

KGNU - How On Earth
KGNU - How On Earth
The KGNU Science Show
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 24, 2021 • 27min
Wes Marshall – Love Cars LESS
West Marshall (CU Denver photo)
Wes Marshall – Love Cars LESS (Entire Show) CU-Denver Transportation Engineer Wes Marshall argues that people are safer and cities are more vibrant when communities focus LESS on speedways and parking lots.
(This is part 2 of FUTURE of CARs series. Go Here for Part 1, about the Glory Days of Fast Cars, at Boulder’s Shelby American Collection)
Executive Producer: Beth Bennett
Show Producer: Shelley Schlender

Aug 17, 2021 • 27min
Future of Cars – Shelby American Collection//Colorado DIgital ID
FUTURE OF CARS – Shelby American Collection (Starts 3:30) We tour Boulder’s Shelby American Collection of world-famous Vintage Shelby Cobra racecars, with founder Steve Volk. We discover what made people in the 1960s LOVE fast cars, and we learn how hot rodders created many automotive innovations. We also hear about the world famous race Le Mans, taking place this weekend, and including some hybrid electric cars. Plus the Shelby American Collection Annual Car Show and Raffle, happening Labor Day Weekend.
(For Part 2 of this series, GO HERE)
Colorado Digital ID for Vaccinations (Starts 1:00) Colorado’s Digital Transformation Director 00 tells us how the MyColorado app now lets you display a valid vaccination card, likely to be useful for everything from traveling on a plane to getting tickets to a show. For an extended version of this interview, GO HERE.
Executive Producer: Beth Bennett
Show Producer: Shelley Schlender

Aug 15, 2021 • 16min
My Colorado Vaccination App – Extended Version
Here’s the Extended Version of the Interview with Russell Castagnaro about Colorado’s official way to display your vaccination record AND your driver’s license, on your smart phone. – Shelley Schlender

Aug 12, 2021 • 27min
A New Way to Measure Aging
This week on How on Earth, Beth talks with Professor Tom LaRocca, professor in the department of Health and Exercise Science at CSU in Fort Collins. His background is in molecular biology and physiology, but he is particularly interested in translational research (using laboratory science to develop practical applications or treatments that can help people). He is especially interested in the biology of healthspan, the period of life during which we are healthy and productive, and in research on ways to increase healthspan. He talks particularly about some of his recent work which has identified genetic marks of our biological age, as opposed to our chronological age or the number of years one has under their belt. You can see his website as well as the Healthy Aging website he and his colleagues maintain.
Executive Producer:
Show Producer: Beth Bennett
Listen to the show:

Aug 3, 2021 • 27min
Psychedelic Mushrooms & Depression
Alex Kwan, Dept of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine. Image courtesy of Yale School of Medicine.
In this How on Earth episode, we learn about the latest research on psychedelic mushrooms (psilocybin) and their potential for treating depression. Jill Sjong speaks with Alex Kwan, a neuroscientist and Associate Professor in Psychiatry at Yale University’s School of Medicine, who studies dendritic plasticity in mice using advanced optical methods. Dr. Kwan explains how psilocybin changes the brain, how these changes last long after the psychedelic effects have worn off, and how these results may lead to future treatments for depression.
Host: Jill Sjong
Executive Producer: Beth Bennett
Listen to the show:

Jul 13, 2021 • 27min
Dismal US Mortality Data – Ryan Masters
Ryan Masters
Rare Ebony Winged Damselfly at Flagg Park (starts 1:00) Naturalists Scott Severs and Ruth Carol Cushman take us to Lafayette’s Flagg Park to see a rare and beautiful cousin of the dragonfly
Early Warning for Celiac Disease (starts 4:35)
Dismal US Mortality Rates (starts 7:07) – CU Sociologist Ryan Masters discusses his new study on US Death Rates and how US Death Rates compare to the death rates in other high income countries. Bottom line – middle-aged people are dying more often in the US, especially people of color.
Executive Producer: Beth Bennett
Show Producer: Shelley Schlender

Jul 11, 2021 • 28min
Emerging World: A Road Map for a Better World
Today on How on Earth, Beth speaks with author Roger Briggs about his new book: Emerging World. Briggs explores the evolution of consciousness and shows that this is behind everything humans have done, are now doing, and are capable of in the future. By bringing together knowledge from paleoanthropology, cultural philosophy, cognitive psychology, and evolutionary theory, he makes the case that humanity is now on the verge of a major transformation, a monumental turning point in our story. Emerging World offers a new understanding of our crisis today and points the way to a bright future for humanity and life on our planet. You’ll also hear about new research into the surprising role that the microbiome plays in aging fruit flies. You can find out more about Roger’s ongoing project at his website.
Executive Producer: Beth Bennett
Show Producer: Beth Bennett
Listen to the Show:

Jun 29, 2021 • 27min
UFO Report – Carol Cleland
Official UAP Footage from USG
We discuss the Pentagon’s new UFO . . . well . . . UAF report, with CU Boulder’s Center for the Study of Origins Director, Carol Cleland. Cleland wants the Pentagon to release more data, and for Congress to organize an interdisciplinary Task Force to study it. Along the way, we also discuss other “UFO Watchers” such as SETI and Metabunk.
Producer: Shelley Schlender
Executive Producer: Joel Parker

Jun 26, 2021 • 29min
Fitness in mid-life and the new Alzheimer drug
This week on How on Earth, Beth gives an update on the new drug just authorized by the FDA to treat Alzheimer’s disease, aducanumab, sold under the brand name Aduhelm. Then hear her interview with Dr Marc Bubbs, whose new book, Peak 40, builds on the strategies he laid out in his first book on the science of athletic performance. In Peak 40, the focus is on a realistic, health-based approach to training at all levels. In the process, you can become healthier and happier. The book is an easy to follow guide for improving health and fitness in middle age and beyond based on new scientific research in nutrition, physiology, and psychology.
Producer: Beth BennettExecutive Producer: Joel Parker
Listen to the Show:

Jun 9, 2021 • 22min
Energy from Hot Air – Amina Belkadi & Garret Moddel
Microscopic Rectenna – CU Boulder
CU-Boulder Electrical Engineers Amina Belkadi and Garret Moddel explain how scientists are working to pull energy from radiantly heated air, and why their efforts might expand renewable energy production AND help cool the planet.
Producer: Shelley Schlender
Executive Producer: Joel Parker