Over the past few years, public health experts have been sounding the alarm over a growing and potentially deadly epidemic: loneliness. On this episode, we explore how and why loneliness is so detrimental to our health, who is most affected, and novel solutions, ranging from cuddle parties to robot buddies.- Short Feed Episode Description: Why researchers say we're facing a "loneliness epidemic ," and novel solutions to fostering social connection

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On this episode, we mark the 20th anniversary of YouTube with an exploration of how the video-streaming platform has transformed everything from global pop culture, to social movements, to how we seek out and consume information. We hear about new research on how short-form videos affect our brains, how algorithms dictate culture, and what makes YouTube so helpful — and addictive.

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Our jobs can provide us with a sense of identity, connection, and meaning — but they can also feel like a never-ending to-do list that gets in the way of actually living. On this episode, we explore work-life balance: When do we find meaning in our careers, and when do we not? And how do we set healthy boundaries between our jobs and our personal lives?

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How does nature make durable materials like corals and seashells without a heat or a kiln? How do peacock feathers get their beautiful colors? Scientists are trying to understand these processes and to replicate them for sustainable human products and design. The field of biomimicry is growing. We'll explore its origins and hear about some of the latest innovations.

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This month marks the 20th anniversary of Terri Schiavo's death. She was diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, but family members argued fiercely over her level of awareness, and whether to continue life support. We explore how the case shaped our views of consciousness, and what researchers are learning about hopes of recovery after brain damage.

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We all have digital footprints — unique trails of data based on our online activities that corporations use to predict our behavior and influence our choices. Sometimes, it can be helpful; other times, it can feel creepy and intrusive. On this episode, we talk with computational scientist Sandra Matz about what makes up our digital footprints, what they reveal about us, and how they're being used.

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When we don't like how we look, or are hypercritical about our appearance, it can really do a number on our mental health. On this episode, we explore the connection between how we look and how we feel, from the unexpected emotional consequences of cosmetic surgery, to why dermatologists and psychologists have joined forces to form a new field.

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For more than 15 years, bipolar disorder defined Abigail Kafka's life. Abigail was heavily medicated, unable to work, or have a social life. Then a therapy session introduced a startling question: What if this diagnosis was wrong? On this episode, we'll discuss what contributed to an explosion of bipolar diagnoses, and why experts disagree whether this disorder is over-or underdiagnosed.

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We trace the ripple effects of both scientific breakthroughs and public health disasters — understanding the long-term consequences of decisions and events — ranging from peanut allergies, to the invention of a life-changing new drug, to the lasting impact of intergenerational trauma.

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Whether we're talking about something as small as our work habits, or as big as public health policy, change can be tough. It requires energy, courage and persistence, that, a lot of the time, can feel impossible to muster. On this episode, we explore what it is that motivates individuals to change — both themselves and the world around them.

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