Innovation Hub

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Tree huggers might be onto something. Florence Williams explains how nature can make us healthier.

Scientists estimate that we could be losing thousands of species to climate change each year. But, take heart says ecologist Chris Thomas: there are also many new species being created.

How did sea urchins help humanity figure out where babies come from? Science writer Edward Dolnick has the answer.

We look at when humans learned where babies come from, why a walk in the woods can lower your blood pressure, and which species are adapting well to climate change. That’s all on this week’s Innovation Hub.

This week on Innovation Hub: A show on learning. First, do liberals really dominate academia? Then, if properly taught, everyone can grasp math. After that find out how reading links to health and longevity. Finally, Nancy Weiss Malkiel transports us to the moment when elite colleges finally started admitting women.

Judy Cockerton saw a problem and decided to do something about it. At 48, she shut down her toy store and created a village of sixty homes. The catch? They were reserved for seniors and families with foster kids. We visited Cockerton's village to learn how she built it.

From Delmonico's to Howard Johnson's: Yale Professor Paul Freedman walks us through 10 of the most influential restaurants in American history. What can a restaurant menu tell us about society? Turns out, a lot. Our host Kara Miller finds out while researching the Los Angeles dining scene. Judy Cockerton is building villages around the country to change foster care. We take a look at why. Next stop: Mars? A look at how private companies are taking the giant leap into space.

Space: The final frontier. Now, more and more big businesses are eyeing that frontier. We look at the what a competitive market could mean for the future of space travel.

Hungry for information? Then learn about the history of the American restaurant.