor. Fossils include teeth that suggest a new, more sophisticated procreation strategy for the time: males exchanging food for sex. Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:07:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113387960&ft=1&f=2100689 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113387960&ft=1&f=2100689 Scientists working in Ethiopia have discovered what they say is the biggest trove of fossils yet from the earliest known human ancestor. Fossils include teeth that suggest a new, more sophisticated procreation strategy for the time: males exchanging food for sex. 272 no Scientists working in Ethiopia have discovered what they say is the biggest trove of fossils yet from the earliest known human ancestor. Fossils include teeth that suggest a new, more sophisticated procreation strategy for the time: males exchanging food for sex.

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]]> Grunts And Gurgles Signal Love For Grouse Every spring, male grouse gather in the Great Plains and engage in a mass act of strutting, showmanship and general vocal frenzy that would put Mick Jagger to shame. For researchers, it's an opportunity to observe how these animals interact in a rapidly changing American West. Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112186144&ft=1&f=2100689 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112186144&ft=1&f=2100689 Every spring, male grouse gather in the Great Plains and engage in a mass act of strutting, showmanship and general vocal frenzy that would put Mick Jagger to shame. For researchers, it's an opportunity to observe how these animals interact in a rapidly changing American West. 160 no Every spring, male grouse gather in the Great Plains and engage in a mass act of strutting, showmanship and general vocal frenzy that would put Mick Jagger to shame. For researchers, it's an opportunity to observe how these animals interact in a rapidly changing American West.

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]]> Senate Unveils Plan To Reduce Emissions California Sen. Barbara Boxer unveils a bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent to help slow climate change. The plan uses a cap and trade system and would rework the nation's energy economy. Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113314604&ft=1&f=2100689 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113314604&ft=1&f=2100689 California Sen. Barbara Boxer unveils a bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent to help slow climate change. The plan uses a cap and trade system and would rework the nation's energy economy. 230 no California Sen. Barbara Boxer unveils a bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent to help slow climate change. The plan uses a cap and trade system and would rework the nation's energy economy.

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]]> Spider Wranglers Weave One-Of-A-Kind Tapestry The American Museum of Natural History in New York unveiled something never before seen: an 11-by-4-foot tapestry made completely of spider silk. The tapestry took four years to make, with the help of more than 1 million spiders. Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113223398&ft=1&f=2100689 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113223398&ft=1&f=2100689 The American Museum of Natural History in New York unveiled something never before seen: an 11-by-4-foot tapestry made completely of spider silk. The tapestry took four years to make, with the help of more than 1 million spiders. 188 no The American Museum of Natural History in New York unveiled something never before seen: an 11-by-4-foot tapestry made completely of spider silk. The tapestry took four years to make, with the help of more than 1 million spiders.

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]]> Even T. Rex Started Small An ancestor of the fearsome <em>Tyrannosaurus rex</em> shares its big head, deep jaws, tiny arms, long legs and lanky feet &mdash; but it's 1/90th the size. Even pint-sized, it was a predatory powerhouse. Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112925703&ft=1&f=2100689 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112925703&ft=1&f=2100689 An ancestor of the fearsome <em>Tyrannosaurus rex</em> shares its big head, deep jaws, tiny arms, long legs and lanky feet &mdash; but it's 1/90th the size. Even pint-sized, it was a predatory powerhouse. 177 no An ancestor of the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex shares its big head, deep jaws, tiny arms, long legs and lanky feet — but it's 1/90th the size. Even pint-sized, it was a predatory powerhouse.

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]]> Study: Gender-Bending Fish Widespread In U.S. A survey of "feminization" of fish finds that a large percentage of male bass are producing egg cells. Scientists suspect this abnormal phenomenon is the result of synthetic chemicals in water that mimic the behavior of female hormones. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112888785&ft=1&f=2100689 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112888785&ft=1&f=2100689 A survey of "feminization" of fish finds that a large percentage of male bass are producing egg cells. Scientists suspect this abnormal phenomenon is the result of synthetic chemicals in water that mimic the behavior of female hormones. 245 no A survey of "feminization" of fish finds that a large percentage of male bass are producing egg cells. Scientists suspect this abnormal phenomenon is the result of synthetic chemicals in water that mimic the behavior of female hormones.

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]]> DNA 'Barcode' To Help Nab Illegal Wildlife Traders Researchers at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City have identified a specific section of DNA that seems to be unique to each species. Using this "barcode," they can evaluate meat and skin samples to determine if they came from an endangered species. Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:11:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112819451&ft=1&f=2100689 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112819451&ft=1&f=2100689 Researchers at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City have identified a specific section of DNA that seems to be unique to each species. Using this "barcode," they can evaluate meat and skin samples to determine if they came from an endangered species. 275 no Researchers at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City have identified a specific section of DNA that seems to be unique to each species. Using this "barcode," they can evaluate meat and skin samples to determine if they came from an endangered species.

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]]> Can Dirt Really Save Us From Global Warming? Some politicians are promoting "no-till farming" as a way to fight climate change. The idea? When crops are planted without tilling, the soil holds carbon that would otherwise end up in the atmosphere. But some scientists think no-till may not be better at storing carbon than conventional farming. Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112496096&ft=1&f=2100689 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112496096&ft=1&f=2100689 Some politicians are promoting "no-till farming" as a way to fight climate change. The idea? When crops are planted without tilling, the soil holds carbon that would otherwise end up in the atmosphere. But some scientists think no-till may not be better at storing carbon than conventional farming. 276 no Some politicians are promoting "no-till farming" as a way to fight climate change. The idea? When crops are planted without tilling, the soil holds carbon that would otherwise end up in the atmosphere. But some scientists think no-till may not be better at storing carbon than conventional farming.

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]]> Renewable Energy Needs Land, Lots Of Land Pending climate and energy legislation puts a lot of stock &mdash; and money &mdash; into switching from fossil fuels, like coal and oil, to renewable energy such as wind, solar and ethanol. But some new analysis by environmental experts shows that alternative energy comes with some stiff penalties. For example: Energy Sprawl. Fri, 28 Aug 2009 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112323643&ft=1&f=2100689 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112323643&ft=1&f=2100689 Pending climate and energy legislation puts a lot of stock &mdash; and money &mdash; into switching from fossil fuels, like coal and oil, to renewable energy such as wind, solar and ethanol. But some new analysis by environmental experts shows that alternative energy comes with some stiff penalties. For example: Energy Sprawl. 220 no Pending climate and energy legislation puts a lot of stock — and money — into switching from fossil fuels, like coal and oil, to renewable energy such as wind, solar and ethanol. But some new analysis by environmental experts shows that alternative energy comes with some stiff penalties. For example: Energy Sprawl.

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