Proving Einstein Right: The Daring Expeditions That Changed How We Look at the Universe. (0:36)

Guest: S. James Gates, Jr., Theoretical Physicist, Brown Theoretical Physics Center Director, Co-Author of Proving Einstein Right: The Daring Expeditions That Changed How We Look at the Universe.

Scientists have just proven that Einstein’s theory of relativityy works, even for massive objects like stars. But a century ago, before Einstein was famous, he was just an academic with some intriguing ideas about gravity.  Some adventurous astronomers thought he was on to something, though, so they set out to test his theory. To do it, they needed to take pictures of the stars during total solar eclipses. And to do that, they had to travel to Russia on the brink of war and deep into the Brazil’s Amazon jungles. Finally, in 1919, after eight years of failed attempts, astronomers captured the evidence they needed to prove Einstein was right. (Originally aired 10/16/2020)

 

Scientists Lured Fish Back to Dying Coral Reefs With Loudspeakers. (27:37)

Guest: Tim Gordon, Marine Biologist, PhD Student, University of Exeter

The world’s coral reefs are in dire straits. Extreme heat killed off half the Great Barrier Reef in 2016 and 2017. Those damaged areas of coral become like a ghost town. But if fish could be drawn back to the reef, their very presence could trigger other parts of the coral ecosystem to come back, too. Marine biologist Tim Gordon has struck on an ingenious strategy to lure fish to patches of dead coral. Playing recordings of what a healthy coral reef sounds like. Apparently fish dig it. (Originally aired 1/9/2020)

 

Your Kid Might Have a Good Reason to Whine (39:22)

Guest: Rose Sokol-Chang, PhD, Journal Publisher at the American Psychological Association

“How do I stop my kids from whining?” is one of the top questions parenting experts get. But Rose Sokol-Chang studied whining at Clark University and she says it’s actually an important part of a child’s social development. That it’s even a sign of love and affection parents should pay close attention to. (Originally aired 10/22/2019)

 

Return Ancestral Lands to Native Americans. Eureka, California Leads Out. (52:58)

Guest: Cutcha Risling Baldy - Assistant Professor and Department Chair of Native American Studies, Humboldt State University

Statues of Christopher Columbus are among the monuments protesters have toppled around the US in the last few weeks. On Wednesday night, Native American activists brought down a statue of Columbus at the Minnesota State Capitol. What is the best process to address legacies of violence and racism in American history? (Originally aired 12/18/19)

 

Taking Beach Lifeguards for Granted (1:10:30)

Guest: B. Chris Brewster, President, Americas Region of the International Life Saving Federation

Hitting the beach this summer could be hit or miss depending on where you live and what the status of COVID-19 is in your community. The lifeguards keeping watch over your summer water fun are facing new challenges, too, as they train to save lives while also minimizing the risk they’ll catch the virus. Don’t worry, if you’re drowning, they’ll still come for you. That wasn’t always the case though. Beach lifeguarding’s only been a thing for the last 100 years or so. Who came running if you got caught in a riptide before that? (Originally aired 6/4/2019)

 

50th Anniversary of Apollo 12 (1:25:34)

Guest: Mike Joner, Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University

The first astronauts ever to launch into orbit aboard a privately-built spacecraft are settling into the international space station. NASA says the SpaceX crew mission ushers in a “new era of spaceflight,” fundamental to plans for returning to the moon and then heading on to Mars. But not every mission to space marks a new era, not every astronaut gets to be the first to do something. So today, we’re going to pay tribute to the contributions of Apollo 12. They weren’t the first to walk on the moon. They were the 3rd and 4th. (Originally aired 11/18/2019)