100 scientists, 100 stories
This list actually contains links to 101 stories from 99 scientists. But who’s counting? Earth & Sky reporters interviewed these scientists in 2005 and 2006, in the process of creating our daily Earth & Sky science radio series. Enjoy!
1 From astronomer to rock star, and back again
Rock star Brian May of the legendary band Queen draws inspiration from the stars and tells the tale of the cosmos.
2 Bringing a green revolution to Africa
Pedro Sanchez said, “It’s perfectly possible. The science is there.”
3 How well do scientists understand climate change?
Berrien Moore explained how scientists use climate models – and what the models indicate – to Earth & Sky’s Jorge Salazar in March of 2006.
4 The extensive vocabulary of African elephants
Katy Payne said that the lives of elephants are more acoustic than visual. “To dip into their world,” she said, “we need to become acoustic too.”
5 Rainforest logging is becoming more sustainable
But ethno-botanist Darron Collins believes it’ll take much more to save the rainforests.
6 The ethanol challenge
Liz Marshall told Earth & Sky, “If we do ethanol right, people will realize the benefits of it. The challenge will be to figure out how do it right.”
7 Falling dominos and future computers
IBM scientist Don Eigler describes computers of the future and playing dominos with atoms and molecules.
8 Urban forests are more than just trees
John Wear explains their benefits to humanity.
9 No secrets in a future with nano sensors?
Christine Peterson looks ahead to a more transparent world.
10 Looking below the surface with whale DNA
Biologist Stephen Palumbi use the science of genetics to help study and protect whales.
11 Expert explains the quiet hurricane season of ’06
Chris Landsea says an unexpected El Nino probably contributed.
12 Space elevator leader: ‘we’re optimistic skeptics’
Michael Laine explains the ups and downs of building a space elevator.
13 Life in the U.S. with more than 300 million
Alex de Sherbinin on how the US might change as our population continues to grow.
14 Astronomer: Einstein’s dream come true
Maura McLaughlin’s team makes a discovery that helps confirm theory of gravity.
15 The world without edges
Kai Lee talks about global connections.
16 Studying teens from the inside out
Jay Giedd uses magnetic resonance imaging to study the adolescent brain.
17 To those who have: let us not waste
Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai on living sustainably.
18 One out of six people lives in extreme poverty
But Jeff Sachs thinks we can change that, within a generation.
19 Do we need to transform our world economy?
Lester Brown assesses humanity’s future.
20 As a species, we’re learning to be a mature adult
Joel Cohen explains 21st century population growth.
21 Potentially dangerous asteroids
Lance Benner tracks asteroids that sweep close to Earth.
22 Following nature’s operating instructions
John Todd allies with nature to create “eco-machines.”
23 Is global warming making hurricanes stronger?
Kerry Emanuel says the debate has ended.
24 Flipping through the ‘photo album’ of the cosmos
Avi Loeb on what we know about the universe and ourselves.
25 Inspired by a comet
African astronomer Thebe Medupe’s journey into science.
26 Straight talk about climate change
Earth & Sky talked with climate scientist Jerry Mahlman last year. This is a good time to hear him again.
27 Hurricane hunters risk their lives to save others
Barry Damiano takes us into the eye of the storm.
28 Are U.S. policies generous to the poorest poor?
Earth & Sky asked Jomo Kwame Sundaram of the United Nations.
29 What comes next for global energy?
BP’s Steve Koonin outlines our energy challenges.
30 Big Easy back to normal?
Engineer Mead Allison says it can happen, with help.
31 Will a warming world bring more or less rain?
Christopher Potter says there are going to be winners and losers.
32 Microbe muses
Danielle France uses living microbes as inspiration for nano engines.
33 You can’t put all the blame on logging companies
Greg Asner talks about a hidden threat to the rainforest.
34 Can science help sustain humanity?
Robert Kates talks about science and 21st century challenges.
35 Help the world or make a profit?
Stuart Hart says businesses can and should do both.
36 Do we have enough fresh water?
Johan Rockstrom says we do, if we use it correctly.
37 Billions on Earth never flip a light switch to ‘on’
Rajendra Pachauri says they need modern forms of energy.
38 What do wealthy people owe poor people?
Earth & Sky asked Peter Singer, a Princeton University ethicist.
39 A pressing global issue is water to grow food
Frank Rijsberman says simple technologies can help.
40 More extreme weather expected as climate warms
Tim Palmer talks about predicting floods, droughts, even disease.
41 Somewhere between a planet and a star
Keivan Stassun discovered key properties of brown dwarfs.
42 The car of the future
Joe Romm thinks it’ll be a hybrid.
43 Understanding the enormity of time and space
Robin Shelton explains the perspective of an astronomer.
44 AIDS linked to poverty, violence, discrimination
Maria Jose Alcala calls AIDS a “feminized” disease.
45 Are U.S. airports prepared for a terrorist attack?
Jim O’Bryon says we have a long way to go.
46 Can we steer the course of our changing climate?
Scott Doney says we’re already committed to some change.
47 Restoring routines helps kids cope with disaster
Lori Peek talks about Hurricane Katrina’s impact on children.
48 The North Pole was here
NY Times reporter Andrew Revkin visits the not-so-frozen Arctic.
49 Why did the levees fail in New Orleans?
Engineer Robert Bea talks about his investigation.
50 How was our galaxy formed?
Rosemary Wyse surveys thousands of stars searching for clues.
51 Reprocessing nuclear fuel expensive, unnecessary
Frank von Hippel calls it “an environmentally messy business.”
52 Recycling nuclear fuel ‘looks good on paper’
Edwin Lyman calls it environmental hazard, national security risk.
53 A sustainable use of nuclear energy?
Philip Finck talks about reprocessing nuclear fuel.
54 Is science under siege?
Alan Leshner says there’s a new tension between science and society.
55 It is like C.S.I., on a really big, oily scale
Biologist Darleen Ketten on whale beachings.
56 Can we trust science?
Mildred Cho says we can, but it’s important to keep asking questions.
57 Is global warming making hurricanes stronger?
Kerry Emanuel says yes and explains why.
58 Studying asteroids and comets
Don Yeomans probes the benign, anticipates the possibly lethal.
59 Asteroids have rocked our world in the past
Raymond Bambery scans the skies for the next killer asteroid.
60 Nobel Laureate discusses human impact on our planet
Kenneth Arrow on how to measure the impact of the anthropogenic causes of Earth change.
61 Everything is interconnected
Renowned scientist Jane Goodall talks about global sustainability
62 Looking for the origin of life
Robert Hazen says a key question is, “What is life?”
63 Is Pluto a planet or not?
Alan Stern thinks Pluto bashers are just a vocal minority.
64 Beyond the cosmic horizon
Dark energy and galactic birth with astronomer Martin Rees.
65 Recovering after trauma
Judith Herman says you do better if you’re not facing it alone.
66 Consuming and investing, for today, for the future
Partha Dasgupta explains how economics can manage nature.
67 Why our best beaches won’t stay put
Steve Leatherman talks about barrier islands
68 Our oceans, ourselves
Deep sea explorer Sylvia Earle on our blue planet.
69 The bird flu and you
Grattan Woodson, M.D. gives advice for a worst case scenario.
70 An earthquake in Pakistan in 2005 killed thousands
Peter Molnar explains why that earthquake was inevitable.
71 Will nano help solve 21st century challenges?
Earth & Sky asked Medal of Science winner George Whitesides.
72 Arctic sea ice is disappearing
Ted Scambos says that could mean big changes for the whole planet.
73 Who should be on the beach?
Coastal geologist Orrin Pilkey on coastal development.
74 Global warming might leave some places colder
Thorsten Markus talks about Antarctic sea ice and global warming.
75 River’s respiration affects life, water quality
Jeff Richey measures the way the Amazon River “breathes.”
76 What does this have to do with my life?
Carl Batt thinks science should be practical.
77 New cancer treatments may be revealed in genes
Kent Hunter searches for genes that suppress cancer’s spread
78 We are all sitting in one boat
Shawki Barghouti talks about agricultural practices around the globe.
79 Changes in the ocean can be felt on land
Terrence Joyce discusses link between ocean currents, climate.
80 Are we humans going to make it?
Stanford ecologist Harold Mooney says yes.
81 Why you should be a bird-watcher
Kenn Kaufman gives reasons that go beyond birds.
82 Catch the wave
Innovator Andrew Mill on harnessing the ocean for energy.
83 A tenth planet?
Not so fast, says Harvard astronomer Brian Marsden.
84 Acid rain today
Gene Likens provides an update on an environmental problem.
85 We have what it takes to survive
Norman Ellstrand says humanity can avoid its own extinction.
86 Future of global energy requires international treaties
Scott Barrett says nations need to focus on new technologies.
87 A look at the human footprint on our planet
Carol Brewer says education is key to raising awareness.
88 Planet Xena?
Michael Brown talks about his discovery of a “10th planet.”
89 We live in a human world
Ken Caldeira says that means there’s no “untouched world” left.
90 We inadvertently transport pathogens around the world
Amy Charkowski works to protect Earth’s food supply.
91 No more gloom and doom
We can be optimistic about Earth’s future, says Felicia Coleman.
92 A brown cloud of air pollution is draped over India
Larry Di Girolamo says it’s trouble for global climate, human health.
93 We’re making the oceans more acidic
Scott Doney talks about the consequences.
94 Fueling your car with sun and water
Nanotechnologist Jin Zhang on the elusive dream of hydrogen.
95 Birders still debate existence of fabled woodpecker
Tim Gallagher recounts “discovery” that started it all.
96 The role of clouds in our changing climate
Bruce Wielicki uses satellites to understand “tricky” nature of clouds.
97 Ecologists want to reach policy makers, citizens
Margaret Palmer talks about ecology and public policy
98 Scientist looks to Africa for hurricane prediction
Chris Thorncroft discusses African weather and Atlantic hurricanes.
99 Can Earth’s ecosystems meet human needs?
Cristian Samper talks about the health of global ecosystems
100 Looking at agriculture in a holistic way
Miguel Altieri says eating is ecological, political act.
100 All organisms, humans included, engineered at nanoscale
Viola Vogel talks about the goal of understanding phenomena at the nanoscale.
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