Batter Up!: Ira and guests talk about the physics and materials science that go into one of the symbols of summer -- the baseball bat. (first broadcast Friday, July 4, 2008)

Bottlemania: It's hard to go anywhere these days without seeing someone with a bottle of drinking water. But when did that start -- and how has the water bottle become such a part of current US culture? (first broadcast Friday, July 4, 2008)

Nuclear Family Vacation: We'll take a tour of atomic history and visit some of the key locations involved with the development of nuclear weapons. (first broadcast Friday, July 4, 2008)

Science and Technology Tourism Destinations: Made your summer vacation plans yet? We'll help pick out science, technology, and environment related destinations that you might want to add to your list. (first broadcast Friday, July 4, 2008)

Genetics and ADHD: Researchers believe they have found a genetic factor linked to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, and the change in the brain created by the genetic code. (first broadcast Friday, July 11, 2008)

Planetary Science Update: Mars has water ice in its soil -- and could Mercury be shrinking? In this segment, we'll get the latest from around the solar system, checking in with scientists on both the Mars Phoenix and Mercury Messenger space missions. (first broadcast Friday, July 11, 2008)

The Possibility of Earthquake Prediction: Can new forms of seismic monitoring be used to predict earthquakes? (first broadcast Friday, July 11, 2008)

A Coral Catastrophe?: A third of the world's reef-building coral species are vulnerable to extinction, a group of researchers says. We'll talk with one of the authors of a report about the plight of corals, and discuss whether anything can be done to turn back the tide. (first broadcast Friday, July 11, 2008)

How Does Your Garden Grow?: Ira and guests talk about ways to make your thumb a little greener and help supply food for your dinner table. (first broadcast Friday, July 11, 2008)

The Scoop on Soil: Soil may be good for growing things in -- but it's also an important player in climate change. We'll talk with a soil scientist about the importance of fertile soil to the planet's environmental health. (first broadcast Friday, July 11, 2008)

Solar Energy Roundup: In this segment, we'll get a sampling of the latest news on solar energy sources, including new developments in technology and energy policy. Plus, what you can do on a small scale to add solar power to your world. (first broadcast Friday, July 18, 2008)

Remembering Michael DeBakey: Pioneering heart surgeon Michael DeBakey died last week at the age of 99. We'll look back on his life and work. (first broadcast Friday, July 18, 2008)

Stomach Bug May Help Battle Asthma: Could a bacterium thought to be responsible for stomach ulcers help ward off childhood asthma? (first broadcast Friday, July 18, 2008)

Eco-Boat Breaks Speed Record: We'll talk with the skipper of a bio-fueled powerboat named Earthrace, which just broke the record for circumnavigation of the globe. (first broadcast Friday, July 18, 2008)

Off-Shore Drilling Pluses and Minuses: In this segment, we'll talk about the realities of offshore oil drilling. How much oil might there be? When would it be available? And what other consequences might offshore drilling have? (first broadcast Friday, July 18, 2008)

Secrets of the Spleen: What's a spleen good for? New research says nerves within the spleen could provide an interface between the brain and the immune system. (first broadcast Friday, July 25, 2008)

A New Direction for AIDS Vaccine Research: The National Institutes of Health has decided to cancel a large-scale test of an experimental AIDS vaccine, saying that more focused research was needed on the way such vaccines interact with the immune system. We'll talk with Anthony Fauci, head of the N (first broadcast Friday, July 25, 2008)

Tobacco Plants Grow Cancer Vaccines: Researchers report that they've been able to use tobacco plants as biological factories to manufacture specialized proteins needed for an experimental individualized cancer therapy. (first broadcast Friday, July 25, 2008)

Treating Depression: In this segment, we'll talk about what depression is and what can be done about it. Conventional therapies for depression involve medications and talk therapy, often used in combination. But is that approach the only way out of depression? (first broadcast Friday, July 25, 2008)

Deep-Sea Carbon Sequestration: Could porous rocks deep in the ocean floor be a place to stash unwanted carbon dioxide? (first broadcast Friday, July 25, 2008)