The Pulse

By WHYYScience Health & Fitness

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The Pulse episodes

December 02, 2022 Changing the Way We Think About Chronic Pain
Pain is powerful — and when it becomes chronic, it can be all-consuming. It takes over our minds, saps our energy, and becomes the focus of our existence. And yet, pain is also invisible. We can try to describe it — stabbing, nagging, dull, achy; we can rate it on a number scale from one to 10, or point to a smiley or frowny face to define it, but it's not something we can ever fully communicate. Our pain is ours — to feel, to bear, to live with. Millions of Americans live with chronic pain, and yet it can be a profoundly lonely experience. The individual nature of pain, the mysterious way it often sneaks into our lives, without a definitive source, can make it hard to deal with — and even harder to treat. On this episode, we explore the nature of chronic pain — what causes it, how it affects us, and the ongoing fight to stop it. We talk with physician Haider Warraich, who wants to change the way medicine thinks about pain, people who've spent years trying to treat their pain, and a reporter who's tracking the newest developments in pain medicine.

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49 min
December 02, 2022Changing the Way We Think About Chronic Pain
Pain is powerful — and when it becomes chronic, it can be all-consuming. It takes over our minds, saps our energy, and becomes the focus of our existence. And yet, pain is also invisible. We can try to describe it — stabbing, nagging, dull, achy; we can rate it on a number scale from one to 10, or point to a smiley or frowny face to define it, but it’s not something we can ever fully communicate. Our pain is ours — to feel, to bear, to live with.
Millions of Americans live with chronic pain, and yet it can be a profoundly lonely experience. The individual nature of pain, the mysterious way it often sneaks into our lives, without a definitive source, can make it hard to deal with — and even harder to treat.
On this episode, we explore the nature of chronic pain — what causes it, how it affects us, and the ongoing fight to stop it. We talk with physician Haider Warraich, who wants to change the way medicine thinks about pain, people who’ve spent years trying to treat their pain, and a reporter who’s tracking the newest developments in pain medicine.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
As a med student in Pakistan, all Haider Warraich knew about pain was what he’d learned in textbooks. That changed when, while lifting weights at the gym, his back gave out, and he found himself thrust into a world of agony. Today, Warraich is a doctor who’s calling on the medical world to change the way it approaches pain — we talk with him about his own experience, what he’s learned about the nature of pain, and what doctors can and should do differently. His book is “The Song of Our Scars: The Untold Story of Pain.”
Millions of Americans live with chronic pain — and despite seeing doctor after doctor, never find an answer about what’s causing their misery, or how to fix it. Reporter Alan Yu tells the story of one man whose journey to alleviate his pain took him through the gamut of medical options — and ended in an unexpected place.
Drugs like oxycodone used to be a go-to solution for treating acute and longer-lasting pain — but that’s changed in the wake of the ongoing opioid epidemic. We talk with Damian Garde, a biotech industry reporter for STAT News, about the challenges to developing non-addictive painkillers, and one candidate — a new drug from the biotech company Vertex — that could offer hope.
50 min
November 25, 2022The Bottom of the Sea
The bottom of the ocean seems like an unlikely place to be teeming with life — it’s dark, freezing cold, and subject to enormous pressure. And yet, in recent years, scientists have discovered that these depths are a rich ecosystem, boasting more species than you’d find just about anywhere else in the world. Most of the deep ocean remains unexplored, but we’re learning more about this mysterious place — including how its inhabitants have adapted to not only survive but thrive in such extreme conditions.
On this episode, we hear about some of the secrets that scientists are unlocking about the depths of the sea. We hear stories about some of the weirdest and most interesting creatures living deep in the ocean, one man’s epic battle against a very persistent predator, and the chase to uncover centuries-old shipwrecks.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
We listen back to a conversation with marine biologist Erik Cordes— which we conducted when he was 1600 feet deep in a submersible named Alvin. Erik was studying deep-water coral reefs and explained what they can teach us about saving shallow-water reefs.
We talk with science writer Sabrina Imbler about their book of essays, “How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures,” which takes a deep dive into bizarre and amazing sea life, from the octopus that spends four years brooding her eggs, to crabs that grow their own food.
Daniel Stone, a senior editor for National Geographic, takes us into the murky world of shipwrecks — and the people who search for them. He explains why some shipwrecks last the test of time (and others don’t), what it takes to find a shipwreck, and the lost ships that treasure-hunters continue to seek. His book is “Sinkable: Obsession, the Deep Sea, and the Shipwreck of the Titanic.”
50 min
November 18, 2022The Future of Food
What we eat — and how our food is produced — is always changing. Over the past few decades, we’ve seen attempts to go from industrial farming to eating local, from factory farms to pasture-raised, anti-fat to anti-carb, wheat to quinoa, dairy milk to soy milk, bacon and eggs to avocado toast, and the list goes on. There’s a lot that goes into these changes — market forces, innovation, supply chain issues and increasingly, climate change.
In fact, food may be the single most direct way that most of us will experience the impact of global warming. It will change how food is produced, what we eat, and how much we pay for it. Farmers and food producers are adapting to a warming planet and expanding population. On this episode, we’ll look at the forces that are shaping and changing the way we eat, along with some of the foods that may become far more common in the decades to come. We’ll hear about how vertical farming is making the most of our space, why kelp could be the new soy, and the innovative solutions making their way on to our plates.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
We talk with science journalist Amanda Little, who’s traveled the world investigating threats to agriculture, about the innovations that could save our global food supply — and the Earth. Her book is The Fate of Food: What We’ll Eat in a Bigger, Hotter and Smarter world.”
As the world warms, agriculture is being forced to grow up — literally. Reporter Catherine Nouhan takes us into a vertical farm to find out how this innovative new way of cultivating crops is replacing fields, pesticides, and even soil.
It’s hard to believe now, but in the early 19th century, soy was virtually unknown to many Americans — today, it’s our second largest crop, right behind corn. Now, environmentally-focused farmers are trying to replicate that success with a different crop: seaweed. But are Americans ready to accept it? Alan Yu reports.
For years, overfishing has been a problem that’s brought many fish stocks to a dangerous tipping point — but today, new tech is transforming our appetite for fish from an existential deep-sea threat to a sustainable industry. We talk with Nicholas Sullivan about the future of fish farming, why it’s gotten a bad rap, and how new innovations are changing the way we fish. His book is The Blue Revolution: Hunting, Harvesting, and Farming Seafood in the Information Age.
Youtuber and internet cook Adam Ragusea schools us about eating sustainably, some of his favorite staple meals, and why too much good food has become a problem.
51 min
November 11, 2022The Science of Extreme Weather
Hurricanes. Tornadoes. Blizzards. Flooding. Over the past 20 years, we’ve seen a staggering increase in extreme weather events, resulting in millions of deaths and trillions of dollars of damage around the globe.
This increase has made the stakes for precise and accurate forecasts higher than ever — but the best forecast is useless if people don’t act on the information.
On this episode, we explore what scientists are learning, not only about predicting extreme weather, but also about how to deliver their message in a way that will compel people to heed their warnings. Then we’ll look into the aftermath of storms, how communities attempt to recover — and be better prepared for the next storm.
We hear stories about a storm-chaser’s mission to understand tornadoes, how the blizzard of 1993 settled a long debate over meteorological predictions, what happens when storms keep patients from life-saving treatments, and how communities rebuild — or don’t — after being ravaged by severe weather events.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
We talk with storm-chaser and scientist Adam Houston about his mission to solve a longtime mystery: the exact conditions in which supercell thunderstorms generate tornadoes. Adam leads a team of researchers who are trying to gather better data to make more exact predictions.
Most of us take weather forecasts for granted — but as it turns out, decades of research and debate went into creating a prediction model that works. In 1993, that model was still in question — until the east coast of the U.S. was slammed by the “blizzard of the century.” Jad Sleiman reports.
Extreme weather forecasts can save lives — but that doesn’t mean the public always listens. Reporter Kerry Sheridan experienced that first-hand when she rode out Hurricane Ian, a massive and deadly Category 4 storm that recently hit southwest Florida. She tells the story of how extreme weather events are prompting meteorologists to change the way they deliver their warnings.
When a freak snowstorm knocked out power and water in Texas back in 2021, thousands of dialysis patients were left in the lurch. Many found themselves trapped in their homes, unable to access life-saving treatment as deadly toxins built up in their blood. Reporter Sara Willa Ernst has this story on what happened — and Texas’ efforts to prepare better for future storms.
Escaping extreme weather is one thing — but how do communities rebuild after devastating damage? That’s the topic of the new podcast “In Deep,” which follows residents of Lake Charles — a small city in Southwest Louisiana — that over the past few years was pummeled by consecutive hurricanes and a severe blizzard. We hear an excerpt from the podcast, and talk with reporter and host Lauren Rosenthal about the toll all of this has taken on Lake Charles residents.
49 min
November 04, 2022Conversations with Veterans
There are 19 million veterans in the U.S. who have served in the armed forces. For many, the military gave them a sense of shared purpose, a strong connection to their comrades. But that community often disappears when they get out of the service, leaving many feeling alone, or misunderstood. On top of that, many veterans suffer with lingering health challenges, both visible and invisible. On this episode, we talk to veterans about what they experienced, and what they want other people to know. We hear stories about one woman’s struggle to get help for her PTSD, how Shakespeare is helping veterans transition back to civilian life, and some of the health effects that come with combat.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
Utibe Essien — a core investigator with the VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion in Pittsburgh — explains how and why race-based health disparities exist in a system designed to provide equal health care to all veterans.
The transition from military service back into society can be challenging. One military veteran is trying to make that process easier using an unlikely approach — Shakespeare. Nichole Currie reports on a program that taps into verse for healing trauma, it’s called De-Cruit.
We talk with Zachary Bell, the former Marine who started Veteran with a Sign — a popular Instagram account that features everything from inside jokes to very serious messages about mental health on cardboard signs.
Former Navy SEAL James Hatch talks about his unique transition from warfighter to Yale freshman. His book is “Touching the Dragon: And Other Techniques for Surviving Life’s Wars.”
Combat Veteran Ray Christian interviews a female veteran, Jessica Ian Jenkins, about her experiences at VA health centers. She was seeking treatment for PTSD, but says she only got help after it was almost too late.
50 min
October 28, 2022 Thrills & Chills: The Psychology of Fear
It's that time of year when we celebrate something we usually hate: fear. We visit haunted houses and corn mazes or binge-watch the scariest horror movies. But our relationship with fear is complicated. In its most primitive form, fear is about survival — it raises our heart rates, redirects our blood flow, makes us faster and fiercer, all so we can face — or escape — serious threats. In other settings — where there's no real danger — fear can feel exhilarating, fun, and exciting. It can serve as a form of entertainment, or even help us focus and perform better. On this episode, we look at fear and how it overlaps with other emotions. We hear stories about why we love scary movies, overcoming paralyzing stage fright, and what happened to one man who completely lost his sense of fear.

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48 min
October 21, 2022Why Grasslands Are Worth Saving
There’s a lot to love about grasslands — the sound of the wind blowing through them, the way the colors change with the seasons, how the sun lights up the valley, and the flowers that bloom in the spring and summer.
But in many ways, we’ve taken these open spaces for granted, using them for our own purposes, from building houses to grazing livestock and planting crops. And in terms of conservation efforts, grasslands have been a bit neglected, compared to ecosystems like tropical rainforests.
But increasingly, scientists are paying more attention to grasslands as spaces that have to be protected. On this episode, we look at the role of grasslands as habitats, their importance to preserving biodiversity, and how they can help fight climate change.
We hear stories about how scientists came to appreciate the value of grasslands — and their attempts to protect what’s left, a spicy effort by researchers in Montana to fight a small but mighty opponent, a recent effort to reintroduce cheetahs into India’s grasslands, and how exactly you go about growing a lush green soccer field in a place where grass is definitely not native.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
For years, grasslands have been neglected by conservationists in favor of sexier ecosystems, like tropical rainforests. But increasingly, scientists are recognizing the importance of grasslands — and why we need to save them. Alan Yu reports.
We talk with Dean Pearson, a research ecologist at the Rocky Mountain Research Station in Missoula, Montana, who’s spent years working to restore native grasslands. He tells us about a small but mighty foe thwarting his efforts: native deer mice. Pearson explains the creative solution they came up with to prevent their tiny saboteurs from gobbling up all their seeds.
Anthropologist Krystal D’Costa talks about the history of how and why Americans became obsessed with our lawns.
How do you plant a soccer pitch in the middle of the desert? That’s the challenge facing FIFA ahead of the 2022 World Cup. Reporter Danielle Elliot investigates.
50 min
October 14, 2022Designing Safer Streets
In the early days of the pandemic, life on the streets changed. Traffic was clear, and the roads felt nearly deserted. Bumper-to-bumper commutes gave way to free and easy drives. So it came as a shock when it turned out that motor vehicle deaths had surged to nearly 40,000 people in 2020 — a jump of more than 20% per mile driven. How could this happen with far fewer drivers on the road?
On this episode, we take a look at road safety, and what researchers are learning about it. What are the factors — besides human error — that contribute to greater safety or danger on the roadways? Can we design our way to safer streets? And if so, what does that look like? We’ll hear stories about subtle cues that can get drivers to slow down, finding a safer way to merge, and what’s really at the bottom of potholes.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
We talk with Bevan Kirley and Wes Kumfer, researchers at the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, who focus on crash analysis and safety education, and how human behavior impacts our driving.
There is an empirically safer and more efficient way for drivers to merge where one lane ends, and all the cars have to move to the remaining lane — it’s called the zipper merge. But despite years of promotion, it remains controversial and drivers are reluctant to try it. Reporter Alan Yu looks into why.
51 min
October 07, 2022The Battle Over Autism Therapy ABA
When Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) first emerged on the national stage, it was hailed as a ray of hope. It was an intensive, interactive therapy that seemed to have positive results with kids on the autism spectrum, teaching them valuable skills while eliminating unwanted behaviors. It was expensive and time-consuming — so parents lobbied to have it covered by insurance or schools. By the 2010s, they’d largely achieved that goal, and ABA became a standard treatment for kids with autism.
But over the past few years, that first generation of kids to receive intensive ABA has grown up — and they’re telling a different story. Many have criticized ABA as harmful and even abusive, calling it “conversion therapy for autistic people.”
On this episode, we explore the battle over ABA. We hear from a young man who received it as a kid, autistic self-advocates, experts, and parents — all of whom have a different perspective on ABA, its benefits, and whether or not the approach should be revamped or scrapped altogether.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
STAT news reporter Tara Bannow joins us to discuss her investigative reporting on private equity firms that are backing the biggest chains in the country providing ABA, and how that has impacted the quality of services people are receiving.
50 min

About The Pulse

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Go on an adventure into unexpected corners of the health and science world each week with award-winning host Maiken Scott. The Pulse takes you behind the doors of operating rooms, into the lab with…