Science Friday Archives - browsing recent stories

International Space Station following most recent upgrade. Credit: STS-119 Shuttle Crew, NASA.

Building Better Bridges: Engineers have been building bridges for hundreds of years. But are better designs, techniques, and materials available today? (first broadcast Friday, October 26, 2007)

Chinese Moon Mission Launch: This week, China launched Chang'e One, a robotic lunar orbiter. Does the launch mean the start of a new global space race? (first broadcast Friday, October 26, 2007)

von Braun: In this segment, Ira talks with space historian Michael Neufeld, author of a new biography of rocket pioneer Wernher von Braun. (first broadcast Friday, October 26, 2007)

Political Snap Decisions: Researchers have found that snap decisions about how 'competent' a politician looks, based solely on a picture of the politician's face, are good predictors of the outcome of elections. (first broadcast Friday, October 26, 2007)

Towards a Blood Test for Alzheimer's: Alzheimer's disease is notoriously difficult to diagnose in its earliest stages. Now, researchers say they may be on the way to developing a blood test for the neurological disease. (first broadcast Friday, October 19, 2007)

Conflicts of Interest: How deep are the ties between on-campus research and private companies? By creating public/private partnerships involving academic research, are we risking scientific integrity? (first broadcast Friday, October 19, 2007)

New Radio Telescope: Astronomers have switched on the first 42 radio dishes of the Allen Telescope Array and are collecting data -- both for conventional radio astronomy, and the search for extraterrestrial life. (first broadcast Friday, October 19, 2007)

Multi-Drug-Resistant Infections: Drug resistant superbugs are on the rise. Doctors have identified a strain of the bacteria responsible for the common ear infection that is anything but common -- it's resistant to all antibiotics approved for use in children. (first broadcast Friday, October 19, 2007)

Influenza Update: Have you had your flu shot yet? Ira talks with influenza experts about the upcoming flu season and efforts to improve influenza prevention and treatment. (first broadcast Friday, October 19, 2007)

Printing Living Cells: Can researchers use inkjet technology to build artificial tissues? (first broadcast Friday, October 12, 2007)

Helium Shortage: Though it's the second most common element in the universe, helium is in short supply on Earth. (first broadcast Friday, October 12, 2007)

Cancer Update with Robert Weinberg: Ira talks with cancer researcher Robert Weinberg about the frontiers of cancer research. (first broadcast Friday, October 12, 2007)

Space Rocks Auction: Pssst... wanna buy a space rock? (first broadcast Friday, October 12, 2007)

Overtreated: Are Americans getting too much unneccessary health care? (first broadcast Friday, October 12, 2007)