KGNU - How On Earth

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

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:

  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

Today on How on Earth, Beth replays a timely interview with Boulder author Bob Crifasi, a long time water resource manager. His book, on the history and consequences of Front Range water use, is especially relevant now during our longterm drought.Bob works in water management and planning and is an environmental scientist with over 25 yr experience. He was the Water Resources Administrator for the city of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks Dept. He has served on board of directors of 11 ditch companies and as the president of several, supervising all aspects of ditch operation. We talked about his book, A Land Made from Water. Executive Producer: Producer: Beth Bennett Additional Contribution: Shelley Schlender Listen to the show:

  Skunk Canyon Songbirds  (Starts 1:00) Scott Severs and Steve Jones hike Boulder’s Skunk Canyon Trail explaining why spring is late this year, plus why Skunk Canyon is home to so many song birds. Longmont Beavers (Starts 12:00) Scott Severs, Wildlife Expert for the City of Longmont, explains how beavers can promote stream health, and why urban spring runoff makes it challenging for beavers to live in city streams. Executive Producer: Joel ParkerProducer: Shelley Schlender Listen to the show:

In this week’s show, Beth talks with epidemiologist Genevieve Wojcik. We spoke about her work standardizing what is called the Polygenic Risk Score. This is a composite risk factor, extracted from information on many individual genes that can contribute to a disorder or genetic character. To find out more about her research visit her website. Executive Producer: Joel Parker Producer: Beth Bennett Additional Contributions:Joel Parker Listen to the Show:

(Entire Show)  Larry Gold, Boulder entrepreneur and scientist, invites listeners to register on line for the 12th annual GoldLab symposium.  Due to COVID, it’s a virtual symposium this year, Thursday and Friday, May 13-14.   Extended version coming soon.   Executive Producer: Joel Parker Show Producer & Host: Shelley Schlender

With graduation season upon us, today’s edition of How on Earth is our annual “Graduation Special”. Our guests in the studio today are scientists who have or will soon receive their Ph.D. in a STEM-related field.  They talk about their thesis research, their grad school experiences, and what they have planned next. Kate Doubleday – CU Boulder, Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering Topic: Development and Application of Probabilistic Solar Power Forecasts for the Day-Ahead Unit Commitment   Jason Silver – CU Boulder, Chemical and Biological Engineering Topic: The Role of Stiffness and YAP/TAZ Mechanotransduction during Muscle Regeneration   Zach Ulibarri – CU Boulder, Physics Topic: Experimental Studies of the Genesis and Detectability of Complex Organic Molecules and Isotopic Ratios in Hypervelocity Impact Ice Spectra Host / Producer : Joel Parker Listen to the show:

On this week’s show, Beth talks with author Doug Bierend about his new book, In Search of Mycotopia. He introduces us to an incredible, essential, and often denigrated kingdom of life: the fungi. A growing community of mushroom-mad citizen scientists and devotees are expanding the uses and availability of myriad fungi. From decontaminating landscapes and waterways to achieving food security and novel drugs, you’ll hear about it all. Show Producer: Beth Bennett Executive Producer: Beth Bennett Additional Contributions: Shelley Schlender Listen to the show:

BURNOn today’s show, Beth talks to Herman Pontzer about his new book, Burn, a deep dive into how the human body evolved, and how our species’ deep past shapes our health and physiology. His writing includes fascinating glimpses into both field projects in small-scale societies, including hunter-gatherers and subsistence farmers, in Africa and South America, as well as lab research on energetics and metabolism.(Note: due to the tragic mass murder in Boulder last week, last week’s show was delayed.) Host:Beth Bennett Producer:Beth Bennett Listen to the show: