Diabetes, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's. What do they have in common? All of them, researchers say, involve inflammation. Join Ira in this hour of Science Friday for a look at what scientists are learning about inflammation, and the role it plays in a laundry list of diseases. Can getting a handle on inflammation help control the course of these other medical conditions?

Plus, this week scientists announced new evidence for liquid water on Mars -- not in some distant, long-forgotten past, but within the past few years. Photographs taken of the surface of the Red Planet show new gully features that some researchers believe may be the result of recently-flowing liquid water. We'll talk about the find, and get and an update on the missing Mars Global Surveyor. Call in with your questions and comments at 1-800-989-8255 (2-3 Eastern). Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.

Guests:
Ken Edgett
Staff Scientist
Malin Space Science Systems
San Diego, California

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Gary L. Wenk
Professor, Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience; Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics
Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio

Ann Marie Schmidt
Chief, Department of Surgery's Division of Surgical Science
Gerald and Janet Carrus Professor of Surgical Science
Columbia University Medical Center
New York, New York

Peter Libby
Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Mallinckrodt Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Boston, Massachusetts

Books/Articles Discussed:

"Present-Day Impact Cratering Rate and Contemporary Gully Activity on Mars," by M.C. Malin, K.S. Edgett, L.V. Posiolova, S.M. McColley, and E.Z. Noe Dobrea at Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego, CA. Science, Dec 8, 2006.

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This segment produced by Annette Heist