Joe Palca appears in the following:
Atop A Hawaiian Mountain, A Constant Sniff For Carbon Dioxide
Monday, May 13, 2013
Since 1958, researchers have been measuring the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere at the Mauna Loa Observatory. The remote outpost has just reported a carbon dioxide level of 400 parts per million — the highest it has climbed in the modern age.
Wake Up And Smell The Tuna? Sunrise At Honolulu's Fish Auction
Tuesday, May 07, 2013
Actually, fresh fish doesn't smell "fishy," says Joe Palca. He spent a recent morning watching Hawaii's fishermen sell some 50,000 pounds of catch on the auction floor and sends this postcard.
Envisioning The Future With Inventor Cori Lathan
Tuesday, May 07, 2013
This enterprising technologist is designing for a future where computers are intuitive and anticipate our every need. We're not there yet, but she has started a company that aims to imagine, build and test tomorrow's gadgets today.
Kepler Telescope Spots 3 New Planets In The 'Goldilocks Zone'
Thursday, April 18, 2013
The planets orbiting far-off stars are close to Earth-sized and are a distance from their suns that makes their surfaces neither too hot nor too cold. Since launching in 2009, the Kepler telescope has identified more than 100 planets.
Why A Hoosier State Scientist Is Stuck On Oysters
Thursday, March 28, 2013
How do oysters attach themselves to rocks? They need a glue, but a glue that can set in a watery environment. In this installment of "Joe's Big Idea," NPR's Joe Palca reports that glue could lead to medical advances.
Wanna Play? Computer Gamers Help Push Frontier Of Brain Research
Tuesday, March 05, 2013
Computer games aren't just for fun anymore — they're also valuable research tools. Scientists are taking complex problems — like trying to figure out how proteins fold and how neural networks work — and turning them into engaging games. And they need your help.
Big News From Mars? Rover Scientists Mum For Now
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Data from a soil sample on Mars have NASA scientists buzzing with excitement over a finding that could be "one for the history books." But they're not spilling the beans about their discovery just yet.
Levee Rebuilding Questioned After Sandy Breach
Sunday, November 04, 2012
Experts are taking a close look at the country's levees after the failure of one caused massive flooding in New Jersey during Superstorm Sandy. Some argue that rebuilding levees may only set the stage for the next flooding disaster.
In Flooded New Jersey, No Oversight For Levees
Thursday, November 01, 2012
There's no state agency that regulates or maintains levees in the Garden State. But the flooding brought by Sandy will inevitably bring calls for more flood-protection systems.
When Ice Cream Attacks: The Mystery Of Brain Freeze
Tuesday, July 03, 2012
Drink that Slurpee too fast, and you risk an attack of "brain freeze." Scientists are fascinated by the headaches caused by consuming cold things. But alas, they still don't know where ice cream headaches come from.
Summer Science: How To Build A Campfire
Monday, June 04, 2012
Summer living is supposed to be easy — school is out, the days are long, the traffic eases. But it's not all diving boards and lemonade: Summer can throw us some curveballs, too. NPR kicks off its Summer Science series with tips from a fire scientist on how to build the perfect campfire.
Why Astronauts Crave Tabasco Sauce
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Why do astronauts lose their sense of smell in space, and what's this got to do with their preference for fiery condiments? No one is sure, but NASA food scientists have some plausible ideas.
The Science of What Bugs Us
Monday, May 16, 2011
Joe Palca, NPR science correspondent and co-author of Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us, talks about why things are annoying and offers a scientific explanation of what irritates us and gets under our skin. Helping explain this phenomenon is Flora Lichtman, multimedia editor for NPR's Science Friday and co-author of Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us.
