Scienceline

Scienceline

The Scienceline podcast is produced by the Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program in the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at New York University. For more information, e-mail us at scienceline@gmail.com.

  1. How does emotional music affect musicians?

    APR 1

    How does emotional music affect musicians?

    Lots of research has tried to break down how music toys with the emotions of any audience, but have you ever thought about how music makes the musicians playing it feel? A group of researchers from Italy recently noticed this gap in the science and decided to answer it. They found that when violinists play more emotional pieces, their bow movements are rougher. Nicola di Stefano, the cognitive scientist who led the study, thinks that this effect might come from musicians reacting strongly to the emotions in the pieces they play. He suggests that psychological pressure is the root cause. Professional violinist Curtis Macomber, though, doesn't see these results echoed in reality. He thinks of emotion as an overwhelmingly positive tool in his arsenal, something that makes his playing better, rather than worse. While Nicola and his team found that emotions can hamper a violinist, Curt actually looks forward to encountering them. Listen in as we dive into how playing emotional pieces affects musicians. Music: • Bach - Prelude and Fugue in C minor - BWV 847 - The Well-Tempered Clavier, No. 2 - Arranged for Strings [Gregor Quendel | Free Music Archive] • Mozart - Eine Kleine Nachtmusik / Serenade No. 13 - KV 525.mp3 [Gregor Quendel | Free Music Archive] • György Kurtág - Kafka Fragmente op. 24 [Divertimento Ensemble]

    9 min
  2. It’s a whale of a problem: Can we lower the volume from Arctic ships?

    JAN 14

    It’s a whale of a problem: Can we lower the volume from Arctic ships?

    Have you ever wanted to take a trip to the Arctic? Every year, tourists from around the world make their way to the region. But the ships carrying these tourists bring an invisible pollutant with them — one that’s impossible to see and impossible to ignore: noise. How does this unseen phenomenon affect animals that call the Arctic home? And what role do even the most environmentally conscious travelers play in this story? Researchers and cruise industry officials are working to uncover the answers. Join us as we dive into this noisy crisis and hear from the experts navigating its challenges — and exploring ways to protect the Arctic’s pristine, icy wilderness. Check the associated article on Scienceline.org Music: "Cold Summers", "Digital Compass", "Arctic Draba" by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0

    12 min
  3. When city rivers get wild

    06/13/2024

    When city rivers get wild

    It’s no secret that rivers winding through major cities have been reshaped by human hands. Where wildlife and marshes once existed, gray sidewalks and bleak straight-lined tributaries have blossomed. Now, some cities are implementing floating wetlands — native plant life on a body of biodegradable materials that bobs on top of the water — to address a budding desire to see animals and greenery return to their rivers.  In this podcast episode, Jenaye Johnson speaks with scientists and community members in Chicago about the Wild Mile — the city's biggest floating wetland to date. Join her as she winds down the Chicago River, explores the wetlands and discusses the future of new animal habitats and clean water in our urban spaces. And check out the associated article on Scienceline: https://scienceline.org/2024/06/wilding-city-rivers/ Music used: "Glue&Glia" by Rah Hite | CC BY 4.0 "Floating Wetlands" by Rah Hite | CC BY 4.0 "Lo Margin" by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0 "The Maison" by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0

    11 min
  4. What Was New York’s New Robocop?

    03/28/2024

    What Was New York’s New Robocop?

    Meet the newest robotic police officer in town: the Knightscope K5. This “Robocop” completed a two month trial period in New York City’s Times Square subway station from September to November of 2023, recording video and monitoring the station. But despite city officials promising its safety, people were understandably nervous about a robotic police officer.  The robot’s trial period has ended and the K5 will not be re-entering the subway system, but it still serves as an important window to the future of robots integrating into our society.  In this podcast Kohava Mendelsohn talks to experts, does some research and even ventures forth to visit the K5 herself in order to answer the important questions: What was this robotic cop? What could it actually do? And how worried should we be about it? And check out the article on Scienceline: https://scienceline.org/2024/04/nyc-robocop/ MUSIC: "Tall Journey" by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0  "Turning to You" by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0  "The Gran Dias" by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0  "Pewter Lamp" by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0

    11 min
  5. (Math + Art) × Fun = Mathemalchemy!

    03/13/2024

    (Math + Art) × Fun = Mathemalchemy!

    Boredom under COVID quarantine led many to pursue some strange side hobby, but for 24 mathematicians and artists, it resulted in Mathemalchemy — a collective of mathematically (aesthetically, too) charming pieces of art — from cryptographic quilts, huge parabolas of embroidered spheres, crochet theta curves caught in fishing nets, and murals of OctoPi, seen generating various wave-related equations per every water ripple. For the “Mathemalchemists,” their project is a lively, whimsical invitation into the world of mathematics, made for an audience of all ages and interests. The goal is to illustrate how math can be fun — not something schools force you to do, but something that leaves you inspired. So, how did this project come to be? What makes Mathemalchemy so special, both for the Mathemalchemists and anyone that comes across the exhibition? In this podcast, Gayoung Lee goes behind the scenes of Mathemalchemy with co-founders Ingrid Daubechies and Dominique Ehrmann, in addition to Mathemalchemists Jessica Sklar, Elizabeth Paley and Carolyn Yackel. MUSIC: “Pglet Into” by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0  “The Gran Dias” by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0  “Spring Cleaning” by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0

    10 min
  6. Restoring New York Harbor with a billion oysters

    02/16/2023

    Restoring New York Harbor with a billion oysters

    Oysters have been a New York City culinary staple for centuries. Hundreds of years ago, when the Indigenous Lenape people lived in the region prior to European colonization, the harbor teemed with shellfish. But by the early 20th century, pollution, urban development and overharvesting erased nearly 350 square miles of oyster beds. Fast forward to the present, and a nonprofit is now working to revive the once-mighty bivalve. The Billion Oyster Project started seeding the harbor with oysters in 2010 to improve water quality, increase marine biodiversity and boost shoreline protection. Its efforts have been successful: The group is on track to meet its one-billion oyster goal by 2035. In October, Timmy Broderick spent an afternoon measuring oysters with other New Yorkers to learn more about the project and the harbor’s marine life.

    10 min
  7. On the hunt for hidden dams

    02/09/2023

    On the hunt for hidden dams

    When you imagine a dam, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s the hulking concrete wall of the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River or the Grand Coulee on the Columbia. Large barriers on large rivers, looming large on the horizon. But colossal structures like these make up only a fraction of the dams that chop up waterways across the United States. The nation’s rivers, streams and brooks are full of smaller dams — many of which aren’t monitored at the state or national level. And even though they’re small, these barriers can alter aquatic habitats and cause trouble for the species that live there. In this podcast, Madison Goldberg speaks with scientists about the issue and goes on a dam hunt of her own. Also find the full story on Scienceline's website: https://scienceline.org/2023/02/on-the-hunt-for-hidden-dams/#dropdown-box-1 Music used: “Tower of Mirrors” by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0 “Copley Beat” by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0

    10 min
  8. Tracking hurricane-induced aging in our genetic primate relatives

    08/22/2022

    Tracking hurricane-induced aging in our genetic primate relatives

    Growing up in Houston, Marina Watowich was no stranger to hurricane seasons. This familiarity now drives Watowich’s research in genomics, where she seeks to understand how the environment affects the aging process. She isn’t studying aging in humans — but in a unique population of monkeys in Puerto Rico. These monkeys live on an isolated island off Puerto Rico and give researchers unique access and insights into monkey genetics. In 2017, Hurricane Maria walloped Puerto Rico and tore down trees on the island where the monkeys live. After the storm, Watowich and colleagues discovered the primate survivors aged rapidly, findings that have implications for human aging after natural disasters. Scienceline reporter Hannah Loss speaks with Watowich on her journey to uncover the aftermath of hurricanes on aging. Also find the full story on Scienceline's website: https://scienceline.org/2022/08/aging-primates/ Sounds used: Cyclone Hurricane Hugo 1989 by solostud | CC BY 3.0 Dj0287 via The Weather Channel Tetana Adkins Mace via NBC News Sloan's TV Airchive via KHOU TV Cayo Santiago monkey sounds courtesy of Noah Snyder-Mackler

    12 min
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About

The Scienceline podcast is produced by the Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program in the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at New York University. For more information, e-mail us at scienceline@gmail.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Scienceline
  • Years Active
    2011 - 2025
  • Episodes
    90
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Scienceline