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KGNU - How On Earth

The KGNU Science Show

science natural sciences

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25:56

Women’s Health Pt. III: Menopause & the Brain

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2026/04/07

The Brain on Menopause (start time: 01:24) In this week’s show, we offer the finale of our three-part series on menopause and women’s health. We focus on a most precious organ: the brain. And we discuss how hormones such as estrogen and cortisol affect brain health; on how experiencing stress during childhood can intensify perimenopause … Continue reading "Women’s Health Pt. III: Menopause & the Brain"

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27:43

A Brain Circuit That Switches Acute to Chronic Pain

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2026/03/31

On this week’s How on Earth, Beth talks with neuroscientist and chronic pain researcher Jayson Ball. He recently completed a study of a novel brain circuit involved in generating chronic pain. Since finishing his graduate studies at CU Boulder, he has moved to Neuralink, a biotech start up focused on implantable brain devices with the … Continue reading "A Brain Circuit That Switches Acute to Chronic Pain"

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27:17

Conserving Imperiled Prairie Dogs, Raptors & Their...

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2026/03/24

Preserving prairie dog+raptor ecosystem (start time: 5:03) Spring has just begun, even if winter hardly visited Colorado. On the plains, prairie dog colonies seem to be in full swing. However, populations of these keystone species have plummeted, as the grasslands they and raptor predators rely on are being fragmented by urban development, as well as … Continue reading "Conserving Imperiled Prairie Dogs, Raptors & Their Grasslands"

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26:05

Winter Recreation in a Warmer World

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2026/02/24

On this week’s How on Earth, we hear from a climate scientist about the implications of our changing weather patterns for winter recreation. It’s a warm, dry winter, throughout the Rocky Mountain West and elsewhere in the country, the weather has been a mixed bag. Dr. Elizabeth Burakowski, a Research Faculty member in the Institute … Continue reading "Winter Recreation in a Warmer World"

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26:48

What do Grasslands Have to do with Climate Change?

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2026/02/17

We hear an interview aired by our sister community radio station’s, Science MOAB. Ecologist Brooke Osborne talks about how dryland ecosystems – such as the grasslands east of Boulder – influence the whole planet. Dryands cover 40% of the earth; they support a third of the planet’s humans, and while their roots store lots of … Continue reading "What do Grasslands Have to do with Climate Change?"

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24:25

Women’s Health Pt. II: Heart Health

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2026/02/10

Truths & Tips About Women’s Heart Health (start time: 7:33) February is American Hearth Month, a nationwide observation spotlighting cardiovascular disease, and a call for all of us to take care of our hearts. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the country, for both men and women, and for most racial and … Continue reading "Women’s Health Pt. II: Heart Health"

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26:58

Improving Law Enforcement Behavior through Artificial...

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2026/01/13

We speak with experts about how artificial intelligence combined with Police Body Camera footage improved professionalism in the Aurora Colorado Police Department. Guests include Anthony Tassone, CEO of Truleo and Ian Adams, Criminologist at the University of South Carolina and co-author of a new study about this tech in the journal Criminology We also discuss … Continue reading "Improving Law Enforcement Behavior through Artificial Intelligence"

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26:32

Colorado’s Wildlife Action Plan, etc.: Pt. II

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2026/01/06

Protecting Wolves, ferrets, prairie dogs, vultures, etc. (start time: 3:39) How effective are Colorado’s efforts to preserve vulnerable species – wolves, black-footed ferrets, bears, prairie dogs and others? And what ingredients make it possible, including throughout the U.S. and the world, for wild animals and humans to get along when their homes overlap? Today How … Continue reading "Colorado’s Wildlife Action Plan, etc.: Pt. II"

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27:11

Coral: Past, Present, Future

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2025/12/22

In this week’s show Beth speaks with science writer, educator, and scientist Dr. Lisa Gardiner about her recent book Reefs of Time: What Fossils Reveal about Coral Survival. Lisa studied the fossil remains of ancient coral reefs, which also suffered from environmental challenges. In our conversation, you’ll hear about how the past shapes the present, … Continue reading "Coral: Past, Present, Future"

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26:58

World Domination…by Slime Molds?

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2025/12/09

On today’s show, Beth speaks with award-winning science writer Jennifer Frazer about her upcoming book: The Slime Mold’s Guide to World Domination: A Natural Mystery. The book is a funny natural history of slime molds that’s also a mystery that asks: how can a giant crawling cell possibly be intelligent?” Jennifer has degrees in biology … Continue reading "World Domination…by Slime Molds?"

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26:58

Critical Earth Minerals Hiding in Plain Sight –...

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2025/12/02

Critical Earth Minerals Hiding in Plain Site – Colorado School of Mines professor Elizabeth Holley shares how the US could break its dependency on critical earth mineral imports, and lead the world in environmentally safe ways to do it. Show Producer/Host/Engineer: Shelley Schlender Executive Producer: Beth Bennett

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26:46

Better Steam//CU-Boulder at World Climate Conference

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2025/11/25

Great Steam . . . from a Heat Pump (starts 1:00) Time Magazine named CSU Engineer Todd Bandhauer one of 2025’s top climate innovators. His heat pump makes steam better than fossil fuel steam boilers. Interview thanks to Rocky Mountain Community Radio and Aspen Public Radio. CU-Boulder at COP30 Climate Conference (Starts 7:05) CU Boulder’s … Continue reading "Better Steam//CU-Boulder at World Climate Conference"

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25:55

Winter is Coming: Why Leaves Fall

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2025/11/11

The physiology of deciduous trees (start time: 11:09) For many people living in places with four distinct seasons, such as here in Colorado, a favorite pastime at this midpoint in autumn is watching the faded leaves fall from their branches, and listening to the crackling sound while raking up the dried leaves. In this week’s … Continue reading "Winter is Coming: Why Leaves Fall"

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26:45

Into The Unknown (Part 2)

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2025/10/28

Into The Unknown (starts at 9:05) What do we know about the universe, and how do we know we know it? Conversely, what do we know we don’t know, what don’t we know that we don’t know, and why not? To help us unravel these age-old philosophical questions in the context of current science, our … Continue reading "Into The Unknown (Part 2)"

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26:52

Autumn Insects and their Songs

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2025/10/14

Science & Songs of Katydids, Cicadas, etc. (start time: 3:08) It’s the time of year to savor listening each night to the pulsating and clicking sounds of katydids, cicadas, crickets and other straight-winged insects, all crying out for a mate. Soon, with the first big frost, the songs, along with the arthropods themselves, will disappear. … Continue reading "Autumn Insects and their Songs"

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27:30

Menopause, Hormone Therapy, Science

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2025/09/16

Menopause & HT (start time: 0:58) It happens to every woman with a uterus who reaches midlife. Menopause is a major hormonal transition that, although very challenging for some women, is natural, and (get this!) even advantageous to civilization. Think grandmothers! Yet menopause has been largely dismissed by the medical community. As a result, too … Continue reading "Menopause, Hormone Therapy, Science"

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27:23

The (ever-changing) Scoop on Vaccines

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2025/09/08

On this week’s How on Earth, Beth describes recent developments in defunding NIH research and CDC limits on vaccine availability; then digs into vaccine safety and development with global vaccine expert, Dr Dr Kawsar Talaat. Dr Talaat is a physician who is board certified in Pediatrics, Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases and whose research focuses … Continue reading "The (ever-changing) Scoop on Vaccines"

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26:09

Climate Change, Astronomy, Canine Astronauts

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2025/09/02

Climate change. Astronomy. A canine astronaut. They intersect in our guest, astronomer and author Dr. Jeff Bennett. Among other things, we focus on climate change and policy – present and future. Dr. Bennett got his Ph.D. in Astrophysics from the University of Colorado, and he served two years as a Visiting Senior Scientist at NASA … Continue reading "Climate Change, Astronomy, Canine Astronauts"

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26:37

Climate Science, Human Lives at Risk

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2025/08/12

Standing Up for Science (start time: 6:39) Since President Trump began his second term in January, his administration has been on a rapid-fire campaign to slash federal funding for scientific research, particularly in the fields of climate and earth systems science. Colorado is feeling the pain. President Trump’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 includes … Continue reading "Climate Science, Human Lives at Risk"

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26:58

50 Years of Open Space! // Heart Attack and Stroke...

KGNU - How On Earth ·

2025/07/28

A Common Sugar Substitute Increases Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke. (starts 11:00) CU-Boulder Integrative Physiologist Chris DeSouza explains his recent study that shows why the commonly used artificial sweetener, Erythritol, may be increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. 50 Years of Open Space! (Starts 1:00) Boulder County Parks and Open Space staff members … Continue reading "50 Years of Open Space! // Heart Attack and Stroke Risk from Common Sugar Substittue"

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