Produced by Big Picture Science
From Big Picture Science | Part of the Big Picture Science series | 54:00
It was a radical idea a century ago, when Einstein said space and time can be bent, and gravity was really geometry. We hear how his theories inspire young minds even today.
At small scales, different rules apply: quantum mechanics and the Standard Model for particles. New experiments suggest that muons – cousins of the electron – may be telling us that the Standard Model is wrong. Also, where the physics of both the large and small apply, and why black holes have no hair.
Guests:
Hakeem Oluseyi – Astrophysicist, affiliated professor at George Mason University, and author of “A Quantum Life: My Unlikely Journey from the Street to the Stars”
Janna Levin – Professor of physics and astronomy, Barnard College at Columbia University
Mark Lancaster – Professor of particle physics, University of Manchester
Originally aired August 16, 2021
Featuring music by Dewey Dellay and Jun Miyake
Produced by Climate One
From Climate One | Part of the Climate One- Weekly Feed series | 58:58
The Golden State has staked much of its reputation on its green credentials, with state
leaders touting its role on the leading edge of global and national climate progress. And California is a huge force. As the fifth largest economy in the world, it sets the tone for a lot of national U.S. policies. California’s influence is especially apparent when other states adopt its pollution standards.
The state has been bullish on renewable energy, and its initiatives are starting to pay off. Gov. Gavin Newsom recently bragged that the state was running on 100% renewable energy for parts of 40 out of the last 48 days. California now has more than 10 gigawatts of battery storage on the grid. That means that renewable electricity can be banked for use when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining. And ten gigawatts is roughly equal to ten nuclear power plants – and all that capacity was built in just six years.
In spite of the doubts voiced by the fossil fuel industry and conservative leaders about whether California can meet its ambitious climate goals without wrecking the economy, the state continues to grow while reducing carbon emissions.
“You can have a progressive government that has progressive taxation and protects workers in the environment and still thrive and in fact, that sometimes can help you thrive,” says California State Sen. Scott Wiener.
Still, revamping a huge economy built on fossil fuels is hard and complex, particularly given the state’s current budget shortfall. But climate adaptation and mitigation remain a top priority for state officials.
“This is not a transition that's going to happen overnight. It's really about the trends and those trends aren't necessarily linear,” says Liane Randolph, chair of the California Air Resources Board.
The conversations in this episode were recorded in front of a live audience as part of San Francisco Climate Week. Climate One Co-host Greg Dalton led a series of events with state leaders exploring how California is trying to make good on its climate goals and address environmental injustice.
Related Links:
California Environmental Justice Alliance
California Air Resources Board
Produced by World Ocean Observatory
From World Ocean Observatory | Part of the World Ocean Radio series | 05:19
This week on World Ocean Radio we're defining new ways to consider profit as a return on investment--not as an enemy of change but as a catalyst for a sustainable strategy for the future. An effective sustainability strategy must include the true asset cost of natural resources and the post-production costs of downstream effects to include pollution, public health, and remediation.
About World Ocean Radio
World Ocean Radio is a weekly series of five-minute audio essays available for syndicated use at no cost by college and community radio stations worldwide. Peter Neill, Director of the World Ocean Observatory and host of World Ocean Radio, provides coverage of a broad spectrum of ocean issues from science and education to advocacy and exemplary projects.
World Ocean Radio
14 Years, 700+ Episodes
Ocean is climate
Climate is ocean
The sea connects all things
Produced by Bioneers
From Bioneers | Part of the Bioneers - Revolution From the Heart of Nature series | 28:30
In this age of global weirding where climate disruption has tumbled the Goldilocks effect into unruly surges of too much and too little water, the restoration of beavers offers ancient nature-based solutions to the tangle of challenges bedeviling human civilization. Droughts, floods, soil erosion, climate change, biodiversity loss - you name it, and beaver is on it.
In this episode, Kate Lundquist and Brock Dolman of the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center share their semi-aquatic journey to becoming Beaver Believers. They are part of a passionate global movement to bring back our rodent relatives who show us how to heal nature by working with nature
Produced by WFIU
From WFIU | Part of the A Moment of Science series | 02:00
The Fate of New Zealand's Birds
Produced by H2O Radio
From H2O Radio | Part of the This Week in Water series | 06:16
Coral reefs that have been degraded by human activity and climate change can be restored fast—in just four years.
How swimming pools could be heated with your data.
If extraterrestrials do try to make contact, whales could help us speak their language.
Flower power! Scientists find a novel way to clean rivers.
Produced by DW - Deutsche Welle
From DW - Deutsche Welle | Part of the Spectrum: World of Science & Technology ~ from DW series | 30:00
Unhappy with your body? Deleting Instagram may help (if you're a woman). Also, forget 'cold tubs' if you want bigger muscles — and why do we consume content that makes us sad?
Produced by DW - Deutsche Welle
From DW - Deutsche Welle | Part of the Living Planet: Environment Matters ~ from DW series | 30:00
Deep dive: The hidden toll of roadkill.
Produced by WHYY
From WHYY | Part of the The Pulse series | 59:02
In January 1995, the New York Times Magazine published a bombshell story with the headline: “THE GREAT IVY LEAGUE NUDE POSTURE PHOTO SCANDAL.” The article revealed that, from the 1940s through the 1960s, elite colleges had taken naked photos of thousands of freshmen, including future luminaries like George Bush, Bob Woodward, Meryl Streep, and Hillary Rodham. For years, the schools had teemed with anxious, tawdry rumors about both the purpose and fate of the photos. Who had them? What were they really for? And where did they end up?
On this episode, we get the real story behind the photos from science historian Beth Linker, whose new book, “Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America,” dives deep into the era’s widespread obsession with standing up straight, and how researchers tried to connect posture to people’s health and character. We also hear from historian Natalia Mehlman Petrzela about how America came to be both more obsessed with exercise than ever — and, yet, also unhealthier. Her book is "Fit Nation: The Gains and Pains of America’s Exercise Obsession."
Produced by BYUradio/KUMT/KBYU-FM
From BYUradio/KUMT/KBYU-FM | Part of the Constant Wonder series | 52:49
Produced by Mat Kaplan
From Mat Kaplan | Part of the Planetary Radio series | 28:50
A decades-old lunar mystery gets an update in this week's Planetary Radio. Matt Siegler from the Planetary Science Institute shares his team's surprising findings about the granite formation that might lie beneath Compton-Belkovich, a thorium-rich hot spot on the far side of the Moon. Then Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society, shares What's Up in the night sky.
Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2023-subsurface-granite-on-the-moon
