From catastrophic asteroids to terminal constipation, how did the dinosaurs get wiped out? Originally Aired: May 14, 2019

Guest: Mike Benton, Professor of Vertebrate Paleontology, University of Bristol

I’m sure you have that one friend on Facebook who bombards your feed with conspiracy theories about the moon landing, secret societies, government testing, and so on. But stop me if you’ve heard the one about dinosaurs going extinct due to terminal constipation. Yikes. That and more dinosaur extinction theory.

 

Honoring the Dead in the 21st Century  Originally Aired: May 14, 2019

Guest: Candi K. Cann, Associate Professor and Faculty of Residence at Baylor University

Death is an overwhelming topic, perhaps only second to love and life in literature and media, but more overwhelming still is the process of mourning for those left behind. Once described as “a special sort of madness,” defining mourning and studying its many facets is a difficult business, one which Candi K. Cann is deeply engaged in. Listen to her describe how modern cultures are changing, and remaining consistent, by incorporating ancient forms of mourning.

 

The Navy Considers Reopening Military UFO Investigations Originally Aired: June 6, 2019

Guest: Iain Boyd, Professor of Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan

The Navy has a problem. Seemingly super-powered, highly agile, aircrafts are flying around like they own America’s airspace. These UFOs startle even the most experienced and level-headed of pilots. 

 

Bringing Back Helpful Gut Worms  Originally Aired: June 6, 2019

Guest: William Parker, Professor of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine

Things that we think of as harmful to our bodies may actually be crucial to our health. Bacteria were once labeled as the universal enemy, but we now know some of them to be helpful. This might be the case for some parasites such as intestinal worms.