Hold That Thought

Dr. Fiona Marshall from Washington University in St. Louis shares her research into the African wild ass, the ancestor of donkeys, and explains why understanding more about domesticated animal species is so important to farmers around the world. Marshall studies the African wild ass in partnership with the St. Louis Zoo.

Dr. Fiona Marshall from Washington University in St. Louis explains how knowledge of early food production, especially in Africa, has changed over the last twenty years. For starters, Marshall's research has shed light on how changes in climate led to the domestication of animals in Africa long before the domestication of crops.

In order to carry out daily tasks like taking medication, attending meetings, and bringing lunch to work, we need to remember to do those things. Professor Mark McDaniel describes his research on prospective memory.

Philosophy professor Carl Craver from Washington University in St. Louis tackles some fundamental questions about the importance of memory. Is it our personal memories that make us distinctly human? Does our capacity for memory make us morally accountable for our actions? How does our ability to remember the past relate to how we think about the future? And where do all these questions leave people with amnesia?

Professor Glenn Stone from Washington University in St. Louis provides a brief history of industrial agriculture in the U.S., from the first era of hyper-industrialization shortly after World War II to the use of antibiotics in today's factory farms. Listen in to find out how the ongoing debates over food production got started, and consider why these debates continue to be so important.

Professor Glenn Stone discusses the multiple meanings of 'sustainability' and describes his research into agricultural practices in Nigeria, India, and the U.S. Stone is a professor of sociocultural anthropology and environmental studies at Washington University in St. Louis. His blog, www.fieldquestions.com, covers issues relating to food, farming, and biotechnology.

Learn about this compelling and startlingly modern Pope of the Italian Enlightenment. Created by Tim Lloyd for Hold That Thought, a production of Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.

As the human race continues to flourish, where will our energy come from? Hold That Thought talks to three scientists who think that algae hold an important answer to this question, as well as an economist who helps us navigate the numbers. Listen to their thoughts in this hour-long podcast.