New research says that the more rare the object you're looking for is, the more likely you are to make a mistake when it finally appears. The work has practical implications for people like airport security screeners. Join Ira and guests in this hour of Science Friday for a peek at how the brain tries to find a needle in a haystack.

We'll also talk about the path to an elevator into space. Though a science fiction staple for years, some technologists say that getting a lift into space on an elevator may not be as far-fetched as it seems. We'll find out about what progress has been made towards creating such a massive engineering feat.

Plus, searching for the source of mysterious gamma ray bursters -- the most energetic events in the universe. New research says all gamma ray bursters may not be created in the same way.Call in with your questions and comments at 1-800-989-8255 (3-4 Eastern). Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.

Guests:
Joshua Bloom
Assistant Professor of Astronomy
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California

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Brad Edwards
former Director of Research for the Institute for Scientific Research
President of Carbon Designs Inc.
Dallas, Texas

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Jeremy M Wolfe
Professor of Ophthalmology
Harvard Medical School
Boston, Massachusetts

Books/Articles Discussed:

"Cognitive psychology: Rare items often missed in visual searches" by Jeremy M. Wolfe, Todd S. Horowitz and Naomi M. Kenner. Nature 435, 439-440 (26 May 2005) | doi: 10.1038/435439a

(find books discussed on previous broadcasts)

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This segment produced by Charles Bergquist

Science Friday
With Host Ira Flatow: Making Science Radioactive