Paleofantasy #207

April 05, 2013

This episode was recorded when Science for the People was called Skeptically Speaking.

This week, we’re taking a look at the past, present and future of food, and what science has to say about some popular health trends. We’re joined by biology professor Marlene Zuk, to talk about her new book Paleofantasy: What Evolution Really Tells Us about Sex, Diet, and How We Live. And guest host Rachelle Saunders talks to Koert Van Mensvoort, director of the Next Nature Network, about the cultural implications of lab-grown meat products.

Guests:

Listen Now

Featured Book

Paleofantasy: What Evolution Really Tells Us about Sex, Diet, and How We Live

Written by Marlene Zuk

Book Blurb Find On Amazon

Other Episodes About Controversies

Where Do Camels Belong?

This week, we're discussing ecosystems, biodiversity, and whether or not "invasive" outside species are really as bad as they're made out to be. We'll spend the hour speaking to Dr. Ken Thompson,... Read More

December 11, 2015

Medical Marijuana

This week, we're taking a closer look at the medical marijuana controversy. How effective is medical marijuana and for what conditions is it a suitable treatment? In our attempt to separate evidence... Read More

March 11, 2016

Too Hot To Handle

This week we're talking about sex education: why we started teaching it in schools in the first place, how it's changed over the years, and what it might – or should –... Read More

March 18, 2016

Other Episodes About Evolution

This is not about dinosaurs

Most people know how the age of dinosaurs ended. An asteroid hit and all the dinosaurs died out. But it's never quite that simple. In her newest book, The Last Days of... Read More

April 25, 2022

This one really is about aliens

Do you believe there's something Out There? What do our ideas of aliens say about what life is, how life could look and act? And what does it say about us, about... Read More

May 09, 2023

How birds go the distance

Birds carry out some of the most amazing feats of athleticism in the world. Hummingbirds cross the entire Gulf of Mexico, their tiny wings beating continuously for three days straight. A single... Read More

July 05, 2023

Other Episodes About Fitness

The Survival Guide for Outsiders

We talk to Sherman K. Stein, mathematician and author of Survival Guide for Outsiders: How To Protect Yourself From Politicians, Experts, and Other Insiders. What makes us so susceptible to social influence,... Read More

April 30, 2010

Obesity

Researcher and writer Peter Janiszewski joins us to discuss the science of obesity, and the latest research on weight loss and human health. And on Speaking Up we talk with Carrie Iwan... Read More

April 02, 2010

Astrobiology

Dr. Maggie Turnbull, consulting scientist for NASA's New World Observer, a space telescope mission to discover and study Earth-like planets orbiting nearby stars, and for the MIT Exoplanet-SAT, a mission to search... Read More

July 31, 2009

Other Episodes About Food

That's the Yeast of your Worries

Like many people these days, you might be spending your time at home making bread. Maybe you couldn't find instant yeast and decided that sourdough didn't sound that hard. But the colony... Read More

May 10, 2020

Tasting Qualities

Do you like tea? If you, like many of us, do, then you probably have an idea (or perhaps very strong opinions) of what a "good cup of tea" tastes like. But... Read More

October 05, 2020

The Unavoidable Complexities of Food

We can definitely agree there is a lot about our current food systems that isn't sustainable. But what's harder to agree on is what we need to do to fix it for... Read More

March 30, 2021

Other Episodes About GMOs

Genetically Modified Foods Revisited

This week, we’ll spend the hour talking about genetically modified foods, that are causing conversation among scientists, lawmakers and the public. Horticulture professor Kevin Folta returns to the show, along with Karl... Read More

October 12, 2012

Food Sustainability

This week, we're exploring the technological, environmental and economic challenges of feeding the human race. Desiree Schell spends the hour with Valentine Cadieux, professor of Sociology and Geology at the University of Minnesota, and... Read More

October 18, 2013

Genetically Modified Foods

University of Florida researcher Kevin Folta discusses what an expert in plant genomics thinks about the claims and controversy surrounding genetically modified foods. On Speaking Up, we talk with Monty Harper and... Read More

August 06, 2010