New York Academy of Sciences Podcast

This is Part 1 of our podcast coverage of the event Wrath Goes Viral, the first in our Science and the Seven Deadly Sins series. In this first section, the panel considers the evolution of viruses, the spillover of pathogens from animals to humans, and some cultural practices that increase the rate of this phenomenon. The discussion is moderated by award-winning author David Quammen. The panelists are Dr. Ian Lipkin, Captain Daniel B. Jernigan, and author Maryn McKenna.

This is Part 1 of our podcast coverage of the event Wrath Goes Viral, the first in our Science and the Seven Deadly Sins series. In this first section, the panel considers the evolution of viruses, the spillover of pathogens from animals to humans, and some cultural practices that increase the rate of this phenomenon. The discussion is moderated by award-winning author David Quammen. The panelists are Dr. Ian Lipkin, Captain Daniel B. Jernigan, and author Maryn McKenna.

In this podcast, Dustyn Roberts discusses her work on the cutting edge of engineering. Her Sample Manipulation System, part of the Curiosity Mars Science Laboratory, is now helping to analyze soil samples on Mars, and her current projects range from DIY biomechanics to opening up and supporting a world of educational resources.

In this podcast, art historian Nina Samuel, biologists Brian Enquist and James Brown, and ethnomathematician Ron Eglash discuss the prevalence and power of fractals from the perspectives of their various disciplines.

What does play have to do with learning? More than you may think. Today's kids are getting less playtime than previous generations, and that may have an impact on later learning development. Dr. Karen Adolph, Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, and Dr. David Kanter help us explore the playful side of education.

Nutrition is notoriously tricky to get a handle on, with conflicting reports and unsubstantiated fads all over the place. So why can't science get to the bottom of what's right—and right for you? For one, it has a lot to do with things called biomarkers.The experts featured in this podcast were recorded at the symposium "Biomarkers in Nutrition: New Frontiers in Research and Application," held on April 18, 2012 at the Academy.

Salt is one of the most important and versatile ingredients in foods around the world. We like it, we need it, but are we getting too much of it these days? Get the big picture on this unique compound in episode six of our nutrition series.

Locavorism is all the rage these days, but does science back it up? Is local food more nutritious? Can it improve our environment? And does it even taste better? This June, we invited a panel of experts from the New York area to find out.

The battle of wills to resist the last cupcake isn't the only one being waged over sugar. In fact, sugar—or fructose to be more precise—is one of the most hotly contested subjects in the world of nutrition. Find out why in the fifth edition of our nutrition series.

A few years ago, Resveratrol—a compound found in red wine and dark chocolate, among other foods—made a splash in the news as an anti-aging wonder and was soon after seized upon by marketers. But the truth is that research is still in its early stages. Dr. Joseph Baur leads us through the science behind the hype.

Trans fat, saturated fat, hydrogenated oil—such terms are plastered on food labels across the country. But what do any of them really mean? Find out all about fat in this episode of our nutrition series.

Though fat and sugar are often seen as the bad guys in the world of nutrients, the truth is our body needs them to survive. Begin to explore those most maligned compounds in the third edition of our nutrition series.

Oysters—once more abundant in New York Harbor than anywhere else in the world—fell victim to over-harvesting and pollution. But today, thanks to the efforts of a few key groups—like the NY Harbor School—New York's oysters are making a comeback. Hear moderator Andy Revkin lead a panel discussion on how these little bivalves can help restore New York Harbor to its former glory.

This March, 17 middle-school teams descended on the Academy for the 2nd Annual FIRST LEGO League Robotics Scrimmage. Find out what went down this year, as teams turned their sights to food safety.

You've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: the U.S. has a big problem with obesity. But did you know that there are demonstrated links between obesity and all kinds of serious health problems—including cancer? In this episode, Science & the City explores the obesity-cancer connection.