NPR Series: Science Out Of The Box http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6851565&ft=1&f=6851565 Why does the shower curtain cling to us? What do all the gizmos on a utility pole do? Did you ever stop to ponder the many varieties of manhole covers? An ongoing weekend series from <em>All Things Considered</em> focuses on the scientific miracles behind the mundane vistas of everyday life. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Sat, 30 May 2009 16:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg Science Out Of The Box http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6851565&ft=1&f=6851565 yes Scientist: Cooking Sets Us Apart From Apes Kiss the cook &mdash; because she's responsible for most of human evolution, according to Harvard anthropologist Richard Wrangham. Wrangham talks with host Jacki Lyden about his new book, <em>Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human.</em> Sat, 30 May 2009 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104755975&ft=1&f=6851565 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104755975&ft=1&f=6851565 Kiss the cook &mdash; because she's responsible for most of human evolution, according to Harvard anthropologist Richard Wrangham. Wrangham talks with host Jacki Lyden about his new book, <em>Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human.</em> 256 no Kiss the cook — because she's responsible for most of human evolution, according to Harvard anthropologist Richard Wrangham. Wrangham talks with host Jacki Lyden about his new book, Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human.

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]]> Astronomer Sings Hubble Telescope's Praises Astronauts from the space shuttle Atlantis went on their third space walk Saturday to repair the Hubble space telescope's camera and install new equipment. Guest host Rebecca Roberts talks about how the Hubble has impacted the world of astronomy with astronomer Dave Rodrigues, also known as the AstroWizard. Sat, 16 May 2009 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104215644&ft=1&f=6851565 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104215644&ft=1&f=6851565 Astronauts from the space shuttle Atlantis went on their third space walk Saturday to repair the Hubble space telescope's camera and install new equipment. Guest host Rebecca Roberts talks about how the Hubble has impacted the world of astronomy with astronomer Dave Rodrigues, also known as the AstroWizard. 245 no Astronauts from the space shuttle Atlantis went on their third space walk Saturday to repair the Hubble space telescope's camera and install new equipment. Guest host Rebecca Roberts talks about how the Hubble has impacted the world of astronomy with astronomer Dave Rodrigues, also known as the AstroWizard.

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]]> Woolly Mammoth Opens Doors For Researchers Lyuba, a 1-month-old baby mammoth, walked the tundra about 40,000 years ago and then died mysteriously. She miraculously reappeared on a riverbank in northwestern Siberia in 2007, discovered by a reindeer herder. She is the most perfectly preserved woolly mammoth ever discovered and gives researchers their best chance yet to build a genetic map of a species that vanished at the end of the last ice age. Host Jacki Lyden talks to paleontologist Dan Fisher. Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103495155&ft=1&f=6851565 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103495155&ft=1&f=6851565 Lyuba, a 1-month-old baby mammoth, walked the tundra about 40,000 years ago and then died mysteriously. She miraculously reappeared on a riverbank in northwestern Siberia in 2007, discovered by a reindeer herder. She is the most perfectly preserved woolly mammoth ever discovered and gives researchers their best chance yet to build a genetic map of a species that vanished at the end of the last ice age. Host Jacki Lyden talks to paleontologist Dan Fisher. 242 no Lyuba, a 1-month-old baby mammoth, walked the tundra about 40,000 years ago and then died mysteriously. She miraculously reappeared on a riverbank in northwestern Siberia in 2007, discovered by a reindeer herder. She is the most perfectly preserved woolly mammoth ever discovered and gives researchers their best chance yet to build a genetic map of a species that vanished at the end of the last ice age. Host Jacki Lyden talks to paleontologist Dan Fisher.

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]]> Who Put The Navel In Navel Oranges? When you pull apart a nice, juicy navel orange, why do you find those cute little sections hiding in the center? Sat, 18 Apr 2009 17:20:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103250589&ft=1&f=6851565 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103250589&ft=1&f=6851565 When you pull apart a nice, juicy navel orange, why do you find those cute little sections hiding in the center? 266 no When you pull apart a nice, juicy navel orange, why do you find those cute little sections hiding in the center?

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]]> Finding The North Pole On Thin Ice The mission: Travel more than 600 miles across the Arctic Ocean, in temperatures down to 40 degrees below zero. It's the Catlin Arctic Survey, a British expedition to the North Pole. Its goal is to collect data to help scientists determine how fast the sea ice is disappearing. Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:04:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102751874&ft=1&f=6851565 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102751874&ft=1&f=6851565 The mission: Travel more than 600 miles across the Arctic Ocean, in temperatures down to 40 degrees below zero. It's the Catlin Arctic Survey, a British expedition to the North Pole. Its goal is to collect data to help scientists determine how fast the sea ice is disappearing. 293 no The mission: Travel more than 600 miles across the Arctic Ocean, in temperatures down to 40 degrees below zero. It's the Catlin Arctic Survey, a British expedition to the North Pole. Its goal is to collect data to help scientists determine how fast the sea ice is disappearing.

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]]> Levitation Toys Really Test Brain Power Remember playing with dolls or action figures, using your imagination to create fantastic worlds in your own bedroom? These new toys also use the power of the mind -&#x96; in fact, they're controlled by brain waves. Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:28:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102472655&ft=1&f=6851565 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102472655&ft=1&f=6851565 Remember playing with dolls or action figures, using your imagination to create fantastic worlds in your own bedroom? These new toys also use the power of the mind -&#x96; in fact, they're controlled by brain waves. 287 no Remember playing with dolls or action figures, using your imagination to create fantastic worlds in your own bedroom? These new toys also use the power of the mind -– in fact, they're controlled by brain waves.

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]]> My Life As A Human Guinea Pig David Ewing Duncan decided to subject himself to more than 200 physical and mental tests &mdash; not just for fun, but to write a book about his experience. It's called <em>Experimental Man.</em> Duncan talks with host Jacki Lyden about how close we are to a future where tests can predict our precise risk for developing illness. Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102211285&ft=1&f=6851565 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102211285&ft=1&f=6851565 David Ewing Duncan decided to subject himself to more than 200 physical and mental tests &mdash; not just for fun, but to write a book about his experience. It's called <em>Experimental Man.</em> Duncan talks with host Jacki Lyden about how close we are to a future where tests can predict our precise risk for developing illness. 317 no David Ewing Duncan decided to subject himself to more than 200 physical and mental tests — not just for fun, but to write a book about his experience. It's called Experimental Man. Duncan talks with host Jacki Lyden about how close we are to a future where tests can predict our precise risk for developing illness.

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]]> Wooing A Blood-Thirsty Vampire Fish It costs $20 million to battle the invasive lamprey in the Great Lakes. The blood-sucking fish is killing off many species of native fish there. But scientists have developed a "love potion" made of the fish's own pheromones to lure the lamprey into traps. Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101892336&ft=1&f=6851565 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101892336&ft=1&f=6851565 It costs $20 million to battle the invasive lamprey in the Great Lakes. The blood-sucking fish is killing off many species of native fish there. But scientists have developed a "love potion" made of the fish's own pheromones to lure the lamprey into traps. 203 no It costs $20 million to battle the invasive lamprey in the Great Lakes. The blood-sucking fish is killing off many species of native fish there. But scientists have developed a "love potion" made of the fish's own pheromones to lure the lamprey into traps.

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]]> Kindle's New Voice Is Almost Human The latest version of Amazon's electronic book reader features the latest in text-to-speech technology. Could a dystopian future where NPR hosts are replaced by soulless robots soon be upon us? Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:15:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101585667&ft=1&f=6851565 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101585667&ft=1&f=6851565 The latest version of Amazon's electronic book reader features the latest in text-to-speech technology. Could a dystopian future where NPR hosts are replaced by soulless robots soon be upon us? 262 no The latest version of Amazon's electronic book reader features the latest in text-to-speech technology. Could a dystopian future where NPR hosts are replaced by soulless robots soon be upon us?

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]]> It's Shocking, But You Eat It It's a little yellow bud, and when you put it in your mouth, something strange happens. It's a reaction that feels "a little north of Pop Rocks, and south of putting a 9-volt battery in your mouth." Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:11:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101304548&ft=1&f=6851565 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101304548&ft=1&f=6851565 It's a little yellow bud, and when you put it in your mouth, something strange happens. It's a reaction that feels "a little north of Pop Rocks, and south of putting a 9-volt battery in your mouth." 329 no It's a little yellow bud, and when you put it in your mouth, something strange happens. It's a reaction that feels "a little north of Pop Rocks, and south of putting a 9-volt battery in your mouth."

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]]> Playstation 3: A Discount Supercomputer? It can cost thousands of dollars for researchers to run simulations on supercomputers &mdash; so some computer scientists have decided to build cheaper ones &mdash; out of Playstation 3's. Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:22:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100969805&ft=1&f=6851565 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100969805&ft=1&f=6851565 It can cost thousands of dollars for researchers to run simulations on supercomputers &mdash; so some computer scientists have decided to build cheaper ones &mdash; out of Playstation 3's. 0 no It can cost thousands of dollars for researchers to run simulations on supercomputers — so some computer scientists have decided to build cheaper ones — out of Playstation 3's.

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]]> Cotton Candy, A Medical Wonder? Two researchers are trying to use cotton candy to create a network of vessels that could carry blood through artificial tissue. If successful, the synthetic tissue they create could be used in applications from skin grafts to breast reconstruction. Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:25:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100721500&ft=1&f=6851565 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100721500&ft=1&f=6851565 Two researchers are trying to use cotton candy to create a network of vessels that could carry blood through artificial tissue. If successful, the synthetic tissue they create could be used in applications from skin grafts to breast reconstruction. 0 no Two researchers are trying to use cotton candy to create a network of vessels that could carry blood through artificial tissue. If successful, the synthetic tissue they create could be used in applications from skin grafts to breast reconstruction.

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]]> 3-Million-Year-Old Skeleton Gets CT Scan Lucy is the most famous fossil in the world, but scientists still haven't learned all of her secrets. The fossil underwent an extensive CT scan in Houston. Jon Kappelman, who led the team that scanned Lucy, talks about the experience of working with the fossil. Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:12:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100384687&ft=1&f=6851565 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100384687&ft=1&f=6851565 Lucy is the most famous fossil in the world, but scientists still haven't learned all of her secrets. The fossil underwent an extensive CT scan in Houston. Jon Kappelman, who led the team that scanned Lucy, talks about the experience of working with the fossil. 220 no Lucy is the most famous fossil in the world, but scientists still haven't learned all of her secrets. The fossil underwent an extensive CT scan in Houston. Jon Kappelman, who led the team that scanned Lucy, talks about the experience of working with the fossil.

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]]> Reading Creates 'Simulations' In Minds A study provides new insights about what's going on in your head when you crack open a good book. Jeff Zacks, associate professor of psychology at Washington University in St. Louis, talks about the study. Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100109043&ft=1&f=6851565 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100109043&ft=1&f=6851565 A study provides new insights about what's going on in your head when you crack open a good book. Jeff Zacks, associate professor of psychology at Washington University in St. Louis, talks about the study. 0 no A study provides new insights about what's going on in your head when you crack open a good book. Jeff Zacks, associate professor of psychology at Washington University in St. Louis, talks about the study.

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]]> Why Does Cold Weather Cause Runny Noses? Why does your nose run when it's cold outside? Dr. Andrew Lane of Johns Hopkins University provides some answers. Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99844567&ft=1&f=6851565 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99844567&ft=1&f=6851565 Why does your nose run when it's cold outside? Dr. Andrew Lane of Johns Hopkins University provides some answers. 0 no Why does your nose run when it's cold outside? Dr. Andrew Lane of Johns Hopkins University provides some answers.

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