Programs

The Mars rover Curiosity touched down safely early Monday morning as thousands worldwide looked on. Curiosity will now get to work investigating whether or not Mars has had a climate hospitable to life. We’ll celebrate this monumental engineering success and look ahead to the science to come, with University of Utah Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Tabitha Buehler; Kent Tobiska, Director of Utah State University’s Space Weather Center; and former NASA employee and current USU Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Stephen Whitmore.

“The United States depends on coal-burning electric plants for 50 percent of the nation’s power.  I cannot turn on the dish-washer, watch a movie, or write these words without thinking of coal.  And, conscious of this coal, I must think of the blood in my veins, because from the beginning of coal—this history of our energy—my ancestors pulled it from the earth with picks and with their hands.” So writes Erin Thomas, author of Coal in Our Veins: A Personal Journey. 

On Access Utah Monday Bryan Earl meets with Mark Anderson to talk about everything garden. Among the topics covered are shrubs, where to plant various plants in your yard, micro-organisms, raspberries and more. 

Science Questions profiles two farmers living on opposite sides of the country, but whom are both profoundly impacted by the oil and gas industry. Science Questions goes to the heart of farm land in Ohio and Utah, where natural gas extraction and farming collide. 

Every seven seconds someone in the world is diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Today on Access Utah, Author Patti Kerr joins Sheri Quinn to discuss her personal journey with caring for a family member with Alzheimer's disease. She offers practical advice for caregivers. 

On the show this week, I feature the Kerrville New Folk finalist Ernest Troost, and the return of the talented Barbara Kessler. I’ll also play songs from new albums by the Waymores, Anais Mitchell, and Mercedes Mill, to name a few. Join me this Saturday at 8pm for Fresh Folk on Utah Public Radio.

We're spending our time discussing the outdoors Thursday on Access Utah. First on the program we discuss the aspen trees on Monroe Mountain in Central Utah.  Elk, cattle and sheep arrived in the '80s and eat the shoots of young aspen stands. If the trend continues, there may not be any new trees, and the area could be taken over by sagebrush. Ranchers, environmentalists, State and Federal workers are all gathering to find ways to help the trees.

Ambassador Peter Tomsen was the special envoy to Afghan resistance leaders from 1989 to 1992 under President George H.W. Bush. He's the author of The Wars of Afghanistan: Messianic Terrorism, Tribal Conflicts, and the Failures of Great Powers in addition to being a guest on the Daily Show with John Stewart. Tom Williams will go for a more in-depth interview with Tomsen on Wednesday's Access Utah. 

A report released by the Annie E. casey Foundation Wednesday shows 16 percent of children in Utah live below the federal poverty threshold. The 2012 Kids Count Data Book analyses the well-being of children across the nation using indicators such as education, health, economic well-being and community. 

 We have Utah Representative Rebecca Chavez-Houck on to talk about the political process and child poverty, we have Terry Haven and Karen Crompton from Voices for Utah Children to discuss the report and what it means for Utah. 

Monday I met with Utah State University Extension Horticulturist Jerry Goodspeed to discuss shrubbery. What shrubs are drought-safe? What shrubs need lots of attention or virtually no attention?