Pangolins Are One of the Most Trafficked Animals Worldwide (0:36)

Guest: Rachael Bale, Executive Editor of National Geographic’s animals desk

One of the world’s most highly trafficked animals is one you may have never even heard of. It’s a small, weird-looking mammal covered in scales called a pangolin. It lives in parts of Asia and Africa and is endangered. Earlier this year, authorities in Singapore seized 28 tons of pangolin scales. Pangolin poaching is increasing, and it’s alarming experts. (Originally aired June 18, 2019)

Dehumantization (14:41)

Guest: Emile Bruneau, PhD, Director of the Peace and Conflict Neuroscience Lab in the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania

Throughout history humans have justified atrocities against entire groups of people by defining their victims as less-than-human. We saw this at work in the extermination of American Indians and enslavement of African Americans in US history. Leading up to the Holocaust, Jews and the Roma were collectively referred to as “subhumans.” Emile Bruneau’s research is dedicated to understanding how this kind of hate happens and how it might be prevented. (Originally aired July 30, 2019)

Expert Advice for Brilliant Stargazing Adventures (34:03)

Guest: Sarah Barker, Astrophysicist, Author of“50 Things to See in the Sky.”

With our smartphones, laptops, and tablets, we’re constantlylooking down at lights. So much so that we often forget to look at the lights above us. Astrophysicist Sarah Barker says we’re losing something by ignoring the stars. Her new book, “50 Things to See in the Sky” gives stargazing tips, and you don’t even have to leave the city or own fancy equipment to rediscover the heavens. (Originally aired July 3, 2019)

Computer Games May Rehabilitate Neurocognitive Damage in African children (51:13)

Guest: Michael J. Boivin, Professor of Neurology, Psychiatry and Ophthalmology at Michigan State University

Children with malaria or HIV aren’t just affected physically with things like fever and fatigue –these two illnesses can also cause significant brain damage. And when those kids live in sub-Saharan Africa, cognitive impairments are rarely addressed. (Originally aired June 17, 2019)

Why the Big Earthquakes in California Recently Were Not “The Big One” (1:07:49)

Guest: Rick Aster, Professor and Department Head of the Geosciences Department at Colorado State University

This year has been a shaky one for California. The two earthquakes on the Fourth of July were the biggest the state’s seen in decades. They clocked in at 6.4 and 7.1on the Richter scale and have been followed by hundreds of smaller quakes in the region. And yet seismologists say “the big one” is still coming for California. (Originally aired July 18, 2019)

Anger Can Actually Be Healthy (1:22:32)

Guest: Ryan Martin, Professor of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

We often think of anger as a bad thing –it can make us mean and reckless and lead us to believe that the idiot cutting us off in traffic is a monster. And it’s even worse on the internet. But anger expert Ryan Martin says we’re overlooking the emotion’s power for good. (Originally aired July 10, 2019)