In this hour, we'll look at the science behind some popular sports, from the spin of a soccer ball, to the statistics of baseball, and the use of so-called performance enhancing drugs in cyclists.

Plus, researchers around the world are teaming up to protect endangered frogs, and are calling for the formation of an 'Amphibian Survival Alliance.' The scientists behind the proposal, writing in the journal Science, say that about a third of the world's amphibians are currently threatened, and that between 9 and 122 of the world's 5,743 known species of amphibians have become extinct since 1980. We'll find about some of the problems facing amphibians and what might be done to help the animals survive. (for more information about the Amphibian Alliance, listeners can contact info@zooatlanta.org.)

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:
Gary I. Wadler, MD
Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine
New York University School of Medicine
New York, New York

Jonah Keri
Editor and Co-author, "Baseball Between the Numbers" (Basic Books, 2005)
Writer, ESPN.com
Seattle, Washington

Ken Bray
Visiting Professor
University of Bath
Bath, England, United Kingdom

***************

Joseph Mendelson III
Curator of Herpetology, Zoo Atlanta
Acting Executive Officer, Amphibian Specialist Group
World Conservation Union (IUCN.org)
Atlanta, Georgia

Books/Articles Discussed:

"Baseball Between the Numbers" by Jonah Keri et al. Basic Books, 2005.

"Confronting Amphibian Declines and Extinctions," by J.R. Mendelson III et al, Science, July 7 2006.

(find books discussed on previous broadcasts)

Search by keywords:

This segment produced by Annette Heist