The Point

Only 524 North Atlantic right whales remain on the Planet, plus four calves who were born this season. On The Point, we talk with scientists from the Center for Coastal Studies about efforts to monitor and protect the species, including ways to minimize ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear. We also discuss the recent spate of dolphin strandings in Cape Cod Bay. Guests on the program are Charles "Stormy" Mayo, director of the Right Whale Ecology Program at the Center For Coastal Studies

As the weather warms we’re likely to find ticks on ourselves and our pets. New research indicates that ticks in our region carry four other pathogens in addition to Lyme Disease. On The Point, we talk about the ecology of ticks and ways to prevent being bitten. We also discuss a new testing program for ticks that helps define treatment options for those bitten and betters our understanding of how and when tick borne diseases manifest and spread. Guests are Larry Dapsis, Entomologist at the Cape

Surveys consistently show that a majority of Americans think climate change is happening, but that it won’t affect them. Scientists say otherwise. Researchers already are seeing impacts - often dramatic, sometimes counterintuitive - on both natural systems and human communities. And, while everyone will be affected, some will be hit sooner and harder.

Lots of migrant birds are back, including osprey. They're busy with courtship and nesting and can be found by the observant birder listening for their calls. On The Point, Mark Faherty, ornithologist and science coordinator at Mass Audubon's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary joins Mindy Todd to share the latest Bird News as spring arrives finally on the Cape, Coast and Islands. And please join Mindy and Mark at our next pub night on Nantucket: April 26, 2017. We'll mingle, talk birds, and try out

On The Point, the International Fund for Animal Welfare shares a new report on the correlation between human happiness and animal welfare. It's titled Measuring What Matters: True Wellbeing for Animals and People . The co-author, Beth Allgood , who is also the US County Director of IFAW , joins host Mindy Todd for this interview.

Astronaut and Cape Codder Daniel Burbank talks about space travel and his experience of life at the International Space Station. Burbank, of Yarmouth Port, has logged a total of 188 days in space, and 7 hours 11 minutes of space walk time. He’ll be giving a public talk Wednesday April 5th at 3pm at Cape Cod Community College .

Welcoming spring with the first of this year's monthly garden show on The Point. Roberta Clark and Mindy Todd dig right into the new season: transplant, sow, prune, mulch, here we go! Many questions explored, and tips for an exciting new season.

New England’s iconic cod fishery has hit an all-time low. Scientists point the finger at a combination of fishing and climate change. Many fishermen reject that assessment and blame their woes on regulators. A new documentary film, Sacred Cod , tells the story of two populations in crisis – the cod, and the fishermen who’ve built a way of life around them. Cod fishing is what brought the first Europeans to New England, and the commercial fishery is the oldest in the nation. Hundreds of years of

WCAI's Sean Corcoran hosts a roundup of local news stories with several area journalists. His guests this week include Chris Lindahl of the Cape Cod Times; Tim Wood of the Cape Cod Chronicle; Jim DeArruda of the New Bedford Standard Times; Ed Miller of the Provincetown Banner; and Barry Stringfellow of the Martha's Vineyard Times. Among the stories they discuss this week: an East Falmouth woman is found dead in her home after officials respond to a small fire; Dennis Town Meeting will consider a

In 1791 two sailing ships, both flying the American flag, left the Pacific Northwest bound for Japan. This was a daring venture; Japan had been a closed nation for 150 years with a policy to seize foreign ships and imprison crews indefinitely. Japanese citizens who interacted with foreigners were also under threat of severe punishment. Why did these two captains decide to risk the voyage and what was the outcome? Few details were known until recently when the logbook from The Grace, one of the