University of California Audio Podcasts (Audio)

“Vision & Light: Extending the Senses,” is a UC Berkeley art exhibit featuring works of microscopy, multimedia, digital sound and sculpture created by artists and scientists. Series: "UC Berkeley News" [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 31631]

For the past three decades the largest family in the world with a genetic form of Alzheimer’s disease has been tracked. This extended family of some 5,000 individuals live in Antioquia, Colombia among a people who call themselves Paisa. Passing relentlessly through the generations with 100% penetrance is a mutation that causes early onset Alzheimer’s disease in its carriers. Dr. Kenneth Kosik explains that the mutation in the Americas likely originated from a Spanish conquistador whose progeny are the members of the family we see today. Recently, interest in the family has grown because they are now participating in a clinical trial intended to delay the onset of the disease. Series: "The Brain Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 31481]

Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s Jennifer Hofmeister gives a lively account of why and how she is working to understand the behavior of octopuses in order to save California’s endangered white abalone, which faces extinction when the last adult generations die out within the next decade. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 31441]

Using the web and mobile devices, we now have comprehensive maps of the great outdoors, our planet and its mountains, plains and oceans. But what about the places where GPS does not work, such as underground, in buildings and megastructures, under dense tree canopies, on board ships or inside aircraft? Research cartographer Keith Clarke is working toward mapping the great indoors using new technologies. See what that entails and what it enables. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Science] [Show ID: 31421]

The popular over-the-counter medication, acetaminophen, is generally used to reduce fever and pain. However, a growing body of research suggests that the drug has broader psychological effects. Experimental social psychologist Kyle Ratner discusses his research examining the effects of acetaminophen on social group biases in person perception. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 31418]

In order to guarantee that the United States will continue to have world leading public research universities, which are accessible to the entire population, not just students from privileged backgrounds, a new compact for the support of public higher education is required. This compact will involve symbiotic partnerships between the federal and state governments,corporations, foundations and philanthropists, the universities and their students. Robert Birgeneau, Chancellor Emeritus, UC Berkeley and Henry Brady, Dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, discuss specific actions by each of these sectors and specific state and federal government legislation which will enable our public universities both to excel and to continue to retain their public character. Series: "Center for Studies in Higher Education" [Education] [Show ID: 31513]

Tabby's star has provoked so much excitement, with speculation that it hosts a highly advanced civilization capable of building orbiting megastructures to capture the star's energy, that UC Berkeley's Breakthrough Listen project is devoting hours of time on the Green Bank radio telescope to see if they can detect any signals from intelligent extraterrestrials. Series: "UC Berkeley News" [Science] [Show ID: 31635]

After its first discovery in Africa in 1947, Zika seemed like a very localized infection. However, over the last couple of decades Zika has spread around the globe, and been found to cause serious developmental defects in fetuses. Zika can be transmitted by particular types of mosquitos, which are present in the San Diego region, and by sex. However, so far we haven’t seen transmission of Zika in our region. A panel discusses what Zika is, why we are so concerned about Zika, what we are doing to prevent Zika in humans, and whether Zika is a likely threat to people in the San Diego region. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 31031]

For the past several years, UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine Research Fellow Dr. Eve Ekman has been collaborating with her father, Dr. Paul Ekman, and the Dalai Lama on their “Atlas of Emotions” project, based on a survey of 248 leading emotion researchers and their consensus about five universal emotions: enjoyment, sadness, disgust, anger, and fear. The Drs. Ekman present their findings on this groundbreaking project. Series: "Integrative Medicine Today" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 31210]

Warren Gasper, MD, Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, UCSF. Series: "UCSF Vascular Surgery Symposium" [Health and Medicine] [Professional Medical Education] [Show ID: 30967]