Talk of the Nation

This week physicists announced the discovery of the long-sought-after Higgs boson--or at least something that looks a lot like it. Theoretical physicist Sean Carroll explains why the tiny particle is so fundamental to our understanding of the universe, and why it took 50 years to find it.

In an unscientific survey of Times Square, Science Friday found that not one passerby could explain how sunscreen works. Dermatologist Jennifer Linder explains that and other basics of sun protection, including the meaning of SPF, and whether sunscreen blocks vitamin D production.

From mayonnaise myth-busters to a ketchup jar that never jams, the grill pit is a hot bed of scientific research. Ira and Flora talk with food safety specialist Angela Fraser talks safe picnic protocol; MIT's Kripa Varanasi explains his "LiquiGlide" condiment container; and fermentation expert Bob Hutkins of University of Nebraska salutes the pickle.

What leads a scientist to lie, cheat and falsify findings? In his book, Prize Fight:The Race and the Rivalry to be the First in Science, radiologist Morton Meyers digs up dirt on some major scientific discoveries. He discusses the bitter battles over recognition and reward that often take place behind closed doors.

The Science Friday Book Club meets for the first time this week, to talk about Rachel Carson's classic book, Silent Spring. Carson biographer William Souder joins Ira Flatow and Flora Lichtman to discuss Carson's writing style and the book's legacy, 50 years after it was published.

The Morrill Act of 1862 began a transformation of American agriculture. Congress donated 30,000 acres of public land to each state to establish what became known as land-grant colleges and universities. Now, with looming environmental challenges, land-grant institutions are more important than ever.

In 1987, a small group in San Francisco started a quilt to document the lives of people who died from HIV/AIDS. In 2012, the AIDS Memorial Quilt returns to the National Mall for the first time in more than a decade. More than 48,000 panels have been woven together to memorialize the lives lost.

In just a few years, comedian Trevor Noah went from performing at amateur clubs to selling out large theaters in his native South Africa. Born to an African mother and Swiss father during apartheid, many of his jokes stem from his upbringing in a township where law separated blacks and whites.

A new constitution is an essential step toward democracy for Egypt. During a recent visit to the country, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said she "would not look to the U.S. Constitution if I were drafting a constitution in the year 2012." Originally broadcast on February 13, 2012.

Mike Nichols has won every major entertainment award over a long career in theater, comedy, TV and film. He returned to Broadway directing a revival of Death of a Salesman, which picked up seven Tony nominations. Nichols warns the production may be his last. Originally broadcast May 23, 2012.

Henry Louis Gates Jr. is perhaps best known for his research tracing the family and genetic history of famous African Americans. A selection of his writings on race, politics and culture appear in The Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Reader. Originally broadcast May 8, 2012.

In his new book, How to Cook Everything: The Basics, Mark Bittman explains with careful instructions and 1,000 colorful photos how to stock your pantry, how to dice vegetables, which knives you should buy — and to really get back to basics — how to boil water. Originally broadcast March 19, 2012.

Daniel Smith suffers from the kind of debilitating anxiety that brings on panic attacks, bouts of insomnia and thoughts about "existential ruin." In his new memoir Monkey Mind, Smith documents his experience coping with the disorder and how the condition has affected his relationships.

Ranking presidents is a favorite pastime of historians and political scientists, writes author Bob Merry in his book Where They Stand. Merry and Political Junkie Ken Rudin discuss how voters and historians evaluate presidents, and how those ideas change over time.

Is a calorie just a calorie? Science writer Gary Taubes says no. In a study published last week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, diet researchers reported that patients on a low-carb diet kept weight off longer than those on a low-fat diet, re-introducing a long-standing debate.