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You have been reading about the biologists behind the Ask A Biologist website. Now you can hear them too. Dr. Biology has been speaking with many of the biologists that are discovering new worlds and exploring new frontiers in biology. Each show includes a full written transcript and content log.

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Feather Biology

Dr. Biology and his co-host Brian Varela from Dunbar Elementary School get a close-up view of bird feathers. The pair interview biologist Kevin McGraw an expert on animals coloration who studies birds to unlock their secrets. They learn about the many ways birds use their feathers. What they find out might surprise you.

Iridescence: Nature's Spectacular Colors

You may not know the name or how it works, but iridescent color is common in Nature. From butterflies to birds and even fish you can see examples of these eye-popping colors. Dr. Biology sits down with physicist Peter Vukusic to talk about iridescence and science behind these spectacular colors.

Wickedly Cool Plants

Dr. Biology and his co-host Taylor Cheatham from Dunbar Elementary School explore some of the more unusual plants of the desert and beyond. The pair interview biologist Raul Gutierrez who has been studying Devil's Claw. If that is not a wickedly cool name - what is? There is even talk of some plants eating insects. Let's hope they don't get an appetite for larger animals.

Spiderwoman

What would have happened if poor Miss Muffet had not been frightened away by the spider that sat down beside her? Dr. Biology talks with two scientists that certainly were not frightened away by spiders. Listen in as biologists Eileen Hebets and Lisa Taylor talk about their passion for these cool creatures.

Spiderman meets Spider-Man

World expert arachnologist Norman Platnick sits down with Dr. Biology to talk about his favorite eight legged animal. Sometimes scary to people, learn what the world might be like without spiders and if the current action hero Tobey Maguire is actually afraid of the animal who made him famous.

Math Biology

Dr. Biology visits with two young mathematicians that also have a love for biology. Cassie Pawling and Genevieve Toutain talk about how their passion for numbers have blended with biology as well as how they have gotten where they are and future plans. Be sure to listen in if for no other reason than to learn some great math tricks you can use to impress friends and family including some mind boggling mind reading?

Panda-monium

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hold a baby Giant Panda in your lap? Listen in while Dr. Biology talks with two scientists who have gotten up close and personal with Pandas. Andrew Smith is a returning guest and WEI Fuwen is a visiting scientist from China that has been studying pandas in the wild. He has even caught the sounds of these elusive animals in the wild.

Birds of a Feather

Listen in while Dr. Biology talks with two leading Arizona bird experts. Biologist Dave Pearson and Audubon Environmental Educator Cathy Wise let us in on these amazing animals. After listening to these two birders, as they call them selves, you will want to try out birding yourself. Did we mention the Philippine Monkey-eating Eagle? Let's just say, be glad you're not a monkey living in Philippines.

Hulking Biology

When you think of the comic character the Hulk, you think BIG and that's what Dr. Biology does in this episode- he learns about a building-size instrument being used by a group of scientists. This monster instrument is called a synchrotron and is an important part of the XM2 microscope that is being built to look inside cells in a new way. Find out what biophysicist Gerry McDermott has to say about this powerful tool and also its link to the Hulk. Really there is a connection!

Cell CAT Scans

Dr. Biology travels to the National Center for X-ray Tomography in Berkeley California to learn about a new microscope being built by cell biologist Carolyn Larabell and a team of scientists that provides a new way to look inside cells. Using a building sized instrument called a synchrotron for its light source the XM2, as it is called, uses X-rays to look inside cells - in fact it is so new it is the only one of its kind in the world!

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