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Infancy and Childhood
Babies
Can Tell Gallant From Goofus (November 26, 2007)
Even six-month
old babies are very good at determining who's nice and who's naughty. Karen Hopkin
reports.
Kids
Like Lucky Kids (November 15, 2006)
Small children
seem to be predisposed toward liking other children who have good luck and shunning
unlucky ones.
Mom's
Baby Talk Crucial for Baby (November 1, 2007)
Adults have
to engage in baby talk, regardless of the language they speak, so that babies
can learn to talk like adults. Kevin Begos reports.
Each
Human Baby Has Its Own Unique Intestinal Microbe Collection (June
29, 2007)
A newborn's intestines are devoid of bacteria. But within a short
time, each baby becomes home to its own unique microbial community. Karen Hopkin
reports.
Even
Low Lead Levels Lower IQ (December 3, 2007)
Kids with lead levels within
the high end of currently acceptable standards have lower IQ scores than kids
with even lower levels. Cynthia Graber reports.
No Clowning For Hospitalized Kids (January 17, 2008)
A British study
finds that kids in hospitals hate the images of clowns that are often put on ward halls. Steve Mirsky reports.
Adolescence
Who
Do You Think You Are: Chatting with Bots, And the Sexuality Spectrum (September
26, 2007)
In this episode, psychologist Robert Epstein talks about his
articles in the upcoming issue of Scientific American Mind, on being fooled by
a chatterbot—a computer program designed to make you think you're communicating
with a human—and on the spectrum of human sexuality. And he has some comments
about the CBS TV program "Kid Nation." Plus we'll test your knowledge
of some recent science in the news. Web sites related to this episode include
www.audible.com/sciencetalk; www.drepstein.com; www.sciammind.com; blog.sciam.com;
www.news.wisc.edu/14162.
Teens
Miss Warnings In Alcohol Ads (July 06, 2007)
Researchers
tracked eye movements of teenagers looking at ads for alcohol, and found that
they barely notice and don't remember the "drink responsibly" advisories.
Kevin Begos reports.
Antidrug
Money Up in Smoke? (September 06, 2006)
Government Accountability
Office report finds that the $1.4 billion National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign
is ineffective.http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06818.pdf.
The
Teen Brain; Flipping Magnetic Poles; What's Pluto? (August 30,
2006)
In this episode, journalist Leslie Sabbagh discusses the teen brain,
the subject of her cover story in the August/September issue of Scientific American
Mind. Geologist Kip Hodges, the director of the Arizona State University School
of Earth and Space Exploration, answers a listener's question about the earth's
fickle magnetic poles. Plus we'll test your knowledge about the status of Pluto
and other science in the news. Websites mentioned on this episode include www.sciam.com
and www.sciammind.com.
Adulthood
Experience
Can Trump Aging In Pilots (February 27, 2007)
Older pilots
with advanced training and long experience may maintain their skills despite chronology.
Genetics
of longevity, diaper-free movement, possible plane problems from personal electronics
(March 08, 2006)
In this episode, biologist Lenny Guarente talks about
his Scientific American article on the genetics of aging; anthropologist Meredith
Small discusses the "diaper-free movement"; and computer engineer M.
Granger Morgan talks about the possible dangers to aircraft navigation posed by
electronic devices used by passengers. Also: see if you can spot the fake science
story in the batch we'll throw your way.
Caloric
Restriction May Extend Life But Not Youth (September 20, 2007)
Super-low
calorie diets may extend lifespan, but new evidence suggests that age-related
declines continue. Karen Hopkin reports.