Curious by Nature

We have the science. We have the data. We have the technology, and even the money. So why are we still stuck in a permanent cycle of climate, biodiversity, and economic crises? According to today’s guest, the real culprit is something much simpler: we keep working in silos.

Professor Phoebe Koundouri holds a PhD in Mathematical Economics and Econometrics from the University of Cambridge, and her professorship spans the Athens University of Economics and Business and the University of Cambridge. She also leads the Global Climate Hub of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, working to bring nature, society, and the economy into the same decision-making picture.

Professor Koundouri discusses why governments struggle to use science, how ordinary citizens could become shareholders in the solutions that protect them, and what it looks like to take on wildfires with a community-wide plan.

Chris Nolan’s version of the Odyssey has stirred a lot of conversation, interest, and criticism. Why is this ancient story is still so impactful today?

Carolina López-Ruiz, a Professor of Ancient Mediterranean Religions and Mythologies at the University of Chicago.  She studies ancient religions, comparative mythology, and the connections between Greek and Near Eastern cultures.

We explore what The Odyssey can tell us about the ancient world, how the Greek gods were such an important part of these stories, what makes Odysseus such a fascinating hero, and more

What if one of the most recommended topics for parents to do with their babies, is completely wrong? 

Dr. Jennie Rosier is a Professor of Communication Studies at James Madison University, and studies close relationships, attachment, communication, and the connections between parent-child and romantic relationships. Dr. Rosier is also the editor of Dispelling Cry-It-Out Sleep Training Myths and What to Do Instead, published in 2026.

Today, we explore what research tells us about infant sleep, where some common sleep-training ideas came from, whether babies can really learn to “self-soothe,” and how the way we respond to children early in life can shape the relationships and stories we carry with us as we grow. 

As you are driving around and rushing to arrive at your next destination, is it worth it?

Bharat Jayaprakash is a fifth-year PhD student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, where he studies vehicles, driving behavior, energy consumption, and emissions.

Today, we explore just how much our everyday driving habits affect fuel consumption, why speeding may save far less time than we think, and what millions of real-world driving trips can teach us about the future of transportation and autonomous vehicles. 

What if changing just a few atoms inside a material could completely change what that material can do? Something far too small to see could have enormous consequences for the way we produce chemicals, treat water, and build cleaner energy technologies. 

Dr. Joselyn Del Pilar Albaladejo is a professor of chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, where she studies materials at the atomic and crystal level.

Leaving your country doesn’t need to mean leaving its politics behind. Often when people leave, their voice is lost as well, and for mass drains of a country this can have serious effects on the political environment. 

Dr. Chipo Dendere is a professor of political science in the Africana Studies Department at Wellesley College and the author of ‘How to Stay After Leaving’.

We explore the surprising political consequences of migration, why people who leave may still have a powerful connection to their home countries, and how the loss of voters, professionals, and entire communities can actually strengthen the political systems they hoped to escape. 

Every day, diseases like cholera and malaria affect millions of people around the world. But what if we could predict how these diseases spread before outbreaks get worse? 

Professor Romain Glèlè Kakaï is a Professor of Biostatistics at the Université d’Abomey-Calavi, where he studies how diseases spread through people, animals, and the environment. His mathematical models help researchers understand outbreaks of diseases like cholera and malaria, and are used by organizations like the World Health Organization and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.

Imagine needing a feeding tube just to get the nutrition your body needs, but having to be connected to bulky equipment that limits where you can go and what you can do. For thousands of families, that’s part of everyday life. But what if tube feeding could be as simple as carrying a smartphone? 

Neal Piper is the Founder and CEO of Luminoah, a medical technology company developing a wearable feeding system designed to give patients more freedom while helping caregivers and doctors better track their nutrition. Inspired by his own son’s battle with cancer, Neil set out to make tube feeding easier, safer, and more personal. 

Today, we’re sharing a special Newswise event hosted by our COO, Thom Canalichio, with Dr. Rakesh Suri, Regional Director of Cardiac Surgical Robotics and Innovation at Corewell Health, along with his patient, Patrick O’Brien.

Together, they discuss a breakthrough in robotic heart surgery that could make repairing damaged heart valves less invasive, helping patients recover faster and get back to their everyday lives sooner. You’ll also hear Patrick’s firsthand experience of becoming the first patient to undergo this innovative procedure and how it gave him a new outlook on life.

You’ve probably heard people talking about peptides lately. They’re everywhere on social media, promising everything from anti-aging to better fitness. But what are peptides really, and could they become one of the biggest breakthroughs in medicine? 

Karsten Eastman is the Co-founder and CEO of Sethera Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing new ways to build peptide-based medicines. By using enzymes to reshape these tiny proteins, his team hopes to create treatments that last longer, work better, and one day help tackle diseases that have been difficult to treat.