John Monahan

Gingrichtown on the Moon? If elected president, Newt Gingrich says he’ll develop plans for an American colony on the moon. Just how far-fetched is such an idea? Our resident science teacher, John Monahan, tackles the subject. Plus, space tourism and drilling into Antarctica’s Lake Vostok.

Science contributor John Monahan returns to talk about the search for the elusive "God particle" and why physicists are excited about it; Also joining us: Andrei Gritsan, assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University's Department of Physics and Astronomy and a scientist working on the particle project at the CERN Large Hadron Collider in Geneva. Also, hybrid sharks, biofuel from recycled paper and the mystery of El Chupacabra solved.

In this edition of Midday on Science, a look at science in the movies: the good the bad and the ridiculous. Midday's science contributor John Monahan analyzes movies for their scientific plausibility and shares his list of Hollywood's top ten science mistakes. (REBROADCAST)

The leading biotech company to use embryonic stem cell treatment withdrew its funding for research last month.  Critics worry this move could set back stem cell research for years.  Also, new scientific discoveries:  another Earth-like planet, the largest black holes ever found, and the possibility that Mars had once sustained life.  We're joined by Midday's Science contributor, John Monahan, science educator and author of They Called Me Mad: Genius, Madness, and the Scientists Who Pushed the Outer Limits of Knowledge

Midday’s science contributor John Monahan shares the latest news - from smart grid systems to the link between Mad Cow and Alzheimer’s disease.  Plus, the stranger side of science.

Our guest this hour, Baltimore science teacher John Monahan, is a wonderfully engaging educator who claims that many of the world’s great scientists were a touch mad – or at least highly eccentric. From Archimedes to Einstein, Monahan profiles the men and women whose discoveries changed the world – while their behavior informed generations of mad scientist legend. His book: They Called Me Mad: Genius, Madness, and the Scientists who Pushed the outer Limits of Knowledge.
Original airdate: August 15, 2011

Texas Gov. Rick Perry says he doesn't fully believe in the theory of evolution and he considers global warming a hoax. With Perry and another global warming denier, Rep. Michele Bachmann, gaining ground as they seek the Republican presidential nomination -- and with Mitt Romney changing his tune on climate change -- we wonder what happens if an anti-science conservative were to win the White House in 2012. Another moratorium on stem cell research? Drastic cuts in research funding? More delays in addressing climate change?

Our guest this hour, Baltimore science teacher John Monahan, is a wonderfully engaging educator who claims that many of the world’s great scientists were a touch mad – or at least highly eccentric. From Archimedes to Einstein, Monahan profiles the men and women whose discoveries changed the world – while their behavior informed generations of mad scientist legend. His book:They Called Me Mad: Genius, Madness, and the Scientists who Pushed the outer Limits of Knowledge.