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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Spring 2008

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 Gerty 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 DC 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.

02/07/08 Missouri is currently home to nineteen coal-burning power plants speckled throughout the state. The 20th might be coming to Norborne. But the initiative is meeting with some resistance from in the small Missouri town...

...and according to the National Women's Health Report Card, the state of Missouri ranks 38th out of the fifty states in overall women's health. The National Women's Law Center published the report this fall, and not one state received a satisfactory score. KBIA's Kevin Lorenz takes a closer look at the study and has more on why some area health officials are questioning the validity of the results. Encore broadcast from 12/27/07.

01/31/08 KBIA’s Pat Fleming sits down with one area doctor to discuss some of the concerns that arise during winter weather...and, scientists recently published the DNA sequence of the Feline Genome. Researchers hope that by unveiling the genetic code of the domestic cat, they’ll learn more about the 250 diseases that afflict both cats and humans. Science reporter Julie Bierach from KWMU in St. Louis paid a visit to one Missouri feline who will go down in history. Encore broadcast from 12/06/07.

01/24/08 The Rural Track Program in the University of Missouri's School of Medicine is one attempt at addressing physician shortages in rural areas. Students in the program receive loans from the state's Department of Health and Senior Services and work in small towns throughout Missouri....

...and, many people might say their least favorite chair is "the dentist's chair." But as KBIA’s Matt Tarnawa reports, some new technology under development at MU might someday take the pain—and the fear—out of drilling teeth. Encore broadcast from 09/13/07.

01/17/08 Honda debuted a new fuel cell car at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, and according to a recent article on MSNBC, all major automakers are working with hydrogen technology. Some MU students working with the energy carrier are building their own car that runs on the gas...and in the process, getting a hands-on lesson in engineering while also teaching others about alternative power sources. KBIA's Catherine Wolf visited the students while they worked on the car to find out more.

There are practical questions regarding the viability of hydrogen-powered cars actually reaching the general consumer. By some estimates, the technology won't become commonplace for decades. Some critics even suggest the creation of hydrogen makes more pollution than that of traditional gasoline powered cars. John Sheffield, professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Missouri S & T, provides a few answers.

01/10/08 The Missouri Department of Conservation is calling on anglers to help construct regulations when it comes to catfish fishing...

And, when it comes to milk, the white frothy substance is most often associated with cows. But soy milk has become a popular alternative to dairy milk, and for people looking for something a little different, rice and almond milk also line the shelves of some grocery stores. KBIA’s Sean Powers reports on yet another alternative, a new one made from hemp that comes from Oregon-based Living Harvest.

01/03/08 As the holiday season winds down, many residents might wonder what to do with their Christmas trees. According to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Solid Waste Management Program, like yard waste, it’s illegal in the state of Missouri to send Christmas trees to landfills. Many communities have special collection and/or drop-off periods, but the Department of Natural Resources also has a few other ideas...

...The Mizzou Tigers walloped the Arkansas Razorbacks this week in the Cotton Bowl, and part of the festivities surrounding the big game included Truman the Tiger marching through the streets of Dallas as part of their New Year's Parade. But the real-life counter-parts of Truman the Tiger are in a battle of their own. The World Wildlife Federation lists the tiger as endangered, some as critically endangered. KBIA's Henry Atkinson reports on the efforts of one group trying to make a difference.

Visit the website for the Mizzou Tigers for Tigers group.

For more information on the World Wildlife Federation, click here to visit their website.