The Exchange

Our Sky Guys are back to help digest the events of a wild few weeks in space science, including NASA's announcement of explosive plumes of icy water on Jupiter's moon Europa. The explosion of a SpaceX rocket snarls outer-orbit transportation schedules and yet, SpaceX founder Elon Musk unveils a plan to get humans to Mars within a decade. And a Kickstarter campaign aims to re-issue Carl Sagan's 1977 Golden Record in an effort to communicate with life outside our solar system.

We speak with New Hampshire author Paul Levy about his new book called Finding Phil: Lost in War and Silence. Levy describes his search to uncover the life, and death, of an uncle he never knew, who died in World War II. GUEST: Paul Levy - Retired poverty lawyer and professor who taught at Indiana University and Smith College, before serving on the faculty of a progressive adult learning program at Springfield College. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS: Paul Levy set out to learn about the uncle he never knew and

We kick off our 2016 "Conversations with the Candidates" series with Governor Maggie Hassan, the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee. Hassan's race against incumbent Senator Kelly Ayotte is one of the most highly-watched in the nation. We ask the Governor about the big issues at stake: from national security to gun laws to money in politics.

Many companies these days take pride in reducing their environmental impact, from composting to using lighter packaging. And it's a selling point, as more consumers favor environmentally conscious firms. Some businesses, however, are accused of green-washing -- promoting an image that has little to do with reality.

The race for Governor is in full effect as Republican Chris Sununu and Democrat Colin van Ostern meet in their first debate. Staffing problems raise fresh concerns over how the state protects its most vulnerable at New Hampshire Hospital and the Department of Child and Family Services. And the industry dear to the Granite State loses its last locally-owned quarry.

The candidates for New Hampshire governor faced questions around economic issues, addressed issues including energy prices, health care costs, and the Granite State tax structure.

We're closer to our domesticated creatures than at any point in human history -- even considering them family members. Yet the cost of owning pets can be daunting, as veterinary medicine has advanced to include expensive specialties and treatment. And then there's doggy day care and all manner of niceties for animals, including dog-carrying backpacks and music specially composed for cats. So, how far should we go to take care of our pets?

After decades of improved safety on our roadways, the trend seems to be reversing, with major increases in fatalities around the country and in New Hampshire. We look at the reasons for the dramatic uptick in traffic deaths, including distracted drivers and cheap gas. This program was originally heard on Aug. 31, 2016.

The future is now. In several cities, companies from Ford to Tesla are racing to develop their own automated driving machines. We discuss the innovations and challenges of self-driving cars, and ask what it will take to make you comfortable in the passenger seat?

The "marketplace," where Americans can shop for and purchase insurance from a network of companies, was created with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act several years ago. It has since provided coverage to twelve million Americans, but it's been largely unprofitable for insurers. And so, most companies plan to hike rates later this fall - with huge impacts on both patients and politics.