Note: *To request a podcast transcript, contact Chris Meyer at 919.733.7450 ext. 537 (Chris.Meyer@ncdenr.gov). Please include the date and title of the show in which you are interested.
2010 Topics
February 16, 2010
Forgetting Something?
S. Mitchell Freedman, MD, FAAN, is a member of the medical staff at Rex Hospital and Adjunct Professor of Neurology with the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
All of us misplace our car keys now and again. Most of us get lost while driving from time to time. We all have been to cocktail parties and have run into someone familiar whose name just escapes us. We often toss off such events as “senior moments.” These trivial events trouble us because they reflect a short circuiting of brain function. Do they mean anything serious is wrong with us or are they just annoying bumps in the road? This cafe addressed the issues of memory loss, dementia, and aging.
January 19
GPS and Geocaching Fun
James Jeuck is an Extension Specialist at NCSU Extension Forestry.
GPS (Global Positioning System) was developed for our military but we have quickly made it a civilian-based utility required for business, travel and recreation. Come learn the technology behind GPS — from satellites and trilateration to binary codes and radio frequencies — as well as some of its surprising and innovative applications and glimmers into the future of this technology. We’ll discuss the phenomena behind geocaching, its health benefits, necessary and useful gear, and resources for even more information.
2009 Topics
November 17
Dog Genome Teaching Scientists New Tricks
Matthew Breen, professor of genomics in the NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine, co-directs the Clinical Genomics Core of the Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research at NC State.
For thousands of years, humans and dogs have shared a unique bond—breathing the same air, drinking the same water, and living in the same environment. During the 21st century this relationship is now strengthened into one that may hold intriguing biomedical possibilities. Using the 'One Medicine' concept— the idea that human and animal health relies on a common pool of medical and scientific knowledge and is supported by overlapping technologies and discoveries; research is revealing that the dog genome may hold the keys to unlocking some of nature’s most intriguing puzzles about human cancer.
October 20
Crossing the Line? Biomedical Technology in Sports
Phillip Barron works as a Digital Media Specialist at the National Humanities Center in Durham, where he is managing editor of the "On the Human" project. He is also the sole proprietor of the digital media design company, nicomedia, LLC.
In the end, it was a split second rather than an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ruling that kept double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius from competing in the Beijing Summer Olympics. He didn't hit the 400-meter qualifying time of 45.55 seconds, despite running a personal best 46.25 on his carbon-fiber prosthetic legs at a track meet in Lucerne, Switzerland. In this talk, National Humanities Center digital media specialist Phillip Barron explores ways that advances in biomedical science and technology are challenging our traditional notions of acceptable sports practices and offers some suggestions for how we can create rules of sport that sustain these technological innovations.
September 22
Memories
Sandeep Vaishnavi, M.D., PhD serves as Medical Director at North Carolina Neuropsychiatry Clinic in Raleigh.
August 18
North Carolina Snakes: Facts and Fiction
Daniel S. Dombrowski, M.S., DVM is currently the Veterinarian and Coordinator of Living Collections at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.
Did you know that North Carolina is home to almost 40 species of native snakes and all but six of them are non-venomous and considered harmless? Of the six venomous species found in our state, only one, the Copperhead, occurs statewide and is likely to be encountered in Wake County. Unfortunately, snakes are often feared and misunderstood, with many harmless species being misidentified and killed. In this café we will discuss topics including the natural history and identification of these animals, current NC legislation about snakes and other exotic reptiles, as well as the challenges involved with keeping snakes in a public Museum.
July 21
Energy for the Future
Professor David N McNelis serves as the Director of the Center for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economic Development in the U.N.C. at Chapel Hill’s Institute for the Environment and as President of Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies, LLC.
What does our energy future look like? As new options become available, how soon will we see a difference in transportation and in the supply and use of electricity in our homes and businesses? What are some realistic expectations we should have for the reduction of carbon emissions from energy use?
June 16
The Science of Chocolate
Dr. Gabriel Keith Harris is an Assistant Professor of Food Science at North Carolina State University.
From drinks to desserts, chocolate is a favorite that is loved by cultures worldwide. Can a food as delicious as chocolate also be good for your health? Join us to learn about the history of chocolate from ancient times to modern day manufacturing, and find out what current research is telling us about the science of this special food.
MP3: The Science of Chocolate
May 19
Letting it All Hang Out, The Personal Genome Project
Dr. Misha Angrist, Assistant Professor of the Practice at the Duke University Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy
MP3: Letting it All Hang Out, The Personal Genome Project
April 21
Think Globally, Eat Locally
Dr. Jeana Myers, Soil Scientist at the NCDA&CS.
MP3: Think Globally, Eat Locally
March 24
Darwin lives on: how gene-environment interactions affect modern society
Dr. David Reif, Statistician in the National Center for Computational Toxicology at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
In the 150 years since Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species, there has been great debate (political, spiritual, and scientific) over the implications of natural selection for human beings: What does our shared evolutionary history have to do with common, complex diseases? How might genetics shape differential susceptibility to the multitude of chemicals— both manufactured and natural— present in the environment? How do modern lifestyles impact the evolutionary process? Join us as we discuss these and other questions concerning the interplay between our genes and the environment.
MP3: Darwin Lives On
February 17
Sleep and Sleep Disorders
Yvette R. Cook, Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine, Fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Medical Director of Rex Sleep Disorders Center.
MP3: Sleep and Sleep Disorders
January 28
Supernovae: The Violent Deaths of Stars
Dr. Stephen Reynolds, Professor of Physics, NC State University
Massive stars end their lives in spectacular supernova explosions. These explosions are visible across the Universe and they blast material into space; material that contributes to future generations of stars, produces cosmic rays and stirs up interstellar gases. Many heavy elements, including the calcium in our bones and trace amounts of copper and zinc in our bodies, are formed only in supernovae; we are quite literally made of star stuff. Some supernovae can even be used to gauge distances to remote galaxies; from these we have learned the astonishing fact that the expansion of our Universe is actually picking up speed. Join us as we discuss ongoing work on supernovae, their remnants and related astronomical work.
MP3: Supernovae
2008 Topics
November 18
What Have You Been Drinking?
Dr. Greg Cope, Professor of Environmental Toxicology; NC State University
Dr. Arthur Bogan, Curator of Aquatic Invertebrates; NC Museum of Natural Sciences
As development constantly increases in North Carolina, pollutants such as silt, street runoff and processed waste water are all entering our water supply at higher rates each year. Learn how this is affecting our local aquatic ecosystems and ultimately the water that each of us drinks every day. Do you know what’s in your water?
MP3: What Have You Been Drinking?
October 14
The Behavior and Misbehavior of Dogs
Barbara Sherman is clinical associate professor at the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine, and president of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.
MP3: The Behavior and Misbehavior of Dogs
September 16
Six-legged Solutions: Become Earth Friendly and Eat a Bug
Dave Gracer is a teacher, writer, family man and president of Sunrise Land Shrimp, the edible insect company
MP3: Six-legged Solutions
August 19
Monster Storms – Hurricanes in North Carolina
Dr. Ryan Boyles, State Climatologist and Director of the State Climate Office at NC State University
Dr. Anantha Aiyyer, Assistant Professor in the Department of Marine, Earth, Atmospheric Sciences at North Carolina State University
MP3: Monster Storms
July 22
From Papyrus to Nano-fibrils: The History and Science of Paper
Dr. Med Byrd, researcher in the Department of Wood and Paper Science in the NCSU College of Natural Resources
MP3: From Papyrus to Nano-fibrils
June 17
One Medicine Approach to a Changing World
Dr. Barrett Slenning, associate professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, NC State University
MP3: One Medicine Approach to a Changing World
May 20
Genetically Engineered Insects: A New Kind of Pest Control
Fred Gould, PhD., William Neal Reynolds Professor of Entomology at NC State University
MP3: Genetically Engineered Insects: Discussion
MP3: Genetically Engineered Insects: Questions - Part 1
MP3: Genetically Engineered Insects: Questions - Part 2
April 15
Going Green with Alternative Fuels: Not so Fast!
John Bonitz, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, and Marc Dreyfors, The Forest Foundation
MP3: Going Green with Alternative Fuels: Discussion
MP3: Going Green with Alternative Fuels: Questions
March 25
Forests and Forecasts: The Effects of Trees on Climate Change
Dennis Hazel and John King, NC State University Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
MP3: Forests and Forecasts - Part 1
MP3: Forests and Forecasts - Part 2
February 19
Altered States: Inside the Teenage Brain
Dr. Wilkie Wilson, Director of BrainWorks, Professor of Pharmacology, Duke University
MP3: Altered States - Part 1
MP3: Altered States - Part 2
January 15
Drought in NC — Outlook for 2008 and Beyond
Dr. Ryan Boyles, State Climatologist and Director of the State Climate Office at NC State University
MP3: Drought in NC - Part 1
MP3: Drought in NC - Part 2
2007 Topics
November 27
Our Future State
Dr. Robert McMahan, Sr. Advisor to the Governor of North Carolina for Science and Technology and the Executive Director of the North Carolina Board of Science and Technology
MP3: Our Future State - Part 1
MP3: Our Future State - Part 2
October 23
Dinosaurs: Rewriting the Rules of Fossilization
Dr. Mary Schweitzer, Associate Professor of Paleontology at NC State University and Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at NC Museum of Natural Sciences
MP3: Dinosaurs: Rewriting the Rules of Fossilization
September 25
Troubled Bridge Over Water: New research will help detect, avoid bridge collapse
Dr. Sami H. Riskalla, Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering and Construction and Director of the Constructed Facilities Laboratory at NC State University
MP3: Troubled Bridge Over Water
August 28
Summertime Itch: Familiar Pests and New Threats
Dr. Barry Engber, Medical Entomologist in the Public Health, Pest Management Section of the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
MP3: Summertime Itch
July 17
Our Runaway Universe: From Dark Matter to Dark Energy
Dr. Richard Hammond, Theoretical physicist Army Research Office and Adjunct Professor in Physics at UNC-Chapel Hill
June 19
Exploring the fascinating world inside the hive: insights into honey bees and beekeeping
David R. Tarpy, PhD, North Carolina State University.
May 15
The Ivory-billed Woodpecker: Searching for Proof in the Choctawhatchee River Basin
Drs. Lewbart and Deresienski on the natural history and recent detection of the ivory-billed woodpecker.
April 17
What can you do to "Build Green"?
Bob Kingery, president of Southern Energy Management
Randall Lanou, Adjunct Associate Professor at NC State University College of Design and founder of BuildSense, Inc.
March 28
CSI Dublin: The Hunt for the Irish Potato Killer
Dr. Jean Beagle Ristaino from the Department of Plant Pathology at North Carolina State University
February 20
Global Warming
Greg Fishel, Chief Meteorologist for WRAL-TV, and Gary Lackmann, associate professor of meteorology in the department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at NC State University
January 16
Chaos
Richard Field from University of Montana Department of Chemistry
2006 Topics
November 28
Human Space Flight: Return to the Moon and Mission to Mars
Dr. Fred DeJarnette and Dr. Andre Mazzoleni from North Carolina State University Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
October 10
('Tis the Season) The Truth about Bird Flu
Dr. Lori Hudson from the Duke Human Vaccine Institute and the Department of Immunology
