This podcast highlights discussions from the Ethical Considerations in Research for Pediatric Populations symposium presented by the New York Academy of Sciences and NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and is made available thanks to funding provided by Johnson & Johnson. Click here to watch a recorded version of the full conference, available on demand until September 13, 2023.

The Intersection of Conflicts of Interest and Healthcare by The New York Academy of Sciences

Often cited as the "4th Industrial Revolution" big data has the potential to transform health and healthcare by drawing medical conclusions from new and exciting sources such as electronic health records, genomic databases, and even credit card activity. In this podcast you will hear from tech, healthcare, and regulatory experts on potential paths forward that balance privacy and consumer protections while fostering innovations that could benefit everyone in our society. This podcast was produced following a conference on this topic held in partnership between the NYU School of Medicine and the Academy. It was made possible with support from Johnson & Johnson.

Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease past infancy among children in the United States and Europe. Despite prevailing increases in overall survival rates, it continues to be one of the most challenging diseases to treat. This podcast will discuss the latest advancements in pediatric cancer research and how they can lead to newer, faster, and better treatments for children and adolescents with cancer. This podcast was produced using excerpts from the 2018 Sohn Conference: Accelerating Translation of Pediatric Cancer Research (www.nyas.org/Sohn2018) on this topic held in partnership between the Sohn Conference Foundation (www.sohnconference.org) and the New York Academy of Sciences.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is set to become the most common cause of liver transplant in the coming decade. Although almost one-third of adults worldwide suffer from the condition, which is also associated with diabetes and obesity, there are currently no approved treatments. This podcast will discuss the basis of liver disease as well as several cutting edge approaches that are being developed to model the disease and speed the discovery of new therapeutics. This podcast has been made possible with support from Emulate (https://www.emulatebio.com).

In 2016, the WHO declared the Zika virus a global medical emergency when, after six decades of dormancy, the virus arrived in the Americas. After scientists made the connection between Zika and thousands of cases of microcephaly in babies, a race began to better understand the virus. But it turns out that Zika is not so easy to study. In this podcast, we talk to two Blavatnik Award Scholars using the latest genomic technology to track Zika's spread and pave the way for new genomic treatments, therapies, and vaccines. This podcast was produced as part of the 2017 Blavatnik Science Symposium, co-presented by the Blavatnik Family Foundation and the Academy.

In this episode, we continue to look at some of the fascinating and innovative work that researchers are doing in New York State's Proof of Concept Centers. Hear from two companies that are doing something about the weather by trying to better understand the unique meteorology of cities to improve forecasting and creating more effective and efficient wind turbines. This podcast is made possible by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), PowerBridgeNY, and NEXUS-NY.

We hear all the time that building a robust future for STEM relies on engaging diverse groups of young people in STEM fields today. The Academy's Global STEM Alliance program is focused on doing just that. Meet four young women participating in our programs who offer inspiring insights into their hopes for their careers and the field, and hear about the innovative projects they're working on today.

Climate change may be controversial in the political realm, but for three Blavatnik Awards Scholars, all leading experts in environmental studies, there is no debate. The Earth's ice sheets, glaciers, forests, and animals have all been altered by high levels of CO2 and increasing global temperatures. But are these changes permanent? This podcast examines the latest ecological, geological, and biogeographic research related to climate change. This podcast was produced as part of the 2017 Blavatnik Science Symposium, co-presented by the Blavatnik Family Foundation and the Academy.

How can we do more without causing less strain on the environment? In this podcast we continue our discussion with New York entrepreneurs participating in the state's Proof of Concept Centers program. This time, we take a deeper look at two companies addressing garbage and energy storage by taking on what some may think of as the smaller aspects of these problems. This podcast is made possible by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), PowerBridgeNY, and NEXUS-NY.

Clinical trials to evaluate new drugs are typically built around one design, the randomized controlled trial, but this method has come under scrutiny in recent years for being expensive, lengthy, and cumbersome. In this podcast you'll hear from experts asking if alternative designs would be better for determining the safety and efficacy of new therapies. This podcast was produced following a conference on this topic held in partnership between the NYU School of Medicine and the Academy. It was made possible with support from Johnson and Johnson.

The management and removal of industrial waste is a concern that faces companies and governments around the world. In this podcast you'll hear from entrepreneurs in New York participating in the state's Proof of Concept Centers program, who are creating technologies focused on the handling of industrial waste. This podcast is made possible by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), PowerBridgeNY, and NEXUS-NY.

When the UN announced its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Climate Change, it was clear that the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were even more ambitious than the previous Millennium Development Goals. It was also clear that collaborative partnerships will be the key to achieving them. In this podcast you'll hear how the Academy, business leaders, academia, and government are working together to help make the world a better place for all. You'll also hear from young students working on international teams to tackle some of these same challenges, which might inspire you to think about what you can do in your community to help achieve the SDGs.

Proof of Concept Centers allow emerging technologists to try out their ideas, work with mentors, and develop marketable products. One of the key challenges participants face is turning a product into a viable business. In this podcast you'll hear from participating teams as they pitch their products to potential commercial customers and investors in the clean energy sector. This podcast is made possible by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), PowerBridgeNY, and NEXUS-NY.

You see the headlines all the time linking nutrition to health and aging, but it's not so easy figuring out where the science is behind them. This podcast examines the connections between nutrition and longevity through the eyes of scientists researching the question. This podcast is made possible by a grant from the Abbott Nutrition Health Institute.

In this special podcast, learn about the stories that shaped the Academy's 200 year history. From the emergence of the Academy on a bustling street in downtown Manhattan of 1817 to the professionalization and expansion of the sciences through the 1800s. From our early efforts to help disseminate and share scientific research long before the internet to our efforts today to expand who has access to scientific careers around the globe. Featuring commentary and highlights from Simon Baatz, PhD (John Jay College)

The Academy's After School STEM Mentoring program improves science education and brings science out of the lab and into the community by placing early-career STEM professionals in public middle schools to serve as mentors to students. This is the last podcast in a three-part series. For more on this topic, view our Developing Scientists through Outreach eBriefing.

Are physicists on a path to upend some of the time-tested fundamental theories of physics? This podcast explores the interplay between quantum theory and general relativity, and how these phenomena may be exploited, from black holes to quantum computing. Featuring Daniel Harlow (Harvard University Center for the Fundamental Laws of Nature), Scott Aaronson (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), and Brian Swingle (Stanford Institute for Theoretical Physics), with moderation from George Musser (Spooky Action at a Distance), this podcast features audio from the final event in our series, The Physics of Everything. This podcast was made possible through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.

So many of our misconceptions about science come from where we first encountered them the classroom. How can we do a better job of teaching science, both so we make sure we have a new generation of STEM professionals, but also a STEM-literate public? The second of the three-part series. For more on this topic, view our Developing Scientists through Outreach eBriefing.

According to Enrico Fermi, there's a high probability of extraterrestrial life, but we haven't found any yet. Why is that? Listen in as top scientists discuss the question of what and who else might be out there. Featuring Adam Frank (University of Rochester), Louisa Preston (astrobiologist and author), Jason Thomas Wright (Pennsylvania State University), and Stephen M. Gardiner (University of Washington), with moderation by Ira Flatow (PRI's Science Friday ), this podcast features audio from the fifth event in our series, The Physics of Everything.

Even in the 21st century, there's a significant percentage of people who deeply mistrust science and scientists. Why? And what can we do about it? The first of a three-part series. For more on this topic, view our Developing Scientists through Outreach eBriefing.

Advances in physical sciences, biology, and neuroscience have dramatically enhanced our knowledge of the human species. But can physical sciences solve the biggest mystery the emergence of human consciousness? A distinguished panel of experts, including David Chalmers, PhD, Michael Graziano, PhD, Hod Lipson, PhD, and Max Tegmark, PhD, will discuss in this new podcast. Scientific American's George Musser moderates. This podcast features audio from the fourth event in our series, The Physics of Everything.

Research only turns into a real-world solution if it becomes something you can buy and use, but there are a lot of challenges to taking a great idea from the lab and making it a viable commercial product. Researchers can become entrepreneurs by studying the marketplace and learning to listen to their potential customers. Learn more about our Proof of Concept Centers here.

Today, more than ever, we can better understand just how complex our world is, from social groups to economic markets to neurons in the brain and our immune systems. But will these new complexity frontiers complement contemporary physics or upend it completely? Listen in to a discussion about the future of complexity with four distinguished speakers: Bernard Chazelle, PhD

Advances in genomic medicine indicate that pediatric cancers may be quite different from their adult counterparts. Hear from experts on why this might be and what scientists are doing to understand it better. Many pediatric cancers do not harbor the same targetable mutations seen in adult tumors, making it imperative that we understand the reasons behind these differences. Following up on the 2016 Sohn Conference, "Pediatric Cancer in a Post-genomic World," presented by The Sohn Conference Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences, this podcast gives listeners a glimpse into where research and treatment are today and where they are headed in the future.

Listen in to a discussion with writer Jim Holt, philosophers David Z. Albert and Hans Halvorson, and science writer Kate Becker about the realms where physics and philosophy intersect. For centuries, physics and philosophy walked side by side in pursuit of their shared goal understanding the nature of reality. The progress of science has pushed the frontier of physics into the realm of advanced mathematics, which requires technical skill and levels of abstraction attainable only after years of dedicated training. At the same time, most physicists today do not receive training in philosophy and epistemology, few have the time to ponder philosophical implications of their work, and some even doubt the possibility of a meaningful dialog between physicists and philosophers. However, at its core, physics addresses the fundamental problems that shape our philosophical outlook. This podcast features audio from our second Physics of Everything event. This podcast was made possible through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.

The Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine and the Academy bring together patients, regulators, manufacturers, journalists, and experts to debate the difficult ethical issues surrounding “compassionate use” of pre-approved medicines. Patients with life-threatening illnesses face challenges in accessing potential therapies at the cutting-edge of R

Featuring cosmologist Neil Weiner, string theorist Eva Silverstein, and physicist Vijay Balasubramanian, with moderation from philosopher of science Jill North, this podcast explores what the future holds for physics. Modern physics and its leading theories have been remarkably successful in describing the history of our universe, and large-scale experiments, such as the Large Hadron Collider, are continuously producing new data that extend our knowledge of the world. Nevertheless, our understanding of some physical concepts that seek to explain our universe dark matter and dark energy, quantum gravity, supersymmetry, and the cosmological constant remain unresolved. This podcast features audio from our first Physics of Everything event. This podcast was made possible through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.

For 2016, the International Year of Pulses, our Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science is looking at the many opportunities provided by pulses edible seeds like dried, lentils, and chickpeas. Pulses provide a non-animal source of protein, appear to be healthy for the gut microbiome, and help replenish the soil where they are grown. In this podcast we'll talk to scientists studying the benefits of pulses about their research and also how we might solve the challenge of moving these important foods from millions of small-scale farmers in India and Latin America to consumers worldwide.

We explore research methodologies for building an evidence base for nutrition and obesity policy that are emerging across disciplines. Well-informed nutrition policy decisions that consider scientific evidence should strive to improve health outcomes on a large scale. But it's not always easy to find the right evidence to back up those policies. At our October 2015 conference, "Towards Evidence-based Nutrition and Obesity Policy," speakers discussed emerging research methodologies, ways to interpret research outcomes, and how these outcomes can be used to inform policy. Listen in to this podcast to learn more about the important relationship between research and policy.

Mobile technology is emerging as a powerful tool for transforming the way clinical research is conducted now and in the future. Acquisition of real-time biometric data though the use of wireless medical sensors will allow for around-the-clock patient monitoring, reduce costly clinic visits, and streamline inefficient administrative processes. With the promise of this technology also comes challenges including digital data privacy concerns, patient compliance issues, and practical considerations such as continuous powering of these devices. This podcast provides an illuminating examination of both the promises and challenges that underpin the implementation of mobile technology into the clinical realm.

It's easier to find people to invest in a great new tech product if you can show that it will be profitable relatively quickly. Unfortunately, that's not so easy to demonstrate. Learn how we're working to change that. The Academy and NYSERDA (the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) are teaming up to drive investment in the new technologies that will help revolutionize the way we produce and use energy by supporting Proof of Concept Centers - institutes that bridge the gap between academic laboratories and working companies. In this podcast we learn about Proof of Concept Centers: what they are and how they have the potential to create a sea change in the way new technologies are turned from ideas into realities.

Understanding nutrition's impact on health requires an intricate knowledge of all the different systems within the human body. Learn how a systems approach to nutrition could change the field. Drawing on examples from obesity and diabetes prevention, weight loss threshold effects and the role of physical activity, this podcast highlights the need to bring biology, epidemiology, psychology and other disciplines together in a systemic way. Based on a conference organized by The Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science and held at the New York Academy of Sciences on April 16, 2015, this podcast is supported by Metagenics.

A recent conference held at the Academy asked a downright outrageous question: Can dementia be prevented by making changes to your diet? In this podcast we look at what the answers might be. Podcast listeners learned a lot over the past two months about neurodegenerative dementia - what it is, what it isn't, and how heartbreakingly little medical science can do right now to treat it. In that context, a recent conference held at the Academy asked a downright outrageous question: Can dementia be prevented by making changes to your diet? In this podcast, we hear answers to that question, some of which are surprisingly optimistic.

In the final episode of our Dementia Decoded series, we look at some of the innovative approaches that are being taken, and how they hold out new hope for the future. The prospects for a cure for neurodegenerative dementia might seem bleak - there's still so much we don't know about these conditions and about the brain itself, and research funding for it has traditionally been much lower than for other conditions that effect a similar number of people. But there's a new wave of international momentum to better understand and treat diseases like Alzheimer's, and most in the field are optimistic that a big breakthrough is coming soon.

In this episode of the Dementia Decoded series, we'll look at new and innovative ways people around the world are addressing this problem, and offer some tools and strategies for people dealing with dementia in their own families and communities. As the research community continues to work to find new and better medical treatments for neurodegenerative dementia, it's affecting millions more people every year, at a staggering cost to not only these people and their families, but also the world economy. How to best care for people living with dementia, and the millions of unpaid caregivers who are putting their lives on hold to support them, is one of the most crucial public health questions facing the world today.

In the third episode of our Dementia Decoded series, we look at the current slate of treatment options available to people living with neurodegenerative dementia, and the road toward new and better ones. Dementia isn't like other diseases - the fear and stigma surrounding it often make it difficult to even get someone who may be living with it to get a proper diagnosis, and the perceived lack of options lead many to wonder if a diagnosis can do more harm than good. But while there's no cure yet for Alzheimer's disease, there are definitely ways of approaching it medically, and often things that look like Alzheimer's are really something much easier to treat.

In the second episode of our Dementia Decoded series, we look at the current state of knowledge about the basic physiology of Alzheimer's, and how scientists are working to unlock its secrets. We've known about the basic pathological signatures of Alzheimer's disease for more than 100 years, but there's still a very great deal we don’t know about how the disease works and how to prevent it's devastating effects.

The first episode of our new five-part Dementia Decoded podcast series looks at what Alzheimer's is, how it differs from other forms of Dementia, and whether is it an inevitable part of aging. Polls show that Americans fear Alzheimer's disease more than any other illness. And little wonder - it's debilitating, fatal, incurable, and currently afflicts hundreds of millions worldwide, a number that's going to continue increasing as the world’s population both grows and grows older. But what is Alzheimer's? How is it different from other forms of Dementia? And is it an inevitable part of aging? This podcast features interviews with leading experts from every aspect of the study of Dementia: academia, health care, public policy, and beyond.

Leading scientists discuss the latest breakthroughs in lysosome biology and what they mean for treating Batten disease, and more common conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases and cancer. This podcast is generously supported by the Beyond Batten Disease Foundation and brings you excerpted coverage from a recent event organized by the Academy in partnership with the Beyond Batten Disease Foundation. Visit Beyond Batten Disease Foundation's website for more information.

In the second of a two-part series, experts look at the links between health and nutrition. They examine everything from how nutrition impacts hospital stays, to cancer and aging, to developing food science innovations, and improving diet. In this second podcast, experts from The Sackler Institute of Nutrition Science discuss how proper nutrition is a crucial piece of global health, highlighting the key role of scientific discovery in optimizing health. This podcast includes interviews with experts from Pfizer, Nestl , Abbott Nutrition Health Institute, Ajinomoto, DuPont, DSM, and the Vitality Institute.

In this first of a two-part series, experts from various sectors explore the available options to reduce "hidden hunger" micronutrient deficiencies in a population. In this podcast series, the many partners of The Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science offer perspective on their work to better understand human nutrition, and to find new and better ways of feeding the world. For this episode, experts from DSM, DuPont, Pepsico, Nestl , Pfizer, the Food Fortification Initiative, the Mathile Institute, and Ajinomoto discuss the many ways people are solving the problem of supplying people everywhere with adequate vitamins and minerals.

A young chemist discusses his goal of producing usable clean energy by artificially mimicking the process of photosynthesis. As a Ph.D. student at SUNY Stonybrook, Huafeng Huang (aka Wolf) is using chemistry to create an artificial leaf. His goal is to chemically imitate and adapt the process of photosynthesis to create clean energy. Science and the City thanks the Brotherton Foundation for its generous support of this podcast.

Three budding biologists and their teacher discuss the vital work of conservation biology and how students are making important contributions to the field. Biologist Oscar Pineda and students Ines Muravin, Maya Drzewicki, and Arden Feil discuss their research and conservation work with the American Museum of Natural History's Science Research Mentoring Program. Dr. Pineda explains how students can get involved in professional field work to contribute to our understanding of local environmental issues. The three inspiring students share fascinating insights into the complicated connectivity between species and the importance of conservation. Science and the City thanks the Brotherton Foundation for its generous support of this podcast.

Designer Josh Treuhaft discusses the issue of food waste and his creative approach to combating the problem. A whopping 40% of the food produced in the United States goes uneaten, which means we're literally throwing out the equivalent of $165 billion per year. This waste becomes an environmental problem as it decomposes and emits methane. To raise awareness about this issue and teach people how to individually make a difference, designer Josh Treuhaft started the Salvage Supperclub. Bringing ideas together from a range of disciplines, the Salvage Supperclub serves scrumptious, multi-course meals made from food that would otherwise be discarded all in a beautifully converted dumpster. Science and the City thanks the Brotherton Foundation for its generous support of this podcast.

By inviting the public to enjoy the Bronx River, the Bronx River Alliance is creating sustainability enthusiasts and improving the local ecosystem for both humans and wildlife.

High school student Grace Greenwald connects her peers with world class neuroscientists and mentorship. At the age of 15, Grace came up against a lack of resources to help high school students explore the field of neuroscience. Undaunted, she designed her own neuroscience curriculum and founded The Synapse Project, a virtual learning platform that connects professionals in brain research to high school students, especially young women, offering the next generation of neuroscientists a head start through mentorship, classes, and lab experience.

A diverse panel of leading experts discusses innovative efforts to develop an effective treatment for Alzheimer's Disease. The search for a treatment for Alzheimer's Disease becomes increasingly urgent as global populations grow and age. In the United States alone, 16 million people are projected to suffer from AD by 2050. In this podcast, leading experts from different sections of the R D pipeline discuss cutting-edge approaches to developing a cure. This podcast is generously supported by the Dana Foundation and brings you excerpted coverage from a recent event organized by the Academy in partnership with the Society for Neuroscience, the Dana Foundation, the NYC Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, and the organizers of NYC Brain Awareness Week. Visit the Academy's Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Initiative for more info.

Experts discuss the merits of integrating nutrition and early childhood development interventions to nurture the physical and psychological health of underprivileged children. Almost a quarter of children under the age of five do not reach their full developmental potential as a result of chronic undernutrition, a lack of developmental and educational opportunities, and high social and environmental risks. Children everywhere need access to healthy food to develop their bodies and stimulating activities to develop their minds. Traditionally, these needs have been addressed separately, but would they both be more effective if combined into a single effort? Experts from around the world gather at the headquarters of UNICEF to discuss. Read more in this eBriefing. This podcast is brought to you by the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science.

Protein is one of the most important nutrients in our diet, but providing an adequate and equitable supply of it to people around the world remains a vexing problem. Population growth and changes in dietary practices globally have led to a tremendous rise in the demand for animal-source foods. While consuming the required amount of protein is fundamental to human health, supplying protein to meet increasing worldwide needs can lead to environmental and health problems. This podcast is brought to you by the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science.

The third podcast in our series on the Research Agenda for Nutrition Science focuses on implementation. Creating the agenda was a great first step, but effectively activating it is just as complex and important. A cross-section of experts from around the world discusses this process and their hopes and plans for the future of the field. This podcast is brought to you by the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science.

Part two of our podcast series on the nutrition research agenda addresses the importance, as well as the challenge, of tackling global nutrition needs in a coordinated, multisectoral way. Experts from all aspects of the nutrition community, from food science to food production and beyond, gather at the Academy to discuss the nutrition science agenda, and how it can best be developed and used to move the field forward. This podcast is brought to you by the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science.

The first of two podcasts on the development of a global agenda for nutrition research. What, how and why we eat is a broad and complex issue touching on almost every discipline of the sciences, so how does a scientist know what questions have the potential to make the greatest impact? The Academy's own Mandana Arabi discusses the creation of a roadmap for the study of human nutrition, brought to you by the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science.

Engineering students in the Projects for Underserved Communities program at UT Austin are proving you're never too young to make a difference by putting science to good use. Emily Lamon and Ashwin Ramaswami, respectively a college senior and junior, are putting their academic backgrounds in engineering to good use. In this podcast, they describe the challenges and rewards of planning and implementing sustainable water storage and distribution systems with important health and social impacts for communities in Tanzania and Papua New Guinea. Science and the City thanks the Brotherton Foundation for supporting this podcast.

Tolkien wizard Radagast the Brown, a.k.a. climate scientist Dr. Dan Lunt, faces an angry Uruk-hai climate change denialist in a "debate" about the validity of climate science and Middle Earth warming. University of Bristol climate scientist Dr. Dan Lunt studies paleoclimatoglogy. The analysis and interpretation of ancient climates involves modeling an Earth that looked very different than it does today. This fact inspired Dr. Lunt to write a brilliantly nerdy/nerdily brilliant mock paper, published under the name of Radagast the Brown, comparing the simulated climate of Tolkien's Middle Earth to the climates of modern and Cretaceous actual Earth. In that vein, Dr. Lunt (a.k.a. Radagast the Brown) clarifies the modeling techniques employed by climate scientists and some the findings from the last IPCC report to one of Saruman's angry, misinformed minions. Science and the City thanks the Brotherton Foundation for supporting this podcast.

In this excerpted coverage from our live event, a panel of experts discusses our relationship with our microbiota from research and medical perspectives. Dr. Martin Blaser, Director of the Human Microbiome Program at the NYU School of Medicine

Blavatnik Award winning scientist Dr. Jonathan Fisher discusses the power of various visualization techniques in researching and educating about the brain. Dr. Fisher is the Founder and Director of the Neurodome Project, which adapts immersive visualization techniques used in planetariums to introduce new audiences to neuroscience.

Author Alan Weisman shares insights from his latest book, Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth? Can we feed a human population headed toward 11 billion, and still leave enough for other species on which our own survival may depend? Will technological leaps like genetically enhanced photosynthesis or lab-grown meat actually help us avert disaster? In his latest book, Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth?, author Alan Weisman considers whether and how people can sustainably thrive without crashing the global ecosystem. Traveling to 21 countries for insights from a broad swath of cultures, ecosystems, scientists, food specialists, and religious leaders, Weisman pursues the concept of a future balance between us and the world. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the podcasts on nyas.org are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the New York Academy of Sciences.

A historian and a young scientist discuss the rewards and importance of learning about the history of science. Dr. Carol Moberg, historian of science and Senior Research Associate at The Rockefeller University, shares some of the stories behind her book, Entering an Unseen World, about the history and development of modern cell biology. She's joined by Rockefeller University Graduate Fellow Joseph Luna, who lends his perspective on the value of studying the history of science for students and young scientists.

Social psychologist Dr. Piercarlo Valdesolo discusses his work studying moral decision-making processes in the lab. Dr. Piercarlo Valdesolo, Director of the Moral Emotions and Trust Lab at Claremont McKenna College, asks what science can tell us about our moral decision-making processes.

Scientific images are often beautiful, captivating both for their aesthetic value and the concepts they represent. Dr. Mark Siddall, curator of the Museum of Natural History's exhibition, Picturing Science: Museum Scientists and Imaging Technologies discusses the place of scientific images at the intersection of art, science, and education.

As part of our Science and the Seven Deadly Sins series, Dr. Paul Zak discusses his work studying the relation of hormones to human behavior. Specifically, his research focuses on oxytocin's role in regulating generosity and greed. For an interview with Dr. Zak about the crisis in confidence in psychology, science communication, and how to differentiate between sound science and pseudoscience, click here.

The final installment of our step-by-step analysis of the cheeseburger culminates in a question that’s both very simple and tremendously complex should we eat meat? This episode features visits to Kinderhook Farm and Freund's Farm as well as conversations with Maudene Nelson of Columbia University, Dr. Michael McBurney of DSM Nutritional Products, Dr. Stephen Pintauro of the University of Vermont, and Dr. Joe Muscolino. This podcast is a co-production of the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science and Science the City.

In this installment of A Thought for Food's consideration of the cheeseburger, we analyze the king of side dishes, the French fry. This episode features conversations with Maudene Nelson of Columbia University and Andrew F. Smith of the New School University and the Edible series of books. This podcast is a co-production of the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science and Science the City.

The fourth installment of our systematic breakdown of a cheeseburger deals with ketchup and pickles, two attempts to give vegetables the power to defy time. This episode features a visit to The Pickle Guys as well as conversations with Andrew F. Smith of the New School University and the Edible series of books and the proprietors of First Field Ketchup. This podcast is a co-production of the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science and Science the City.

For the third installment of our dissection of the humble cheeseburger, A Thought for Food considers a Paleolithic super food that’s still popular worldwide cheese. This episode features a visit to Freund's Farm as well as conversations with Dr. Michael McBurney of DSM Nutritional Products and Dr. Paul Kindstedt, of the University of Vermont and the Vermont Institute for Artisan Cheese. This podcast is a co-production of the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science and Science the City.

The second installment of A Thought for Food’s systematic analysis of America's sandwich, the cheeseburger, looks at bread one of the strangest and most interesting products humanity has ever invented. Featured in this episode are conversations with Thomas R. and Carol Janas Sinclair, authors of Bread, Beer, and the Seeds of Change , Maudene Nelson of Columbia University, Dr. Michael McBurney of DSM Nutritional Products, and Dr. Stephen Pintauro of the University of Vermont. This podcast is a co-production of the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science and Science the City.

How did the hamburger become a staple American food? A Thought for Food considers the science and history of the key ingredient, beef. Season 2 of A Thought for Food will examine the components of a cheeseburger. This episode "ruminates" on beef, from the genetic design of modern cattle to the processing of meat. Featured in this episode are visits to Kinderhook Farm and Freund's Farm, as well as conversations with Andrew F. Smith of the New School University and the Edible series of books, and Dr. Joe Muscolino. This podcast is a co-production of the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science and Science the City.

Experts discuss how medical schools can reduce health disparities by promoting more diversity in healthcare professions, equipping doctors with tools to serve underrepresented groups, and reaching out to the community. Dr. Marc A. Nivet, Chief Diversity Officer for the Association of American Medical Colleges, and Dr. Arthur Kaufman, Distinguished Professor at the University of New Mexico's Department of Family and Community Medicine, discuss the role of medical universities in addressing health disparities between socioeconomic populations. This podcast is presented as part of the Translational Medicine Initiative, a partnership between the New York Academy of Sciences and the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation to foster the translation of basic science discoveries into improved clinical healthcare. It was a co-production of Science and the City.

Experts discuss the pressures that may lead scientists to misrepresent data and hinder the self-correcting mechanisms of science. This is excerpted coverage of our event, Envy: The Cutthroat Side of Science, which addressed the issues of dishonesty in science, the motivations for misconduct, and possible solutions. Scientific American editor-in-chief Mariette DiChristina moderated the panel, consisting of physicist, entrepreneur, and government advisor Harold Garner, PhD

Professor Owen Jones, Director of the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Law and Neuroscience, and Dr. Kent Kiehl, professor of neuroscience and Executive Science Officer of the Mind Research Network, discuss the relation of neuroscience to the legal system. Dr. Kent Kiehl recently co-authored a study correlating levels of brain activity in the anterior cingulate cortex with the likelihood that a criminal will commit a new crime after being released from jail. This is a powerful predictive tool, but how should it be used? More broadly, how should the legal system regard and respond to neuroscience, which conceptualizes behavior in terms removed from personal agency? Dr. Kiehl and Professor Owen Jones, Director of the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Law and Neuroscience, share their insights on these and other questions.

In this follow-up interview to our “Sloth: Is Your City Making You Fat?” event, Dr. Mariela Alfonzo, a research fellow in urban and regional planning at NYU-Poly and founder of State of Place, discusses the application of statistical analysis to the study of urban design and public health. Dr. Alfonzo is a research fellow in urban and regional planning at NYU-Poly and the founder of State of Place, a diagnostic tool for determining the walkability of a place in relation to economic indicators to inform evidence-based policy decisions.

Dr. Robert Kaplan, Director of the National Institutes of Health Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, and Dr. Barbara Barry, research scientist with the Northeastern University Relational Agents Group, discuss the evolving role of technology in addressing the behavioral aspects of health. These ideas will be further explored at an event on Friday, March 22, at the New York Academy of Sciences titled Health 2.0: Digital Technology in Clinical Care. This conference is jointly presented by The New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute, The Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, and the New York Academy of Sciences. Dr. Robert Kaplan, Director of the National Institutes of Health Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, and Dr. Barbara Barry, research scientist with the Northeastern University Relational Agents Group, discuss the evolving role of technology in addressing the behavioral aspects of health. These ideas will be further explored at an event on Friday, March 22, at the New York Academy of Sciences titled Health 2.0: Digital Technology in Clinical Care. This conference is jointly presented by The New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute, The Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, and the New York Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Joseph Kvedar, Founder and Director of the Center for Connected Health, Dr. Martin Kohn, Chief Medical Scientist for Health Care Delivery at IBM Research, and Dr. Marc Triola, Associate Dean for Educational Informatics at NYU School of Medicine and Director of the Division of Educational Informatics, discuss the emerging roles of digital technology in healthcare. These ideas will be explored further at an event on Friday, March 22, at the New York Academy of Sciences titled Health 2.0: Digital Technology in Clinical Care. This conference is jointly presented by The New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute, The Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, and the New York Academy of Sciences. Dr. Joseph Kvedar, Founder and Director of the Center for Connected Health, Dr. Martin Kohn, Chief Medical Scientist for Health Care Delivery at IBM Research, and Dr. Marc Triola, Associate Dean for Educational Informatics at NYU School of Medicine and Director of the Division of Educational Informatics, discuss the emerging roles of digital technology in healthcare. These ideas will be further explored at an event on Friday, March 22, at the New York Academy of Sciences titled Health 2.0: Digital Technology in Clinical Care. This conference is jointly presented by The New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute, The Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, and the New York Academy of Sciences. This podcast is presented as part of the Translational Medicine Initiative, a partnership between the New York Academy of Sciences and the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation to foster the translation of basic science discoveries into improved clinical healthcare. It was a co-production of Science and the City.

Dr. Ben Goldacre, author of Bad Pharma: How Drug Companies Mislead Doctors and Harm Patients, discusses the pervasive bias in reporting clinical trials of medications. He calls for all trials to be registered and for all trial results to be reported. Otherwise, he says, doctors, researchers, and patients are prevented from making discerning decisions about treatments and the field of evidence-based medicine is pointlessly hobbled. For more, see alltrials.net.

The Supreme Court recently refused to hear a case challenging federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Dr. John Murray, a lawyer and geneticist, and Dr. Chris Henderson, scientific director of Target ALS, discuss the case and the field of stem cell research. The Supreme Court recently refused to hear a case challenging federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Experts discuss the case and its consequences, as well as exciting research being done with stem cells towards a treatment for Lou Gehrig's disease.

Brian Switek, a panelist at our upcoming Love and Lust in the Animal Kingdom event and author of My Beloved Brontosaurus, discusses what we know about dinosaur sex and how we know it. Brian will be a panelist at our event, Lust and Love in the Animal Kingdom on February 12th, part of our Science and the Seven Deadly Sins series.

David Randall, author of the book Dreamland: Adventures in the Strange Science of Sleep, MIT neuroscientist Matt Wilson, PhD, and Harvard instructor of psychiatry Erin Wamsley, PhD, discuss the science of sleep and dreams. David Randall, author of the book Dreamland: Adventures in the Strange Science of Sleep, MIT neuroscientist Matt Wilson, PhD, and Harvard instructor of psychiatry Erin Wamsley, PhD, discuss the science of sleep and dreams. Wilson and Wamsley were panelists at an event held at the Academy, hosted by Science and the City in collaboration with the 5th Annual Imagine Science Film Festival, titled The Strange Science of Sleep and Dreams.

This excerpt from our Pride: Flying Cars and Other Broken Promises event features biologist and professor Stuart Firestein considering pride and scientific predictions. Professor Firestein discusses how scientific predictions, which can appear to the public as arrogant and unreliable, are ideally informed by humility and a sense of curiosity in the face of ignorance. The event was part of our Science and the Seven Deadly Sins series. The panel also featured professor of ethics Christiana Peppard, scientist and author Gregory Benford, and moderator and science journalist, George Musser. Biologist and professor Stuart Firestein discusses how scientific predictions, which can appear to the public as arrogant and unreliable, are ideally informed by humility and a sense of curiosity in the face of ignorance. The event was part of our Science and the Seven Deadly Sins series. The panel also featured professor of ethics Christiana Peppard, scientist and author Gregory Benford, and moderator and science journalist George Musser.

In Part 2 of our podcast coverage of Wrath Goes Viral, the panelists discuss factors involved in preventing outbreaks from reaching pandemic scales. The SARS virus and SARS-like virus that appeared earlier this year in Saudi Arabia provide interesting case studies for considering containment policy. In the section, the panelists discuss factors involved in preventing outbreaks from reaching pandemic scales. The SARS virus and SARS-like virus that appeared earlier this year in Saudi Arabia provide interesting case studies for considering containment policy.

This is Part 1 of our podcast coverage of the event Wrath Goes Viral, the first in our Science and the Seven Deadly Sins series. In this first section, the panel considers the evolution of viruses, the spillover of pathogens from animals to humans, and some cultural practices that increase the rate of this phenomenon. The discussion is moderated by award-winning author David Quammen. The panelists are Dr. Ian Lipkin, Captain Daniel B. Jernigan, and author Maryn McKenna. In this first section, the panel considers the evolution of viruses, the spillover of pathogens from animals to humans, and some cultural practices that increase the rate of this phenomenon. The discussion is moderated by award-winning author David Quammen. The panelists are Dr. Ian Lipkin, Captain Daniel B. Jernigan, and author Maryn McKenna.

In this podcast, Dustyn Roberts discusses her work on the cutting edge of engineering. Her Sample Manipulation System, part of the Curiosity Mars Science Laboratory, is now helping to analyze soil samples on Mars, and her current projects range from DIY biomechanics to opening up and supporting a world of educational resources.

In this podcast, art historian Nina Samuel, biologists Brian Enquist and James Brown, and ethnomathematician Ron Eglash discuss the prevalence and power of fractals from the perspectives of their various disciplines.

What does play have to do with learning? More than you may think. Today's kids are getting less playtime than previous generations, and that may have an impact on later learning development. Dr. Karen Adolph, Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, and Dr. David Kanter help us explore the playful side of education. This podcast is produced in complement to an Academy workshop held earlier this summer on the relationship between early childhood play, the development of attention, and subsequent classroom learning abilities. Sponsored by the Dana Foundation

Nutrition is notoriously tricky to get a handle on, with conflicting reports and unsubstantiated fads all over the place. So why can't science get to the bottom of what's right and right for you? For one, it has a lot to do with things called biomarkers. The experts featured in this podcast were recorded at the symposium "Biomarkers in Nutrition: New Frontiers in Research and Application," held on April 18, 2012 at the Academy. The experts featured in this podcast were recorded at the symposium "Biomarkers in Nutrition: New Frontiers in Research and Application," held on April 18, 2012 at the Academy. This podcast is a co-production of the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science and Science the City.

Salt is one of the most important and versatile ingredients in foods around the world. We like it, we need it, but are we getting too much of it these days? Get the big picture on this unique compound in episode six of our nutrition series. The "A Thought for Food" podcast series is brought to you by Science the City and the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science.

Locavorism is all the rage these days, but does science back it up? Is local food more nutritious? Can it improve our environment? And does it even taste better? This June, we invited a panel of experts from the New York area to find out. This podcast was recorded live at "The Science of Local Food" event on June 26, 2012, a part of the River to River Festival. A big thanks goes out to the South Street Seaport Museum for hosting. Brought to you by Science the City and the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science.

The battle of wills to resist the last cupcake isn't the only one being waged over sugar. In fact, sugar or fructose to be more precise is one of the most hotly contested subjects in the world of nutrition. Find out why in the fifth edition of our nutrition series. The "A Thought for Food" podcast series is brought to you by Science the City and the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science.

A few years ago, Resveratrol a compound found in red wine and dark chocolate, among other foods made a splash in the news as an anti-aging wonder and was soon after seized upon by marketers. But the truth is that research is still in its early stages. Dr. Joseph Baur leads us through the science behind the hype. The bulk of this podcast was recorded live at the June 5, 2012 event "The Science Behind the Hype: Resveratrol in Red Wine and Chocolate," a part of the Locavore's Dilemma series. You can download the slides to accompany the lecture here. Brought to you by Science the City and the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science.

Trans fat, saturated fat, hydrogenated oil such terms are plastered on food labels across the country. But what do any of them really mean? Find out all about fat in this episode of our nutrition series. The "A Thought for Food" podcast series is brought to you by Science the City and the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science.

Though fat and sugar are often seen as the bad guys in the world of nutrients, the truth is our body needs them to survive. Begin to explore those most maligned compounds in the third edition of our nutrition series. The "A Thought for Food" podcast series is brought to you by Science the City and the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science.

Oysters once more abundant in New York Harbor than anywhere else in the world fell victim to over-harvesting and pollution. But today, thanks to the efforts of a few key groups like the NY Harbor School New York's oysters are making a comeback. Hear moderator Andy Revkin lead a panel discussion on how these little bivalves can help restore New York Harbor to its former glory. This panel took place as part of Science the City's "Can Oysters Save the World?" event on April 26, 2012. Sponsored by the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science.

This March, 17 middle-school teams descended on the Academy for the 2nd Annual FIRST LEGO League Robotics Scrimmage. Find out what went down this year, as teams turned their sights to food safety. For more information on the FIRST LEGO League Food Factor Challenge click here. This podcast is co-sponsored by Science the City and the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science.

You've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: the U.S. has a big problem with obesity. But did you know that there are demonstrated links between obesity and all kinds of serious health problems including cancer? In this episode, Science a partnership between the New York Academy of Sciences and the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation to foster the translation of basic science discoveries into improved clinical healthcare. It was a co-production of The Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science and Science and the City.

Author, storyteller, and teacher Matthew Dicks tells the story of his high-school arch nemesis, a biology teacher known as "Bunhead," in part two of our science-storytelling podcast series. You can hear the final podcast from our February 2nd Science Teachers event over at the Story Collider. This week, they feature a story by our own Meghan Groom, Director of K12 Education and Science the City at the AcademyScience the City, on how teaching sex ed can throw you for a loop in more ways than one. Visit storycollider.org. This session was taped in from of a live audience at 92YTribeca.

Kelly Vaughan isn't your average middle school science teacher. She's willing to go out on a limb to engage her students—even if that means wrangling crustaceans now and then. She recounted her story during the Science font-size: x-small

Scurvy was once the scourge of the seven seas, but it turned out to have a simple solution: Vitamin C. In the second installment of our nutrition series, learn all about the power of vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients. The "A Thought for Food" podcast series is brought to you by Science the City and the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science.

How do we know what's really good for us in an age of information overload? The first installment in our new podcast series on nutrition follows the journey of food from the table through the digestive tract to begin to get to the bottom of that big question. The "A Thought for Food" podcast series is brought to you by Science the City and the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science.

As internet dating gains popularity, millions of singles are turning over large amounts of personal data to computers in the hopes that an algorithm will find them the perfect mate. OK Cupid's data blogger Christian Rudder explains how all that data can reveal some interesting and often funny facts about the sex lives of humans online. Photo: Upcoming speaker Christian Rudder poses with his dog Allie in his Brooklyn apartment. (Nadja Popovich / NYAS) Catch the "Matchmaking in the Digital Age" event February 15, 2012. For more information click here.

In the world of online gaming, natural reality often blends and blurs with virtual reality. This November, anthropologist Thomas Malaby and game designer Lee T. Guzofski spoke at the Academy on "The Anthropology of Online Worlds." In this two-part series, we bring you that talk. Part 1: Lee T. Guzofski, CEO and Founder, G2G Enterprises Part 2: Thomas Malaby, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Image courtesy of rafeejewell via flickr.

In the world of online gaming, natural reality often blends and blurs with virtual reality. This November, anthropologist Thomas Malaby and game designer Lee T. Guzofski spoke at the Academy on "The Anthropology of Online Worlds." In this two-part series, we bring you that talk. Part 1: Lee T. Guzofski, CEO and Founder, G2G Enterprises Part 2: Thomas Malaby, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Cognitive neuroscientists are discovering new insights into how our brains learn all the time, but lab research doesn't always translate to real world of education. S and organizers of the Academy's Aspen Brain Forum about their own work and how it can be applied to the classroom. The 2011 Aspen Brain Forum, a collaboration between the New York Academy of Sciences and the Aspen Brain Forum Foundation, presented the "Cognitive Neuroscience of Learning: Implications for Education" September 22-24 in Aspen, CO. This podcast is brought to you by the Dana Foundation. We thank them for their generous support.

As a medium, film has the power to bring us into the inner world of science, breaking down misconceptions by creating an alternative narrative. Alexis Gambis, founder of the Imagine Science Film Festival, and filmmaker and scientist Valerie Weiss share their insights. This podcast is a preview of Science the City's upcoming event: "Celluloid Science: Humanizing Life in the Lab", which will take place Thursday, October 20, 2011. The discussion will feature Weiss among other prominent scientists and science filmmakers. Thanks to the Center for Inquiry for co-sponsoring this event.

This special podcast looks at the problem of folic acid delivery to women in the developing world, an issue the Academy's first annual Scientists Without Borders Nutrition Prize looked to solve. This podcast is made possible through the generous support of the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science. Learn more about Scientists Without Borders' Maternal Health and Nutrition Challenge and future initiatives here.

Heart disease is the leading death for Americans today. In this special edition of the Science Physician-in-Chief of the Mount Sinai Medical Center, director of the Wiener Cardiovascular Institute at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and scientific organizer of the Academy's upcoming conference on cardiovascular health in Barcelona, Spain has to say about heart healthy behavior in children, youth, and adults. This podcast is brought to you by the Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science and the Translational Medicine Initiative, sponsored by the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation.

This year, the Academy launched its new "Summer Matters" mentoring program, which paired grad students with primary school kids for a hands-on brand of science-ed over the summer. S that is, Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math in the city. For more information on all of the Academy's education initiatives visit http://www.nyas.org/WhatWeDo/ScienceEd.aspx.

Physicist Brian Cox talks about his new TV show Wonders of the Universe and the future of physics as the search for the Higgs Boson heats up at CERN's Large Hadron Collider. You can download the full audio from Cox's July 26, 2011 Science the City event here. Thank you to Harper Design and Science, the channel, for supporting this event.

Professor Dickson Despommier talks to Science and the City about the city, climate change and how his "big idea", the Vertical Farm, is becoming a reality.

Two researchers talk to Science and the City about petroleum dependence and the future of the automobile in the 21st century - from the new electric car to advanced biofuels. In episode of our podcast, two researchers tell Science and the City about petroleum dependence and the future of the automobile in the 21st century. First, Ann Schlenker, section leader of the Vehicle Systems Group at Argonne National Laboratory, talks about the new electric car. Then, Dr. Bruce Bunting of the Fuels, Engines and Emissions Research Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, takes over and tells us how advanced biofuels could help wean the US off of its petroleum habit. We would like to thank the Rudin Center and their event sponsors, ConEdison and NYSERDA, for allowing us access to the AFV conference for this podcast.

Actor/director Alan Alda talks to us about problems in science communication today and why improv yes, improv can help scientists connect better with their audience. Physicist and World Science Festival co-founder Brian Greene joins in the conversation as Science

Two autism researchers offer a behind-the-scenes look at novel technologies and treatments that could redefine how we understand this developmental disorder. This podcast is produced in conjunction with the New York Academy of Sciences symposium "Autism Spectrum Disorders: From Genes to Targets to Treatments." It is made possible through the generous funding of Autism Speaks.

Oncologist and acclaimed author Siddhartha Mukherjee takes us on a journey through the long and complex history of cancer, and discusses what it took to bring his Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, to life. Mukherjee spoke at the Academy on April 14, 2011 as part of the Science the City speakers series. The event was co-sponsored by the Farber Center for Radiation Oncology.

Good oral hygiene helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease, but the health of your mouth may have a big impact on the rest of your body too especially if you have diabetes. Find out more in this special edition podcast from The Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science. Ira Lamster of Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, George W. Taylor of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, and endocrinologist Pamela Allweiss of the Centers for Disease Control discuss why diabetes increases the risk for gum disease and how gum disease makes it difficult to control diabetes in this special edition podcast, presented by The Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science at the New York Academy of Sciences. This podcast is produced in conjunction with Diabetes and Oral Disease: Implications for Health Professionals, a conference being held on May 4, 2011 at the New York Academy of Sciences. This podcast is also part of the Academy's Translational Medicine Initiative, sponsored by the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation and the Mushett Family Foundation.

Scientist and award-winning chef Nathan Myhrvold came to the Academy this March as part of a whirlwind tour for his much anticipated new cookbook Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking. Find out what it took to bring this extraordinary work all six volumes and 2,400 pages of it to the public, and a pick up a few other tasty tid-bits from his conversation at NYAS with Top Chef's Padma Lakshmi. It may change the way you think about food, inside and out. Check out some of the stunning images from the book in this special slideshow.

Drawing on strange and thought-provoking case studies, eminent neurologist V. S. Ramachandran offers unprecedented insight into the evolution of the uniquely human brain in his new book, The Tell-Tale Brain. Ramachandran spoke at the Academy in February 2011, and now we're bringing you some of his most telling tales of the abnormal brain in this edition of our monthly podcast. Download the full lecture here.

Harvard science historian Steven Shapin discusses the history of food science and the human view of nutrition from dietetics to modern moderation in this podcast presented by The Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science at the New York Academy of Sciences.

Carl Schoonover’s book Portraits of the Mind provides a stunning visual history of neuroscience through the ages, from the earliest, abstract concepts of the mind to modern-day, full-color imagery. He spoke at the Academy on December 15, 2010. We caught up with him for a brief interview, but you can download the full lecture and slides .

Nicholas Carr, author of The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains, presents a case for stepping away from your computer, now and then, if you can.

History professor David Christian's riveting account of the known world is acclaimed for synthesizing the history of everything, including the sciences, into one framework. So says Bill Gates. See accompanying slides.

Three experts who spoke at a recent Academy conference discuss what personalized medicine is, the technology behind it, and how it will change the patient's experience. This podcast is part of NYAS's Translational Medicine Initiative, sponsored by the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation.

Can we all be wise old owls? Science journalist Stephen Hall and neuroscientist Andre Fenton dissect what we call wisdom, from the neurons in our brain, to the social constructs behind it.

Neuroscientist Richard Restak thinks with the right mental exercises, our brains can be much better. Today he teams with writer Susan Orlean to talk about our brainy potential.

With our economy a shambles and our environment threatened, is there any reason to be optimistic about the future? Matt Ridley says there's scientific proof to say we should be.

Foods high in antioxidants are believed to fight oxidative stress. But what is oxidative stress? Two scientists from a recent NYAS conference break it down and discuss whether antioxidants have superpowers.

Neil deGrasse Tyson hosts the 2010 Isaac Asimov debate at the Hayden Planetarium. He and five panelists debate whether NASA should bother going back to the moon, or just focus on Mars instead.

Biologist Stewart Firestein and world-renowned perfumer Christophe Laudamiel team up to tackle the science of smell.

New York City is home to more than 200 species of bees, and only one makes honey. Learn about them all from the experts, and hear about the Great Pollinator Project.

Forest ecologist Nalini Nadkarni, the Queen of the Forest Canopy, explains what 30 years of exploration have taught her about the intimate connection between humans and trees.

Famed screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and theoretical physicist Brian Greene dissect time as we know it. What is the smallest unit of time, and what does it look like? For starters, you should stop looking at the clock, and start looking at the universe.

What attracts us to a mate? Is "chemistry" really to blame for love at first sight? Biological anthropologist Helen Fisher explains the science behind our mating preferences.

Physicist Janna Levin and artist Laurie Anderson (NASA's first artist in residence) tackle the origins of our universe.

Writer Melissa Milgrom has a thing for stuffed animals, and we're not talking about your child's teddy bears. She's the author of Still Life and she explains the science of taxidermy.

Evolutionary psychologist David Buss explains the mating rituals and patterns of our quirky species. We might not have colorful peacock tails, but we've got some fancy strategies of our own to make up for it.

Award-winning filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and astrophysicist Piet Hut discuss what chaos is and what it means when it comes to the universe.

Eugenie Clark (aka the Shark Lady), recounts her more than 60 years as an ichthyologist. This week, she delves into some of the most extreme sea 'monsters' she's ever seen, like a giant 6-foot crab, and great white sharks.

Delve into the world of prebiotic and probiotic science. We talk to three people in the field and learn why keeping the good microbes in our bodies happy means a lot for health.

We visit the Go Green Expo and look at five interesting ways for city slickers to be eco-friendly.

Harvard physicist Lisa Randall teamed with composer Hector Parra and visual artist Matthew Ritchie to produce an opera based on modern theoretical physics. They performed last week at the Guggenheim and this week, tell us about their experiences.

Can meditation have long-term beneficial effects on the plasticity of our brains? Bon meditation practitioner Alejandro Chaoul and oncologist Lorenzo Cohen evaluate the healing potential of meditation in a discussion from the Rubin Museum of Art's Brainwave Festival.

Grizzly bears are showing up in an area of northern Manitoba where they've never been seen before. It's also an area inhabited by polar bears. Science and the City talks to the AMNH's Robert Rockwell about why the grizzlies are moving, and what it means for both bear species.

NYU's food guru Marion Nestle gives you a lesson in decoding food labels, holding big food corporations accountable, and choosing food wisely. She spoke as part of Science and the City's Girls Night Out series.

Science journalist and adventure-seeker Jeff Wise talks about his new book Extreme Fear: The Science of Your Mind in Danger.

Our circadian rhythms control everything from when we sleep and wake, to when we get hungry. Learn about what (literally) makes us tick, and hear about Carla Green's research into a circadian gene that could offer a cure for obesity.

We talk to two scientists at Hunter College who research different aspects of Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD). Jason Dictenberg studies synapses in our brain, and Michael Siller looks at play-based therapies for autistic children. Both are on the cutting edge of new research in the field of autism.

Neuropsychologist Jeffrey Halperin is using behavioral therapy on preschoolers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He hopes to train their brains to develop in new ways and if effective, his therapies could offer permanent, drug-free treatment for the disorder.

Take an anthropological tour of the Silk Road exhibit at the AMNH with its curator, Mark Norell. The 4,600-mile trail was the most important trade route in the Eastern world for more than 3,000 years.

Researchers at Harvard have discovered why the headaches of some migraine sufferers worsen when the person is exposed to light. Rami Burstein, the study's senior author, explains what's happening in the brain, and how they made the breakthrough.

Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist and chief scientific adviser for Chemistry.com, delves into the science of why we lust for some people and not for others. Fisher kicked off Science and the City's 2010 Girl's Night Out series.

Danish biophysicist Ole Mouritsen also happens to be an expert on, and lover of sushi. This week, we talk to him about his new book, Sushi: Food for the Eye, the Body, and the Soul.

We sit down with science photographer Felice Frankel and nanotechnology pioneer and Harvard chemist George Whitesides to hear about their new book on nanoscience, No Small Matter.

Nobel Laureate and neurobiologist Gerald Edelman, psychologist Paul Ekman, and anthropologist Terrence Deacon tell us how Charles Darwin has influenced science and their personal careers. View the Thirteen WNET video of this event here.

According to the New York City Panel on Climate Change, global warming could have a big impact on the five boroughs. Three experts discuss the Panel's recent findings, and tell us what weather and policy changes to expect.

Seven scientists and science-lovers Dean Kamen, Helen Fisher, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and more recommend their favorite science books, fiction and non, for you to wrap up and gift for the holidays (or maybe just read yourself).

Steve Quinn has crafted the dioramas at the American Museum of Natural History for more than 35 years. Hear how these amazing displays of art and science come together from the expert himself.

Gioia De Cari went to MIT for her PhD in mathematics. What she, got in addition to a degree, was an unexpected experience and material for her latest solo play Truth Values: One Girl's Romp Through MIT's Male Math Maze.

Foods high in antioxidants are believed to fight oxidative stress. But what is oxidative stress? Two scientists from a recent NYAS conference break it down and discuss whether antioxidants have superpowers.

Tour the AMNH's Extreme Mammals exhibition with its curator, John Flynn. Hear about mammals that lay eggs, wear armor, and sport headgear, just to name a few.

Richard Dawkins launches his newest book in the third Science and the City Provocative Thinkers in Science event. He argues evolution is an indisputable fact, despite nearly half of Americans believing the opposite.

Visit the lab of Hunter College's Jill Bargonetti, a biologist researching cancer. Her team studies P53, a natural tumor-suppressor protein found in our bodies with a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality.

In a 13-month journey, this 64-foot sailboat called Ocean Watch is sailing around North and South America to raise awareness of how our oceans are changing, and conduct scientific experiments along the way. Catch up with them during their New York stop.

Hear how Aubrey de Grey, a British biomedical gerontologist, thinks science can help extend our lives by decades. De Grey spoke as part of Science and the City's Fall Provocative Thinkers series.

One in every 13 Americans has diabetes. And ethnic minorities have a much higher incidence of Type 2 diabetes. Learn about the challenges, and some possible solutions from three experts who spoke at a conference last week at the Academy.

Hear how your executive brain makes decisions from Elkhonon Goldberg, the first speaker in Science and the City's Provocative Thinkers in Science series.

Go behind the scenes at Milgo Bufkin, a company using cutting edge technology and mathematics to create art and architecture from metal. The famous NYC 'Love' sculpture? They made it happen.

Science and the City chats with science writer Carl Zimmer about his newest book on evolution. Hear what's changed since Darwin.

Kent Kirshenbaum, an NYU chemistry professor, explains his team's recent discovery of how to make molecules with a twist - these molecules can fold in to twisted helical shapes that can accelerate selected chemical reactions.

New York City is home to more than 200 species of bees, and only one makes honey. Learn about them and all the others from the experts, and hear about the Great Pollinator Project.

Damon Little, assistant curator of bioinformatics at the New York Botanical Garden, describes the recent agreement by scientists on a universal DNA barcode marker for plants.

Over a round of astrophysics mini-golf, learn what goes into creating a world-class science exhibit from Eric Siegel, Director of the NY Hall of Science, Lee Skolnick, the course’s architect, and physicist Alan Friedman.

In this podcast, Columbia University's Assistant VP of Environmental Stewardship, Nilda Mesa, talks about the process and challenges of greening up this local urban Ivy League.

The National Park Service is now giving all endangered species tissue samples it collects to the cryogenic frozen tissue lab at the AMNH. In this podcast, hear what liquid nitrogen, DNA, and threatened species have to do with each other.

Seismic records from ocean wave patterns and iceberg behavior around the world are being analyzed for the first time. Geophysicist Rick Aster describes what his data can tell us about our warming planet.

Genetic research fuses with fine art when the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard brings Daniel Kohn, a Brooklyn-based painter, into their lab for a residency.

In a re-broadcast from 2007, Daniel Dennett, philosopher and co-director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University, describes the evolution of human culture, which he says is a "second information highway," swifter and more reliable than genetic transmission.

The two-time Pulitzer Prize winner E.O. Wilson delivers his keynote address at Science and the City's symposium, The Two Cultures in the 21st Century, held in May.

Smells and sounds collide for the world premiere of "Green Aria," a synesthetic art and science fusion at the Guggenheim featuring two composers, a writer and a master perfumier. Podcast sponsored by Les Christophs and Thierry Mugler.

Top researchers offer an in-depth look at the science behind the global influenza outbreak, plus some of the work being done to keep us healthy.

Dean Kamen, one of the world's top inventors (think the Segway and portable dialysis machine), talks about his FIRST program designed to get high schoolers onto the path to become scientists during our Two Cultures in the 21st Century conference.

Check out FlyNY, one of New York's kite flying showdowns, and the science, design, and history behind our earliest flying machines.

Former Congressman John Porter offers concrete suggestions on how to get government thinking science, in one of the keynote lectures of our Two Cultures conference.

Perception expert Daniel Levitin joins Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Rosanne Cash at our Science of Hearing event to explore our sense of hearing -- with a little musical accompaniment, of course.

NYU scientist Richard Bonneau delves into the complex interactions in biological systems - using the genome as his map. Part of Science and the City's Spring events series.

We take you through NYC's Go Green Expo and find 5 easy ways for New Yorkers to green up.

Biologist Marie Filbin says new discoveries in spinal nerve regeneration are giving researchers hope in the race to cure spinal cord injuries.

NYU computer scientist Yann LeCun looks to biological models to create vision systems, and artificial intelligence in machines. From the Science and the City Spring event series.

"Experimental Man" David Ewing Duncan and toxicologist Matt Bogdanffy delve into the dangers (and myths) of toxins in our everyday environment.

Six leading planetary scientists debate whether Pluto is a planet in a broadcast of the Hayden Planetarium's 2009 Isaac Asimov lecture.

A look at Carole and Richard Rifkind's latest documentary film on life in a crystallography lab. Learn the science and meet the characters.

Columbia University neurologist Scott Small uses fMRI imaging on mice to research our aging brains. Turns out, you've got some control over how sharp you stay.

A multidisciplinary panel examine the psychobiology of human aggression and genocide at a recent roundtable at the Philoctetes Center.

When it comes to Olympic gold medal times, humans have been improving steadily over the past 100 years. But is there a limit to how good we can get? Learn about the technology, technique, and doping that keeps athletes improving.

Two taste gurus deconstruct our sense of taste in Science and the City's Science of the 5 Senses series -- from the molecules that give us flavor to the mystery of the fifth taste.

Meet the first 5 students at the new graduate school at the American Museum of Natural History -- the first museum in America awarding PhDs. The American Museum of Natural History becomes the first Museum in the US to offer a Ph.D. in Comparative Biology. Learn what it is like for these students to go to school in a museum.

A Nobel Laureate delves into what we know about our cells - from their 4.5 billion year history, to modern-day mutations, and protein zip codes (cellular love letters).

Explore the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology's extraordinary collection of eggs and nests with two scientists from the foundation and the photographer for their new book, Egg and Nest.

There's a lot more to vision than first meets the eye. An ex-magician and cognitive neuroscientist team and tackle the science of sight in Science and the City's Science of the 5 Senses series.

Take a look at the Ensemble Studio Theatre Sloan Project, which aims to bring science stories and playwrights together, and preview their science festival, on now.

Take a tour of the Interactive Telecommunications Program's wacky and inventive Winter thesis show at NYU.

Hayden Planetarium director Tyson, Carl Sagan's widow, and Sagan's former colleague discuss the astrobiologist's perspective on science, the spiritual experience, and the search for God.

From eBay meteorites to DNA artwork, Science and the City gives you quirky science gift options for the holiday season.

Two smell scientists tackle the biology, genetics, and psychology behind our noses in Science and the City's Science of the 5 Senses series.

A Nobel Laureate and his son, a jazz musician, team up to fuse art and science, (cancer cell biology and jazz), at the Guggenheim's Works and Process program. Multimedia: Video animations

Science and Innovation Week: Health and Medicine

Science and Innovation Week: Education and Universities

Science and Innovation Week: Green Science

Science and Innovation Week: Innovation Models

An NYU neuroscientist reveals what his research tells us about how our brains process fear and anxiety. LeDoux was featured in the S

Think you've got a supercomputer for a brain? Think again. An NYU psychologist argues we've got kluges for brains and evolution to blame. Marcus was part of the Science and the City Fall events schedule.

A neurophysiologist and a filmmaker team up to talk about somatosensory research as part of the S

Two psychiatrists, a philosopher, and an ex dominatrix debate the definition of paraphilias and discuss whether science has a place between the sheets.

The Imagine Science Film Festival kicks off with a discussion at the Academy on the key to making a successful science movie - without compromising the story or the science.

Psychologist Ekman discusses how 40 hours of conversation with the Dalai Lama changed his views on our ability to be emotionally aware.

Three NYU scientists describe some of the research into why we vote the way we do at a Science and the City Fall series event.

A renowned psychologist describes how our individual perception of time shapes the choices we make at a Science and the City Fall series event.

Nobel Laureate Frank Wilczek explains the Large Hadron Collider and its potential to revolutionize the field of physics at a Science and the City Fall event.

From your old magazines to a brand new recycled paper pizza box, we take a trip to Pratt Industry's Staten Island paper recycling facility to see how NYC's paper is reused. Multimedia: Slideshow

Follow Paul Keim and his echolocator as he leads a fact-packed tour of Central Park's bat population. And no, they're not blind.

Human genetics and multi-media dance meet onstage in this true fusion of art and science. Multimedia: Slideshow

Get behind the wheel of some of the world's most advanced hydrogen-powered vehicles and learn about the technology, timeline, and real-life potential for H2.

Think sex for animals is all about mating? You're wrong. Learn about the diversity and biology behind the sex lives of animals at the Museum of Sex's new exhibit. Warning: Explicit Content

Go behind the scenes at the Guggenheim's "Imageless" exhibit, where one of Ad Reinhardt's black paintings gets some major laser restoration treatment. Multimedia: Slideshow

A conservation biologist describes the unique animals and conservation programs in Madagascar while touring the new Bronx Zoo Madagascar exhibit. Multimedia: Slideshow

Learn about the science of smelling and scent and check out Gilbert's latest book. For more on the science of senses, check out Joanne Chen's The Taste of Sweet. Multimedia: Slideshow

Check out New York Sun Works' floating sustainable greenhouse, The Science Barge, and learn some ecological science and energy solutions for growing green in a concrete city.

Take a tour of the new Bank of America building at One Bryant Park - now the greenest office tower in New York City, with a Platinum LEED ranking. The building's lead architect and mechanical engineer join to give context to this skyscraper's ultra-sustainable features.

Hear the story of the Experimental Cuisine Collective, a program created to make polymer science accessible to the average person. Multimedia: Slideshow

Learn about new fusions of art and science, and the creation of a unique innovation space in Paris.

Hear the story of one of the greatest innovators of the 20th century - the man behind the geodesic dome, Dymaxion Car and Dwelling Machine, and other inventive ideas. Multimedia: Slideshow, Video Presentation

A geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey discusses the challenges he's faced when doing science in the Middle East, and his research on the Dead Sea basin.Multimedia: Slideshow

A New York-based choreographer teams up with a composer and a leading theoretical physicist to produce a ballet based on The Elegant Universe, by Brian Greene. Multimedia: Slideshow

Eight teenage girls learn to mix technology with fashion at Eyebeam, a center for art and technology located in Manhattan. Hear their story of the Girls Eye View program, an experience which aims to get young women interested in science. Multimedia: Slideshow

Three experts in science and policy discuss their thoughts on the best way for scientists to communicate with governments, and vice versa, in the effort to create a more open and productive national dialogue on science.

Learn all that goes into making Scotland's traditional drink, which turns out to be a lot of culture, a bit of science, and just a pinch of art.

Gerard Liger-Belair has been studying the science of champagne bubbles for 10 years. Learn just how important bubbles are to the taste this celebratory drink - and find out the science behind it.

Meet the Sundance Institute's Sloan Fellowship winner and the 2008 Sundance-Sloan Grant recipient - two screenwriters with a serious science focus. Editor's Note: The Sundance Screenwriter's Lab was held in Park City, Utah.

Join a New York naturalist as he leads a spring food foraging tour in Central Park. Learn the history, science, and folklore behind foraging for your own food. www.wildmanstevebrill.com.

Experts in language, literature, neuroscience, philosophy, and psychoanalysis discuss what is known about how we store and subsequently recall the past.

The cofounder of string field theory offers a scientific exploration of the world of phasers, force fields, teleportation, and time travel.

Investors, economists, and quantitative finance experts discuss how technological innovations have hastened the growth of the markets.

A Mt. Sinai School of Medicine neuroscientist explains the morpho-molecular features that render certain neuronal populations of the brain vulnerable to degeneration.

The University of Chicago's Associate Dean of Organismal Biology and Anatomy speaks about his new book, which gives the 3.5 billion year history of the human body.

A lead author with the Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change gives a global warming overview.

The head of the Laboratory of Neurobiology and Behavior at Rockefeller University describes how ethics may be a hardwired function of the human brain.

Psychoanalysts and neuroscientists discuss the effect of the environment on brain activity and micro-anatomy.

A nutrition scientist from Tufts University gives an overview of the health benefits of chocolate. Sponsor: Chocolate Manufacturers Association

The leader of the private-sector human genome project has published an autobiography.

The Global Environment and Energy Correspondent for The Economist takes an up-close look at global warming, the auto industry, and government.

The 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Winner and leader of the Pan African Green Belt Movement introduces her new autobiography.

A perfumer, a chef, a neurologist, a sound engineer, and a painter discuss how we take in the world.

The author, publisher, and founder of the International Skeptics Society shares neuroeconomic insights into human behavior.

An expert in childhood mood and anxiety disorders speaks at the 19th Annual New York City Mental Health Symposium.

Executive Director for Science and Exploration at the Wildlife Conservation Society based at the Bronx Zoo discusses his new book which details his efforts to create the world's largest tiger reserve in Myanmar's Hukaung Valley.

The Chairman of illycaffe S.p.A. discusses the chemistry and technology that produce a great cup of coffee.

The Columbia University psychiatrist, ethicist, and legal scholar Paul Appelbaum explores behavioral genetics and the causes of crime.

In his new book, The Cosmic Landscape: String Theory and the Illusion of Intelligent Design, physicist and "Father of String Theory" Leonard Susskind aims to debunk what he calls the narrow 20th century view of a unique universe. In this interview, Susskind describes a "megaverse" that is the result of a vast range of mathematical possibilities.