under the microscope
KBIA News brings you a look at health, science, and technology issues this week in mid-Missouri in Under the Microscope, hosted by Andrea Chalfin. 
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05/08/08 
After 17 years of planning, Columbia's own science center is finally open. KBIA's Martin Winkler attended last week’s YouZeum grand opening, and has a report.
A recent article in the Columbia Daily Tribune highlighted Columbia's own team of Ghostbusters. The Kindred Moon Paranormal Society investigates area reports of the paranormal. The group also has a TV show to showcase its findings. KBIA's Austin Coates saw the article and decided to find out for himself what they're all about.
05/01/08 Even with advances in modern medicine and the legislative debates over midwifery, many women are choosing still a third option when it comes to childbirth. They’re called doulas. A doula is a woman, frequently a mother herself, who helps educate expectant mothers about pregnancy and helps with the mental and emotional wellbeing of expectant families. KBIA's Mark Lewis reports.
Below: Renee and Curtis Bichel pose outside their Moberly home with their doula, Mary Summa. (Mark Lewis/KBIA News)
Also on today's Under the Microscope, there are lots of superstitions surrounding black cats…but superstitions also shadow their canine counterparts. KBIA's Xenia Shih went to an area shelter to examine why black dogs are less likely to find a new home than lighter colored dogs.
04/24/08 According to Associated Press Studies released earlier this year, scientists have found a vast range of pharmaceuticals, and even illegal drugs, in the drinking water all over the county. Since the release of the study, lawmakers and private citizens have raised concerns about the possible risks associated with the discovery of the before-unknown chemicals in the water. KBIA's Kevin Lorenz reports on how traditional water pollutants like lead, and pesticides, may not be the biggest threat anymore.
The third annual International Symposium on Agro-Terrorism in Kansas City wraps up today. The ISA stems from discussions between the Heart of America Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Kansas City Division of the FBI. The goal, according to the ISA website, is to bring together the public and private sectors to defend the world’s food supply. KBIA's Tyson Sprick caught up with some Missourians on the front line in the battle against agro-terrorism.
There's a new baby at the St. Louis Zoo. For the first time at the Zoo and only the second time in North America, a Somali Wild Ass was born. The animals live in the Horn of Africa, and are the smallest members of the wild equids--that's horses, asses, and zebras. They're also considered critically endangered. In this week's Under the Microscope, we take a look at the Zoo's new addition.
Click here for more information about the new Somali Wild Ass.
04/17/08 The state of Missouri has received an additional 146 million dollars as part of a 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with tobacco companies. KBIA’s Tyson Sprick takes a look at where that money goes.
And, each year in the fall and spring, the historic Morrison Observatory in Fayette draws crowds of enthusiastic stargazers of all ages. Among the visitors are the Hardings, a family of four who are regulars. KBIA’s Thanyarat Doksone spent some time with the family and looks into the allure of the observatory.
04/10/08 The City of Columbia has a new line item on its parks and recreation payroll--goosedog. Dulce is a three year old border collie. She and her owner, Kathy Love, will patrol Stephens Lake Park and Twin Lakes Park twice daily throughout April and May to deter migrating geese from overstaying their welcome. The problem, city officials say, is that the geese can be overly aggressive and are making a mess of park walkways and shorelines. KBIA's Mark Lewis reports.
Area food banks are always looking to increase the amount of provisions that reach the tables of Mid-Missourians. In this rebroadcast of a story that first aired in December, KBIA's Kevin Schwaller reports on one organization that helps tackle an often difficult issue for hunger relief agencies.... by enlisting the aid of hunters.
04/03/08 The American Heart Association revised its guidelines for CPR this week. KBIA's Xenia Shih reports.
And, for over a year, the University of Missouri's School of Health Professions has been studying what they call "constraint induced treatment" for stroke victims. The therapy involves disabling the unaffected limb to force patients to use the stroke affected limb. KBIA's Martin Winkler has more on how this new therapy is offering new hope to stroke victims.
03/27/08 A check-in with the Army Corps of Engineers regarding its planned spring rise on the Missouri River...
Light is not often associated with the idea of pollution, but light that escapes upward can cloud the night sky and hinder stargazing. As KBIA's Austin Coates reports, a bill in the Missouri House aims to call this extra light a pollutant...
And, more and more drivers are using ethanol fuel to power their vehicles, but with a new fuel source comes a need for a new method for fighting fires fueled by that source. KBIA's Matt Jeffries tagged along with members of Mexico's Public Safety Department as they participated in training with all types of gas-based fires, with an emphasis on ethanol.
03/20/08 The U.S. Postal Service has issued a stamp with the image of Washington University biochemist G
erty Cori, the first American woman to receive a Nobel Prize. But for people who knew her, the honor is bittersweet. As science reporter Julie Bierach explains from St. Louis, while recognizing Cori's achievements in science, the U.S. Postal Service got the science wrong.
And, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of overweight children has significantly increased since the mid-seventies. Almost one fifth of today's teens are considered overweight. KBIA's Ferdous Al Faruque reports on a new child obesity clinic at University Hospital aimed at addressing the issue.
03/13/08 Honeybees that help pollinate Missouri's apples and peaches are disappearing. Struggling beekeepers who have lost their hives are looking for relief in the Farm Bill.
And, a visit with science fiction author Arlan Andrews, founder of SIGMA, a think tank consulted by the Department of Homeland Security.
03/06/08 At a recent public forum, residents and city officials alike were invited to discuss global warming issues and how they pertain to the city of Columbia. KBIA's Akiko Oda has this follow-up on just how the city is addressing the issue.
And, Democratic State Representative Judy Baker plans to propose an amendment to the state's house budget after an early draft failed to provide funding to start the "Prepare to Care" program. As KBIA's Elle Moxley reports, the program seeks to increase the number of health care professionals in the state.
02/28/08 Scientists, researchers, and students are gathering in Washington, D.C. this week for the 50th Annual Maize Genetics Conference. At the conference, scientists plan to announce the completion of the genetic blueprint of the corn genome.
The Missouri Organic Association recently held its annual conference in Jefferson City, where presenters and other attendees shared techniques and opportunities. KBIA's Whitney Wallace attended the conference and spoke with a presenter and consumer about their experiences.
And, debate continues surrounding the possibility of two new power plants in mid-Missouri. Proposed plans in Norborne would create a coal-burning facility, while one in Calloway County would be a nuclear plant. Residents and members of Missourians for Safe Energy gathered last night to discuss the plans ... their complaints were largely about the nuclear facility. KBIA's Sara Wittmeyer reports.
02/21/08 Mother Nature is reminding Missourians that it's still winter, as another frozen storm makes its way across the state. By this morning, most of Missouri had seen snow, sleet or ice. Some areas caught all three. The winter storm hit first in southwest Missouri and moved quickly across the state. According to the National Weather Service, a winter storm warning remains in effect through tomorrow for much of mid-Missouri including Boone, Audrain, and Callway Counties.
Just outside Harrisburg sits three homes on a large plot of land. In these homes live three separate families, each with foster children. It's Coyote Hill, a center dedicated to helping kids who have suffered from abuse or neglect. Dubbed a professional home of love, Coyote Hill provides licensed counseling and social work services to those who stay there. KBIA's Sean Powers visited the ranch in search of the philosophy behind Coyote Hill, and its metaphors for real life.
For more information on Coyote Hill, click here.
02/14/08 The issue of health care seems to be in the forefront of many minds this season. Whether in national politics or state politics, health care is a buzz issue. But as KBIA's Sean Powers reports, for one group of people, the issue of health care actually raises real fear.
And, the moon's color will change for a couple hours next week because of a full eclipse. KBIA's Sara Wittmeyer reports.
To access the 2007 archive of Under the Microscope features in streaming audio, click here.
