Big Picture Science for 08/01/11 - Cell! Cell!

Big Picture Science - Cell! Cell!

Live forever? Both cancer cells and stem cells can make a claim to immortality. Left unchecked, tumors will grow indefinitely. And stem cells offer the promise of non-stop rejuvenation.

We’ll find out whether the surprising discovery of stem cells in the brain really can keep our thinking organ young. And we’ll hear the remarkable story of Henrietta Lacks, the woman who unwittingly donated tissue to science in 1951, and whose cancer cells are still grown in laboratories around the world today.

Guests:

• Rebecca Skloot – Journalist and author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
• Fred Gage – Neurobiologist at the Salk Institute
• Randy Schekman – Molecular and cell biologist at the University of California, Berkeley

Permalink: http://radio.seti.org/episodes/Cell_Cell_

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.

NOTICE - Are We Alone is now Big Picture Science! You can find out more here: http://radio.seti.org/blog/2011/05/the-names-they-are-a-changin/

Solar Flare and Geomagnetic Storm on July 30th

Source - Space Weather News for July 30, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

Solar and geomagnetic activity continues to intensify on July 30th. The day began with an almost-X class solar flare from big sunspot 1261. This was followed by an unrelated geomagnetic storm (magnitude Kp=5) prompted by a fluctuation in the solar wind. At the time this alert is being issued (July 30th @ 2200 UT) the geomagnetic storm is still underway. High-latitude sky watchers, especially in the southern hemisphere where skies are winter-dark, should be alert for auroras. Details and updates at http://spaceweather.com

What Lies Inside Jupiter?

Source - NASA Science News for July 29, 2011

The clouds of Jupiter hide many mysteries--from the roots of monster storms to possible stores of exotic matter. NASA's Juno spacecraft, scheduled to launch on August 5th, is going to find out what lies inside the giant planet.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/29jul_juno2/

ScienceCasts video for the article posted by ScienceAtNASA on Jul 28, 2011:



Visit http://science.nasa.gov/ for more!

Big Sunspot Notice

Source - Space Weather News for July 27, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

BIG SUNSPOTS: After more than a week of quiet, solar activity is picking up with the emergence of two large sunspot groups on the sun's northeastern limb. The active regions are crackling with C- and M-class solar flares. So far none of the eruptions has been squarely Earth directed, but that could change in the days ahead as solar rotation turns the sunspots to face our planet. Visit http://spaceweather.com for images and more information.

SUNSPOT TELESCOPE: Explore Scientific's White Light Solar Observing System is perfect for monitoring large sunspots (and small ones too) and it is now available in the Space Weather Store:
http://www.shopspaceweather.com/explore-scientific-white-light-solar-observer-system.aspx

Big Picture Science for 07/25/11 - Water the Chances

Big Picture Science - Water the Chances

Water, water everywhere. But most of it is sea water – you can’t drink it. Discover the most promising technologies for desalination and why solar cells are key. Also, how astronauts filter “water-closet water” to drink it, and how to turn a salt pond back to a wetland.

Plus, from Roman aqueducts to modern-day pumps: a history of quenching human thirst. And, why NASA strives to “follow the water.”

Guests:

• Brian Fagan – Anthropologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, author of Elixir: A History of Water and Humankind
• John Bourgeois – Biologist and Executive Project Manager, South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project
• Michael Meyer – Lead scientist for the Mars Exploration Program
• Farouk El-Baz – Geologist and Director of the Center for Remote Sensing, Boston University
• Michael Flynn – Principal investigator for NASA’s advanced life support branch, Ames Research Center

Permalink: http://radio.seti.org/episodes/Water_the_Chances

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.

NOTICE - Are We Alone is now Big Picture Science! You can find out more here: http://radio.seti.org/blog/2011/05/the-names-they-are-a-changin/

ScienceCasts: Summer Meteor Shower

Source - NASAtelevision on Jul 21, 2011

If you're camping out and can't sleep, maybe your slumber is being interrupted by the flash of meteors. The summer Perseid meteor shower is getting underway as Earth enters the debris stream from comet Swift-Tuttle.



Visit http://science.nasa.gov/ for more!

Atlantis Transits the Sun Just Before Landing

Source - Space Weather News for July 21, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

FINAL ACT: Space shuttle Atlantis landed in Florida this morning, bringing an end to NASA's 30-year shuttle program. Just 21 minutes before the de-orbit burn, a photographer in Germany snapped what may be the last-ever photo of a shuttle in space. He caught Atlantis transiting the face of the sun, silhouetted against a backdrop of solar fire in conjunction with nearby sunspot AR1254. Visit http://spaceweather.com for images and more information.

AURORA WATCH: A fast stream of solar wind is buffeting Earth's magnetic field on July 21st. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras, especially in the southern hemisphere where night skies are winter-dark. Aurora alerts are available from http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice) or http://spaceweathertext.com (text).

Hubble Discovers a New Moon Around Pluto

Source - NASA Science News for July 20, 2011

Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope discovered a fourth moon orbiting Pluto. The new satellite was uncovered in a Hubble survey searching for rings around the dwarf planet.

FULL STORY at:

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/20jul_p4/



"This composite of two Hubble images shows Pluto's four satellites in motion." (Image copyright NASA)

Dawn Spacecraft Snaps Close-up Image of Asteroid Vesta

Source - NASA Science News for July 18, 2011

NASA's Dawn spacecraft, which over the weekend became the first spacecraft to orbit a main-belt asteroid, has just returned a close-up image of Vesta.
FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/18jul_dawn4/

"Latest Image of Vesta Captured by Dawn on July 17, 2011

NASA's Dawn spacecraft obtained this image with its framing camera on July 17, 2011. It was taken from a distance of about 9,500 miles (15,000 kilometers) away from the protoplanet Vesta. Each pixel in the image corresponds to roughly 0.88 miles (1.4 kilometers)."

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA (Image copyright NASA)

Big Picture Science for 07/18/11 - Know Laughing Matter

Big Picture Science - Know Laughing Matter

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. It’s nearly impossible to fake a laugh. Yet, humans will laugh even if something isn’t funny. Discover the evolutionary function of cracking up and meet the other species that love to giggle (and monkey around).

Also, hilarious science comedy. Yes, science comedy. Plus, teaching machines to write punch lines… and stretching – and splitting – your sides with laughter yoga.

Guests:

• Frans de Waal – Primatologist, Emory Univeristy and the Yerkes Primate Center in Atlanta, Georgia
• Brian Malow – Science comedian
• Robert Provine – Neuroscientist, University of Maryland, Balitimore, author of Laughter: A Scientific Investigation
• Tony Veale – Computer scientist and natural language processing researcher. University College, Dublin, Ireland
• Tommy Westerfield – Instructor, We Are Laughter

Permalink: http://radio.seti.org/episodes/Know_Laughing_Matter

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.

NOTICE - Are We Alone is now Big Picture Science! You can find out more here: http://radio.seti.org/blog/2011/05/the-names-they-are-a-changin/

Atlantis Crew Sees Auroras from Space

Source - Space Weather News for July 16, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

AURORAS UNDERFOOT: Flying the last mission of NASA's 30-year shuttle program, the crew of Atlantis has witnessed a beautiful display of auroras from Earth orbit--and there might be more in the offing. Visit http://spaceweather.com for photos and the geomagnetic forecast.

ASTEROID VESTA: This weekend, NASA's Dawn spacecraft is entering orbit around Vesta for a year-long study of the giant asteroid. Dawn's cameras are expected to reveal a primitive world of desolate beauty from close range. As close as Dawn will be, however, you can be even closer; it's actually possible to hold a piece of Vesta in your hand. Authentic Vesta meteorites are now available in the Space Weather Store: http://www.shopspaceweather.com/asteroid-vesta-meteorite.aspx

Dawn Set to Orbit Giant Asteroid Vesta on July 15th

Source - NASA Science News for July 14, 2011

On July 15, NASA's ion-propelled Dawn spacecraft will become the first mission to enter orbit around a main-belt asteroid.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/15jul_dawn2/

Dark Fireworks on the Sun

Source - NASA Science News for July 11, 2011

NASA has just released new movies of an inky-dark solar explosion that continues to puzzle experts more than a month after it happened.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/11jul_darkfireworks/

Big Picture Science for 07/11/11 - The Big Picture

Big Picture Science - The Big Picture: Science’s Biggest Questions

How did life begin? What’s the universe made of, and what’s the nature of consciousness?

These are truly some of the biggest puzzlers in science, but answers are in the offing.

We consider the modern-day hunt for life beyond Earth, as well as a new theory of consciousness: could it be merely an illusion to entertain us and make our lives more worthwhile?

Also, after thousands of years of examining the heavens, are we finally learning the true nature of the cosmos?

Guests:

• Marc Kaufman – Reporter for the Washington Post, and author of First Contact: Scientific Breakthroughs in the Hunt for Life Beyond Earth
• Carolyn Porco – Planetary scientist and leader of the Cassini Imaging Team
• Michael Russell – Research Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Nicholas Humphrey – Theoretical psychologist and author of Soul Dust: The Magic of Consciousness
• Saul Perlmutter – Physicist at the University of California, Berkeley and senior scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National laboratory

Permalink: http://radio.seti.org/episodes/The_Big_Picture

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.

NOTICE - Are We Alone is now Big Picture Science! You can find out more here: http://radio.seti.org/blog/2011/05/the-names-they-are-a-changin/

ScienceCasts: An Astronomer's Dilemma

Source - NASAtelevision on Jul 7, 2011

Stars are bright, but their planets are not, which makes planet hunting difficult. NASA's ultraviolet telescope GALEX may be providing a solution.



You can find out more information about the GALEX ultraviolet telescope at: http://www.galex.caltech.edu/

Does Asteroid Vesta Have a Moon?

Source - NASA Science News for July 6, 2011

As NASA's ion-powered Dawn spacecraft approaches Vesta for orbital insertion in mid-July, Dawn's camera's will be scanning space around the giant asteroid for signs of an asteroid moon.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/06jul_vestamoon/

Are We Alone for 07/04/11 - Ultimate Hook Up

Are We Alone - Ultimate Hook Up

Imagine moving things with your mind. Not with telekinesis, but with the future tools of brain science. Meet a pioneer in the field of computer-to-brain connection and discover the blurry boundary where the mind ends and the machine begins.

Plus, how new technology is sharpening the “real” in virtual reality. And, whether our devotion to digital devices is changing what it means to be human.

Guests:

• Miguel Nicolelis – Director for the Center for Neuroengineering at Duke University, and author of Beyond Boundaries: The New Neuroscience of Connecting Brains with Machines and How it Will Change our Lives
• Jeremy Bailenson – Director of the Virtual Human Interaction Lab at Stanford University and co-author of Infinite Reality: Avatars, Eternal Life, New Worlds and the Dawn of the Virtual Revolution
• Jim Blascovich – Psychologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara and co-author of Infinite Reality: Avatars, Eternal Life, New Worlds and the Dawn of the Virtual Revolution
• Sherry Turkle – Professor of social studies of science and technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and author of Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less From Each Other

Permalink: http://radio.seti.org/episodes/Ultimate_Hook_Up

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.

NOTICE: "The Names They are a-Changin’" - Coming in July, "Are We Alone" will change to "Big Picture Science!"

ScienceCasts: Wild Weather

Source - ScienceAtNASA on Jun 30, 2011

Record snowfall, killer tornadoes, devastating floods: There's no doubt about it. Since Dec. 2010, the weather in the USA has been positively wild. But why?



Visit http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/24jun_wildweather/ for the full story.

Night-shining Clouds Sighted over the United States

Source - Space Weather News for July 2, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS: Last night, a bank of rippling electric-blue noctilucent clouds spilled across the Canadian border into the lower United States. In doing so, the glowing clouds made the farthest excursion of the year away from their usual polar realm. Reports of bright NLCs are coming in from Oregon, Washington, Montana, Minnesota, South Dakota and elsewhere. Visit http://spaceweather.com for images and observing tips.

4TH OF JULY SKY SHOW: Perfectly timed for the 4th of July holiday weekend, the International Space Station is making a series of evening flybys over the USA. The bright spaceship can be seen even through fireworks. You can turn your cell phone into an ISS tracker by downloading our Simple Flybys app: http://simpleflybys.com . Or check the Simple Satellite Tracker for web-based predictions: http://spaceweather.com/flybys .