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The Leonard Lopate Show
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Feast Your Eyes
Junk food is often much cheaper than health food. Adam Drewnowski of the University of Washington explains why he thinks that obesity in America may have as much to do with economics as genetics. Next, we’ll hear from Fran Capo, the world’s fastest-talking woman. Then, Robert Krulwich tells us about some of the recent scientific breakthroughs he explores in a new tv series on PBS: NOVA scienceNOW. Finally, in our regular Please Explain feature, we look at how eyes work. How does the eye take in information? And how is light translated into images?
Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
Adam Drewnowski argues that obesity may be as much of an economic issue as a genetic or lifestyle issue. Foods rich in sugar and fat are often less expensive, and provide more energy and calories than healthier foods like lean meats and fresh vegetables. Mr. Drewnowski’s research shows that for each 100 grams of fats and sweets eaten per day, the cost of an individual's diet decreases by almost 50 cents.
» Read an article on money and obesity in Science News Online.
Music:
soundtrack for "Finding Neverland" -- by Jan A.P. Kaczmarek (Decca) -- #1 and 4
Fast Talking
Fran Capo holds the title of world’s fastest-talking woman. The Guinness Book of World Records clocked her in at 603.32 words per minute–that’s 10 words a second!
Music:
The Canadian Brass "Swingtime" (RCA Victor) -- "Blue Rondo a la Turk" and "Artistry in Rhythm"
Science Now
Robert Krulwich explains some exciting scientific frontiers, from advances in fuel cell technology to new approaches to gene therapy, in a new PBS series: NOVA scienceNOW.
» More on NOVA scienceNOW
Music:
"Secret Agent" soundtrack by Philip Glass (Nonesuch), #2 and 6

Please Explain: Eyes
In this week’s Please Explain feature, we’ll try to understand how our eyes work. We’ll learn about the component structures of the eye, and find out how the eye takes information in. Dr. William Schiff, Assistant Professor of Clinical Opthamology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and Dr. Janet Sparrow, Director of the Retinal Cell Biology Lab and Professor of Opthalmic Science at Columbia University, tell us how light is translated into images, how we perceive color, and how human vision differs from that of other species.
» Please Explain series
Music:
Sonatine soundtrack by Joseph Hisaishi, #6 and 1
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The Leonard Lopate Show
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Guest Picks
The Leonard Lopate Show
Find out surprising facts about some recent guests on the Leonard Lopate Show. Check out our Guest Picks section! Did you know that football star Herschel Walker loves Judge Judy, Laurie Anderson is a big fan of agility training for dogs, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi likes Johnny Depp?
