Global Challenges/Chemistry Solutions

Promoting Personal Safety and National Security: Targeting Ricin

Wed, 10 June 2009 10:00:04 -0400

Today’s topic is research on new ways to detect and possibly treat poisoning from ricin, a potential bioterrorist agent.

Intro theme and music by Kevin MacLeod. Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by Halleck, samplecat and acclivity.

Our Sustainable Future: Small generator, big applications

Wed, 20 May 2009 10:00:04 -0400

Today’s topic is research on creating a sustainable future. This discovery could render today’s landfill-bound batteries obsolete. Imagine if all you had to do to charge your iPod or your BlackBerry was to wave your hand, or stretch your arm, or take a walk?

Intro theme and music by Kevin MacLeod. Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by crk365, man, rutgermuller, Halleck and ljudman.

Promoting Personal Safety and National Security: New Solutions 2009

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:00:04 -0400

In this episode, scientists from DARPA investigate whether a lethal new kind of explosive threatens America's security.

Intro theme and music by Kevin MacLeod. Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by ljudman and anton.

Combating Disease: New Solutions 2009 - Much more than pasta and potatoes

Mon, 6 Apr 2009 10:00:04 -0400

When you think carbohydrates, spaghetti, rice and freshly baked loaves of bread usually come to mind. A group of scientists in Germany led by Peter Seeberger see carbs a bit differently. Much more than just pasta and potatoes, they envision carbohydrates as the basis of revolutionary new vaccines and drugs to battle malaria, HIV, and a bevy of other diseases.

Intro theme and music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and M12.

Confronting Climate Change: The Quest for Permanent Solutions

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:00:04 -0400

Today’s topic is research on global climate change. This discovery could help control the amount of carbon dioxide — the No. 1 greenhouse gas — entering the atmosphere.

Intro theme and music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by pushtobreak, sinatra314, acclivity and kjackson.

Providing Safe Foods: New Solutions 2009

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 10:00:04 -0400

Making grapefruit juice safer for people who take certain prescription drugs

Intro theme and music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Episode 12 – Promoting Public Health

Tue, 4 Dec 2008 10:00:04 -0400

Life expectancy in the 20th Century rose by about 30 years. Advances in protecting the public health were responsible for about 25 of those precious years. Vaccination programs. Improved sanitation to better control infectious diseases. The development of antibiotics. Better prenatal care. And much more. Scientists are making strides toward sustaining that progress by fostering continued improvements in the health of the population as a whole.

Intro theme and music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), DJ Rkod and Neurowaxx; Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by pfly, fogma, jascha, alienbomb, ERH and zerolagtime.

Episode 11 – Providing Safe Food (Part 2 of 2)

Tue, 23 Nov 2008 10:00:04 -0400

Blueberries, raspberries and grapes bursting with flavor. A luscious, silky morsel of chocolate melting into a mouthful’s rush of pure pleasure. Fresh ripe tomatoes. Years ago, people ate for that gratification. Food also provided the calories for people to work, and drove away hunger pangs. Today, people in industrialized countries are selecting food not just for taste and sustenance, but also for its potential effects in promoting good health.

Intro theme and music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and M12 (ccmixter.org); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by volivieri, digimusic, thedoctor, Dzork and agent.

Episode 10 – Providing Safe Food (Part 1 of 2)

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:00:04 -0400

Every Thanksgiving, family and friends gather to celebrate round dinner tables heaped high with roast turkey and other traditional dishes. There’s praise and thanks for the food, of course. But maybe we should add a word of thanksgiving for the scientific advances that are helping to keep our food supply safe from a host of threats that can really spoil a meal.

Intro theme and music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and M12 (ccmixter.org); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by mich3d, galeku, patchen and kokuya.

Episode 9 – New Fuels (Part 2 of 2)

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:00:04 -0400

Join Global Challenges as it investigates a suite of new fuels and energy sources that may help to power society in the years ahead. Scientists are developing these new energy sources to supplement the coal and conventional natural gas we now use to produce electricity for heating, cooling, and lighting. New fuels hold special promise as sustainable energy sources that minimize the release of carbon dioxide and combat global warming.

Intro theme and music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), vo1k1 and M12 (ccmixter.org); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by rockdoctor, Percy Duke, Walter Odington, Robinhood76, pcaeldries, jamiedaniel, sinatra314 and Halleck.

Episode 8 – New Fuels (Part 1 of 2)

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:00:04 -0400

Amid growing concern about high gasoline prices, global warming, and limited resources of petroleum, scientists and engineers around the world are on a quest for new fuels — alternatives to conventional petroleum, natural gas, and coal. On their radar screens are new sources of familiar old ethanol that do not strain the food supply and futuristic fuels like “green gasoline” and “designer” hydrocarbons.

Intro theme and music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Darkroom and M12 (ccmixter.org); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by LG, Halleck, Han1, Heigh hoo, Gorgee de biere, dkelly99, kjackson and reinsamba.

Episode 7 – Combating Disease

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:00:04 -0400

Despite the revolutionary medical advances in the 20th Century, great challenges lie ahead in our fight against disease. Heart disease, cancer, chronic diseases of aging, infection with the AIDS virus, and antibiotic-resistant microbes are just a few of those challenges. Fortunately, chemists and other scientists are determined to launch new revolutions in medicine — revolutions in the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of disease.

Intro theme and music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and M12 (ccmixter.org); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by cognito_perceptu.

Episode 6 – Promoting Personal Safety and National Security

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:00:04 -0400

How chemistry helps protect personal safety and national security.

Intro theme and music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Neurowaxx and DJ Rkod (ccmixter.org); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by martypinso, soundkit03, daveincamas, jollysea, alienbomb, ljudman, ERH and digifishmusic.

Episode 5 – Our Sustainable Future

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:00:04 -0400

How some of the world's leading chemists are meeting the challenge of sustainability.

Intro theme and music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Pitx and mykleanthony (ccmixter.org); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by kjackson, julayjb, bansemer, acclivity, TwistedLemon, vibe crc and gallagho.

Episode 4 – Confronting Climate Change (Part 2): The quest for permanent solutions

Wed, 6 Aug 2008 10:00:04 -0400

Confronting global climate change by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.

Intro theme and music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), DJ Rkod, Pitx, mykleanthony, Ben Riordan and oldDog (ccmixter.org); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by lonemonk, digifishmusic, WIM, acclivity, pushtobreak, dobroide and kjackson.

Episode 3 – Confronting Climate Change (Part 1): Stopgap measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Wed, 23 July 2008 10:00:04 -0400

Confronting global climate change by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.

Intro theme and music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Neurowaxx and oldDog (ccmixter.org); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by ERH, WIM, acclivity, Charel Sytze and Twisted Lemon.

Episode 2 – The Crisis in Clean Water (Part 2): Water Desalination

Mon, 14 July 2008 10:00:04 -0400

How chemists are using desalination to provide a thirsty world with clean drinking water.

Intro theme and music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by Slanesh, luffy, Megamart, pushtobreak, duckboy80, kjackson and fogma.

Episode 1 – The Crisis in Clean Water (Part 1): Water Purification

Mon, 16 June 2008 10:00:04 -0400

How chemists are providing a thirsty world with clean drinking water.

Intro theme and music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), teru and Neurowaxx (ccmixter.org); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by Heigh-hoo, acclivity, cdrk365, Slanesh and mystiscool.