Museum of Science, Boston | Videocasts

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Videocasts

Get up to speed on current events with the Museum's series of videocasts. Our staff of experts can tell you what you need to know about the latest breakthroughs in health, technology, or science.

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Engineering the Big Bang (Videocast): CERN's Large Hadron Collider is the biggest atom smasher ever built. Learn about how this giant machine works, and hear the types of questions it will help answer. (details).

Not All Baseballs Are the Same (Videocast): A UMass-Lowell Baseball Research Center study details the testing of different baseballs used in various levels of amateur play. Watch this videocast to see how the materials and construction of a baseball can affect its performance. (details).

One, Two, Three Strikes You're ... Ouch! (Videocast): Enjoyed by people of all ages, baseball is America's favorite pastime. A new study of high school baseball players describes common injuries and their causes. Watch this videocast to find out which injuries are most common, and learn about recommended ways to keep young baseball players safer. (details).

Using Viruses to Fight MRSA (Videocast): The MRSA "superbug", a bacterium resistant to multiple antibiotics, is responsible for many post-operative deaths. As MRSA adapts to more antibiotics, scientists turn to a natural foe of these bugs: bacteriophage, a virus that specifically attacks the bacteria. Watch this videocast to learn about researchers ... (details).

Mosquito Repellents With Potential (Videocast): Researchers in Florida have identified a number of compounds that may be significantly more effective in protecting against mosquito bites than DEET, the most widely used repellent in the world. Find out details of their work in this segment. In the second video, watch Science Improv's take on this new research ... (details).

Personal Robots (Videocast): The personal robotics market is the fastest-growing part of the robotics industry. Watch this videocast to hear graduate student Mikey Siegel discuss his MIT Media Lab research into human-robot interaction. (details).

The Phoenix Mars Lander (Videocast): On May 25, the Phoenix lander successfully touched down on the arctic plain of Mars. Watch this videocast to learn more about the landing and the mission's next stage: digging through the surface in search of water. (details).

How to Eat Your Veggies (Videocast): Vegetables help keep us healthy by providing us with vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients. New studies try to determine the best way for us to eat them: raw, boiled, steamed, or fried? It actually depends on what you want to get out of your vegetables. (details).

Solar Popcorn (Videocast): Museum presenter Tim Miller discusses groundbreaking research from the University of Washington that may dramatically increase the efficiency of certain solar cells. (details).

WorldWide Telescope Brings Universe To Your Computer (Videocast): Professor Alyssa Goodman of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics showcases the WorldWide Telescope — free software recently released by Microsoft that brings the best images of both land and space-based telescopes to your computer. Watch this videocast to learn how the program creates ... (details).

Monkeypox: An Emerging Disease in the "Hot Zone" (Videocast): Monkeypox is a virus that causes a disease resembling smallpox in humans. Little is known about this disease, which, given the right circumstances, could spread to other parts of the world. Hear Dr. Kate Rubins from the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research talk about her monkeypox studies in the Democratic Republic of Congo ... (details).

Stratospheric Skydive (Videocast): Learn about Frenchman Michel Fournier's goal to break the world records for highest skydive, longest and fastest free fall, and highest manned balloon flight. (details).

Citizen Science Comes to the Museum (Videocast): Want to get involved in some real scientific research? A quick Internet search reveals dozens of Citizen Science projects ranging from counting stars to monitoring spiders -- and everything in between. Watch this videocast to learn more about Citizen Science and the Museum's own upcoming project, Firefly Watch ... (details).

Pebble Bed Reactor Technology (Videocast): In this segment, learn about pebble bed modular reactors which hold promise as a safe and economical nuclear energy technology. (details).

Exercise Can Shape Your Heart (Videocast): Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have compared rowers to football players to see how their hearts might be affected by their exercise regimens. After the 90-day study period, all athletes' hearts displayed significant structural and functional changes, which were specific to the sport they practiced ... (details).

Frogs Without Lungs (Videocast): Researchers recently determined that the rare Bornean flat-headed frog does not have lungs. These frogs breathe through their skin instead, obtaining oxygen from the cold, fast-moving water they live in. This is the first species of frog found to be lungless. (details).

Evaluation Establishes Credibility of Computer Climate Models (Videocast): Computer climate models play an important role in determining man-made effects on climate change, as well as predicting future temperature increases. Meteorologists at the University of Utah have evaluated 57 climate models that were developed over the past 20 years in the United States, China, Russia, ... (details).

Drug Resistant Fungus (Videocast): The fungus Candida albicans, which infects people with compromised immune systems, is becoming increasingly resistant to current drug therapies. Researchers have recently determined why and are now looking for new treatments. (details).

Space Radiation May Be Too Dangerous For a Trip to Mars (Videocast): According to report released March 31 by the National Research Council, the biggest challenge to a permanent Moon base or a manned mission to Mars might not be supplies or life support systems, but radiation sickness. Close examination of the spacesuits used by Apollo Moon crews-- so far the only ... (details).

Scientists Create Artificial Enzyme (Videocast): The Museum's Tim Miller discusses the creation of the world's first artificial enzyme, a protein that can catalyze a reaction that does not occur in nature. He also talks about its potential future applications. (details).

Giant Sea Creatures (Videocast): Scientists aboard the research vessel Tangaroa made some "giant" discoveries during a recent expedition off the coast of Antarctica. Hear about what they found and how it will help us study global warming. (details).

Toxic Newts and the Snakes Who Eat Them -- and Live (Videocast): On the North American west coast, populations of rough-skinned newts and common garter snakes are locked in a co-evolutionary arms race. In this videocast, learn about the toxic newts who are in turn preyed upon by super-resistant snakes. (details).

United Nations Improves Water and Sanitation Worldwide (Videocast): Each year, about 1.5 million child deaths are attributed to a lack of clean drinking water and sanitary toilets. Roughly a billion people worldwide don't have clean drinking water, and 2.6 billion do not have sanitary latrines or toilets — spurring the United Nations to set a millennium development goal to halve these numbers by 2015 ... (details).

Innovative Sensor Uses Immune Cells (Videocast): When tracking highly infectious diseases or bioterrorism threats, time is of the essence. Scientists at MIT Lincoln Laboratory have developed biosensor technology that can detect pathogens in less than five minutes. Based on the type of immune cells that produce antibodies, the technology is sensitive, accurate, and portable ... (details).

Robotic Spacewalker Set to Launch (Videocast): The March 11 Space Shuttle mission delivers two important additions to the International Space Station: part of Japan's Kibo laboratory and Dextre, the Canadian Space Agency's robotic spacewalker. In this videocast, hear about how the 12-foot Dextre fits into the space station's repair routine, mimicking ... (details).

Concept Nanotech Computer (Videocast): Museum of Science's Tim Miller discusses a nanotechnology concept unveiled by the Nokia Corporation. Watch the video for a preview of the kinds of new devices that engineering may bring us in the coming decade. (details).

Treating Diabetes with Stem Cells (Videocast): Diabetes, caused by a lack of insulin-producing pancreatic cells, affects 10% of Americans. Scientists can now transform human embryonic stem cells into functioning pancreatic cells. When injected into diabetic mice, these cells produce insulin in response to glucose levels in the blood. (details).

Using Food Preservatives to Prevent Radiation Sickness (Videocast): Researchers are working on a pill made from common food preservatives that would be delivered via carbon nanotubes. The medication could prevent deaths from acute radiation exposure. (details).

Considerations For Lowering Carbon Emissions (Videocast): Several studies show that lowering carbon emissions may not be as straightforward as we first thought. In particular: > CO2 emitted from land-use change makes biofuels from food stock undesirable. > A high-fat or high-meat diet may result in as great a carbon emission increase as driving an SUV rather than a sedan ... (details).

Turning Brown Eyes Blue (Videocast): Remember learning that blue eye color is a recessive characteristic? Scientists have just discovered what determines "true blue" eyes and suspect that this trait can be traced to a common ancestor. (details).

Space Shuttle Atlantis Delivers Science Lab (Videocast): The February 7, 2008 Space Shuttle mission brings Columbus -- a large science laboratory built by the European Space Agency -- to the International Space Station, considerably increasing the amount of research underway on the station. In this videocast, hear about the shuttle mission, and the module's ... (details).

Controlling Robots with Wooden Blocks (Videocast): Programming a computer can seem like a difficult task. Tufts University's Michael Horn has designed a new system using wooden puzzle-like pieces to make programming easier. Watch this videocast to see how even a child can program a computer to tell a robot what to do. (details).

Nanotubes for Hydrogen Cars (Videocast): Tim Miller from the Museum of Science discusses recent research efforts to use carbon nanotubes as a fuel carrier for hydrogen. (details).

Kite-Powered Cargo Ships (Videocast): With fuel costs rising and environmental concerns mounting, the world's shipping companies are beginning to look at greener, cheaper methods of propulsion. Watch this videocast to learn about the MV Beluga SkySails, a 10,000 ton, 430-foot vessel that is partially powered by a giant kite the size of a tennis court ... (details).

Computer Characters Making Friends (Videocast): Relational agents -- computer characters designed to interact with humans -- can encourage exercise and education. Northeastern University Professor of Computer Science Dr. Timothy Bickmore talks about "Tinker," the Museum of Science's own relational agent who will be stationed at Cahners ComputerPlace to talk to visitors beginning February 24 ... (details).

Study Links CO2 Warming with Increased Air Pollution Deaths (Videocast): Stanford Professor Mark Jacobson's February 12, 2008 paper in Geophysical Research Letters finds the warming associated with increased carbon dioxide levels may increase the number of deaths due to air pollution. In the United States, about 500 additional deaths are estimated for each degree Fahrenheit increase ... (details).

Autism in California is Not Linked to Vaccine Preservative (Videocast): Autism is a complex developmental disorder whose cause is not understood. It is likely that a combination of genetic changes as well as environmental factors trigger the development of the disease. Researchers in California have examined state records of autism cases to see if there is a link between ... (details).

Spider Silk Moth (Videocast): Stronger than steel thread, spider silk has been long been recognized as a useful material because of its flexibility and durability. However, until recently, it was very difficult to produce. In this videocast, learn about how a scientist in Japan has discovered a new way to more easily create this unique type of silk ... (details).

Mars Impact (Videocast): A large asteroid is hurtling towards Mars, and it could strike the planet at the end of January. Watch this videocast to find out the likelihood of an impact, as well as what we could learn from it. (details).

Top 10 Science Stories of 2007 (Videocast): Some of the most important and interesting science stories of the past year focused on stem cells, the polar ice caps, Tyrannosaurus rex, and the Google X-Prize. (details).

Bone Marrow Transplant for Sickle Cell Anemia (Videocast): Working with anemic mice, scientists at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research have corrected a genetic mutation in reprogrammed skin cells and then returned the "fixed" cells to the mice in successful treatment of sickle cell anemia. In this videocast, you can hear about this proof-of-concept ... (details).

Maggots as Biosurgeons (Videocast): The practice of using maggots to clean open wounds has a long, misunderstood history. Today, scientists are investigating how maggots perform very beneficial services for the treatment of chronic wounds and associated bacterial infections. (details).

"Feeling" Cancer Cells (Videocast): Using an atomic force microscope, scientists at UCLA can distinguish metastatic cancer cells from normal cells by "feeling" how soft they are. The cancer cells are strikingly softer than normal cells, making diagnosis easier and more accurate compared to traditional techniques. (details).

Epilepsy in the Twenty-first Century (Videocast): Mass General Hospital Epilepsy Service Director Dr. Andrew J. Cole discusses current treatments for epilepsy. He also describes where future research of this neurological disease is headed. (details).

The Great American Smokeout (Videocast): On the day of the Great American Smokeout, Dr. Howard Koh gives the latest statistics about smoking and provides information on how to quit. Koh is associate dean at the Harvard School of Public Health. (details).

Scrap Silicon to Solar Cells (Videocast): The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable recently gave its Most Valuable Pollution Prevention award to IBM for developing and implementing a chemical-free process to reuse scrap silicon wafers or sell them to solar cell manufacturers. By sharing the technology, IBM hopes to turn the estimated 3 million ... (details).

Insulin Production in Diabetes (Videocast): Kathryn Lipson, a graduate student at UMass Medical School, describes her research involving regulation of an enzyme important to insulin production. Her findings could lead to new drugs that control blood sugar levels for people with diabetes. (details).

Lung Stem Cells and Lung Cancer (Videocast): An assistant professor at Children's Hospital Boston's stem cell program, Dr. Carla Kim discovered the first group of stem cells in the lung. Watch her discuss the role these cells play in normal lung tissue as well as how they may be involved in development of the earliest form of lung cancer. (details).

Lessons from Nature: How Insects are Improving Solar Cells (Videocast): Learn how scientists are trying to mimic the eyes of moths and the wings of cicadas to produce solar cells that are both anti-reflective and self-cleaning. (details).

HPV Test Versus Pap Test (Videocast): Two recent studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine compare the new HPV test to the standard pap test for its ability to detect precancerous and cancerous cervical lesions. (details).

Genetically Modified Trees Clean Polluted Groundwater (Videocast): According to research by the University of Washington's Sharon Doty, genetically modified poplar trees removed 91% of the pollutant trichloroethylene (a degreaser and the most common groundwater contaminant in U.S. Superfund sites) from a liquid solution. The modified trees worked 100 times faster than ... (details).

Missile Detection Technology For Cancer Therapy (Videocast): Watch Dr. Alan Fenn of MIT describe how he turned microwave technology developed for the Air Force into a treatment for breast cancer tumors. (details).

Fuel from Garbage? (Videocast): The idea of turning municipal waste into energy sounds like something from a science fiction movie, but scientists at MIT and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are using the extreme temperature of plasma to develop a fascinating technology that addresses the dual problems of too much trash and rising energy concerns ... (details).

Embryonic Stem Cells Heal Broken Hearts (Videocast): Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and by 2010, it is estimated to be the leading cause of death in developing countries as well. Unfortunately, the heart is one of the least regenerative organs in the body, and loss of heart muscle often leads to heart failure. In ... (details).

Cleaning Precious Artwork Using Nanotechnology (Videocast): Chemists at the University of Florence, Italy have discovered a new twist on a common method for cleaning works of art. The nanomagnetic material serves as a sponge that can soak up a cleaning solution before being directly applied to different types of artwork. It can later be removed safely with a simple magnet ... (details).

A Topical Anthrax Vaccine (Videocast): A promising new vaccine against anthrax is made of nanoemulsions and applied directly to the nose; no needles required! (details).

The Skeleton Regulates Blood Sugar (Videocast): It turns out that our skeletons are not just a physical support for our bodies. New research shows that bone cells are involved in regulating blood sugar levels. Scientists at Columbia University Medical Center have discovered that bone cells produce a protein that can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes and obesity in mice ... (details).

Cancer-Fighting Viruses (Videocast): Dr. Destin Heilman from Worcester Polytechnic Institute speaks about finding new cancer therapies in nature. His research focuses on viruses and viral proteins that can seek and destroy cancer cells, leaving healthy cells unharmed. (details).

California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard Leads Greenhouse Gas Regulation (Videocast): Transportation experts from U.C. Berkeley and Davis have released details of California's new Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). Effective January 2010, the new standard is designed to cut carbon emissions at least 10 percent by 2020. It will require transportation fuel providers to track the entire life ... (details).

FDA Reports on Nanotechnology (Videocast): The FDA's Nanotechnology Task Force takes an important step towards evaluating nanotechnology based consumer products. (details).

Studying Dolphin Communication (Videocast): Hear Dr. Kathleen Dudzinski, director of the Dolphin Communication Project, discuss the technology and methods she uses to observe how dolphins communicate with each other. (details).

Talcum Powder as a Lung Cancer Treatment (Videocast): Researchers at the University of Florida have found that talcum powder may stunt the growth of lung tumors by cutting off their food and oxygen supply. (details).

A Rice-Based Cholera Vaccine (Videocast): Using rice, scientists in Japan have developed a prototype vaccine for cholera. Hear why this vaccine holds promise for global treatment and how the same technology could be used to prevent the spread of infectious diseases like anthrax and HIV. (details).

Using Gelatin-Based Nanoparticles to Treat Breast Cancer (Videocast): Prof. Mansoor Amiji at Northeastern University has developed a gene delivery system that targets breast cancer cells using nanoparticles made of gelatin. The therapy has reduced the size of tumors in mice by shutting down the road for oxygen and nutrients to enter. (details).

Molecular Sand Castles (Videocast): Dr. Annaliese Franz is a researcher from Harvard University and the Broad Institute. Hear why she uses silicon (more commonly known as sand) to build new chemical molecules that can be used as therapeutics. (details).

Reprogramming Human Stem Cells (Videocast): Four stem cell research papers published on June 6, 2007 (in the journals Nature and Cell Stem Cell) describe successes in reprogramming mouse cells. Hear about the exciting science breakthroughs in this SciTech segment. (details).

The World of Carbon Nanotubes (Videocast): In this presentation, Tim Miller discusses a newly discovered form of carbon, and some of its amazing properties and applications. (details).

Stopping Time: Guest Event with Eric Mazur (Videocast): When you watch sports on TV and a replay gets shown in "slow motion," you can see things happening that you couldn't see before. If the replay is slowed to a stop, it becomes a still image showing a single moment in time. A similar technique is used by scientists who want to see what nature is doing, but can't because it's happening too fast ... (details).

Musical Proteins (Videocast): Researchers at UCLA have found a new way to transform DNA from protein sequences into classical music. (details).

Bacteria May Provide Asthma Protection (Videocast): Helicobacter pylori is a bacteria that can cause stomach cancer and peptic ulcers in people. The bacterium infection is wide-spread in people in developing countries but much less so in developed nations, and has been disappearing in industrialized countries with each generation. Find out how getting ... (details).

Nanoscale Generators Power Up (Videocast): Tim Miller discusses new research which demonstrates how nanoscale generators are able to produce electrical power. (details).

Smoking Cessation May Ease Arterial Stiffness (Videocast): Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for lung disease and cancer, but also for cardiovascular disease. In a research study published in the scientific journal Hypertension (March 2007, 49:1-5), scientists in Ireland studied the relationship between cigarette smoking and arterial stiffness in people who have high blood pressure ... (details).

Researchers Reawaken Sleeping Virus to Fight Cancer (Videocast): Scientists at Johns Hopkins University have found a new way to wake up a dormant virus that is present in 95% of the human population, and use it to image or even possibly destroy certain cancerous tumors. The team of researchers, led by Dr. Martin Pomper, a radiologist specializing in molecular imaging, and Dr ... (details).

A Nanotech Approach to Hunting Bacteria (Videocast): The days of analyzing bacteria like salmonella or e. coli by waiting 24 hours or more to grow cultures may be ending. Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed a fast, simple way to find and measure bacteria using billionths-of-a-meter sized iron oxide nanoparticles. With bacterial ... (details).

Viagra: Good for the Heart, Too? (Videocast): Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University have demonstrated that Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs can help to reduce the damage done to the heart before and during a severe heart attack, and also help the heart to repair itself after the attack occurs. In the February issue of the Journal ... (details).

Department of Energy Headquarters Greening Up (Videocast): Musuem of Science's Tim Miller discusses new legislation to install solar panels on the roof of the Department of Energy's headquarters in Washington, D.C. (details).

Nanotech Safety: Measuring Exposure to Nanomaterials (Videocast): As communities start asking questions about the health and safety of nanomaterials being used in everything from ultralight tennis rackets to cancer research, the key to wisely regulating the booming field of nanotechnology lies in understanding how our bodies and the environment will react to tiny nanoscale particles ... (details).

Strong, Stretchy Nanocomposites Mimic Spider Silk (Videocast): Researchers at MIT have developed a new nanocomposite that is superior to previous synthetic materials in strength and stretchiness by using extremely tiny clay disks to mimic the the structure of natural spider silk at the billionths-of-a-meter scale. (details).

Tim's Top Ten Science Stories of 2006 (Videocast): The Museum's own Tim Miller has compiled this list of his personal top ten science stories of 2006. Tim's criterion was the relevance of the story to the intersection of science and society. (details).

The Air is Thick with Bacteria (Videocast): A new census is in: the air that floats invisibly in front of you is teeming with bacteria, according to new research published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. A new technology means that scientists can survey these microbes much more closely than ever. Watch the video to learn more ... (details).

Diagnosing Disease on a Chip (Videocast): A new technology could put disease detection in the palm of a doctor's hand. The "GreeneChip," developed by doctors at Columbia University, can identify almost 2,000 human pathogens using urine, tissue, or blood samples. Watch the video to learn more. (details).

EPA regulates silver nanoparticles (Videocast): The Enivronmental Protection Agency rules that companies who use small particles of silver as an anti-bacterial agent in consumer products must provide evidence that the particles do not pose a threat to the environment. (details).

Getting to the Root of Red Wine's Protective Effects (Videocast): When it comes to preventing heart disease and increasing longevity, not all red wines are created equal. New research, published the journal Nature, shows that wines from a specific geographic region have more of the compounds implicated in protecting blood vessels and extending life. Watch the video to learn more ... (details).

Chocolate Cheaters Give Researchers a Surprise (Videocast): Thanks to some chocolate-sneaking study participants, researchers at The Johns Hopkins University have shown how small daily doses of chocolate can protect against heart attacks. Watch the video to learn more. (details).

Heating up head lice (Videocast): Scientists at the University of Utah have created a device that successfully treats head lice by drying them out. Their invention is a result of bird lice biology studies and a coincidental case of human lice; a great example of basic research producing a practical solution to a widespread problem. ... (details).

The Sound of Skin Cancer (Videocast): Melanoma is the least common but most deadly form of skin cancer, and it affects more than 50,000 people in the United States every year. Scientists at the University of Missouri-Columbia have created a way to detect metastatic melanoma by listening to sounds the cancerous cells make when hit with light ... (details).

Deadly Toxin Helps Prevent Scars (Videocast): One of the world's most potent toxins can improve scarring in facial wounds, according to researchers at the Mayo Clinic. Watch the video to learn more. (details).

Nanoantenna for Optical Data Storage (Videocast): A nanoantenna from Harvard University focuses a laser beam to a spot just 40 nanometers wide, forecasting some pretty big improvements in optical data storage. (details).

Can Blue War Paint Fight Cancer? (Videocast): Studies indicate that broccoli (and cauliflower and cabbage) contain compounds that can battle breast cancer. One of those compounds is called glucobrassicin. How the chemical is processed by the body and how exactly it fights cancer cells is still being studied. One problem researchers have is ... (details).

Nanobumps Improve Joint Replacements (Videocast): Research from Brown University shows that adding nanoscale texture to the surface of orthopedic implants not only helps prevent infection, but it also helps the implant join to a patient's natural bone. (details).

Nanobumps for Joint Replacements (Videocast): Amy Swint discusses a new nanomaterial designed to prevent infection following knee and hip replacement surgeries. (details).

Gold Particles Target Tumors (Videocast): Museum of Science's Tim Miller discusses recent breakthroughs in a new form of cancer treatment that uses infrared light and tiny gold particles to find and destroy tiny tumors inside the body. (details).

Nanotechnology Married to Neuroscience (Videocast): Researchers at Harvard University have joined a single nerve cell to a tiny transistor, and they used the transistor to send and recieve signals through the cell. (details).

Gold Nanoshells Target Tumors (Videocast): Tim Miller discusses a groundbreaking new cancer treatment that uses gold to target potential tumors. (details).

Soybeans Greener Than Corn and Next Generation Biocrops (Videocast): The first full analysis of the complete production cycles of soybean biodiesel and corn grain ethanol finds soybeans have lower environmental impact and a higher net energy benefit than corn ethanol, but that "neither can replace much petroleum without impacting food supplies." A University of Minnesota ... (details).

Nicotine and Pregnancy (Videocast): Scientists are just beginning to understand how nicotine exerts its harmful effects on the