The world’s second largest economy is showing danger signs. The Shanghai Composite index has fallen by a third in one month’s time.

The declines come despite desperate measures by the Chinese government to prop up stock prices.

More than 1,300 companies — representing about 40 percent of the value of companies on the mainland — have halted trading in an effort to stop the slide.

Between June 2014 and June 2015, the Shanghai Composite index rose by 150 percent. A big reason for the stock market rally was that a lot more people started buying stocks with borrowed money. This practice, known as "trading on margin." Margin trading used to be strictly regulated by the Chinese government, but Chinese authorities have gradually relaxed these requirements over the last five years.

What does this plunge in the Chinese stock market mean for the Chinese and the world economies?

Dr. Lei Mao explains the significance and predicts little contagion to other world economies.

Economists view the world differently than you and I, and their perspective often challenges our beliefs.

Some know economics as the “dismal science”. Stephen Dubner is anything but dismal, however. He’s co-written the Freakonomics series of books that make economics fun.

We tackle some of life’s perplexing problems from an economist’s point of view to provoke your thinking.

Did you know there’s a trait common to all creative people? Whether it’s Steve Jobs, Pablo Picasso, George Lucas, Thomas Edison or Henry Ford, they all share one thing—they’re highly emotional about what they create.

We discuss the implications of what this means for the individual and society, in general, from his book titled, The Book Of Doing And Being.

When you think of high-speed, high-impact businesses, you might think of Google, Facebook, Apple or Amazon. These four businesses, however, are the tip of the iceberg.

Jason Jennings believes businesses—including legacy, low-tech ones—can create urgency and growth in a nanosecond culture.

We discuss the implications business, the economy and society in general from his book, The High-Speed Company.

Oil and gas prices continue to fall to the some of the lowest levels in decades.

The availability of shale oil and gas available in the United States has lowered our overall dependence on foreign oil and driven prices downwards.

What impact will the falling gasoline prices have on the future of electric cars?

Joining me to discuss this issue is Michael Farkas, CEO of Car Charging Group, Inc.

At the outbreak of World War II, the United States was in no way prepared for war.

And, to defeat Nazi Germany, the Allies had to crush the vaunted Luftwaffe—the most powerful and battle-hardened air force in the world. No invasion of Europe could be fought without air superiority.

The United States was faced with the challenge of turning “amateurs” into an air force to take down the Luftwaffe.

Jay Stout has written the first in-depth examination of America’s most distinguished bomber group—the 303rd Bomb Group flying from Molesworth, England.

His book, Hell’s Angels: The True story Of the 303rd Bomb Group in World War II, chronicles America’s efforts to destroy Nazi Germany’s ability to wage war.

When you think of transformational businesses, you might think of Google, Facebook, Apple or Amazon. These four businesses, however, may be the tip of the iceberg.

John Sculley believes now is the best time ever to build a transformational business. Four digital technologies make launching a revolutionary business possible.

We discuss the implications to entrepreneurs, the economy, the Middle Class and to society in general from his book, Moonshot: Game-Changing Strategies to Build Billion-Dollar Businesses.

Nuclear power is the redheaded stepchild in the US Energy puzzle. An abundance of inexpensive oil and gas has put nuclear power on the back burner.

What is nuclear energy’s fate in the US? Is it the missing piece of the clean energy revolution?

Dr. Michaele Brady Raap believes nuclear energy deserves a better fate.

She’s the president of the American Nuclear Society.

China is, by far, the single biggest emitter of the mainstay greenhouse gas carbon dioxide in human history.

How it earned that dubious distinction is clear. China made the decision to become the world’s manufacturer. Every minute of every day during the mid-2000s Americans purchased about $460,000 dollars worth of Chinese goods.

Growing reports of labor and environmental malpractice surfaced during that same period of time, but American consumers shrugged off these reported violations in favor of cheaper good.

But is society better off because of this? Chip Jacobs argues, No.”

He looks at the environmental catastrophe happening in China and worries we’re rapidly reaching a point of no return in environmental damage.