Are the Internet Giants too Big for Our Good?

Guest: Paul Stancil, Professor of Law, BYU

There aren’t a lot of things in Washington that get support from both Republicans and Democrats. But investigations into the enormous power of Google, Amazon and Facebook do have bipartisan backing. Are the internet giants squashing competitors illegally? Are their actions hurting us, the customers?

 

The Flu Struck Not Once, But Twice This Season

Guest: Patricia Foster, Professor Emerita of Biology, Indiana University

The flu came in two waves for the US this year –spiking first in December and then again in late March. They were two different flu viruses, though, and the vaccine most people got in October worked pretty well for the first one, but not the second. Even if the vaccine had been a good match for the second flu virus, it probably wouldn’t have helped much because apparently the power of the vaccine drops off pretty quickly after a few months.

 

Smaller Public Water Systems in US Struggle to Meet EPA Standards

Guest: Joan Rose, Professor of Microbiology, Michigan State University

Drinking water in the United States is very, very safe. But it’s not 100% safe. Google “boil water advisory” any given day and you’ll see dozens of alerts around the country where drinking water has temporarily become contaminated by sewage or chemicals. The EPA’s own estimate is that about 8% of drinking water around the country does not meet safety standards. Are those safety standards high enough, though?

 

Can Anyone Be a Runner?

Guest: Yitka Winn, Runner, Contributing Editor, Trail Runner Magazine, REI

The longer days may be tempting you to add some more ambitious running to your exercise routine. Or maybe you’re like me and just dusting off your shoes for a jog would be a step in a new direction. Simple as it is to do –just get out there and move your legs faster than you normally would –there are still a lot of decisions to make. What route? How far? When to turn back? On the road or off?

 

Your Personality Could Determine the Ads You See Online

Guest: Sandra Matz, Assistant Professor of Management and Organizational Behavior, Columbia Business School

What if, just based on your public Facebook activity, a company could figure out if you’re an introvert or extrovert? And then, the company could fine-tune an advertisement to tap into that aspect of your personality and get you to buy their stuff? And what if a company could do that all automatically, using smart algorithms that get smarter as they go? Our wallets are doomed.

 

Mental Health Concerns for Moms Working Multiple Jobs

Guest: Angela Bruns, Professor of Sociology, University of Michigan

Low-income mothers working more than one job have higher rates of depression. Maybe the depression is linked to the poverty. Or the chaotic schedules and sleep deprivation. Or all of the above.