Science of the Occult

At last, fossil and genetic findings elucidate the evolution of bats--and settle a long-standing debate over the origins of flight and echolocation

There is an environmental price for our love of chocolate on Halloween, but it may not be what you think

For Halloween, we take a tour of Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, N.Y., with geologist Sidney Horenstein and Woodlawn expert Susan Olsen, concentrating on the geology of the rock used in the memorials. Plus, we'll test your knowledge of some recent science in the news. Web sites related to this episode include www.bigpumpkins.com; www.thewoodlawncemetery.org

A cognitive scientist employs malevolent logic to define the dark side of the human psyche

Scientists scan the brain in an attempt to explain the hows and whys of being afraid--very afraid

Researchers set up "haunted" room to prove an electromagnetic theory of ghost sightings

A study shows that young children have a tough time knowing if monsters are real or pretend. Christie Nicholson reports.

Why so many of us think our minds continue on after we die

Does the fear of "someone watching" help put us on the straight and narrow path?

It is the pressure change--not the blades--that wipe out thousands of bats annually at wind farms

In this episode, Scientific American editor-in-chief John Rennie talks about the magazine's history of involvement with efforts to debunk medical quakery and paranormal fakery, which included a fistfight between a Sci Am editor and Harry Houdini. And we'll hear an 1883 Sci Am editorial on the relative merits of the telephone and telegraph. Plus we'll test your knowledge of some recent science in the news. Websites mentioned on this episode include: gutenberg.org; ssrn.com/abstract=970413

HemoBioTech says it has solved the toxicity issues that have plagued its predecessors

In this episode, journalist Susan Warren, author of the new book Backyard Giants, talks about the art and science involved in the Quixotic quest to grow the world's biggest pumpkins. Plus we'll test your knowledge of some recent science in the news. Websites mentioned on this podcast include: bigpumpkins.com; 60secondscience.com

Fog and lasers reveal the wind beneath a bat's wings

As recently as the 1890s, some New Englanders believed that their dead relatives were vampires, feeding on the living. And, in fact, the dead could look better when exhumed than they did while still alive. Now we know why. http://users.net1plus.com/vyrdolak/NEFolkbelief.htm

Natural reservoir for emerging viruses may be bats

Pigments that turn caustic on exposure to light can fight cancer, blindness and heart disease. Their light-induced toxicity may also help explain the origin of vampire tales