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How On Earth is a 25-minute news magazine about science, environment, technology, and more. The show is produced by volunteers at KGNU community radio in the Boulder-Denver area. We collect fascinating science headlines from around the world, produce features about the exciting research being done i…

KGNU - How On Earth

Boulder, CO


    • Jun 24, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 26m AVG DURATION
    • 714 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from KGNU - How On Earth

    Viruses are Us!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2025 27:17


    In this week's science show Beth talks with genome biologist Ed Chuong of CU Boulder's innovation incubator, the Biofrontiers Institute. Ed takes us for a whirlwind tour of the evolutionary history of these viral invaders of our genome, and some examples of how they can simultaneously be friend and foe. Teaser, did you realize that … Continue reading "Viruses are Us!"

    2025 Graduation Special (part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2025 27:24


    With graduation season upon us, today's edition of How on Earth is Part 2 of our annual “Graduation Special”. Our guests in the studio today are scientists and engineers who recently received their Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in a STEM-related field.  They talk about their thesis research, their grad school experiences, and what … Continue reading "2025 Graduation Special (part 2)"

    GLP-1 and Blindness

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2025 26:58


    We talk with scientists who report that a common weight loss/diabetes drug known as a GLP-1 receptor agonist (Wegovy, Ozempic for instance) is associated with an increased risk of blindness.  The study was published last week in the Journal of the American Medical Association Ophthalmology, about a form of blindness known as “wet” macular degeneration.  … Continue reading "GLP-1 and Blindness"

    Animal Pandemics?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2025 28:11


    On this week's How on Earth, Beth talks with author and science journalist Liz Kalaugher, about her new book, The Elephant in the room:How to Stop Making Ourselves and Other Animals Sick. Think about it this way: When new diseases spread, news reports often focus on wildlife culprits–rodents, monkeys and mpox; bats and COVID-19; waterfowl … Continue reading "Animal Pandemics?"

    Saving Weather Forecasting, Climate Science

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 27:01


    Scientists speak out for science (start time: 1:00) The Trump administration has been on a dizzying streak of slashing federal funding for scientific research, and firing thousands of federal scientists. Among the casualties is the National Weather Service, which supplies critical data from air balloons and climate models to develop weather forecasts. Many cities and … Continue reading "Saving Weather Forecasting, Climate Science"

    Birds at Risk

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2025 27:33


    Birds: Risk and Resilience (start time: 5:55)  What speaks of Spring more than the songs of American robins, yellow warblers, spotted towhees and other birds in the early morning? As we relish in these avians choruses, it's also an important time to examine why bird populations in North America have, by and large, been plummeting … Continue reading "Birds at Risk"

    Boulder Cardiologist Nelson Trujillo – Extended Version

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 56:21


    This is an extended version of our interview with Boulder Cardiologist Nelson Trujillo.  For the broadcast version, go here.   Producer:  Shelley Schlender

    GoldLab Founder Larry Gold – Extended Interview

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 44:56


    This is Shelley Schlender's extended interview of Larry Gold, founder of the GoldLab Symposium.   For the broadcast version, go here. Producer:  Shelley Schlender

    founders larry gold
    2025 Graduation Special (part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 28:49


    With graduation season upon us, today's edition of How on Earth is Part 1 of our annual “Graduation Special”. Our guests in the studio today are scientists and engineers who have or will soon receive their Masters or Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in a STEM-related field.  They talk about their thesis research, their … Continue reading "2025 Graduation Special (part 1)"

    Mutualism in Nature

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 27:04


    Sweet in Tooth and Claw (start time: 0:59)  Since the 1800s, science has been obsessed with the notion, stemming from Charles Darwin's theory of evolution through natural selection, that only the “fittest” can survive and pass on their strong genes. As in, it's a ruthless, violent world. And today, we humans find ourselves mired in a … Continue reading "Mutualism in Nature"

    De-funding NIST’s Atomic Spectroscopy Group

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 26:57


    Federal cutbacks have led the National Institute of Standards and Technology to shut down a long-running, highly prized information center used by scientists around the world, for projects ranging from searching for exoplanets, to making better microchips, to detecting atomic missiles.   Atomic Spectroscopy Database Manager Alexander Kramida explains the purpose of the Atomic Spectroscopy … Continue reading "De-funding NIST's Atomic Spectroscopy Group"

    The Lucy Mission

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 26:58


    Our guest today is Dr. Simone Marchi, Institute Scientist in the Solar System Science & Exploration Division at the Boulder office of Southwest Research Institute. Dr. Marchi is the Deputy Principal Investigator for NASA's Lucy mission.  Lucy will be the first space mission to explore a population of small bodies known as the Trojan asteroids, … Continue reading "The Lucy Mission"

    Poisoning the Well: How Forever Chemicals Contaminated America. 

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 26:58


    Poisoning the Well (starts 2:00)  Boulder science writer Sharon Udasin discusses her new book,  Poisoning the Well:  How Forever Chemicals Contaminated America.  The book chronicles how these chemicals have ended up in our soil , drinking water, our bloodstreams . . . including in Colorado.  She also explains what we can do about these sometimes … Continue reading "Poisoning the Well: How Forever Chemicals Contaminated America. "

    April Foolish Science

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 27:00


    Today is April Fools' day, when jokes and pranks are played, sometimes among friends and family, sometimes on a more public scale.  But why is there such a day for culturally-accepted foolishness? To delve into the origins and history of April Fools' Day, we talk with Dr. Angus Kress Gillespie, folklorist and professor of American … Continue reading "April Foolish Science"

    NEPA, Wildlife, Lands Under Threat

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 25:38


    NEPA rollbacks, environmental impacts (start time: 6:25) Amidst a flurry of moves by the Trump administration to roll back environmental regulations, last month a White House agency proposed a rule to rescind a landmark law meant to protect wildlife, their habitat, and human  communities from unchecked development, and to ensure that the public has a say … Continue reading "NEPA, Wildlife, Lands Under Threat"

    Measles: To Vaccinate or Not?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2025 27:25


    On this week's show, Beth talks with Brianne Barker, Associate Professor of Biology and Director of Undergraduate Research at Drew University. Dr Barker studies innate immune responses – these are the initial, non-specific actions taken by the immune system – to fight off retroviruses such as HIV (the AIDS virus). We discuss the measles virus, … Continue reading "Measles: To Vaccinate or Not?"

    This Ordinary Stardust: A Scientist’s Path from Grief to Wonder

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2025 25:46


    We speak with Environmental Scientist Alan Townsend about his new book, This Ordinary Stardust: A Scientist's Path from Grief to Wonder.  It chronicles what happened when his family received two unthinkable, catastrophic diagnoses: his 4-year-old daughter and his brilliant scientist wife developed unrelated, life-threatening forms of brain cancer. As he witnessed his young daughter fight … Continue reading "This Ordinary Stardust: A Scientist's Path from Grief to Wonder"

    Train Wolves AND Humans to Coexist

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 27:17


    On today's show, Beth speaks with two experts on animal behavior and training about the wolf reintroduction project in Colorado – wins and losses. Mary Angilly is an advocate for force-free, evidence-based training in dogs and other animals. For decades Marc Bekoff has researched animal behavior, cognitive ethology (the study of animal minds), behavioral ecology, … Continue reading "Train Wolves AND Humans to Coexist"

    Tom Cech: The Catalyst

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2025 26:58


                The Catalyst: RNA and the Quest to Unlock Life's Deepest Secrets     CU Boulder Nobel Prize-Winning Scientist Tom Cech says that RNA has long been the biochemical backup singer that slaves away in the shadows of the diva.  In his new book, The Catalyst, Cech puts RNA in the spotlight, … Continue reading "Tom Cech: The Catalyst"

    Tackling Landfill Methane Emissions

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2025 27:09


    Tackling CH4 emissions from landfills (start time: 5:59) Methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas, and its emissions have been rising recently in the U.S.  The largest source of methane emissions is oil and gas production, followed by livestock farming. The third largest source of methane emissions is landfills.  Food scraps, yard debris, paper and … Continue reading "Tackling Landfill Methane Emissions"

    How a Soil Bacterium Can Affect Mental and Physical Health

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2025 24:39


    On today's show, Beth speaks with CU scientist Christopher Lowry. Dr. Lowry's research program at CU Boulder focuses on understanding stress-related physiology and behavior with an emphasis on the microbiome-gut-brain axis. He describes his recent finding that exposure to a harmless soil bacterium protects mice from the weight gain and inflammation stemming from a diet … Continue reading "How a Soil Bacterium Can Affect Mental and Physical Health"

    Decarbonizing Cement Production

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 28:23


    Tackling Cement's Huge Carbon Footprint (start time: 0:58)  It's hard to imagine modern society without a key material that so many structures depend on–cement. Think of our houses, apartment and office buildings, hospitals, parking lots, bridges, and, increasingly,  massive data centers of big-tech companies. But that societal glue of sorts comes with a big climate … Continue reading "Decarbonizing Cement Production"

    Gang Science – David Pyrooz

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 24:05


    CU Boulder Criminologist David Pyrooz explains the science of understanding gang violence.  He shares why immigrant gangs such as Tren de Aragua catch so much media attention, even though they represent only a small part of national gang violence.  Pyrooz also shares what drives gangs, ways to reduce gang violence, and his personal work with … Continue reading "Gang Science – David Pyrooz"

    What’s Up with the Polio Vaccine?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 26:13


    Today on How on Earth, Beth speaks with Professor Vincent Racaniello of the Columbia University Medical Center. He has been studying viruses, particularly the polio virus, for over 40 years. Professor Racaniello is passionate about teaching virology to the World. His virology lectures can be found on YouTube. He blogs and produces the podcast ‘This … Continue reading "What's Up with the Polio Vaccine?"

    Tackling PFAS, From Wastewater to Tap Water

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2025 27:34


    Tackling “forever chemicals” in tap water (start time: 6:11): In this week's science show we discuss the scientific findings and societal implications of a new study showing of dangerous PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in treated wastewater that ends up in the drinking water of more than 20 million Americans. We also explore the public … Continue reading "Tackling PFAS, From Wastewater to Tap Water"

    Opiate Epidemic Update from 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2025 26:14


    In today's show Beth reviews the latest data on the opiate epidemic in Boulder. You'll hear from a pharmacologist who studies substance abuse, a DEA agent who oversees the task force on fentanyl, and our state senator who discusses legislation at the state level, as well as a story on a novel, implantable device to … Continue reading "Opiate Epidemic Update from 2024"

    Science Stories from 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 27:00


      We share the How on Earth team's picks for of science stories of 2024: Tom Cech Talks RNA (starts at 1:56) Avian Flu (starts at 9:33) Artificial Intelligence (starts at 13:13) Colorado, the Quantum State (starts at 19:19) Executive Producer: Shelley Schlender Show Producer and Host: Joel Parker Additional Contributions: Shelley Schlender, Beth Bennett … Continue reading "Science Stories from 2024"

    Ibogaine // Ice Cores // Neurospsychologist June Gruber & Awe Walks

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2024 26:58


    Ibogaine (starts 1:00) The New York Times just featured Ibogaine for PTSD.  We revisit a discussion of Ibogaine with Boulder Trauma Therapist Andrew Linares.     Ice Cores (starts 10:00) The National Science Foundation Ice Core Facility in Lakewood houses thousands of ice cores collected from around the world.  Ellen Mahoney takes us there for … Continue reading "Ibogaine // Ice Cores // Neurospsychologist June Gruber & Awe Walks"

    Move Your Body!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 26:08


    On today's show Beth plays portions of a chat (full version here; actual talk starts at 1 minute in) she had with Katy Bowman who is a nationally-known biomechanist, author, and movement educator. They spoke at the Boulder Bookstore, where Katy discussed her new book, My Perfect Movement Plan. Bowman combines big-picture lessons on biomechanics, … Continue reading "Move Your Body!"

    Move Your Body – Extended Version

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 52:31


    If you listened to Beth's chat with author Katy Bowman about her book (Your Perfect Movement Plan) – complete with some audience questions – and want to hear more, here is the full hour plus session. (Actual conversation starts about 2 minutes into the file.) Listen now:

    Plastic Pollution: Sources, Impacts, Solutions

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024 26:42


    Tackling Plastic Pollution (start time: 3:50) In this week's show, host Susan Moran interviews science journalists Fionna Samuels, an assistant editor at Chemical & Engineering News, a publication  of the American Chemical Society; and Priyanka Runwal, an associate editor at C&EN. Along with  other colleagues, they wrote cover articles in the November 28th issue of … Continue reading "Plastic Pollution: Sources, Impacts, Solutions"

    Xmas Bird Count

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 26:58


    Field Report (starts 1:00) We join Boulder naturalists Steve Jones and Ruth Carol Cushman on a Christmas Bird Count as Boulder's winter water saunas. Xmas Bird Count's Bill Schmoker (starts 4:28) Boulder's Annual Xmas Bird Count is Sunday December 15th.  Bill Schmoker is the organizer of this Count, which is one of the longest-running and … Continue reading "Xmas Bird Count"

    Cocoa Flavonoids // Science of Happiness

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2024 26:58


    Cocoa Flavonoids  (starts 1:00) Could a cozy cup of cocoa help with holiday stress?  Nutrition Scientist Catarina Rendeiro explains how chocolate can provide anti-inflammatory flavanoids, but MOST do not.  And there's a way to tell.     Science of Happiness (starts 10:33) CU Boulder Neuro-psychologist June Gruber explains the Science of Happiness, her Positive Emotion … Continue reading "Cocoa Flavonoids // Science of Happiness"

    IF Federal Environmental Protections Go Away . . . EDF Speaks Out.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2024 26:58


    World Climate Talks (Starts 1:00)  CU Boulder Director of Environmental Journalism Tom Yulsman gives an update on COP29 United Nations 29th Conference on Climate Change, in this hottest year on record, and threats to shut down NOAA. Methane Leaks, Trump and the EDF (starts 4:10) EDF — Environmental Defense Fund's Rosalie Winn, explains why reducing … Continue reading "IF Federal Environmental Protections Go Away . . . EDF Speaks Out."

    Where is Science Going in the Next 4 Years?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 24:11


    Today on How on Earth, Beth speaks with Dr Jon Samet, former dean of the Colorado School of Public Health and Professor of Epidemiology and Occupational and Environmental Health. Dr. Samet has served on and chaired numerous committees of the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, also chairing the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee … Continue reading "Where is Science Going in the Next 4 Years?"

    Europa Clipper

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 27:00


    Today's show features NASA's Europa Clipper mission, which launched on October 14th, 2024 on a Falcon Heavy rocket, setting the spacecraft on its 10-year journey to explore Jupiter's moon Europa.  Europa Clipper carries nine instruments to study this ocean world covered by an ice shell to determine if there are places in the watery depths … Continue reading "Europa Clipper"

    COP16 Biodiversity Conference

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 27:25


    COP16: Hope & Hurdles (start time: 1:20)  On this week's show, host Susan Moran interviews two conservation biologists at Colorado State University — Chris Funk and Liba Pejchar. They both recently attended the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, or COP16, which is still underway in Cali, Colombia, and they share their experiences, perspectives, and optimism from … Continue reading "COP16 Biodiversity Conference"

    Wildfire Mushrooms for Wildfire Mitigation

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2024 26:11


    Wild, local mushrooms can break down deadwood into healthy soil, and they can do this surprisingly fast.  Used correctly, fungi are an emerging way to reduce the forest tinder that makes mega-wildfires more likely.   But there's a wrong way and a right way to use mushrooms for mitigation  Our experts today will talk about the … Continue reading "Wildfire Mushrooms for Wildfire Mitigation"

    CU Boulder Nobel Prize Winner Tom Cech & “The Catalyst”

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 27:46


    CU Boulder Nobel Prize Winner Tom Cech discusses his new book, The Catalyst, RNA and the Quest to Unlock Life's Deepest Secrets Tom Cech is our featured interview for the KGNU Fall Membership Drive.  Thank you to listeners who are contributing funds to help our volunteer powered, noncommercial, community radio station.  If you like what … Continue reading "CU Boulder Nobel Prize Winner Tom Cech & “The Catalyst”"

    Emotions, Beliefs, Politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2024 26:39


    Beliefs, Perceptions, Decision-making (start time: 4:37)  For many people if feels like our society, and our beliefs, have never been as polarized as they are now. Indeed, we are living in a politically polarized society. But it's not as unique, or as extreme, as many think. In this week's show we look behind the curtain … Continue reading "Emotions, Beliefs, Politics"

    Eight-Legged Wonders: The Surprising Lives of Spiders

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 26:50


    Local Science/Nature Calendar (starts 1:00)  We share news about the Marshall Mesa Trailhead Closure to eliminate burning underground coal, CSU Professor Mark Easter talks about the Blue Plate Book Launch, THIS THURSDAY at Boulder's Patagonia Store, and a Hiking Song:Vocal Improvisation in the Wild, NEXT THURSDAY October 9th. EIGHT-LEGGED WONDERS:  The Surprising Lives of Spiders … Continue reading "Eight-Legged Wonders: The Surprising Lives of Spiders"

    The Carbon Footprint of Food

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024 27:46


    The Blue Plate in a Red-hot World (start time: 7:46) While adding cream to your morning cup of coffee, or digesting the hamburger that you grilled last night, you might not have been asking yourself, What's the carbon footprint of these ingredients and meals? Understandable. Our guest today, ecologist Mark Easter, however, has pondered this … Continue reading "The Carbon Footprint of Food"

    Hoofbeats – Horses & Human History//Colorado Wolf Family ReCaptured

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024 23:54


    Wolf Family Recaptured  (Starts 1:40)    Colorado Parks & Wildlife did not reply to our request for an update on the fate of Colorado's newly captured wild wolf family.  CU Boulder Professor Marc Bekoff did, offering suggestions for how to improve human-wolf interactions under the voter mandate to reintroduce wolves to Colorado.  Go here for … Continue reading "Hoofbeats – Horses & Human History//Colorado Wolf Family ReCaptured"

    Colorado Wolves Recapture – Marc Bekoff Extended Interview

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024 51:38


    This is an extended interview with CU Boulder Wildlife Expert Marc Bekoff about challenges and possibilities with Colorado Wolf Reintroduction.  For the broadcast interview, GO Here.  And here is an AI-generated written transcipt.    

    The Emotional Lives of Animals

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024 25:23


    In this week's show Beth spoke with Marc Bekoff, well known and loved for his decades of research into animal behavior, emotion and cognition, about the new edition of his classic book, The Emotional Lives of Animals. Marc Bekoff is professor emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. For decades … Continue reading "The Emotional Lives of Animals"

    SOLO: Building a Remarkable Life of Your Own – Peter McGraw

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2024 26:58


    SOLO:  Building a Remarkable Life of Your Own.  CU Boulder Professor, Behavioral Economist and book author Peter McGraw uses statistical data and personal anecdotes to explain the growing worldwide trend for adults to live “Solo.” (for Cat Ladies song, go here) Show Producer and Host: Shelley Schlender Executive Producer: Susan Moran      

    Science from The Moon

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2024 27:00


    When people talk about going to the Moon, it is often in terms of establishing a station there, or finding water, or doing science about the Moon such as studying moon rocks.  But we can do interesting science from the Moon that can't be done on Earth, which is our topic today with guest Dr. … Continue reading "Science from The Moon"

    Invasive Weed Management in Boulder County

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2024 25:59


    On this week's show Beth speaks with Joe Swanson and Laura Backus to discuss some of the invasive weeds that are plaguing Boulder County. Joe is the County Weed Coordinator for Boulder County Parks & Open Space. Joe has worked for over 17 years in rangeland and natural areas management and has been on the … Continue reading "Invasive Weed Management in Boulder County"

    Why Do Animals Talk?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2024 26:18


    Animal Communication Science (start time: 2:57)  Whether you own a dog or horse, or have listened to dolphins, wolves, chimpanzees or other wild animals, you've probably wondered what they're saying when they communicate vocally – and why do they communicate the way they do? Our guest, zoologist Arik Kershenbaum, explores recent scientific discoveries in animal vocal … Continue reading "Why Do Animals Talk?"

    Fire Resistant Homes

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2024 26:54


    In this fire prone season, we talk with experts about an ancient building technique that might reduce the chance that a building's going to burn. Unfired, compressed earth blocks are a building material that involves clay, sand and lime.  Our guests are architect-engineer Lisa Morey and one of her clients, Matteo Rabescini, who had such … Continue reading "Fire Resistant Homes"

    Wildfires & Smokey Skies

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 26:59


    Wildfire smoke has marred the Front Range in recent weeks, due to Megafires that are likely to become more frequent.  And more smoke is likely. Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World (Starts 00:00) Beth Bennett speaks with author John Vaillant about the Canadian firestorm that forced 100,000 people to run for their … Continue reading "Wildfires & Smokey Skies"

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