Pave New Worlds

The extra-solar planet count is more than 400 and rising. Before long we may find an Earth-like planet around another star. If we do, and can visit, what next? Stake out our claim on an alien world or tread lightly and preserve it?

We’ll look at what our record on Earth says about our planet stewardship. Also, whether a massive technological fix can get us out of our climate mess. Plus, what we can learn about extreme climate from our neighbors in the solar system, Venus and Mars.

Listen to individual segments here:
Part 1 - Keith Cowing
Part 2 - Gary Davis
Part 3 - Kathryn Denning
Part 4 - David Grinspoon
Part 5 - Ken Caldeira

Pave New Worlds - Keith Cowing

Part 1 of Pave New Worlds featuring Keith Cowing, biologist and editor of NASAwatch.com.

Pave New Worlds - Gary Davis

Part 2 of Pave New Worlds featuring Gary Davis, Director of the Joint Astronomy Center in Hilo, Hawaii.

Pave New Worlds - Kathryn Denning

Part 3 of Pave New Worlds featuring Kathryn Denning, Anthropologist at York University in Toronto, Canada.

Pave New Worlds - David Grinspoon

Part 4 of Pave New Worlds featuring David Grinspoon, Curator of the Denver Museum of Science and Nature

Pave New Worlds - Ken Caldiera

Part 5 of Pave New Worlds featuring Ken Caldeira, climate scientist from the Carnegie Institution’s Department of Global Ecology at Stanford University.

It's the Science, Cupid!

Love makes us feel warm and mushy, but the sweet sting of Cupid’s arrow makes a compelling chemistry lesson, too. Research into animal mating and human courtship provides clues to an eternal mystery: what’s the purpose of love?

Learn lessons from the family values of field mice, and affectionate same-sex penguin pairs. Plus: Darwin’s take on speed dating, and the science of smooching.

Listen to individual segments here:
Part 1 - The biology of love
Part 2 - Helen Fisher
Part 3 - Sarah Woodley
Part 4 - Skyler Place
Part 5 - Larry Young
Part 6 - Marlene Zuk