The dinosaurs' demise has been linked to the rise of mammals, but a new study says the connection isn't so direct -- the downfall of the dinos didn't necessarily lead directly to the rise of mammals on Earth -- it took time for mammals to take hold. Join Ira for a look at the study and how it changes the picture of ancient life on the planet.

We'll also hear about research trying to project the possible effects of climate change on the world's ecosystems. A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences says some of the world's climate zones will disappear as the climate warms, while new climate zones will appear. Tropical areas , including the rainforests, may be especially affected, while unusual climate zones such as those found in parts of Siberia could disappear from the planet entirely, the researchers say. We'll talk about the study.

Plus, new guidelines for breast cancer screening say that for some at-risk women, MRI imaging, not the standard x-ray mammogram, should be used to check for tumors. We'll talk about the change in guidelines for doctors and patients, and talk about the advantages and disadvantages of each technique.

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:
Stephen Jackson
Professor, Botany
Director, Program in Ecology
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming

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Ross MacPhee
Curator, Division of Vertebrate Zoology
American Museum of Natural History
New York, New York

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Elizabeth Morris, M.D.
Director, Breast MRI
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York

Books/Articles Discussed:

Projected distributions of novel and disappearing climates by 2100 AD -- Williams et al., 10.1073/pnas.0606292104 -- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

 

Nature 446, 507-512 (29 March 2007) -- The delayed rise of present-day mammals

NEJM -- MRI Evaluation of the Contralateral Breast in Women with Recently Diagnosed Breast Cancer

 

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This segment produced by Karin Vergoth