Science for the People

This week, Skeptically Speaking becomes Science For The People. Hosts Desiree Schell, Rachelle Saunders and Marie-Claire Shanahan discuss the new name, the motivation for the change, and how it conveys their vision for the show. We'll speak to researcher Alice Bell about the history and politics of the radical science movement of the 1970's. And researcher and blogger Scicurious gives us a preview of GirlGeekCon 2013.

This week, we’re skipping to the tail end of the digestive tract, to learn some fascinating facts about feces. Rachelle Saunders welcomes science journalist Maryn McKenna back to the show to discuss human gut bacteria, and the biome-boosting power of fecal transplants. Desiree Schell speaks to anthropologist Cecil Lewis about what studying ancient poo can tell us about the evolution of the human microbiome. And Rachelle speaks to zoologist Eric Warrant about how some species of dung beetles can navigate by the light of the night sky.

This week, we’re exploring the everyday experiments that take place in our very own kitchens. Desiree Schell speaks to Guy Crosby, Science Editor for America’s Test Kitchen, about his book “The Science of Good Cooking.” And geneticist and science writer Torah Kachur returns to the show, to take a scientifically informed look at the future of food.

This week, we’re diving back into neuroscience, to learn how common conceptions of the brain stand up to real research. Desiree Schell speaks to neurologist and author Robert Burton, about his book A Skeptic’s Guide to the Mind: What Neuroscience Can and Cannot Tell Us About Ourselves. She’s joined by neuroradiologist Jeff Anderson, to get the scientific perspective on the differences between the brain’s right and left hemispheres. And she’ll speak to cognitive scientist Gary Marcus, about the promise and peril of the push back against pop neuroscience.

This week, we’re jamming to the rhythm of the insect world. Desiree speaks to musician and philosopher David Rothenberg, author of the book Bug Music: How Insects Gave Us Rhythm and Noise, about the possible insect inspirations for human music. And she’s joined by entomologist Gwen Pearson, A.K.A. Bug Girl, to talk about the interesting ways that insects make sounds with their bodies.

This week, we’re taking science out of the lab and into everyday life. Rachelle Saunders speaks to Dennis R. Trumble, Senior Biomedical Engineer and Instructor of Surgery at Allegheny General Hospital, about his book The Way of Science: Finding Truth and Meaning in a Scientific Worldview. Desiree Schell talks to Bobby Duffy, Managing Director of the Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute, about the top 10 mistakes the British public make about statistics. And Desiree speaks to Katie Gibbs of Evidence for Democracy, a group that advocates for the transparent use of science and evidence in Canadian public policy.

This week, we’re telling spooky stories about monsters both real and imagined. We’ll speak to science writer and blogger Frank Swain about his book How to Make a Zombie: The Real Life (and Death) Science of Reanimation and Mind Control. And we’re joined by science writer Matt Kaplan to discuss his book The Science of Monsters, about the possible real-world inspiration for some of fiction's most enduring creatures.

This week, guest host Rachelle Saunders explores the ways that math can help (and hinder) the pursuit of justice. She speaks to mathematician and University of Paris Professor Leila Schneps, co-author of the book Math on Trial: How Numbers Get Used and Abused in the Courtroom. And she’s joined by Patrick Ball, to talk about his work as Executive Director of the Human Rights Data Analysis Group.

This week, it’s an hour on robots! We’ll speak to John Long, Director of the Interdisciplinary Robotics Research Laboratory at Vassar College, about his book Darwin’s Devices: What Evolving Robots Can Teach Us About the History of Life and the Future of Technology. And guest host Rachelle Saunders speaks to Engineering Professor Steven Waslander about the autonomous vehicles of the NASA Sample Return Robot Challenge.

This week, we’re examining the scientific perspective on “psychic powers” like telepathy, telekinesis and remote viewing. We’ll speak to science author Brian Clegg about his new book Extra Sensory: The Science and Pseudoscience of Telepathy and Other Powers of the Mind. And we’ll speak to Ricardo Chavarriaga Lozano, researcher in non-invasive brain-computer interfaces, about experiments working on connecting different animals directly through their brains.