Women in Science

Understanding how the brain works has traditionally been undertaken by men and about men but cognitive neuroscientist Emily Jacobs argues that diversity of researchers and their research is what drives science innovation. She discusses several studies undertaken in her lab so that questions about the brain can benefit women and men equally. Series: "Women in Science" [Science] [Education] [Show ID: 35172]

Younger Lagoon Reserve is one of the few relatively undisturbed wetlands remaining along the California Central Coast. Located on the UC Santa Cruz Coastal Science Campus, the natural reserve’s 25-acre lagoon and 47-acre "terrace lands" protect eight unique habitats, including freshwater marsh, saltwater marsh, riparian willow, coastal strand (back dune), coastal scrub, coastal grassland, seasonal freshwater wetlands, and the brackish lagoon. These protected habitats provide unparalleled opportunities for students to learn about the environment, implement field projects, obtain hands-on experience, and become actively involved in research and stewardship projects. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Science] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 35250]

The authors of a provocative new paper maintain that many of the behaviors common to autism—including low eye contact, repetitive movements, and the verbatim repetition of words and phrases—are misinterpreted as a lack of interest in social engagement. On the contrary, they say, many people with autism express a deep longing for social connection. Series: "Autism Awareness Programs" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 35251]

Isabelle Peretz examines what congenital amusia - the condition where one is amusical, lacking such abilities as pitch or rhythm recognition - can tell us about the neurobiological origins of musical ability in humans. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 32445]

This CARTA symposium focuses on the contributions of scientists and scholars of anthropogeny who live and work in Africa. Sarah Wurz, University of the Witwatersrand, discusses the Klasies River site which was a favored home base for southern Cape humans between 120,000 and 2300 years ago.

Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 34989]

This CARTA symposium focuses on the contributions of scientists and scholars of anthropogeny who live and work in Africa. Lyn Wadley, University of the Witwatersrand, explores when and how hominins in Africa developed fire technology.

Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 34988]

This CARTA symposium focuses on the contributions of scientists and scholars of anthropogeny who live and work in Africa. Judith Sealy, University of Cape Town, explores the importance of coastal areas to human evolution.

Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 34990]

Marine biologist Jennifer Smith talks about the properties and history of the superfood seaweed. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 35070]

Cancer becomes highly dangerous when it spreads from its original site to a different vital organ. These secondary tumors called metastases are what kill most patients. Despite hundreds of years of research, it is not understood why, where, and how cancer spreads to organs like the brain. Lawrence Livermore Lab scientist describes how they bring together cancer biology, 3D printing and material science, to understand and hopefully prevent metastases in the future. Series: "Lawrence Livermore National Lab Science on Saturday" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 34466]

Collapsing ice shelves and calving of large icebergs in Greenland and Antarctica have recently become major drivers of sea level rise. The rapidity of these changes has come as a surprise, revealing major gaps in our understanding of how ice sheets respond to a changing climate. To a large extent, these gaps are due to the lack of measurements from the marine edge of glaciers - the Achilles' heel of glaciers. For over a decade, since the glaciers in Greenland began their retreat, Fiammetta Straneo and her group at Scripps Institution of Oceanography have been probing the edge of massive calving glaciers in iceberg-choked fjords in Greenland using helicopters, icebreakers, fishing vessels, and autonomous vehicles. The understanding gained through these measurements is being used in models aimed at improving sea-level rise predictions. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 34572]