Playlist: Veronique LaCapra's Portfolio
Featured
Sequestration Budget Cuts Hit St. Louis Scientists
From Veronique LaCapra | 06:06
It has been just over three months since the federal spending cuts known as sequestration first took effect.
A handful of programs were spared — but not scientific research, which amounts to about $140 billion in annual government spending.
As St. Louis Public Radio’s Véronique LaCapra found out, at universities here in St. Louis, some scientists are worried about what the budget cuts will mean for their research — and for their students.
It has been just over three months since the federal spending cuts known as sequestration first took effect.
A handful of programs were spared — but not scientific research, which amounts to about $140 billion in annual government spending.
As St. Louis Public Radio’s Véronique LaCapra found out, at universities here in St. Louis, some scientists are worried about what the budget cuts will mean for their research — and for their students.
Tackling Q Fever and Other Camel Diseases in Kenya
From Veronique LaCapra | 03:41
Camels are known for their ability to travel long distances across the desert without water.
But they’re also becoming an increasingly important source of milk for people in drought-prone regions. That includes East African countries like Kenya, where camel numbers have skyrocketed over the past few decades.
But introducing camels — or any species — to a new region, may mean bringing in new diseases that could affect livestock, people, and wildlife.
The Saint Louis Zoo has been studying camel diseases in Kenya to help assess their risks.
Camels are known for their ability to travel long distances across the desert without water.
But they’re also becoming an increasingly important source of milk for people in drought-prone regions. That includes East African countries like Kenya, where camel numbers have skyrocketed over the past few decades.
But introducing camels — or any species — to a new region, may mean bringing in new diseases that could affect livestock, people, and wildlife.
The Saint Louis Zoo has been studying camel diseases in Kenya to help assess their risks.
Cicadas. Love 'em...hate 'em...eat 'em?
From Veronique LaCapra | 03:43
Billions of periodical cicadas have emerged over the past few weeks in more than a dozen states across the Southeast and Midwest.
In part one of this two-part series, St. Louis Public Radio’s Véronique LaCapra took us out in the field to explore some of the science behind their unusual behavior. Now she’s heading into the kitchen, to try out a little home cooking – cicada style!
- Playing
- Cicadas. Love 'em...hate 'em...eat 'em?
- From
- Veronique LaCapra
Billions of periodical cicadas have emerged over the past few weeks in more than a dozen states across the Southeast and Midwest.
In part one of this two-part series, St. Louis Public Radio’s Véronique LaCapra took us out in the field to explore some of the science behind their unusual behavior. Now she’s heading into the kitchen, to try out a little home cooking – cicada style!
Edward O. Wilson: a conversation with a scientific pioneer
From Veronique LaCapra | 03:40
This is a 3:40 Q&A I did with renowned evolutionary ecologist E.O. Wilson, who developed the theory of island biogeography (one of the founding principles of conservation management) and pioneered the field of sociobiology.
I also have additional audio from our interview.
On request, I could turn this into a feature format profile.
This is a 3:40 Q&A I did with renowned evolutionary ecologist E.O. Wilson, who developed the theory of island biogeography (one of the founding principles of conservation management) and pioneered the field of sociobiology.
I also have additional audio from our interview.
On request, I could turn this into a feature format profile.
Life of chimp research and 'adventure' for Midwestern scientific duo
From Veronique LaCapra | 03:50
For more than a decade, Washington University anthropologist Crickette Sanz and Lincoln Park Zoo research conservationist David Morgan have lived and worked in a remote stretch of forest in Africa’s Congo Basin, studying chimpanzees and gorillas.
Together with local Congolese, they founded the Goualougo Triangle Ape Project, whose mission is to study and protect great apes and their habitat.
They spoke with St. Louis Public Radio's Véronique LaCapra.
For more than a decade, Washington University anthropologist Crickette Sanz and Lincoln Park Zoo research conservationist David Morgan have lived and worked in a remote stretch of forest in Africa’s Congo Basin, studying chimpanzees and gorillas.
Together with local Congolese, they founded the Goualougo Triangle Ape Project, whose mission is to study and protect great apes and their habitat.
They spoke with St. Louis Public Radio's Véronique LaCapra.
Show-Me Medicaid expansion? Missouri weighs the costs.
From Veronique LaCapra | 06:07
This feature explores what Medicaid expansion would mean for Missouri's working poor, from the personal perspective of a clinic doctor and two of her patients.
This feature explores what Medicaid expansion would mean for Missouri's working poor, from the personal perspective of a clinic doctor and two of her patients.
Opinion: exploring the ethics of human testing
From Veronique LaCapra | 06:11
A conversation with Washington University law professor Rebecca Dresser, about an article she recently published in the journal Science about the ethics of human testing, and changes she'd like to see made to the federal regulation designed to protect human research subjects. In addition to the Q&A for broadcast, there are two audio excerpts that can be used as "web extras." For an example, see here: http://www.news.stlpublicradio.org/post/opinion-exploring-ethics-human-testing
A conversation with Washington University law professor Rebecca Dresser, about an article she recently published in the journal Science about the ethics of human testing, and changes she'd like to see made to the federal regulation designed to protect human research subjects. In addition to the Q&A for broadcast, there are two audio excerpts that can be used as "web extras." For an example, see here: http://www.news.stlpublicradio.org/post/opinion-exploring-ethics-human-testing
White nose syndrome spreads west
From Veronique LaCapra | 03:34
Bad news for the bat population, a disease that has killed more than five million bats in the eastern United States and Canada has now reached Missouri. White-nose syndrome has now been diagnosed in three Missouri bats, the first confirmed cases west of the Mississippi.
And scientists say the spread won't stop there.
- Playing
- White nose syndrome spreads west
- From
- Veronique LaCapra
Bad news for the bat population, a disease that has killed more than five million bats in the eastern United States and Canada has now reached Missouri. White-nose syndrome has now been diagnosed in three Missouri bats, the first confirmed cases west of the Mississippi.
And scientists say the spread won't stop there.
Pipe Down! That Noise Might Affect Your Plants
From Veronique LaCapra | 03:14
Plants don't have ears, right? And if they can't hear you would assume that noise wouldn't matter much to them, which is why researchers haven't given much thought to the idea that noise might affect plants. But thanks to some new research, all of that may be about to change.
Plants don't have ears, right? And if they can't hear you would assume that noise wouldn't matter much to them, which is why researchers haven't given much thought to the idea that noise might affect plants. But thanks to some new research, all of that may be about to change.
Cheers! Fruit Flies Drink To Their Health, Literally
From Veronique LaCapra | 03:47
It's Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, time for dancing, eating and, of course, drinking - sometimes a lot of drinking. Now, as humans, we pay a price for drinking alcohol. Tomorrow's hangover, or worse.
But, as St. Louis Public Radio's Veronique LaCapra reports, for young fruit flies, alcohol may be just what the doctor ordered.
It's Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, time for dancing, eating and, of course, drinking - sometimes a lot of drinking. Now, as humans, we pay a price for drinking alcohol. Tomorrow's hangover, or worse.
But, as St. Louis Public Radio's Veronique LaCapra reports, for young fruit flies, alcohol may be just what the doctor ordered.
'Shake-And-Bake' Meth Causes Uptick In Burn Victims
From Veronique LaCapra | 03:38
Hospitals are seeing an increase in a particular kind of patient. People who accidentally burn themselves while making methamphetamine.
Addicts are using an approach called “shake-and-bake” to produce the drug. All it involves is a plastic bottle and store-bought ingredients — much simpler than making meth in a rudimentary laboratory.
And a federal law governing access to an over-the-counter decongestant may be part of the problem.
Hospitals are seeing an increase in a particular kind of patient. People who accidentally burn themselves while making methamphetamine.
Addicts are using an approach called “shake-and-bake” to produce the drug. All it involves is a plastic bottle and store-bought ingredients — much simpler than making meth in a rudimentary laboratory.
And a federal law governing access to an over-the-counter decongestant may be part of the problem.
Zoo Crafts Love Nest To Save Ozark's Salamanders
From Veronique LaCapra | 03:59
They're flat, they're slimy, and they hide under rocks on river bottoms. At up to 2 feet in length, the Ozark hellbender is one of the world's largest salamanders. And they're disappearing. There are fewer than 600 left in the rivers of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. Scientists have been making a huge effort to get them to breed in captivity. Now, as St. Louis Public Radio's Veronique LaCapra reports, it looks like 2012 could be the year of new hope for hellbenders.
They're flat, they're slimy, and they hide under rocks on river bottoms. At up to 2 feet in length, the Ozark hellbender is one of the world's largest salamanders. And they're disappearing. There are fewer than 600 left in the rivers of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. Scientists have been making a huge effort to get them to breed in captivity. Now, as St. Louis Public Radio's Veronique LaCapra reports, it looks like 2012 could be the year of new hope for hellbenders.
Exhibition explores the nexus of art and science
From Veronique LaCapra | 03:51
There's an unusual art exhibition going on right now at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
The exhibition showcases three artists from the St. Louis region whose work blurs the lines between art and science.
St. Louis Public Radio’s Véronique LaCapra talked with the artists and the show’s curator, and produced this sound portrait of the exhibition.
[NOTE: This piece is non-narrated. More photos of the exhibition are available upon request.]
There's an unusual art exhibition going on right now at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
The exhibition showcases three artists from the St. Louis region whose work blurs the lines between art and science.
St. Louis Public Radio’s Véronique LaCapra talked with the artists and the show’s curator, and produced this sound portrait of the exhibition.
[NOTE: This piece is non-narrated. More photos of the exhibition are available upon request.]
Inside the St. Louis sewer system: fixing a messy problem
From Veronique LaCapra | 03:54
St. Louis is one of hundreds of older cities across the country facing the challenge of dealing with an aging sewer system.
This summer, the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District settled a four-year lawsuit with the Environmental Protection Agency over violations of the Clean Water Act.
Under the terms of the consent decree, MSD will spend the next 23 years upgrading the St. Louis area sewer system.
St. Louis Public Radio’s Véronique LaCapra looks at the problems with our sewers – and what it’s going to take to fix them.
St. Louis is one of hundreds of older cities across the country facing the challenge of dealing with an aging sewer system.
This summer, the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District settled a four-year lawsuit with the Environmental Protection Agency over violations of the Clean Water Act.
Under the terms of the consent decree, MSD will spend the next 23 years upgrading the St. Louis area sewer system.
St. Louis Public Radio’s Véronique LaCapra looks at the problems with our sewers – and what it’s going to take to fix them.
Missouri World Trade Center responders still at risk for health problems
From Veronique LaCapra | 03:55
In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, more than 50,000 rescue and recovery workers converged at the World Trade Center. Among them were the 62 members of Missouri’s FEMA Urban Search and Rescue task force.
The experience at ground zero made many workers sick, with health problems ranging from asthma to post-traumatic stress disorder.
St. Louis Public Radio’s Véronique LaCapra has this report about how the members of Missouri’s rescue team are doing.
In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, more than 50,000 rescue and recovery workers converged at the World Trade Center. Among them were the 62 members of Missouri’s FEMA Urban Search and Rescue task force.
The experience at ground zero made many workers sick, with health problems ranging from asthma to post-traumatic stress disorder.
St. Louis Public Radio’s Véronique LaCapra has this report about how the members of Missouri’s rescue team are doing.
