A new dinosaur species, Suchomimus tenerensis, found in the Tenere Desert of central Niger in 1998, featured twelve-inch hook-shaped claws, a narrow crocodile-like skull, and about 100 cone-shaped teeth, to grasp and hold its prey. This radio broadcast describes the new member of a group of dinosaurs called spinosaurids, which include the more familiar carnivores Tyrannosaurus and Velociraptor. The ... Full description.

This forty-eight minute radio broadcast discusses the drought of Spring 2002 in the United States and its possible consequences, such as low water levels altering the biology of the Great Lakes. The show also discusses the causes of drought, long-range climate forecasts, and the connection to El Nino. Full description.

Could life only exist on another planet like ours, and what are our chances of ever discovering such a planet? If we find life, will it be intelligent? And if intelligent aliens exist, why aren't they here? This radio broadcast considers these questions of astrobiology or xenobiology. It discusses the predictions of the Rare Earth theory and the Drake equation; why oxygen is a sure sign of life on ... Full description.

Since the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 26, 2004, scientists have tried to retrace the path of the giant waves to learn how and why the water moved in unexpected directions, even turning corners and producing simultaneous wavefronts coming from different directions. This radio broadcast describes efforts to measure the strength, distance traveled inland, and height of the tsunami, as well as mapping ... Full description.

In third world countries contaminated water kills 400 children under the age of five every hour. This radio broadcast reports on a new method to disinfect the water by running it under a UV lamp. The clip is 2 minutes in length. Full description.

Nature is full of fractals, that is, things that have the same general shape from their tiniest details to their broadest form.This radio broadcast reports on the work of one scientist who is using mathematical equations to model the fractal nature of flowing water such as in river basins and streams. The clip is 2 minutes in length. Full description.

This radio broadcast reviews the evolution of metals since the discovery of copper in ancient times, and looks at how science and technology are continually upgrading the design and development of metal alloys. There are explanations of five ways the chemical composition of an alloy can be modified to produce different properties; how heat treating is used to process metals; how mining metals can ... Full description.

This radio broadcast discusses the possible discovery of a tenth planet, which may be bigger than Pluto. The object, with the temporary name of 2003UB313, lies 10 billion miles from the sun in the Kuiper Belt. The broadcast explains what the Kuiper belt is and discusses whether the new find should get planetary status. This segment of the broadcast is 6 minutes in length. The next segment discusses ... Full description.

Five moderate-to-strong earthquakes struck California in June 2005. Could the cluster of quakes be a harbinger of the Big One? Another earthquake-prone area, New Madrid, near Memphis, Tennessee, has had more than its share of impressive quakes and strain is building along its fault lines. This radio broadcast discusses these two seismic zones, the new data based on years of GPS (Global Positioning ... Full description.

This 1 hour 36 minute radio broadcast discusses the first direct evidence that the inner core of the Earth is spinning faster than its crust. Guest host Richard Harris talks with researchers about the latest findings from the core of the Earth. The show explains the layers of the Earth; discusses how knowledge of the inner core is discovered by seismology data and magnetic field changes; and explains ... Full description.