March 19, 2004, Hour One: New Planetoid / March Madness / Cholesterol Update

Science Friday > Archives > 2004 > March > March 19, 2004:
Hour One: New Planetoid / March Madness / Cholesterol Update

This week astronomers reported the discovery of a new member of our solar system family -- a distant object about three times further out than Pluto. The discoverers estimate the size of the object, which they've named Sedna, to be between 800-1100 miles in diameter. Pluto is 1400 miles in diameter. So should Sedna count as a planet? We'll talk with one of the discoverers about the find and what it tells us about our solar system.

Then, we'll lace up our sneakers and hit the courts. The NCAA college basketball tournament gets under way this week -- can statistics and mathematical analysis help predict the winners?

Finally, we'll take a look at the latest research on cholesterol and health. Is there such a thing as 'good cholesterol?' And how low should people go when attempting to cut their blood cholesterol levels? Call in with your questions and comments at 1-800-989-8255 (2-3 Eastern), and share your opinions online in our Listeners' Lounge (registration required).

Guests:
Mike Brown
Associate Professor of Planetary Astronomy
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, California

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Richard. J. Cleary
Chairman, Mathematical Sciences Department
Bentley College
Waltham, Massachusetts

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Dr. Paul Ridker
Eugene Braunwald Professor of Medicine
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts

Dr. Steven Nissen
Cardiologist
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio

This segment produced by Annette Heist

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