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The Best of Our Knowledge # 1073

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-957124.mp3

Albany, NY – OPENING BILLBOARD & EDUCATION HEADLINES - Glenn Busby (1.30)

ASTROBIOLOGY RESEARCH AND EDUCATION SERIES
"OXYGEN, GEOSTABLE MOLECULES AND THE CLOUD PARADIGM"
Part Two: The History of Climate Change and the Origins of Life -

Recent headlines announced that an astrobiologist had found signs of life. The New York Times reported "NASA scientist sees signs of life in meteorites." FOX said, "NASA scientist claims evidence of alien life on meteorite."

Well, it didn't take long for reaction to come. David Morrison, senior scientist at the NASA Astrobiology Institute, emailed that "Many scientists have examined thousands of meteorites in detail over the past 50 years without finding any evidence of fossil life." He went on to write, "I would invoke Carl Sagan's famous advice that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence which this (does) not." Morrison added it may have been more appropriate if the headlines had been published on April 1st, an obvious reference to April Fool's Day.

While the peer-reviewed jury of scientists remains out on that claim, other scientists continue to work each day in their labs to discover clues to the history of the origin of life and the history of our climate. These long-asked questions yearn for answers.

Dr. Roger Summons is a Professor of Geobiology in the Department of Earth, Atmosphere, and Planetary Sciences at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Last week, we discussed The Great Oxidation Event, and Dr. Summons' study of organic matter from microbes, environmental samples, and rocks.

This week, we talk about climate change (always a hot-button topic) and the origins of life, another often debated issue, especially when it comes to science curriculum

Glenn Busby reports. (11:59)

The preceding was made possible by the NASA Astrobiology Institute, through support of the New York Center for Astrobiology, located at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - in partnership with the University at Albany, the University of Arizona, and Syracuse University.

*(For additional information about this story, or any of the other more than 180 stories featured in this current exclusive Astrobiology series and our past Origins of Life radio series, or if you would like to hear them again via your computer, the website given at the conclusion of the above segment is: www.origins.rpi.edu.)*

MATH SCHOOL SUCCESS LEADS TO SCIENCE UNIVERSITY -

Continuing with our science focus, every year, students in India compete for places at that nation's premiere science universities. The colleges are known collectively as the Indian Institutes of Technology.

Across the country, hundreds of thousands of students take the entrance exam. But only the top two-percent are accepted.

One math teacher has had tremendous success getting his students in, despite the fact many of them come from extreme poverty.

World Vision's, Peter Aronson, reports details from Northern India. (4:46)

THE ACADEMIC MINUTE
"SCIENTIFIC THEORY EXPLAINED" -

This week's Academic Minute professor reveals why scientists often struggle to explain themselves to the general public.

Dr. Rich Wolfson is a Professor of Physics at Middlebury College.

The Academic Minute is hosted by Dr. Lynn Pasquerella, a celebrated philosopher and medical ethicist, and President of Mount Holyoke College. (2:30)

SHOW CLOSE - Glenn Busby. (1:30)