Bench Talk: The Week in Science

Dr. Francis Hutchins, cultural anthropologist at Bellarmine University, delivers his lecture titled 'Black Death to Evil Eye: The Anthropology of Infectious Disease' given to alumni at Bellarmine University on Feb. 16, 2019. The conclusion to his talk will be on the next episode of Bench Talk. Bench Talk: The Week in Science is broadcast weekly on WFMP, 106.5 FM in Louisville, Kentucky. Check out their website at forwardradio.org . The music heard on this show is 'Sembrador Divino' by Chogo El Bandeno available at freemusicarchive.org. Bench Talk: The Week in Science | The Anthropology of Infections - Prof. Hutchins | Feb 25 2019 by Forward Radio is licensed under a  Creative Commons License.

Is North Korea developing biological weapons? Why is Portland, Oregon having such a big outbreak of measles this year? What was the affect of the Great Recession on public health? This radio show is broadcast by Forward Radio (106.5 FM; WFMP) in Louisville, Kentucky; a community radio station run by volunteers! Music is by Dee Yan Key: 'Cosmopolitan-Margarita-Bellini' from freemusicarchive.com Bench Talk: The Week in Science | North Korean Biowarfare; Measles vs. Vaccines | Feb 18 2019 by Forward Radio is licensed under a  Creative Commons License.

First, celebrate the 150th birthday of the Periodic Table with us. Then hear about the likelihood that earth could be hit by an asteroid in the future (and what can we do about it). Learn about giant termite-mounds in Brazil, and a new disease attacking Beech trees in Ohio. The show finishes with Dr. Leslie Moise reading her new poem about this special tree. The poem was especially written for this show! Music by Dee Yan Kee (Cosmopolitan- Margarita-Bellini) from freemusicarchive.org. Bench Talk: The Week in Science | Asteroid Strikes - New Beech Tree Disease | Feb. 11 2019 by Forward Radio is licensed under a  Creative Commons License.

Where is Mars in the February sky? What is 'nectar ecology'? And hear the history of fecal transplantation. All on this episode. Music ('Blue Danube' by Richard Strauss) provided on public domain by the Philadelphia Orchestra - 1939 - Stowkovski conducting. Classical Bench Talk: The Week in Science | February Sky - Nectar - Fecal Transplants | Feb 4 2019 by Forward Radio is licensed under a  Creative Commons License.

A rebroadcast of some of our favorite stories about human biology: How do the sleep patterns of other primates compare to ours? How much of our DNA is from viruses, and what does that have to do with consciousness? How do the brains of musicians playing jazz compare to those playing classical music? And what is the role of vigorous exercise on human health? It's all here in our 26th episode of Bench Talk. The music you hear is by Jason Shaw, 'Solo Acoustic Guitar' from freemusicarchive.org. Bench Talk: The Week in Science | Sleep Patterns of Primates; Viruses and Us | Jan 28 2019 by Forward Radio is licensed under a  Creative Commons License.

Our second report on the 2018 ACRES conference on ecological agriculture. Hear several soundclips of the plenary speakers! Thanks to Jason Shaw for his song 'Thingamajig'. Bench Talk: The Week in Science | Eco-Farming (ACRES Conf Part-2) | Jan 21 2019 by Forward Radio is licensed under a  Creative Commons License.

Epigenetics: how does the environment affect you genes? What's the future of nuclear energy? What animals are the most likely killers? And check out the Holiday Asteroid! Thanks to Dee Yan Key for his song 'Cosmopolitan-Margarita-Bellini'. Bench Talk: The Week in Science | Epigenetics, Nuclear Energy, etc. | Jan 14 2019 by Forward Radio is licensed under a  Creative Commons License.

Dr. Garrison tells us about the use of tracer dyes in determining the rates of water flow through karst. Dr. Robinson reviews the literature on coal spills. How concerned should we be about the 9000 tons of coal spilled in the Ohio River in Louisville? Thanks to Dee Yan Kee for his song 'Cosmopolitan - Margarita - Bellini'. Bench Talk: The Week in Science | Dye Tracing & Coal Spill on Ohio River | Jan 7 2019 by Forward Radio is licensed under a  Creative Commons License.

What's in the night sky this month? Scott shows us what to look for in January. And what can we expect in terms of space exploration this coming year? Dave will review upcoming spaceflights...they will be spectacular! Thanks to Johann Strauss II for providing the accompanying music....The Blue Danube! This is a public domain recording by the Philadelphia Orchestra made in 1939. Bench Talk: The Week in Science | Space Exploration in 2019 | Dec. 31 2018 by Forward Radio is licensed under a  Creative Commons License.

Hear this report about the 2018 ACRES Conference on Eco-Agriculture (Part-1). This story includes a review of the scientific literature on organic farming. The song 'Thingamajig' is courtesy of Jason Shaw (freemusicarchive.org). Country Bench Talk: The Week in Science | Eco-Farming (ACRES Conf.) Part 1 | Dec 24, 2018 by Forward Radio is licensed under a  Creative Commons License.

Scott describes the December night-sky, and Dave tells us about a new strategy for identifying Autism Spectrum Disorder in children. It seems to work! Bench Talk: The Week in Science | Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder | Dec 17 2018 by Forward Radio is licensed under a  Creative Commons License.

Are children with gender dysphoria being unduly influenced by friends and social media? Check out this controversial journal article. Will it be retracted sometime in the future? Bench Talk: The Week in Science | Gender Dysphoria | Dec 10 2018 by Forward Radio is licensed under a  Creative Commons License.

How accurate are you at identifying the breeds of dogs? Hear how DNA fingerprinting is helping dog shelters. Scott Miller tells us how neutrinos can be used to study the earth's ancient history, and what that says about the scientific method. The music used on this show(Cosmopolitan-Margarita) was kindly provided by Dee Yan Key at Free Music Archive. Bench Talk: The Week in Science | Dog Breed Identification | Dec 3 2018 by Forward Radio is licensed under a  Creative Commons License.

Do you know much about the woman who first did research on CO2 as a greenhouse gas? Hear this fascinating history. And what is to be said about Donald Trumps tweets about California wildfires? Bench Talk: The Week in Science | The Woman Who Discovered Greenhouse Gas | Nov 26 2018 by Forward Radio is licensed under a  Creative Commons License.

Did you know that fruit flies can show withdrawal symptoms from alcohol just like people do? Did you know that epigenetics might be controlling some of this process? And finally.....how does a 'Made in China' label on ancient pottery alter how we view Asian maritime history? Bench Talk: The Week in Science | Epigenetics of Alcoholism | Nov. 19 2018 by Forward Radio is licensed under a  Creative Commons License.

Here's our summary of the 2018 conference of the Kentucky Academy of Science. Learn about the sinkhole at the Corvette Museum, field cricket songs, deadly stingrays, sleep deprivation in birds, wolf spider cannibalism, running buffalo clover, ragweed genetics, the urban heat island effect, the anti-cancer properties of pawpaw, salamander eDNA, and a fungus that is attacking the dreaded bush honeysuckle plant! Thanks to Scott Holmes for his song 'Positive and Fun' (freemusicarchive.org).

Want to know what's to see in the November sky? Or how to look for meteor showers? Hear more about Senator Elizabeth Warren's recent DNA analysis. And why are the Cherry trees in Japan blooming now, instead of the spring, like they are supposed to? Hear it all on this episode of Bench Talk.

Our special Pledge Drive episode! Ashley addresses the question: Can we really 'catch up' on sleep deprivation over the weekend? Dave talks about what researchers have discovered about community radio. Plus, a segment on how robots are portrayed in Hollywood movies.

Here an update on the shrinking role of science at the EPA, new ideas in geothermal energy, and the effect of climate change on protected marine environments. The show ends with a short poem about Forward Radio's upcoming Pledge Drive.

Special Halloween edition of Bench Talk! Scott talks about the connection between Halloween, earth, and the cosmos. Ashley introduces us to the Dementor Wasp (shades of Harry Potter), and Dave unlocks the mysterious case of the mass deaths of the Saiga Antelope. Finish up with a look at Vampire Burials.