Radio Made in Michigan

Current State #4 | January 17, 2013

WKAR Public Media | By Current State

Published January 17, 2013 at 2:54 PM EST

On today's Current State: Off the Record's Tim Skubick analyzes Gov. Snyder's "State of the State" speech, and Senate Democratic leader Gretchen Whitmer offers a response. Also, a new discovery in Antarctica and a preview of the BackStage Pass season premiere with the metal band, Silent Lapse.

'State of the State' analysis with Off the Record's Tim Skubick and Senate Democratic leader Gretchen Whitmer

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Last night, Governor Rick Snyder laid out his 2013 agenda which included a new funding formula for improving the state’s roads as well as initiatives in education and energy. State capitol correspondent Tim Skubick -- host of WKAR-TV’s Off the Record -- offers his analysis of the governor's "State of the State" address. And Senate Minority leader Gretchen Whitmer joins the discussion to give her take on the speech and the new legislative session.

MSU scientists make startling discovery in Antarctica

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Dr. Nathaniel Ostrom is a professor of zoology at Michigan State University and a member of the Lake Vida research team, which found microorganisms living underneath the Antarctic ice.

A few bottles of ancient water from an Antarctic lake are sitting in a freezer at Michigan State University. In November, a team of researchers published a startling announcement. Drilling into the ice cap covering Lake Vida in Antarctica’s Dry Valleys region, scientists found bacteria thriving in a saltwater brine. The microorganisms grow without sunlight at temperatures near 8-degrees Fahrenheit. Researchers say they’ve survived in this environment nearly 3,000 years. The discovery has scientists re-evaluating the possibility of life in deep space, in places like Mars and Jupiter’s moon, Europa.

Dr. Nathaniel Ostrom is a professor of zoology at MSU and a member of the Lake Vida research team. He spoke with Current State’s Kevin Lavery about the findings.

The season premiere of BackStage Pass features Michigan metal band Silent Lapse

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http://youtu.be/UvHQSjkhCZ8

The WKAR TV series BackStage Pass makes its season premiere this Sunday, Jan. 20 at 7 pm. The Michigan metal band Silent Lapse is featured. WKAR producer Mike Mihalus interviews band members Mitchell Feldpausch, Scott Martin and Wyatt Aldrich as we listen to the band's music.