Water droplet

How drinking recycled toilet water could ease scarcity

Worried about water shortages in the western United States? This episode of the Brainwaves podcast dives into the effort to protect rivers and reservoirs by recycling toilet water.

Person looking up at space

Beyond Earth: How humans will tackle the next generation of space travel

April 23, 2019

Before humans venture farther into space, we have big questions to answer. When and where will we go? How will we interact with life we find there? Experts weigh in on those questions in this episode of the Brainwaves podcast.

Male female bathroom sign

How society is redefining gender

April 16, 2019

As gender definitions shift, how are they shaping sports, politics and language? That and more on this episode of the Brainwaves podcast.

Earth from space

Aliens, genetics and the 2020 election: How experts are thinking through tomorrow

April 11, 2019

This week, we speak with some of the world’s top experts at the 71st annual Conference on World Affairs. Guests include SETI’s Seth Shostak, Washington Post political columnist Michael Gerson and Harvard geneticist Matthew Meselson.

Stock photo of wrinkled hands.

The science of aging: Making progress against the march of time

April 2, 2019

We're exploring how to live longer and healthier and looking at the link between your gut microbiome and heart health. Plus new new research on how to lower your blood pressure in 5 minutes a day with no exercise.

Dog with joke glasses

How funny works: The serious science of humor

March 26, 2019

What makes some jokes funny and others fall flat? And why do men win and women suffer when they’re funny at work?

Red brain overlaid on skeleton

Beyond opioids: How we’re rethinking pain

Scientists are making progress against chronic pain. This week, we discuss painkillers for dogs and whether we can think ourselves out of chronic pain.

Brain overlaid on computer data

Artificial intelligence: Teaching computers to be good people

March 12, 2019

Google’s Abigail Posner chimes in on the future of artificial intelligence. What are some of the limits? When do the ethics cross the line?

Baby sleeping

The value of sleep

March 5, 2019

This week we’re talking about sleep. So what does a good night's sleep look like? What does it feel like?

Cyclist

Cheating in sports

Feb. 28, 2019

What counts as cheating? Could a prosthetic be a form of cheating? Does the question of cheating even matter if everyone is cheating in the same way?

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