First Astronauts to Launch From US Soil in a Decade (0:30)

Guest: Eric Jensen, JD, Professor of International Law, Brigham Young University

If weather cooperates, American astronauts will launch into space from US soil on Wednesday afternoon. The last time that happened was nearly ten years ago with the final space shuttle launch. The same astronaut who piloted that shuttle mission, Doug Hurley, is also scheduled to command Wednesday’s flight to the International Space Station.

 

Humans Don’t Swim by Instinct, So Why Are We Drawn to the Water? (19:33)

Guest: Bonnie Tsui, Journalist, Swimmer, Author of "Why We Swim"

Where I’m from, Memorial Day is the official start of swimming season and around the country public pools are opening, with extra precautions to cope with COVID-19, of course. Unlike most land mammals, humans are not born knowing how to swim. We have to be taught. Whereas elephants, dogs, cats -  even bats – swim instinctively. So why, then, are humans so drawn to the water?

 

Rethinking Constant Growth Economic Model (33:06)

Guest: Tim Jackson, Professor of Sustainable Development, University of Surry, Director of the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity and Author of "Prosperity Without Growth"

We’ve seen a dramatic decrease in carbon emissions since the pandemic hit. But it’s come at a steep price – a crashing economy. So is that what it comes down to? We have to choose between the planet and the economy? Sustainable development professor Tim Jackson says there’s a third choice: an economy that doesn’t grow.

 

The Movement to Ban Hair Discrimination (50:42)

Guest: Wendy Greene, Professor of Law at Drexel University, Francis Lewis Scholar in Residence at Washington and Lee University School of Law.

Many black women and men across the country face a difficult choice: change their hair, or lose out on the job. Or a spot on the sports team. Or the chance to walk at graduation. But the movement to make this kind of discrimination illegal is quickly gaining traction. In the last couple months alone, four states have banned hair discrimination. That brings the total to seven, and it’s all been in the last year.

 

Animal Adoptions Are Way Up Because of COVID-19. That’s Good and Bad (1:12:04)

Guest: Brenda Barnette, General Manager of the Los Angeles City Department of Animal Services

Animal shelters across the country have experienced a surge in people fostering and adopting pets during the pandemic. But what happens when those new pet owners go back to work or school? Shelters are bracing for the possibility that many of those animals will be returned – which would be a tragic outcome for the pets and their people.

 

Books Featuring Military Families (1:27:46)

Guest:   Rachel Wadham, Host, Worlds Awaiting on BYUradio, Education and Juvenile Collections Librarian, BYU

Rachel Wadham shares some books that about military families.