May 18th, 2011 Podcast – Farewell Show

Since the show started in January 2009, NYSK has brought you everything in nature that rocks! In this final episode, we revisited some of the topics, people, places, and music that have been featured throughout the last two and half years. A big thanks to all my listeners and to the resources that made it all happen (e.g. the Macaulay Library, TNC’s Nature Stories, Scientific American’s 60-second Science)!

A big FAT thank you to KXUA, for providing this nature nut with an outlet of expression for her love of the natural sciences and music. It is my hope to continue the show on KHDX at my new teaching gig at Hendrix College this fall. You can stay in touch with me and the show by emailing naturewithmojo@gmail.com or by visiting the blog at

www.naturewithmojo.blogspot.com

Mojo with her dog, Vik, in her preferred habitat – the Ozark Mountains!

May 11th, 2011 Podcast – Evolution of Animal Signals

Last week, we covered the definition of animal communication and channels through which animals communicate (e.g. visual, auditory, chemical). (No podcast was able to be posted of this show… sorry!).

In this week’s episode, we continued our discussion of animal communication with the evolution of animal signals. Download the podcast to learn about competing theories for the function of communication, how raw materials for communication become ritualized over time, and some factors that shape the evolution of signals. We conclude with dishonesty in signaling, as represented by the female Photuris firefly (pictured above), which mimics the flashes of females from another firefly species. The poor, unwitting males, thinking they’re coming in for some sweet love, are instead captured and devoured by the deceitful Photuris!

www.naturewithmojo.blogspot.com

p.s. After two and a half years of NYSK, I will conclude the show’s run with a final broadcast next Wednesday, May 18th. Please join me in sending the show off with a bang!

April 27th, 2011 Podcast: Amazing Animal Architects

In this episode, we learned about some crafty critters and their architectural masterpieces, including termite mounds (pictured above), which have “air conditioning” and can be up to 30-ft tall (which is like a mile-high in the termite world)! I pulled this list of amazing architects from cracked.com. Download the podcast to listen as we work through the list, which is complimented by some awesome music – including artists such as the Velvet Underground, Darwin Deez, Headlights, and more!

www.naturewithmojo.blogspot.com

April 20th, 2011 Podcast – The Gulf Coast Oil Spill – One Year Later

For the April 20th episode, we took a look at current perspectives on the oil spill in the Gulf that occurred one year ago this day. The theme that floats to the top is that although the spill did not result in the level of catastrophe we feared, we cannot truly understand its economic and ecological impacts after just one year. This story is far from over.

www.naturewithmojo.blogspot.com

April 13th, 2011 Podcast – Animal Migration

This week, we learned about why animals migrate and about some of the navigational tools they use to get from point A to B. Lots of great music was featured including tracks from artists such as Robert Johnson, Neko Case, and PJ Harvey. Download the podcast for to hear all about it!

www.naturewithmojo.blogspot.com