Saving Apples, Ancient Animal Footprints, Green Chemistry

This week: We go to Kazakhstan, where the ancestor of modern-day apples is under threat of extinction. You’ll learn about the discovery of some ancient animal tracks that are changing our understanding of the evolution of terrestrial animals. You’ll also hear an interview with journalist and author Elizabeth Grossman about Green Chemistry, a field of science aimed at designing safer, non-toxic chemicals. In our Music in Science series, you’ll hear from marine biologist Steve Palumbi of Stanford University.

Rewriting Tetrapod Evolution: Paleontologists have discovered the fossilized tracks of an animal that lived 395 million years ago. The discovery suggests that our fishy ancestors may have taken to land some 18 million years earlier than scientists had previously thought. Some scientists are skeptical about drawing too many conclusions yet. But others think the discovery will rewrite the evolution of tetrapod ancestry.
Guest: Henry Gee.
Tiktaali roseae, the creature that scientists previously thought was first to walk out of water.
Video Credit: Nature Video.

The Promise of Green Chemistry: A few weeks ago, on podcast no. 43, you heard from Henrik Selin of Boston University about ways to reduce the threats from toxic chemicals. This week, you’ll hear from journalist and author Elizabeth Grossman about chemists trying to design cleaner, greener chemicals.
Guest: Elizabeth Grossman, author of Chasing Molecules.
Use of Potentially Harmful Chemicals Kept Secret Under Law, Washington Post.
A special podcast on toxic chemicals and the Bhopal disaster on Podcast no. 43.

Saving Apples: Scientists think that all apples originated from one species of fruit tree found in present day Kazakhstan. This ancestral species — Mallus sylvestris — may face extinction.
Report by: Rayhan Demytrie.

Music in Science: Continuing our new segment on music, we speak with Steve Palumbi. He is a marine biologist, a musician, and a songwriter.
Guest: Steve Palumbi.
Produced by: Marina Giovannelli.

Tags: apple, chemicals, green chemistry, Kazakhstan, music, tetrapod