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Animal-human conflict expert Bethany Brookshire explains why we put cats before rats – and a lot of it has to do with where we're encountering them. Read an interview with Bethany in our new column, AO Wants to Know. And check out her book Pests: How Humans Create Animal
Hip hop group clipping. has just released a brilliant new cyberpunk-inspired album, Dead Channel Sky, and we're talking to the members about how hip hop and cyberpunk have inspired each other from the beginning. Hope you've got your mirrorshades! Meanwhile, contributing host Bethany Brookshire takes us on a deep dive into medieval history and shares the startling tale of how three thousand hats ended a war.
In this episode, we examine how the absence of local news affects political polarization, civic engagement, and community identity. First, scholars John Volk and Joshua Darr join The Hot Dish to discuss the emergence and consequences of News Deserts across the United States. Then, journalist Brandon Tensley and Joel engage in a compelling conversation on the importance of local news to communities of color across America.Listen to learn more about how this phenomenon shapes information access, democratic participation, and the broader political landscape, proving the media's pivotal role in shaping public discourse.Heidi and Joel delve into the shift away from local media sources and the consequential impact on the social fabric of middle America. They provide listeners with a practical roadmap for actively engaging with local politics and media by highlighting the importance of reviving local journalism, offering ways communities can rebuild their media ecosystems, and exploring how doing so will improve democratic engagement and reduce polarization.Join us on The Hot Dish every other week, where we serve up hearty conversations that resonate with every corner of the country.The Hot Dish is brought to you by the One Country Project, making sure the voices of the rest of us are heard in Washington. To learn more, visit https://onecountryproject.org or find us on Substack at https://onecountryproject.substack.com/.
To most people, the rat is vile and villainous. But not to everyone! We hear from a scientist who befriended rats and another who worked with them in the lab — and from the animator who made one the hero of a Pixar blockbuster. (Part three of a three-part series, “Sympathy for the Rat.”) SOURCES:Bethany Brookshire, author of Pests: How Humans Create Animal VillainsJan Pinkava, creator and co-writer of "Ratatouille," and director of the Animation Institute at the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg.Julia Zichello, evolutionary biologist at Hunter College. RESOURCES:"Weekend Column: Rat's End, or, How a Rat Dies," by Julia Zichello (West Side Rag, 2024).Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains by Bethany Brookshire (2022)."Rats: the history of an incendiary cartoon trope," by Archie Bland (The Guardian, 2015)."Catching the Rat: Understanding Multiple and Contradictory Human-Rat Relations as Situated Practices," by Koen Beumer (Society & Animals, 2014)."Effects of Chronic Methylphenidate on Dopamine/Serotonin Interactions in the Mesolimbic DA System of the Mouse," by Bethany Brookshire (Wake Forest University, 2010)."A New Deal For Mice," by C.C. Little (Scientific American, 1935).
Today we speak with Bethany Brookshire, author of the new book Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains. We discuss why certain animals are labeled as "pests" and how we can learn to live with all animals. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured wildlife, for twice-monthly discussions about restoring native habitat and helping the birds in your backyard. Access the BIRD HUGGER Newsletter here: www.birdhuggerpodcast.com. Send your questions about birds and native gardening to birdhuggerpodcast@gmail.com. (PG-13) St. Dymphna Press, LLC.
New York City's mayor calls them “public enemy number one.” History books say they caused the Black Death — although recent scientific evidence disputes that claim. So is the rat a scapegoat? And what does our rat hatred say about us? (Part one of a three-part series.) SOURCES:Bethany Brookshire, author of Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains.Kathy Corradi, director of rodent mitigation for New York City.Ed Glaeser, professor of economics at Harvard University.Nils Stenseth, professor of ecology and evolution at the University of Oslo. RESOURCES:"On Patrol With the Rat Czar," by Mark Chiusano (Intelligencer, 2024)."How Rats Took Over North America," by Allison Parshall (Scientific American, 2024)."Where Are the Rats in New York City," by Matt Yan (New York Times, 2024)."Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains" by Bethany Brookshire (2023)."Human ectoparasites and the spread of plague in Europe during the Second Pandemic," by Nils Stenseth, Katharine Dean, Fabienne Krauer, Lars Walløe, Ole Christian Lingjærde, Barbara Bramanti, and Boris Schmid (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2018). EXTRAS:"Freakonomics Radio Live: 'Jesus Could Have Been a Pigeon.'" by Freakonomics Radio (2018).
The Science of Music This week we chat with author and science blogger Bethany Brookshire who shares her knowledge about how music works, its importance to community, and its impact on culture. We address questions like: How do our brains process music? How do vocal cords work? Why do we perceive dissonance differently? Why are some cultures […] The post Modern Musicology #125 – The Science of Music appeared first on The ESO Network.
Green Dreamer: Sustainability and Regeneration From Ideas to Life
What does it mean that the labeling of “pests” often relate to how they challenge power and order? How do the ways that “pests” are often targeted and managed further exacerbate socio-environmental injustices? And how might we learn to relate with animals deemed “out of place” beyond the subjective framing of “pests” altogether?In this episode, we are honored to discuss all things related to “pests” with Bethany Brookshire, an award-winning freelance science journalist and author of the 2022 book Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains.We invite you to…tune in and subscribe to Green Dreamer via any podcast app;join us on Patreon for the extended version of this episode;and subscribe to our newsletter at greendreamer.substack.com.
Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with Fort McMurray, Alta. residents new and old about their experiences with with wildfires, Canadian MSNBC correspondent Ali Velshi shares how his family's journey shaped his path in journalism, economist Jeff Rubin makes the case that inflation and sanctions are reshaping the global economic order, and science journalist Bethany Brookshire reflects on why we label some animals "pests."Find more at at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday
Welcome to the AMSE Science Report. I'm Alan Lowe, Executive Director of the American Museum of Science and Energy, and the K-25 History Center, both located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. On an episode of our podcast, AMSEcast, I had the pleasure of talking with Bethany Brookshire about her book Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains. In our discussion Bethany emphasized that defining a creature as a pest, whether it is something smaller like a rat or snake, or larger, like a coyote or an elephant, is based in large part on our culture. It is a subjective perspective, and because of that, Bethany argues that we can examine and change our views - if not eliminating our fears, at least gaining respect for many so-called pests. Here is Bethany:
Today, you'll learn about a potential breakthrough in the treatment of ovarian cancer, how just passively listening can help you learn things much more quickly, and the ant that changed the lion's cuisine. Ovarian Cancer Treatment “mRNA therapeutic successfully combats ovarian cancer in mice.” by Monika Raab, et al. 2023. “Key Statistics for Ovarian Cancer.” by American Cancer Society. 2024. “The Long History of mRNA Vaccines.” by Chris Beyrer. 2021. Passive Learning “Passive exposure can speed up learning, new research shows.” by Laurel Hamers. 2024. “Boosting Learning With the Power of Passive Exposure.” Neurosciencenews.com. 2024. Lions & Ants “How an invasive ant changed a lion's dinner menu.” by Bethany Brookshire. 2024. “Disruption of an ant-plant mutualism shapes interactions between lions and their primary prey.” by Douglas N. Kamaru, et al. 2024. “How Wolves Change Rivers - video.” By GrrlScientist. 2014. Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Let's imagine you're nestling down for a good nap. You've already been to the market for food stuffs, you have filled your larder, and you even managed to get some brand new bedding. It's cold out, and you are definitely ready for a long winter's nap—when suddenly, someone rudely breaks into your home. Screaming. And maybe standing on a chair. Even though you're just a common house mouse, minding his own business in someone's sock drawer. Yes, we think of mice and rates and other critter as “pests”—vermin—the bad guys. Are they, though? Bethany Brookshire tackles this question in PESTS: How humans create animal villains. “Pests — the mice, raccoons, and seagulls of the world — are not irritating by nature,” Brookshire begins. Rather, she explains, “they are animal winners on a planet full of loss. When your habitat is full of parking lots, brick apartment buildings, and carefully tended gardens, survival isn't about staying sweetly in the woods and meadows. Instead, evolutionary success looks a lot like raiding our trash, nesting on our buildings, and eating our gardens down to nubs.” Nature, you see, evolves WITH us. We learned a bit about this in The Natural History of the Future last year; we make these environments; we destroy natural ones. And sometimes, the animals we like (our beloved cats, for instance) are actually little destruction machines wreaking havoc on natural fauna. What we call a pest and what we call a PET comes down to how we personally interact—but there's so much more to the story. Join us on Jan 25th for a livestream and chat with Bethany Brookshire as she breaks down the science of our imagined foes. Episode was recorded live on January 25th, 2024. To join future broadcasts check out our Book Club schedule at https://brandyschillace.com/peculiar/. Follow us on Twitter (@peculiarBC), Facebook (facebook.com/groups/peculiarbooksclub), Instagram (@thepeculiarbookclub), and Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/c/PeculiarBookClub)!
Keeping track of passwords can be a real pain. If you use a simple one or use the same one for everything, that makes you easy to be hacked. If you use a complicated one or lots of different ones, it's hard to remember. This episode starts with a strategy to create good passwords that you will remember. Source: Sid Kirchheimer, author of Scam-Proof Your Life (https://amzn.to/3SeWhA5) Men and women are different, obviously. However, some of the most interesting differences you may not know. For example, how men and women hear differently; the real reason women live longer than men, and how hormones affect behaviors differently in men and women. Joining me to discuss this is is Cat Bohannon. Cat is is a researcher with a Ph.D. from Columbia University and author of the book Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution (https://amzn.to/3SgBUlO). The world is full of pests: rats, insects, bees, deer, spiders – there are lots of them. So, what is it that makes a pest a pest? In some cases, what you consider a pest may not be to someone else. Generally, though, pests are something we strive to get rid of. What is the best way to do that? Maybe pests are really trying to tell us something. Here to discuss this is Bethany Brookshire. She is an award-winning science writer, a contributor to Science News magazine and a host on the podcast Science for the People (http://www.scienceforthepeople.ca/) and she is author of a book called Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains (https://amzn.to/3vzlpZt). Most drivers don't take the time to adjust the headrest in their car. In fact, many of us don't even think about doing it and aren't sure of the best position for it anyway. If you are ever in a crash, the position of your headrest can make a big difference. Listen as I explain how to adjust it. https://www.adlergiersch.com/provider-blog/how-to-properly-adjust-your-headrest-to-prevent-whiplash/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! NerdWallet lets you compare top travel credit cards side-by-side to maximize your spending! Compare and find smarter credit cards, savings accounts, and more today at https://NerdWallet.com Indeed is offering SYSK listeners a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING TurboTax Experts make all your moves count — filing with 100% accuracy and getting your max refund, guaranteed! See guarantee details at https://TurboTax.com/Guarantees Dell Technologies and Intel are pushing what technology can do, so great ideas can happen! Find out how to bring your ideas to life at https://Dell.com/WelcomeToNow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Prepare for a fascinating exploration of the unsung urban ecosystems with author Peter Alagona. We'll navigate the intricate ecological and historical facets of his book Accidental Ecosystems, tracing the evolution of urban parks, the impact of climate change on human-wildlife interactions, and the implications of zoonotics. Venturing into the green realm of urban parks, we'll examine their metamorphosis from pastoral to forest-like settings. Together, we'll unravel Central Park's genesis and the often misconstrued concept of wilderness, while casting a critical eye on the North American Model's approach to wildlife management. At the end of our conversation we get into the pressing concern of biological diversity loss and its far-reaching implications. Show Notes:To view the show transcripts, click on the episode at https://bookedonplanning.buzzsprout.com/To learn more about Peter and his work visit https://www.peteralagona.com/aboutTo dive deeper into the Gotham Coyote project check out https://www.gothamcoyote.org/Recommended further readings from Peter: Beloved Beasts by Michelle Nyhouse, a history of conservation of the United StatesPests by Bethany Brookshire, a discussion of why certain animals in certain contexts are labeled pestsFollow us on social media for more content related to each episode:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/booked-on-planning/Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookedPlanningFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookedonplanningInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookedonplanning/
At any given time, millions of lab mice are being used in research facilities nationwide. And yet nearly all of them can be connected back to a single source: The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine, where the modern lab mouse was invented.What started as a research project aimed at understanding heredity is now a global business. Research on lab mice has led to more than two dozen Nobel prizes, helped save countless human lives, and has pushed science and medicine to new heights. But behind it all is a cost that's rarely discussed outside of the ethics boards that determine how lab mice are used. In this episode, we hear the story of how a leading eugenicist turned the humble mouse from a household pest into science's number one guinea pig. Plus, we get a rare peek inside the Jackson Laboratory - where over 10,000 strains of lab mice DNA are kept cryogenically frozen. Featuring Bethany Brookshire, Kristin Blanchette, Lon Cardon, Rachael Pelletier, Karen Rader, Nadia Rosenthal and Mark Wanner.SUPPORTOutside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to become a sustaining member of Outside/In. Subscribe to our newsletter (it's free!).Follow Outside/In on Instagram or join our private discussion group on Facebook.Submit a question to the “Outside/Inbox.” We answer queries about the natural world, climate change, sustainability, and human evolution. You can send a voice memo to outsidein@nhpr.org or leave a message on our hotline, 1-844-GO-OTTER (844-466-8837).LINKSKaren Rader's book, Making Mice: Standardizing Animals for American Biomedical Research, 1900-1955, is a definitive source on the birth of the lab mouse…Curious to learn more about pests? Take a look at Bethany Brookshire's book, Pests: How Humans Create Villains.This piece from the New Yorker questions the assumptions and ethical choices scientists have made by using lab mice in sterilized lab environments.In this New York Times essay, Brandon Keim explores how some ethicists want to reduce harm to animals used for research through a new model: repaying them. CREDITSProduced by Jeongyoon HanMixed by Taylor QuimbyEditing by Taylor Quimby, with help from Nate Hegyi, Rebecca Lavoie, Justine Paradis, and Felix PoonExecutive producer: Rebecca LavoieMusic by Blue Dot Sessions, Spring Gang, and El Flaco Collective. Our theme music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.Outside/In is a production of New Hampshire Public Radio
We have a new podcast! It's called Universe Of Art, and it's all about artists who use science to bring their creations to the next level. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Devastating Fires Might Become More Common In Hawaii As of Friday morning, at least 55 were dead and thousands were seeking shelter on Maui, after wildfires tore across the Hawaiian island. Officials there say that the fires, once rare, have caused billions of dollars in damage, and the Biden administration has made federal disaster relief available. The fires were driven by strong, dry winds from nearby Hurricane Dora, and were made worse by ongoing drought conditions. The region has grown hotter and drier, and highly flammable invasive grasses have been crowding out native vegetation. Bethany Brookshire, freelance science journalist and author of the book Pests: How Humans Created Animal Villains, joins Ira Flatow to talk about this story and others from this week in science news, including an investigation into unknown genes in our genome, a 390 million year-old moss that might not survive climate change, and a fish that plays hide and seek to get to its prey. A Tuna's Reel Life Adventures Bluefin tuna is typically sliced into small pieces, its ruby red flesh rolled into sushi. But don't let those tiny sashimi slices fool you. Bluefin tuna are colossal creatures—on average, they're about 500 pounds. The biggest one ever caught was a whopping 1,500 pounds. They can travel thousands of miles at breakneck speeds, and their skin changes color! The fish, once in danger of extinction, have now rebounded due to a combination of scientific advances and possibly as a result of climate change. Ira talks with Karen Pinchin, science journalist and author of the new book, Kings of Their Own Ocean: Tuna, Obsession, and The Future of Our Seas about a tuna nicknamed Amelia who traveled across the world, the fisherman who tagged her, and what their stories can help us better understand about the mighty fish. Read an excerpt of the book here. Preserving Acadia National Park's Vanishing Birdsong Acadia National Park in Maine is home to more than 300 bird species. Climate change is affecting the range of many of these birds, to the extent that some may not be found in the area in the future. A team of volunteers has made it their mission to record as many bird sounds as possible—while they still can. Laura Sebastianelli is the founder and lead researcher of the Schoodic Notes Bird Sounds of Acadia project. She's helped collect more than 1,200 bird sounds on tape, with the hopes of aiding future researchers. Sebastianelli joins Ira to talk about the project. World's Richest Lithium Deposit Faces Opposition To Mining Five years ago, professional gem hunters Mary and Gary Freeman stumbled upon the richest known lithium deposit in the world in the woods of western Maine. Lithium is a silvery metal many consider to be key to the transition to a clean energy future, thanks to its role in technology like lithium-ion batteries. The Maine deposit could be a way for the United States to be independent in their lithium sourcing. But there's stiff opposition to digging up the mineral within Maine. Kate Cough, reporter and enterprise editor for The Maine Monitor, reported this story in collaboration with Time Magazine. Cough is a Report For America corps member. She joins Ira to discuss the debate. To stay updated on all-things-science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters. Transcripts for each segment will be available the week after the show airs on sciencefriday.com.
It's our listener mail round up, and this week it's all about communication in the natural world, like: how do migratory animals teach their young how to migrate and where to go? Do sharks smell underwater? And, are plants talking to each other?Plus, a mini-story about a lost baby squirrel and a Bluetooth speaker.Take a listen!How do young animals know how to migrate?Can plants talk to each other?What makes an animal a pest?How do shark noses work underwater?Featuring: Patrik Byholm, Richard Karban, Bethany Brookshire, and Stephen Kajiura. SUPPORTOutside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to become a sustaining member of Outside/In. Talk to us! Follow Outside/In on Instagram or Twitter, or discuss the show in our private listener group on Facebook. Submit a question to our Outside/Inbox. We answer queries about the natural world, climate change, sustainability, and human evolution. You can send a voice memo to outsidein@nhpr.org or leave a message on our hotline, 1-844-GO-OTTER (844-466-8837). LINKSVisit outsideinradio.org for video of a Bluetooth speaker-assisted baby squirrel rescue.On animal migration:A magnetic compass aids monarch butterfly migrationPaternal transmission of migration knowledge in a long-distance bird migrantOn plants talking:Rumor Has It…: Relay Communication of Stress Cues in PlantsTowards understanding plant bioacousticsOn what makes an animal a pest:The long history of speed at Reuters about carrier pigeons and The Tastiest Bird You Can Legally Eat about the tastiness of pigeon meat, also known as squabBurmese Pythons: The Giant Invasive Snake at Risk in Its Native LandOn sharks:Check out the Shark Lab at Florida Atlantic University.Scientists believe sharks came into existence about 400 million years ago. CREDITSHost: Nate HegyiReported and produced by Felix Poon, Jeongyoon Han, Taylor Quimby, and Jessica HuntEdited by Taylor QuimbyRebecca Lavoie is our Executive ProducerSpecial thanks to Lani Asuncion and Angus MurphyMusic for this episode by Blue Dot SessionsOutside/In is a production of New Hampshire Public Radio
Trained at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Physiology and pharmacology Dr. Bethany Brookshire is an award winning science writer, podcast host and recent MIT Knight Science Journalism Fellow. Our topic today is her recent book, Pest: How Humans Create Animal Villain's.
What makes a pest? Why are some animals revered in one culture and vilified in another? How do our ways of life bring us into conflict versus companionship, and what do these interactions mean for us and them? Rats, squirrels, coyotes, pigeons...often, we view animals like these as pests. We usually don't like them, even try to get rid of them…but what makes a species a pest? On this episode, we talk with Bethany Brookshire about her new book, Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains. Bethany is a science journalist interested in human-animal conflict, and in the book, she tells the story of how both historical and cultural context explains why the same animal species can be viewed as a friend or foe. Bethany is also the host of the podcast Science for the People - check them out! Cover art by Keating Shahmehri
A Dying Planet Offers A Peek Into The Future This week, astronomers reported in the journal Nature that they had spotted a planet approximately the size of Jupiter being swallowed by a star over the course of ten days. The star, called ZTF SLRN-2020, is about 15,000 light-years away from our solar system, but still in our own galaxy. Astronomers had thought this type of planet-engulfing must happen, based on how stars evolve and certain chemical signatures they've spotted from inside stars. However, this is the first time the process has actually been observed. Our own sun is predicted to go through a similar expansion in about five billion years, consuming Mercury, Venus, and likely Earth. Tim Revell, deputy US editor at New Scientist, joins Ira to talk about the fate of the planet and other stories from the week in science, including mapping the trees of Africa, an experimental Alzheimer's drug showing early promise, and reconstructing a short movie clip based on brain signals recorded in mice. Saliva: The Unsung Hero Of Taste How good are you at tasting what you eat? Not just gulping food down, but actually savoring the flavor? When you think about how taste works, you may think about your tongue and taste buds, and how they send information about your food info to your brain. But there's an overlooked—and understudied—hero in this story: saliva. That may sound strange, since part of saliva's job is to help us chew, swallow, talk, and even digest. But saliva is much more interesting and complicated than that. Ira talks with Chris Gorski, editor at Chemical & Engineering News, who reported this story about taste and saliva for Knowable Magazine earlier this year. Who Will Win The Rat Race? Last fall, New York City's Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch stood in front of a microphone and announced her plan to deal with NYC's most hated residents: rats. She went on to make a now-viral declaration: “I want to be clear, the rats are absolutely going to hate this announcement. But the rats don't run this city: We do.” Soon after, NYC announced its search for a rat czar. Someone who is “highly motivated and somewhat bloodthirsty” with “the drive, determination, and killer instinct needed to fight the real enemy—New York City's relentless rat population.” This news—and the memes born from it—put rats in the forefront of city dwellers' minds. And now, the newly appointed rat czar Kathleen Corradi's reign has begun. But ridding cities of rats is no easy feat. It requires public participation, new policy, behavioral changes, and an all-hands-on-deck approach from several government departments. So what's it going to take to rid cities of rats? And is it even possible? In this live call-in, Ira talks with Bethany Brookshire, science journalist and author of Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains, and Dr. Bobby Corrigan, urban rodentologist and pest consultant. They discuss the history of humans' relationships with rats, why these critters thrive in cities, and why we'll need to learn how to live with them. Transcripts for each segment will be available the week after the show airs on sciencefriday.com.
Don't Dumb it Down, and Other Science Writing Tips and Tricks Bethany Brookshire, PhD, Science Journalist Website | Twitter @Beebrookshire Abstract Bethany Brookshire, science journalist and author of Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains, made the transition from scientist to science writer. Along the way, she learned how many assumptions non-scientists make about scientific writing…and how many assumptions scientists make about non-scientific readers. The world of science writing is, in its way, just as much of a specialty as genomics, and Brookshire is here to pull back the curtain on it all. Related links: Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains (also available as audiobook) Related same-day events: 4:30-5:30 PM – Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains, @ Fishbowl Forum, D.H. Hill Library 7:00-8:30 PM – A conversation with Dr. Bethany Brookshire and NCMNS Mammalogist Dr. Mike Cove, WRAL 3D Theater, NC Museum of Natural Science (to be filmed by C-SPAN!) Speaker Bio Bethany Brookshire is a freelance science journalist and the author of the December 2022 book, Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains. She is also a host and producer on the podcast Science for the People. She is a former staff writer with Science News magazine and Science News for Students, a digital magazine covering the latest in scientific research for kids ages 9-14. Her freelance writing has appeared in Scientific American, Science News magazine, Science News Explores, The Atlantic, the Washington Post, Slate and other outlets. Bethany has a PhD in Physiology and Pharmacology from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. She was a 2019-2020 Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT. GES Colloquium (GES 591-002) is jointly taught by Drs. Jen Baltzegar and Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium will generally be live-streamed via Zoom, with monthly in-person meetings in the 1911 Building, Room 129. Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and Twitter for updates. Genetic Engineering and Society Center GES Colloquium - Tuesdays 12-1PM (via Zoom) NC State University | http://go.ncsu.edu/ges-colloquium GES Mediasite - See videos, full abstracts, speaker bios, and slides https://go.ncsu.edu/ges-mediasite Twitter - https://twitter.com/GESCenterNCSU GES Center - Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology. Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co
We end the month of Febuary by celebrating the Lunar New Year here on It Came from a Monster Movie! Henry and Lillie are joined by science journalist Bethany Brookshire as well as paleontological science writer Riley Black as they venture into the Wild West of 1972 with NIGHT OF THE LEPUS! We discuss furries, science and more in this wascially wabbit themed monster movie! CLICK HERE to watch NIGHT OF THE LEPUS (1972) on PLEX Click here to purchase Bethany's book PESTS: HOW HUMANS CREATE ANIMAL VILLAINS Click here to purchase Riley Black's Books CLICK HERE to learn how to follow, support and experience more of ICFAMMPodcast!
Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with Niigaan Sinclair about the significance of the federal government's $2.8-billion residential school settlement with hundreds of First Nations, investigative journalist Walt Bogdanich about the influence of consulting firm McKinsey & Company, journalist Chris Whipple evaluates Joe Biden's first two years as U.S. president, and science journalist Bethany Brookshire reflects on why we label some animals "pests." Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday
Technology Trends to Watch in 2023 The start of a new year is often a time to contemplate the future and what might lie ahead on the horizon. This week, the magazine MIT Technology Review unveiled its annual list of 10 technologies to watch—innovations that it thinks are on the verge of rapid adoption or causing significant cultural changes, or already in the process of creating such a shift. This year's list includes items from the amazing astronomy enabled by JWST, to the ‘inevitable' electric vehicle, as well as technologies that are further down the road, such as the ability to grow replacement organs to order. Amy Nordrum, an executive editor at MIT Technology Review, joins Ira to talk about some of the innovations and the difficulties of narrowing a universe of possibilities into a list of 10 key technologies to watch. They also discuss some technologies highlighted in the past that went on to make a big difference—cloud computing, anyone?—as well as some projects the magazine highlighted in the past that did not turn out to be as significant as once thought. Are Animal ‘Pests' Really The Villains We Make Them Out To Be? Join us as we enter the rat's nest. The snake pit. The mouse trap. What, precisely, is it that untangles an animal friend from foe? This week, we're taking a close look at pests—critters with a notorious reputation for being destructive, annoying, and even villainous. We're also going to get a little philosophical and ask: What do those opinions tell us about ourselves? Science journalist Bethany Brookshire is the author of Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains. She joins Ira to talk about her new book, challenge our perspectives on what makes a pest, and answer listener's pest-y questions live. To read an excerpt of the book, visit sciencefriday.com. Transcripts for each segment will be available the week after the show airs on sciencefriday.com.
Join Ellen & science journalist Bethany Brookshire for a review of the lumpy little tide pods disrupting ecosystems all over the globe: cane toads. We discuss toxic shoulder pads, retro nature documentary excellence, poison butts and teacher toads, ugly animals, and the complicated relationships humans have with the wildlife around us.Further viewing:Cane Toads: An Unnatural History (1988)Cane toad mating call (up close in 4K)Learn more about Bethany's work at her website and follow her on Twitter!Check out her new book, Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains and her podcast, Science for the People!Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Discord!
Join Ellen & science journalist Bethany Brookshire for a review of the lumpy little tide pods disrupting ecosystems all over the globe: cane toads. We discuss toxic shoulder pads, retro nature documentary excellence, poison butts and teacher toads, ugly animals, and the complicated relationships humans have with the wildlife around us.Further viewing:Cane Toads: An Unnatural History (1988)Cane toad mating call (up close in 4K)Learn more about Bethany's work at her website and follow her on Twitter!Check out her new book, Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains and her podcast, Science for the People!Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Discord!
Why do we snuggle alongside our dogs and cats and then call an exterminator when we see a rat? Bethany Brookshire is a science writer and host of the podcast Science for the People. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why some animals are demonized over others, what our human-centric view of the world means for wildlife management, and why we choose certain furry companions as pets. Her book is “Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains.”
Bethany Brookshire is a science writer and author. She is also a podcast host on the podcast Science for the People, where she interviews scientists and science writers about the science that will impact people's lives. Bethany Brookshire's book, Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains, will be available on December 6, 2022. Learn more about Bethany Brookshire at bethanybrookshire.com. Support the Show - Become a Patron! Help us grow and become a Patron today: https://www.patreon.com/smartpeoplepodcast Sponsors: Blinkist - Go to Blinkist.com/SMART to start your 7-day free trial and get 25% off of a Blinkist Premium membership. ButcherBox - Sign up today at butcherbox.com/SMART and use code SMART to get FREE Ribeyes for a Year plus $10 off. MasterClass - This holiday, give one annual membership and get one free! Go to masterclass.com/smart. Shopify - Sign up for a FREE trial at shopify.com/spp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We all know what a "pest" is. We can all point to creatures that are pests in our neighborhoods, those invasive hard-to-get-rid-of, disruptive animals that civilization seems to be in constant battle with. The rats, the racoons, the pigeons... But what makes them pests, really? Who decides? And what about other animals that are pests to some - cats, elephants, and deer for example - but not to others? Rachelle Saunders speaks with our very own Bethany Brookshire about her new book "Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains" and explore how our very human problem with pests is really more...
This time on Roll Factory, our look at the six ability scores begins with the beefy barbarian's best friend, the Strength score. We're joined by freelance science writer and journalist Bethany Brookshire. She's on Twitter as @beebrookshire.
We all want to discover the passion that drives our dreams. Often, we need help to find it. In STEMM careers, students need mentors, sometimes multiple mentors, to support them as they find their way and choose their career and academic paths. In this first episode of Season Two, host Bethany Brookshire takes us through the experiences of undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students. These students share stories of what qualities they sought in a mentor, how they found their mentors, and how each mentor guided and supported them to identify and follow their passions. Bethany Brookshire is a science journalist, writer, and podcast host. She has a PhD in Physiology and Pharmacology from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Her writing has appeared in Scientific American, Science News Magazine, The Washington Post, Slate, and other outlets. To learn more about the Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM report, and for a guide to implementing best practices at your institution, visit NAS.edu/mentoring. Brought to you by The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.
We are back! In this episode Michelle and Katherine talk about their break activities and angree about Katherine's song of the Summer, buying drugs online, Netflix's “The Chair,” and more than you would ever care to know about bird genitals! “I Spent 5 Months Trying to Coax a Cat from My Ceiling,” Bethany Brookshire https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/08/ceiling-cat-meme-came-live-my-house/619832/ “Pain assessment in companion animals: an update,” Jacky Reid, Marian Scott, Andrea Nolan http://www.newmetrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Pain-assessment-in-companion-animals-an-update5b66345d.pdf “Why Gen Z & Millenials Use ‘Elite' So Differently,” Kaitlyn Wylde https://www.bustle.com/life/what-does-elite-mean-tiktok-gen-z-millennials Casey Lewis' “After School” Substack https://afterschool.substack.com “Don't Put on a Happy Face! Are you Using the Smiley Emoji All Wrong?” https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/aug/11/dont-put-on-a-happy-face-are-you-using-the-smiley-emoji-all-wrong?utm_source=Internet+Brunch&utm_campaign=b0e49002c2-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_09_12_01_00_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fb5e40aa73-b0e49002c2-490916561&mc_cid=b0e49002c2&mc_eid=8939ec466e Ampersand tiktok @mrmattjohns https://www.tiktok.com/@mrmattjohns/video/6991749545029799169?is_from_webapp=v1&lang=en ) Exclamation tiktok @tinx https://www.tiktok.com/@tinx/video/6998240266725412102?utm_source=Internet+Brunch&utm_campaign=98c3b5bab0-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_09_12_01_00_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fb5e40aa73-98c3b5bab0-490916561&mc_cid=98c3b5bab0&mc_eid=8939ec466e “The English Project's History of Punctuation,” Christopher Mulvey http://englishproject.org/resources/english-project's-history-english-punctuation “Female Hummingbirds Look Like Males to Avoid Attacks, Study Suggests,” Natalie Grover https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/26/female-hummingbirds-mimic-males-to-avoid-attacks-study-suggests Radiolab, “The Beauty Puzzle” https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/articles/beauty-puzzle “Scientists Discover the Genetic Reason Why Birds Don't Have Penises” Josephy Stromberg https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/scientists-discover-the-genetic-reason-why-birds-dont-have-penises-94130874/
It's summer and that means sweat. But why do we use all those antiperspirants and deodorants? Why are we so ashamed of a cooling bodily function? This week host Bethany Brookshire talks with Sarah Everts, author of the new book "The Joy of Sweat: The Strange Science of Perspiration".
It's the holidays and it's 2020. For many of us, it's the first time we won't be able to be together, doing the traditional things we always do. It seems like it might be okay, I mean, people are always telling us to make our own traditions. So why does it hurt so much? Why does the loss of our rituals leave us so adrift? And why, with all the pressure of the pandemic and joblessness and politics are any of us bored? Bethany Brookshire speaks with Science News social sciences writer Sujata Gupta about the importance of rituals, and...
When you think of science communication, you might think of TED talks or museum talks or video talks, or... people giving lectures. It's a lot of people talking. But there's more to sci comm than that. This week host Bethany Brookshire talks to three people who have looked at science communication in places you might not expect it. We'll speak with Mauna Dasari, a graduate student at Notre Dame, about making mammals into a March Madness match. We'll talk with Sarah Garner, director of the Pathologists Assistant Program at Tulane University School of Medicine, who takes pathology instruction out of...
Our guest from our FRANKENSTEIN episode, Bethany Brookshire (@beebrookshire) is back to discuss a slightly less Halloweeny tale: Jane Austen's LADY SUSAN. Another one for our absolute pantheon of Lady Fuckbois, LADY SUSAN and the recent film adaptation called LOVE & FRIENDSHIP starring Kate Beckinsale gives us something we've always wanted: a slightly villainous lady who gets punished in proportion to her crimes. Follow FBOL on Social Media! Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/fuckboisoflit Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/fuckboisoflit Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/fuckboisoflit Read LADY SUSAN for free: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/946/946-h/946-h.htm SUMMARY: An epistolary novel that young Jane Austen did not see published in her lifetime, LADY SUSAN follows the love and power trials of one Lady Susan, a recently widowed woman of few means who must rely on her wit and cunning to keep her in the status she so richly deserves. While plying her trade on wealthy young men and her own daughter, her sister-in-law does what she can to protect her own family's honor.
We get more into the nitty-gritty grossness of medical procedures in this bonus episode with Bethany Brookshire (@BeeBrookshire)! Content Warning if you get queasy over bodily stuff. But fast forward to the 2nd half to hear us shit-talk Lord Byron and Percy Shelley, as god intended. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/fuckboisoflit/message
What is probably the most famous book ever written by a woman, FRANKENSTEIN, OR THE MODERN PROMETHEUS is the emblematic text of problematic science. What luck we have Science Communications Expert Bethany Brookshire (@BeeBrookshire) here to help explain science ethics, anatomy, and all sorts of fun, icky things to us book nerds. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/fuckboisoflit/message
With many schools closed and parents looking for resources to help keep children stuck at home engaged and still learning, the hosts of Science for the People stuck on our curation caps and did some digging to create a list of STEM themed online resources for students of all ages and interests. This week we take a break from our usual format so that hosts Bethany Brookshire and Rachelle Saunders can showcase these great resources and hopefully help you find a few that your at-home student is keen to explore. Find a link to every learning resource we talk about...
It's 2020 and times are tough. Maybe some of us are learning about social distancing the hard way. Maybe we just are all a little anxious. No matter what, we could probably use a friend. But what is a friend, exactly? And why do we need them so much? This week host Bethany Brookshire speaks with Lydia Denworth, author of the new book "Friendship: The Evolution, Biology, and Extraordinary Power of Life's Fundamental Bond". This episode is hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from Science News.
Algae. What springs to mind when you read that word? Maybe a seaweed forest? Maybe a pond covered in scum? Maybe a red tide? Those are all algae, and they can all change the world in different ways. This week Bethany Brookshire talks with Ruth Kassinger about the history, present and future of algae and her new book, "Slime: How Algae Created Us, Plague Us, and Just Might Save Us". This episode is hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from Science News.
Yup, you guessed it... it's Science for the People's annual holiday episode that helps you figure out what sciency books and gifts to get that special nerd on your list. Or maybe you're looking to build up your reading list for the holiday break and a geeky Christmas sweater to wear to an upcoming party. Returning are pop-science power-readers John Dupuis and Joanne Manaster to dish on the best science books they read this past year. And Rachelle Saunders and Bethany Brookshire squee in delight over some truly delightful science-themed non-book objects for those whose bookshelves are already full. Since...
Have you heard? Climate change. We did it. And it's bad. It's going to be worse. We are already suffering the effects of it in many ways. How should we TALK about the dangers we are facing, though? Should we get people good and scared? Or give them hope? Or both? Host Bethany Brookshire talks with David Wallace-Wells and Sheril Kirschenbaum to find out. This episode is hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from Science News. Related links: Why Climate Disasters Might Not Boost Public Engagement on Climate Change on The New York Times by Andrew Revkin The other kind...
This week we're coming to you from Awesome Con in Washington, D.C. There, host Bethany Brookshire led a panel of three amazing guests to talk about the promise and perils of CRISPR, and what happens now that CRISPR babies have (maybe?) been born. Featuring science writer Tina Saey, molecular biologist Anne Simon, and bioethicist Alan Regenberg. A Nobel Prize winner argues banning CRISPR babies won’t work Geneticists push for a 5-year global ban on gene-edited babies A CRISPR spin-off causes unintended typos in DNA News of the first gene-edited babies ignited a firestorm The researcher who created CRISPR twins defends...
Do you keep your house clean? Do you think that, maybe with the exception of the dog, you're alone in your home? Well, we hate to tell you this, but you're wrong. Your house is filled with microbes, fungi, bugs and much more. This week, we talk about the life filling you're house with Rob Dunn, a professor at North Carolina State University and author of the book "Never Home Alone: From Microbes to Millipedes, Camel Crickets, and Honeybees, the Natural History of Where We Live". This episode is hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from Science News.
Our modern lives run on plastic. It's in the computers and phones we use. It's in our clothing, it wraps our food. It surrounds us every day, and when we throw it out, it's devastating for the environment. This week we air a live show we recorded at the 2019 Advancement of Science meeting in Washington, D.C., where Bethany Brookshire sat down with three plastics researchers - Christina Simkanin, Chelsea Rochman, and Jennifer Provencher - and a live audience to discuss plastics in our oceans. Where they are, where they are going, and what they carry with them. Related links:...
This week on Science for the People: who is driving this genetic bus? We'll talk with Kevin Esvelt about gene drives, what they are, where they come from what they can be used for, and why the science on gene drives should be done as openly as possible. Then, we'll speak with Laurie Zoloth about the ethical questions surrounding their use, why people are so afraid, and who should be making the decision to use this technology in the wild. This episode is hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from Science News. Related Links How gene drives work Gene Drives...
This week on Science for the People, everybody poops! And everybody pees. But we probably don't spend a lot of time thinking about exactly how that works. Well, put down your lunch and listen up. We're talking with David Chu, a pediatric urological surgeon about urine. Then we'll hear from his brother, Daniel Chu, who's a colorectal surgeon, about poop. Finally, we'll hear from IgNobel prize winner Patricia Yang about her work studying the flow rate of mammal pee, and why all mammals pee and poop at the same rate. This episode is hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from...
This week we turn 500! To celebrate, we're taking the opportunity to go off format, talk about the journey through 500 episodes, and answer questions from our lovely listeners. Join hosts Bethany Brookshire and Rachelle Saunders as we talk through the show's history, how we've grown and changed, and what we love about the Science for the People. Here's to 500 more episodes!
This week, let's go back in time. Back to the 1900s, when life was pure and clean, and your milk was preserved with formaldehyde, your meat with Borax and your canned peas with copper. On second thought, that trip back in time doesn't sound so great. This week, we're meeting the Poison Squad. We're spending the hour with Deborah Blum talking about the history of food regulation, or the lack thereof, and her new book "The Poison Squad: One Chemist's Single-Minded Crusade for Food Safety at the Turn of the Twentieth Century". This episode is hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer...
Some worlds are made of sand. Some are made of water. Some are even made of salt. In science fiction and fantasy, planet can be made of whatever you want. But what does that mean for how the planets themselves work? When in doubt, throw an asteroid at it. This is a live show recorded at the 2018 Dragon Con in Atlanta Georgia. Featuring Travor Valle, Mika McKinnon, David Moscato, Scott Harris, and moderated by our own Bethany Brookshire. Note: The sound isn't as good as we'd hoped but we love the guests and the conversation and we wanted to...
Two hundred years ago, Mary Shelley gave us a legendary monster, shaping science fiction for good. Thanks to her, the name of Frankenstein is now famous world-wide. But who was the real monster here? The creation? Or the scientist that put him together? Tune in to a live show from Dragon Con 2018 in Atlanta, as we breakdown the science of Frankenstein, complete with grave robbing and rivers of maggots. Featuring Tina Saey, Lucas Hernandez, Travor Valle, and Nancy Miorelli. Moderated by our own Bethany Brookshire. Related links: Scientists successfully transplant lab-grown lungs into pigs, by Maria Temming on Science...
This week we're taking on maggots, wounds, and diarrhea in an episode about medical problems that plague the military, so make sure your last meal is a few hours behind you before you tuck in your ear buds. We speak with Captain Mark Riddle, the director of the United States Military Diarrheal Disease Vaccine Research Program at the US Army Medical Research and Material Command, about new ways to prevent and treat travelers' diarrhea. And we talk with George Peck, a medical entomologist, about using maggots to help wounds heal. This episode is hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from...
You probably have shopping to do and plenty of gifts to buy, and -- as is our tradition -- we have put together a list of helpful suggestions for things the science lover in your life might appreciate receiving. This year we brought in Illinois’s School of Integrative Biology lecturer and science educator Joanne Manaster, and brought back our unofficial "Librarian in Residence" John Dupuis to talk about some of their favourite science books from 2017. And your regular hosts Rachelle Saunders and Bethany Brookshire squee with delight over a list of fun science-themed gifts you won't find in a...
Pictures of poison frogs are a popular form of home decor. Tiny size, bright colors, super deadly, they've got it all. But how exactly do poison frogs avoid poisoning themselves? This week we talk with Rebecca Tarvin and Cecilia Borghese, two scientists who studied how poison frogs survive their own toxins. And we speak with Sandra Goutte, a herpetologists who studies frog ears, how they work, and whether one tiny, adorable pumpkin toadlet can hear itself talk. This episode is hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from Science News.
On August 21, 2017, a solar eclipse is going to appear, visible to most of the continent of North America. Bethany is very, very excited. What's going to happen, and what are scientists doing to take advantage of the event? Bethany Brookshire starts with a primer on the upcoming eclipse with Lisa Grossman, astronomy writer at Science News, then discusses three eclipse-related citizen science projects that need data: Smithsonian Astrophysicist Trae Winter tells us about the Eclipse Soundscapes project; Morrison Planetarium Senior Presenter Elise Ricard discusses the Life Responds project; and University of Massachusetts Assistant Professor of Engineering Kiersten Kirby-Patel...
This week on Science for the People: who is driving this genetic bus? We'll talk with Kevin Esvelt about gene drives, what they are, where they come from what they can be used for, and why the science on gene drives should be done as openly as possible. Then, we'll speak with Laurie Zoloth about the ethical questions surrounding their use, why people are so afraid, and who should be making the decision to use this technology in the wild. This episode is hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from Science News. Related Links How gene drives work Gene Drives...
This week on Science for the People, everybody poops! And everybody pees. But we probably don't spend a lot of time thinking about exactly how that works. Well, put down your lunch and listen up. We're talking with David Chu, a pediatric urological surgeon about urine. Then we'll hear from his brother, Daniel Chu, who's a colorectal surgeon, about poop. Finally, we'll hear from IgNobel prize winner Patricia Yang about her work studying the flow rate of mammal pee, and why all mammals pee and poop at the same rate. This episode is hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from...
Most of us probably think about memories as being about the past. But when memories are gone, it becomes clear just how much they are also about the future. This week we are in search of lost memories. We'll speak with Michael McCloskey about how memories are formed and how you test for memory in people with amnesia. We'll also talk with Michael Lemonick about his new book, The Perpetual Now: A Story of Memory, Amnesia and Love", and the story of Lonnie Sue Johnson and her memory loss. This episode is hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from Science...
This week we take a closer look at hibernation and how it works. We speak with Kelly Drew, a neuroscientist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, who studies the Arctic ground squirrel, the "Usain Bolt" of hibernators. And we talk with Frank van Breukelen, a biologist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, who studies an animal who isn't very good at hibernating: the tenrec. This episode is hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from Science News.
Scicurious, also known as Dr. Bethany Brookshire, chats with Kate about PMS and PMDD. Go to kateclancy.com/period11 for the show notes, and check out Kate's new Patreone to support the podcast, patreon.com/periodpodcast2!
What's so great about LinkedIn? In this episode, we discuss our thoughts about LinkedIn. We all know about it as the professional networking site. It has its upsides (at least two of us have received jobs) and its downsides (the somewhat clunky user interface). So, how do we use it? Why do we use it? What could you use instead of it? Also mentioned: Scicurious (also known as Bethany Brookshire) wrote about LinkedIn as how you keep in touch with all the people who you don't want to friend on Facebook. We also discuss other social networking sites: Trellis Science (You can also join the Recovering Academic Podcast group when you register.) ResearchGate Academia.edu Plantae: The Digital Ecosystem for Plant Science Our LinkedIn profiles: Amanda Cleyde Ian Another Use for LinkedIn (Addendum)
This week, we're taking on the science of the sugar pill. We're talking about the placebo effect, its potential benefits and its pitfalls. We speak with Erik Vance about his new book "Suggestible You: The Curious Science of your Brain's Ability to Deceive, Transform and Heal". And we'll talk with Kathryn Hall, a genetic epidemiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, about why we experience the placebo effect, why some people are more open to suggestion than others, and why that might not be a weakness. This episode is hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from Science...
This week we're taking on maggots, wounds, and diarrhea in an episode about medical problems that plague the military, so make sure your last meal is a few hours behind you before you tuck in your ear buds. We speak with Captain Mark Riddle, the director of the United States Military Diarrheal Disease Vaccine Research Program at the US Army Medical Research and Material Command, about new ways to prevent and treat travelers' diarrhea. And we talk with George Peck, a medical entomologist, about using maggots to help wounds heal. This episode is hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from...
This week we're sitting down with three experienced fact-checkers to better understand what the process of fact-checking looks like from the inside, and what the challenges are when news and politics collide. We speak with Brooke Borel, a contributing editor to Popular Science and author of the book "The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking"; Michelle Ciarrocca, a researcher, reporter, and writer; and Dave Levitan, a science journalist and author of the upcoming new book "Not a Scientist: How Politicians Mistake, Misrepresent, and Utterly Mangle Science". This episode is hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from Science News.
This week we're tackling the science of the soldier and how to keep them fighting when difficult conditions -- and our own human bodies and brains -- get in the way. We spend the hour with best selling science author Mary Roach, talking about her latest book "Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War". This episode is hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from Science News.
This week we're looking at the science -- and art -- of the con, from huge Ponzi schemes to small-time frauds. We speak to Maria Konnikova about her new book The Confidence Game: Why We Fall for It... Every Time" on the psychology of the con and why we keep falling for the same old tricks. This episode is hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from Science News.
Robin on "the Woman Card," and the "electoral industrial complex." Guests: Elaine Showalter, biographer of Julia Ward Howe; President of the Marshall Islands Hilda Heine on climate change; Blogger Scicurious (Bethany Brookshire) on science thrills. Elaine Showalter: President Hilda Heine: "Scicurious" (Bethany Brookshire):
This week we're looking at astrophysics, zooming out to get a better idea of how universe works and what it might look like. Astrophysicist Ethan Siegel returns to talk about his new -- and first -- book "Beyond the Galaxy: How Humanity Looked Beyond Our Milky Way and Discovered the Entire Universe". And we'll speak with astrophysicist Katie Mack about the discovery of gravity waves, first predicted by Einstein. This episode is partially hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from Science News. If you're looking for more on gravity waves, check out this great explainer article and video on Science...
This week we're looking at the surprisingly robust science research that can be done with animals that have died along our highways. We'll speak with Sarah Perkins, an ecologist at Cardiff University in Wales, about the Project Splatter, a citizen science project tracking roadkill on UK roads. And we'll speak with Kyle Elliott, an ecologist at McGill University in Montréal about his work studying the toxicology of birds of prey in urban environments. This episode is hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from Science News. You can also read her article on roadkill at Student Science.
On this week's show, Stephanie Zvan interviews Dr. Bethany "SciCurious" Brookshire about effective strategies for convincing people of scientific truths, the common mistakes we make when we set out to teach people about science. Brookshire recently co-edited Science Blogging: The Essential Guide. For nearly a decade, former neuroscientist Dr. Bethany Brookshire has been writing about science for online audiences. Best known to science-blogging fans as "SciCurious," Dr. Brookshire writes about – among other topics – neurotransmitters (the chemicals that make our brains run), evaluating scientific results in context, rats in tiny pants, and duck penises. You can't forget the duck penises.
Welcome to season two of Flash Forward! We kicked off this season with a pretty unlikely future: the entire world goes face blind. In the episode we discuss what causes face blindness — also known as prosopagnosia — and the tricks that people use to remember their friends. We also go through all the things that would be easier (spying, hiding) and harder (police lineups, cocktail parties) in a world where we were all faceblind. Today, about two percent of the population has some form of face blindness, or prosopagnosia. Some people with prosopagnosia have a hard time with acquaintances, while others struggle to recognize their own family members, and sometimes even themselves. If after this you’re thinking “hm, I wonder if I’m face blind,” you can take an unofficial online test here. To figure out what this world might be like, I called up Dr. Jason Barton, a neurologist at the University of British Columbia who treats and studies people with face blindness. He told me that face blindness can happen for a lot of reasons: some people are born with it, and others acquire the trouble after a stroke, infection, tumor, or other kind of brain injury. You’ll have to listen to the episode to learn how it happens to all of us at once. I also talked to two people who are face blind, since they have the best sense for what this might be like for the rest of us. Lisa Huang, a science fiction writer, and Jaydeep Bardhan, a mechanical engineering professor at Northeastern University, told me all sorts of really interesting things about how they do, or don’t remember people. Movies and TV shows? Tough for people with face blindness, especially when all the actors look the same. We also talked about things like hair and makeup, how people might try to visually distinguish themselves when they can’t rely on their face to do it for them. And Barton suggested a whole other way to recognize people that has nothing to do with faces. There’s a great Ted Chiang short story called “Liking What You See: A Documentary” about facial recognition. The story focuses not on face-blindness, but instead, the piece talks about a world in which people can elect to have their perception of beauty turned off. So nobody has an advantage for being prettier than anybody else. But according to Dr. Jason Barton, some people with prosopagnosia also struggle to tell things like age, sex, mood and even beauty of another face in front of them. And in case you didn’t think this episode was dark enough, here’s another take on face blindness: a short film in which someone locks eyes with the perpetrator of a horrible crime, but can’t remember his face because he’s face blind. What do you think? How might we get around face blindness? Would we just give up? Would we all wear go-pros and google glasses around? Would name tags come back into style? Flash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth, and is part of the Boing Boing podcast family. The (awesome) art for this episode is by Matt Lubchansky. The intro music is by Asura and the Outtro music is by Broke for Free. The music for your drive time radio host was The Zombie Dandies. The voice of your drive time radio host was Mike Pesca, who is also the host of the not-fictional daily Slate podcast The Gist. The voice of our trusty scientist was Bethany Brookshire, you can follow her on Twitter at @scicurious. And the voice of our lovely public radio reporter was Tamara Krinsky, you can find her at @tamarakrinsky. If you want to suggest a future we should take on, send us a note on Twitter, Facebook or by email at info@flashforwardpod.com. We love hearing your ideas! This week's episode was suggested by Charlie Loyd. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Lost after arriving at grad school, Bethany Brookshire is happy to finally find a perfect mentor. Bethany Brookshire has a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Philosophy from The College of William and Mary, a Ph.D. in Physiology and Pharmacology from Wake Forest University School of Medicine. She is the guest Editor of the Open Laboratory Anthology of Science Blogging, 2009, and the winner of the Society for Neuroscience Next Generation Award and the Three Quarks Daily Science Writing Award, among others. She is currently the Science Education Writer for Science News for Students. She blogs at Eureka!Lab and at Scicurious. You can follow her on Twitter as @scicurious. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Double X Science for July 15, 2013. Today's host is Double X Science chemistry editor, Adrienne Roehrich, interviewing Bethany Brookshire, aka Scicurious, about her two articles in the past 6 months on Double X Science. Articles discussed during the interview include: Between neurohype and neuroskepticism. (http://www.doublexscience.org/between-neurohype-and-neuroskepticism/) If You Try One Detox This Year, Make It This One (http://www.doublexscience.org/if-you-try-one-detox-this-year-make-it-this-one/) http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/brainwaves/2013/07/15/is-sugar-really-toxic-sifting-through-the-evidence/ http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2013/apr/19/beer-dopamine-brain-scans http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/neuroskeptic/2013/06/18/book-review-brainwashed/#.UeQV2EHvvzx Thank you for listening. Please subscribe via iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/double-x-science/id604770613) or your favorite pod catcher (http://feeds.feedburner.com/doublexscience). Please leave us positive ratings and reviews to bring science to more people.