The 7th Avenue Project

Scientific studies that highlight the nicer side of humans and our primate relatives: In part one of the show, developmental psychologist Felix Warneken looks for and finds evidence of instinctive altruism in young humans and chimps. In part two, neurobiologist Robert Sapolsky discovers that even baboons--long believed to be incorrigibly violent--can change their ways and make nice.

Pianist Mark Levine jumped into Latin Jazz almost by accident 40 years ago. It became a lifelong pursuit, and Mark became a leading proponent of the music. He talks about his beginnings in the genre, his continued apprenticeship, his Latin Grammy-nominated tribute to Brazilian composer Moacir Santos and his performance at the 2010 Monterey Jazz Festival.

Saxophonist/composer Rudresh Mahanthappa has been lighting up the jazz scene with his blend of western and Indian musical influences. Mahanthappa aims for, and achieves, a sound that's both seriously cerebral and seriously swinging, both technical and tuneful. He talks about the identity crisis that led to his discovery of Indian music, his musical self-education and his upcoming performance at the Monterey Jazz Festival.

It's not all in your head. Philosopher Alva Noe says neuroscientists are looking for consciousness in all the wrong places: it's not in our brains after all.

Three people whose faces were altered by illness or injury talk about self-image, the meaning of beauty, and the realities of reconstructive surgery. David Roche is an inspirational speaker and humorist. Gina Butchin works to raise awareness of facial difference. Louise Ashby is an actress and writer. Originally broadcast Oct. 2009

Three people whose faces were altered by illness or injury talk about self-image, the meaning of beauty, and the realities of reconstructive surgery. David Roche is an inspirational speaker and humorist. Gina Butchin works to raise awareness of facial difference. Louise Ashby is an actress and writer. Originally broadcast Oct. 2009

For two decades, environmental activist John Francis travelled America on foot while keeping a vow of silence. Along the way, he got to know a side of himself and this country that few experience. Originally broadcast Aug 2009.

John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants discusses the delights and challenges of writing science songs for kids, as we listen to TMBG's new CD/DVD "Here Comes Science. And Michael Hearst of the band One Ring Zero talks about their new CD "Planets," which offers a fanciful tour of the solar system.

John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants discusses the delights and challenges of writing science songs for kids, as we listen to TMBG's new CD/DVD "Here Comes Science. And Michael Hearst of the band One Ring Zero talks about their new CD "Planets," which offers a fanciful tour of the solar system.

We talk to members of two ensembles who've helped change the sound of “classical” music. Violinist David Harrington is the founder of the Kronos Quartet, which has revolutionized the string quartet repertoire. Matt Albert is violinist and violist with Eighth Blackbird, a talented and inventive sextet who've further extended the range of classical expression. Both Kronos and eighth blackbird are performing at this year's Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. David and Matt joined us to share their passion for music, reflect on their work and talk about their Cabrillo Festival performances.