With Good Reason Radio » Science

Mysteries of the Brain

klibby — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:01:24 +0000

Brain injury is more common than you might think. 1.5 million people suffer an injury each year in this country alone. Michael Friedlander is the director of the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, where they’re looking for ways to help the brain heal itself. He studies individual nerve cells and says that by stimulating a damaged cell in just the right way, it might spring back to life – offering new hope for victims of traumatic brain injury. Also featured: What happens when you attach a computer to actual brain cells? From a glove that interprets sign language to a better voice-controlled wheelchair, bioengineer Nathalia Peixoto (George Mason University) uses electrodes, prosthetic devices, and microchips to help improve people’s lives.

Dead Zones and Fly-fishing

klibby — Sat, 05 May 2012 05:01:12 +0000

You can’t see them on the surface. But at the bottom of some of the world’s largest bodies of water are areas called dead zones where fish and other life can’t survive. Robert Diaz (College of William & Mary) tracks the development of these dead zones, which are rapidly increasing. He says agricultural runoff and pollution are the cause, but that it’s not too late to repair the damage. Also featured: Twenty years ago, the sport of fly-fishing experienced a renaissance when the film A River Runs Through It was released. Today, it’s still a popular sport. But angling for trout is a complex matter. Stan Ulanski (James Madison University), author of The Science of Fly-Fishing, says an understanding of science can enhance an angler’s experience.

Tongue-Tied America

em8x — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 16:10:37 +0000

The fear of public speaking can be debilitating. For some, it’s the stuff of nightmares. And so rather than stumble through a speech, many people avoid doing it altogether. But Molly Bishop Shadel (University of Virginia) and Robert N. Sayler (University of Virginia) say oral advocacy is key to a healthy democracy. Effective speeches can even change the course of history. And, they say, anyone can do it. Also featured: It’s a highly debated approach to improving workplace relations: emotional intelligence training. But there’s a reason EI, as its called, is growing in popularity. Ronald Humphrey (Virginia Commonwealth University) says emotionally intelligent people—those with an ability to understand the emotions of themselves and others—make better workers. And better workers means better business.

You Got To Move

cms4tf — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:00:20 +0000

There’s no doubt that the number of obese Americans has increased dramatically over the last 25 years – putting them at risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and osteoarthritis. But Cathy Roy (Longwood University) says it’s not necessarily the fat making people sick. Her research suggests a lack of physical activity might be more to blame.

Also featured: Water might help you lose weight. The latest research shows that drinking two 8 oz. glasses before each meal helps decrease calorie intake. Brenda Davy (Virginia Tech) investigates lifestyle strategies that prevent obesity – and her latest studies about the role of water in diets are making a huge splash.

And also featured: Don’t let the economy get you down this year. Psychologist Holly Schiffrin (University of Mary Washington) suggests that lifestyle changes brought on by the recession might actually be better for our well-being. She says one of the surest ways to find happiness doesn’t have to cost a nickel: spending time with friends and family.

Alzheimer’s Disease: What We Now Know

sbm2p — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:01:53 +0000

When 62 year old Bill Wood turned to his wife at the funeral of a family member and asked, “Who are all these people?” she knew something was terribly wrong. Alzheimer’s Disease had struck the witty and dapper former newspaper editor early. His wife Carol Wood (University of Virginia) describes her daily challenges as she cares for her accomplished husband. Steven DeKosky, dean of the UVA medical school, is an international expert in the field of Alzheimer’s Disease research. He has seen first hand the toll Alzheimer’s has taken on Carol and Bill and the grace with which they have responded. DeKosky discusses the latest research on the disease.

The Big Top

cms4tf — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 05:00:31 +0000

Circuses have long been a part of human culture, starting with the Romans, and circuses have been in America almost since the birth of this country. Lavahn Hoh (University of Virginia) teaches the only accredited course in the U.S. on the history of the American circus and is the author of “Step Right Up! The adventure of Circus in America”

Also featured: Bob Burnett (University of Virginia) teaches a college course that normally instills dread in the hearts of pre-med students: organic chemistry. But lucky for his students, Bob is one of those amazing professors who can turn an otherwise tedious lecture into a memorable classroom experience. Every semester, he gets rave reviews from students who appreciate his accessibility, his passion for the subject, and his humor. Bob says that as a young man, he had outstanding mentors who in some ways inspired him to become a teacher.

Sea Ice and Sunlight

klibby — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 05:01:11 +0000

In recent years, sea ice in the Arctic has been melting at an alarming rate. Scientists fear that Arctic shrinkage could contribute to rising sea levels worldwide. Oceanographer Victoria Hill (Old Dominion University) was one of five scientists who spent six weeks in the barren, frozen landscape, where temperatures fall to -40F. What she found in her core samples could provide clues as to why the ice is melting. Also featured: The energy crisis of the 1970s brought attention to solar technologies as an alternative to oil. Sylvain Marsillac (Old Dominion University), one of the nation’s experts on photovoltaic energy, says the U.S. should continue to fund solar energy research if we want to secure energy independence.

Unlocking the Hidden Messages of our Dreams

sbm2p — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 05:01:40 +0000

Why do we dream and what do our dreams tell us about what’s happening when we are awake? Richard Bargdill (Virginia Commonwealth University), interprets some of the most common dreams we have, explains why some dreams are recurring and discusses what our dreams are trying to tell us. Also featured: Understanding what makes us shy. Shy kids have an early predisposition to anxiety, which can lead to clinical anxiety. Koraly Perez-Edgar (George Mason University), says shy children tend to be biased toward interpreting benign events as threatening.

Selling The Silver Bullet

VFHwebdev — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 06:40:40 +0000

At the height of its popularity, an estimated 12 million listeners were tuning in to each episode of The Lone Ranger. The success of the radio serial was largely the result of clever marketing and licensing by the show’s creator, George Trendle. In a forthcoming book called Selling the Silver Bullet, media professor Avi Santo (Old Dominion University) explains how one man’s vision became a widely recognized trademark.

Also featured: Western culture reveres science. But scientists have long been portrayed in film and fiction as sinister, ruthless, dangerous, or mad. Think: Dr. Jekyll. Chemistry professor Leanna C. Giancarlo (University of Mary Washington) challenges these portrayals. By looking at the role of language and myth-making, she explains why negative stereotypes of scientists persist.

Tongue-Tied America

tap2ae — Sat, 21 May 2011 05:01:23 +0000

The Foreclosure Contagion

tap2ae — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 05:01:56 +0000

How badly do foreclosed homes affect a neighborhood? Does foreclosure spread like a virus? Michael Seiler (Old Dominion University) and researchers at the Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center have created a “Foreclosure Contagion Model,” which uses economic forecasting, modeling and simulation to help policymakers revive distressed real estate markets. Also featured: The oceans are slowly rising due to ice melt and the warming of the waters. And at least one east coast city has hired a Dutch firm to evaluate options for keeping the sea at bay. Oceanography professor Larry Atkinson (Old Dominion University) and a team of experts are examining ways vulnerable businesses and communities can stem the tides.

Mysteries of the Brain

tap2ae — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 05:01:09 +0000

Brain injury is more common than you might think. 1.5 million people suffer an injury each year in this country alone. Michael Friedlander is the director of the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, where they’re looking for ways to help the brain heal itself. He studies individual nerve cells and says that by stimulating a damaged cell in just the right way, it might spring back to life – offering new hope for victims of traumatic brain injury. Also featured: What happens when you a computer to actual brain cells? From a glove that interprets sign language to a better voice-controlled wheelchair, bioengineer Nathalia Peixoto (George Mason University) uses electrodes, prosthetic devices, and microchips to help improve people’s lives.