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The Leonard Lopate Show

Wednesday, November 07, 2007
  • Differentiated human embryonic stem cells
    Differentiated human embryonic stem cells

    News from the Frontier

    Scientists are making important progress with stem cell research...despite strict government regulations. Hear the latest from the stem cell frontier. Plus, a new theory about the function of the human appendix. Find out how gender may affect posture. Joshua Henkin talks about his new novel. And a history of women in modern Iraq.

    This Friday, Nov. 9, find out about the the causes and cures of insomnia on Please Explain. We want to hear about your solutions for sleeplessness. You can tell us by leaving a comment here.

News From the Stem Cell Frontier

Scientists are making progress in stem cell research, despite strict government regulations. Dr. Kevin Eggan of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute has developed a process called nuclear transfer, which creates embryonic stem cells without needing an unfertilized egg.

Weigh in: Voters in New Jersey just voted down a $450 million stem cell research funding bill. If you're from New Jersey, did you vote for or against this referendum? Also, if you live outside of New Jersey, would you be willing to pay taxes toward stem cell research?

How Gender Affects Posture

New research has found that in men, good posture usually inspires self-confidence – but women tend to feel more confident when slouching. Psychologist Tomi-Ann Roberts has co-authored with Yousef Arefi-Afshar a new paper called "Not All Who Stand Tall Are Proud," published in the journal Cognition and Emotion.

Weigh in: Does making an effort at good posture affect your self-confidence? And are you male or female?

The Appendix May Have a Purpose After All

A new theory says that the appendix really does have a use – as a “safe house” for beneficial bacteria living in the human gut. Dr. Bill Parker is assistant professor of experimental surgery at Duke University.

Joshua Henkin’s New Novel

Joshua Henkin’s latest novel is Matrimony. It’s the story of an epic love affair, and the Washington Post has called it "truly an up-all-night read."

Matrimony is available for purchase at amazon.com

History of Women in Modern Iraq

Haifa Zangana says that Iraqi women have a long history of being daring and vocal activists. Ms. Zangana is an Iraqi political commentator, novelist, and former political prisoner of Saddam Hussein’s regime; her new history of women in Iraq is called City of Widows.

City of Widows is available for purchase at amazon.com

FDA to Regulate Tobacco?

The Leonard Lopate Show

May 14, 2009
Congress is getting ready to a vote on whether to make tobacco subject to FDA regulation. You can listen to a segment we did in May about the bill and what it would mean for the cigarette companies.

Video Pick: Elizabeth Edwards

The Leonard Lopate Show

Elizabeth Edwards discusses how to best cope with lifes difficulties in her book Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Facing Life's Adversities.

Recent Videos:
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- Michael Pollan on Food Rules
- David Hare on Director Stephen Daldry
- Tyne Daly on the Debut of her Cabaret Act
- Actors Roger Robinson and Chad Coleman on Joe Turner's Come and Gone

Our 3-ingredient Challenge wins a James Beard Award

The Leonard Lopate Show

On May 3, the Lopate Show won its third James Beard Award for our 3-ingredient challenge. In August, we asked our listeners to call in and name 3 ingredients and then challenged New York chef and 3-ingredient expert Rozanne Gold to whip up a recipe! You can listen to the 3-ingredient challenge and get some inspiration for simple, delicious, and unexpected dishes.

Leonard is on Facebook

Now Leonard is on Facebook! We’re posting photos, status updates, links to notable interviews, and lots more. Check it out.

Barack Obama, Circa 2004

The Leonard Lopate Show

Listen to President-Elect Barack Obama on the Leonard Lopate Show in November 2004. He had recently won a seat in the U.S. Senate, and only a few months before, his rousing speech during the 2004 Democratic National Convention catapulted him into the national spotlight.

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?