Science Friday > Archives > 2004 > August > August 13, 2004:
Hour Two: Stem Cells Update--Alvin--Power Failure Anniversary

Join Ira Flatow and guests in this hour of Science Friday for a news trifecta:

1. Stem cell research, 3 years after Pres. Bush imposed limits on using federal funds for stem cell research, it has become a hot, political issue.  We update the state of the research and where it may be headed.

2. Replacing Alvin, the deep diving subermersible- designing her replacement.  After decades of dramatic diving, the Alvin has become obsolete for cutting edge exploration.  This week, the NSF said it will fund the development of her replacement, at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution  What will a new submersible look like? What should it be able to accomplish?

3. It's been one year since the Big Blackout of 'O3. Can it..will it...happen again?  We talk with the author of an article in the IEEE Spectrum about the idea that no matter how we try to fix the power grid, the laws of nature - including chaos theory - say that blackouts may be inevitable.

Call in with your questions and comments at 1-800-989-8255 (3-4 Eastern), and share your opinions online in our Listeners' Lounge (registration required).

Guests:

Joe Palca

NPR Science Correspondent

Washington, DC

Peter Fairley

Writer/Editor

Victoria, BC

Barrie Walden

Manager of the Alvin Group

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Woods Hole, MA

This segment produced by Annette Heist

Archived Audio:
power grid
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stem cells
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Alvin replacement
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Replacing Alvin

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