Researcher Michael Bhaskar talks about why he believes risk aversion has led us to move away from dynamic discoveries, and why he says it’s time to dream big again.
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It’s time to stop dismissing psychosomatic illness
Neurologist Suzanne O’Sullivan discusses her travels around the world trying to understand seemingly odd or fantastical illnesses that spread in communities, and the very real humans who suffer from them.
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When real life pulled an astrophysicist back to Earth
Astrophysicist Sara Seager talks about becoming a widow and feeling immense grief while searching for exoplanets that might sustain life light years away.
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The race to save coffee from extinction
Sarah Sax of High Country News joins us to discuss how climate change and questionable farming practices are harming crops and ways researchers are trying to breed more sustainable beans.
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Searching the Amazon for the next miracle drug
Dr. Cassandra Quave joins us to discuss her work searching the globe for plant-based medicines.
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The limitless human imagination
Science writer Philip Ball joins us to discuss new research about imagination, and why the ability to understand the world in multi-dimensional ways is more surprising than even our ability to dream.
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Beyond Biology: Rethinking What Makes A Family
Susan Golombok, director of the Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge and a professional fellow at Newnham College, Cambridge, joins us to talk about the outdated ideas we have about creating a happy home and the variety of parents out there who are thriving.
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Are tech companies more powerful than nations?
Political scientist Ian Bremmer joins us to talk about how the well-oiled machines of big technology – with their influence and reach into every part of daily life – are challenging national governments in shaping society.
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Soon, robots won’t need our help
Washington Post reporter David Montgomery joins us to discuss the Pentagon’s simulated search-and-rescue competition that is stretching the limits of how robots process information and, ultimately, help the humans around them.
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The next pandemic is coming – here’s a plan
Epidemiologist Dr. Sandro Galea joins us to discuss how we can strengthen public health resources to not only respond to the next pandemic but strive for equity in the way we approach the health of the nation.
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Why you feel so sluggish
New Yorker staff writer Nick Paumgarten joins us to discuss that ability to always get up and go — and offers a look at the latest science explaining it.
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Without feelings there would be no consciousness
Antonio Damasio joins us to discuss the latest science on what consciousness is and how it ties into human behavior.
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