Science writer Yudhijit Bhattacharjee joins us to talk about how researchers are developing a more nuanced understanding of pain and how that’s informing treatment.
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How Our Brains Keep Us Safe
Scott Grafton, chair of the neuroscience department at the University of California – Santa Barbara, joins us to discuss the science of how we move without thinking.
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The Epidemics That Changed The World
Frank M. Snowden, the Andrew Downey Orrick Professor Emeritus of History and History of Medicine at Yale University, joins us to talk about how infectious outbreaks — both terrifying and romanticized — have shaped our world.
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It’s Gonna Be OK: You Can Survive Grief
George A. Bonanno, chair of the Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology at Columbia University’s Teachers College, joins us to talk about research that shows a complex pattern of grieving and new insights into resilience
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We Can See The Future – So Why Do We Fail To Plan?
Bina Venkataraman joins us to talk about why we’re so bad at developing foresight – and what we can do about it.
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We Need To Update Our Definition Of ‘War’
Tanisha M. Fazal, associate professor of political science at the University of Minnesota, joins us to talk about how a belief that modern war is tapering off is a dangerous falsehood.
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Grieving Before Someone’s Gone
Pauline Boss, professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota, joins us to talk about her work that has helped articulate the lonely and confusing feelings of loss even as someone lives.
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Let Them Eat Dirt!
New York Times reporter Matt Richtel joins us to talk about our complicated immune system, which is capable of both healing the body and turning on it. His new book is called “An Elegant Defense: The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System.”
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Can Stem Cells Really Cure Everything?
Health and science journalist Laura Beil joins us to talk about the stem cell industry skirting the line between innovation and danger.
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Why There’s A Massive Shortage Of Psychiatric Hospital Beds
Author Susannah Cahalan joins us to talk about her investigation into a psychology sting operation testing the legitimacy of mental health diagnoses.
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What Indigenous Cultures Can Teach Climate Scientists
Ecologist Alejandro Frid joins us to talk about integrating Western science with ancient traditions.
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Frauds And Fakers And Counterfeit Makers
Lydia Pyne, visiting researcher at the Institute for Historical Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, joins us to talk about the value of the right kind of fakes and which ones still take us for a ride.
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