The Pulse

By WHYYScience Health & Fitness

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The Pulse episodes

August 02, 2019The Ocean and Us
Our planet’s surface is 71% water — with five vast oceans that span a range of temperatures and shades of blue. Humans have long loved and feared these oceans. They sustain us and other animals, help regulate our climate, and offer endless opportunities for awe and joy. But our relationship hasn’t always been smooth. The ocean can be a threat to us, and we — with our expanding environmental footprint — can be a threat to it. On this episode of The Pulse, we dig into the science of our oceans: Their connection to our survival, the threats they face, and the secrets they hide.
We hear about the mystery of the great jellyfish boom, and why seaweed might just be the next hot (and sustainable) food trend. We also explore recent discoveries about the fate of plastic in our oceans — and why the impact goes deeper than we once thought.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
Some scientists are calling it an invasion — across the world, jellyfish are swarming the coasts, leading to beach closures, and even several deaths in Australia and the Philippines. Gisele Regatao reports on what researchers are saying is behind this unprecedented boom.
You may know Ellen Horne from her years working at Radiolab. But before that, she had another vocation — marine conservationist. Her passion for the field withered with the arrival of aquaculture, a method of seafood farming that she saw as an insurmountable threat to ocean ecosystems. But now, a lifetime later, Horne takes a second look, and explains why that could be changing. We also talk to Amy Novogratz, one of the founders of Aqua-Spark, a global firm that’s trying to reinvent aquaculture in a more sustainable way.
Before her death at 25, writer Mallory Smith spent years documenting her life and battle with cystic fibrosis in a series of raw and eloquent journal entries that comprise the newly published memoir, “Salt in My Soul: An Unfinished Life.” We talk with her mother, Diane Shader Smith, who assembled the book, about Mallory and her deep connection with the ocean.
Marine biologist Rick Stafford, who’s based at Bournemouth University in southwest England, introduces us to underwater soundscapes and explains how our human sounds affect fish.
49 min
July 26, 2019Comeback
Everyone loves a good comeback story — but they don’t just apply to athletes and washed-up actors. Revivals can happen for ideas, places — even entire species. On this episode of The Pulse, we explore how and why comebacks happen in the scientific realm. We’ll hear stories about how grizzly bears are starting to rebound, the unexpected revival of Lamarckian evolution, how flatworms regenerate their bodies, and the psychological power of nostalgia.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
For decades, talking about UFOs was sure to earn you some strange looks. But now that more credible accounts are emerging, that could be changing. For this story, we hear from investigative journalist Leslie Kean, Vincent Aiello from the Fighter Pilot Podcast, and Jill Tarter from the SETI Institute.
Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado — a molecular biologist at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City — talks about the regenerative abilities of flatworms and salamanders, and how that might help us better understand our own biology.
Paleontologist and University of Washington professor Peter Ward on the life and work of naturalist Jean Baptiste Lamarck — and why his controversial ideas on evolution are making a comeback. Ward’s book is called “Lamarck’s Revenge: How Epigenetics Is Revolutionizing Our Understanding of Evolution’s Past and Present.”
50 min
July 19, 2019The Other Side of the Moon
In honor of Apollo 11’s 50th anniversary, we’ve been talking a lot about getting to the moon, and the science of understanding its origins. This episode is more of a tribute to the moon itself, and our relationship with this bright, beautiful object in the sky.
The moon lights up our nights, influences the oceans’ tides, stabilizes the earth’s tilt — which is responsible for our seasons. Without the moon, our lives here on Earth would be very, very different. On this episode of The Pulse, we pay homage to all the moon does — and delve into our relationship with the moon.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
Annette Lee — who is Native American, and a professor of astronomy and physics — talks about how these two perspectives align and differ in understanding the moon.
Eclipses — lunar and especially solar — tend to inspire wonder and awe, but for ancient people, they could also seem scary or threatening. Jonathan Seitz, a history professor at Drexel University, studies ancient cultures. He tells us how ancient civilizations were able to keep track of and predict solar and lunar eclipses without modern technology, and the meaning behind an eclipse.
We separate fact from fiction about when and why wolves howl, and what a howl might actually mean.
Biodynamic farming isn’t just about avoiding pesticides and growing organic. It also takes into account the moon’s gravitational pull and planting by the phases of the moon. We visit a biodynamic vineyard in California’s wine country to hear more about their farming methods.
The Lunar Society in England derived its name from the moon — and used its light to help members get to meetings. It was a gathering of influential scientists who hatched big plans on moonlit nights. David Warmflash writes about this in his new book “Moon: An Illustrated History.”
54 min
July 12, 2019Destination Moon
On July 20th, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon. It was an astounding achievement — a feat of science and technology, born from the will and effort of thousands. But it was also an incredible risk, one that could very well have ended in tragedy. Fifty years later, we pay homage to that mission with stories about the moon landing’s significance, its drama, and its legacy. On this special episode of The Pulse, we hear stories about the science that got us to the moon, the politics that have pushed — and stagnated — space exploration, and our relationship with the moon. Also — how people around the country remember and celebrated the moon landing.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
During a recent panel discussion, Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins called their mission to the moon a “fragile daisy chain of events,” that could have fallen apart at any moment. Space journalist Andrew Chaikin describes one of those moments: their nerve-wracking, and nearly catastrophic, descent to the moon’s surface.
Eric Ward from the Linda Hall Library in Kansas City talks about the moon rock they currently have on display, and why this aspect of the Apollo missions was so important to our understanding of the moon’s origins. Astronomer Jackie Faherty from the Museum of Natural History weighs in on the moon being the perfect place to learn more about the universe.
What can Legos teach kids about the challenges of space exploration? We visit with kids in Houston, Texas, and find out how they view the moon landing — along with that era’s technology.
Politics and space exploration have had a long and complicated history. Priorities change and funding dries up. We explore how NASA adapts to changing administrations, and changing expectations.
Former rocket scientist Poppy Northcutt was in the control room during Apollo missions, and says it’s “bittersweet” looking back on those days. She’s proud of all they achieved, but sad that we didn’t keep pushing. She makes a case for returning to the moon — and going on to Mars. Poppy was featured in the PBS American Experience documentary “Chasing the Moon.”
49 min
July 05, 2019What We Call Things and Why It Matters
How we talk about an issue has ramifications that go far beyond the words. Names, descriptions, and terms lay the foundation for how we think about an issue, how we deal with a problem — or whether we see something as a problem at all. Why do we call addiction a “brain disease,” and how does that impact treatment and policy? Is stuttering a “disorder,” or merely a different way of speaking? Plus, the debate over who gets called “Dr.” and the respect that comes with that title.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
Historian Sverker Sörlin explains the origins of “the environment” as a concept, and why it spawned a global movement to protect nature.
Elon Musk of Tesla and SpaceX has called the word nano “100 percent synonymous with bs.” But what does the term actually mean?
Scientists kvetch about the scientific terms that the public uses incorrectly.
49 min
June 21, 2019The Science of Everyday Objects
From penicillin to the moon landing, we have science to thank for humanity’s greatest achievements. But science has also helped advance things we consider common and ordinary. From bicycles to toilets, our everyday objects hold tales of dogged pursuit, and occasional lucky breaks.
On this episode of The Pulse, we take a closer look at our stuff, to uncover the hidden science that fuels our daily lives.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
Bathrooms used to be much more luxurious — and way gross. Public health historian Michael Yudell tells us how germ theory revolutionized the way we design our restrooms.
Reporter Todd Bookman spins a yarn about — well, yarn. How we went from cotton to GORE-TEX, and where these fibers of the future are developed.
Chemist and retired “stain detective” Curtis Schwartz on how laundry detergents have really “turned the tide” (eh? eh?) when it comes to getting rid of stains.
LCD screens light up our lives and bombard us with information everywhere we go. Science historian Ben Gross talks about the origins of liquid-crystal displays (aka LCDs) in his new book “The TVs of Tomorrow.” Archival audio courtesy of the Hagley Museum and Library.
Psychologist Nicholas Epley explains why we anthropomorphize everyday objects; then Ian Chillag — creator of the podcast “Everything is Alive” — helps us speak directly with our stuff.
Professional foodie (and self-described clean freak) Rebecca Firkser schools us on the hidden dangers that lurk in recyclable straws. She is the Culinary Editor at the breakfast and brunch website Extra Crispy.
49 min
June 14, 2019How Did We Miss That?
You’re developing a new, revolutionary product. You have all the science figured out, it works like a charm. Problem is, nobody wants — or needs — your product. How do things like this happen? On this episode, we look into this phenomenon, of missing something that’s pretty obvious — the things we didn’t see coming. Why do we miss them — and how can we prevent this from happening? We hear stories about doctors making the wrong diagnosis; how grifters get away with cons; and why a sweeping approach to reducing the opioid crisis might do more harm than good.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
Damian Sendler made a name for himself as a wunderkind sex researcher — until a Gizmodo article called Sendler out as a fraud. We talk with reporter Jennings Brown about how he unmasked Sendler — and hear from Sendler about why he says the whole business is just a case of professional assassination.
How do people get away with blatant lies, exaggerations and false credentials? Psychologist Maria Konnikova takes us into the mind of a con artist — and points us to some red flags.
It seems like simple logic: If it’s prescription painkillers that caused the opioid crisis, limiting them should get us out of it. But for some struggling with addiction, that route has done more harm than good.
Neurologist Jonathan Howard explains the cognitive blind spots behind medical mistakes of omission — like missed diagnoses and tests not ordered. His book on the topic is “Cognitive Errors and Diagnostic Mistakes: A Case-Based Guide to Critical Thinking in Medicine.”
49 min
May 31, 2019Opting Out
There’s a comfort to the mainstream way of doing things — it offers standard solutions to standard problems. But sometimes existing systems don’t work or aren’t accessible, and we’re forced to carve out our own paths. On this episode, we explore stories of opting out — and finding new solutions. We hear about communities opting out of conventional internet service, universities ditching the GRE test as part of their admissions process, and people saying no to some aspects of medical care. Why we opt out, where it leads, and why, sometimes, it just might be impossible.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
In Detroit, roughly 40 percent of residents have no internet at home. In response, communities there and elsewhere are exploring mesh networks — a kind of shared wireless that’s built from the ground up. Steph Yin explains how it works, and the challenges these projects face.
Reporter Noam Osband talks with Jessica Zitter, a palliative care physician who wants her patients to know that opting out of aggressive medical treatments doesn’t mean they’re “giving up.” Zitter’s book is called “Extreme Measures: Finding a Better Path to the End of Life.”
When Steven Morgan was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, he was given several prescriptions to stabilize his moods. The medications helped ease his depression and anxiety, but he also felt that they erased certain aspects of his personality and creativity. The physical side effects were severe, and eventually, Steven decided he wanted to learn to manage his illness on his own, without medication. Ethan Brooks reports this story.
Plastic poses a growing threat to the environment, and especially our oceans. We record what it’s like attempting to live without plastic for a day, and chat with Rose Eveleth, who imagines a world without plastic on her podcast “Flash Forward.”
When Tony Martinez scheduled his first colonoscopy, the doctor said he would need someone to drive him home afterwards because of the anesthesia. So Tony decided to opt out — and experience the full procedure without going under.
49 min
May 24, 2019Cats and Dogs, their Health and Ours
For a lot of Americans, cats and dogs are more than just pets — they’re our fur babies. We’re willing to do whatever it takes to keep them happy and healthy. But sometimes — whatever it takes — gets complicated and expensive. On this episode of The Pulse, we examine pet health from Prozac to surgery, and the epidemic of fat cats and pudgy pups. Plus, how pets impact human well-being.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
Every year, thousands of Americans end up in the hospital because of dog bites. K-9 behavior therapist Patricia Bentz discusses how to prevent bites.
Tourist brochures for Paris don’t tend to illuminate the city’s dog poop problem. Journalist Marjorie Hache walks us through the City of Light’s long struggle to get residents to clean up after their pets.
When pet care gets too costly in the U.S., some people resort to “economic euthanasia.” How did vet bills become so expensive? And, is universal health insurance for pets an answer?
More than half of cats and dogs in the U.S. are obese — and the ‘food is love’ attitude from pet owners isn’t helping.
What do you do when the your usually sweet cat becomes angry and aggressive? For some pet owners , Prozac is the prescription.
Daryl Whiting has had lots of cats and dogs over her lifetime. For her, the last moments in a pet’s life are precious — she’s become an unofficial pet chaplain.
49 min
May 10, 2019The Skinny on Skin
When’s the last time you saw a get-well card for psoriasis or eczema? Skin’s our biggest organ — and does lots of hard work keeping us healthy — but still, it doesn’t get much respect. Skin regulates our temperature, protects us from germs, and generally serves as the final barrier between our bodies and the world. On this episode, we look at what our skin does for us — and what happens when it breaks down.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
Hong Kong beauty editor Francesca Ng works in an industry that idolizes skin perfection, but she’s spent a lifetime struggling with eczema.
Inadequate training and implicit bias may be keeping doctors from spotting skin problems in people of color. VisualDx says its tech fix could lead to better diagnosis.
Dermatologist Anisha Patel explains how skin pigment works.
Colorado Public Radio spoke with burn center patient Dave Repsher about his near-fatal helicopter crash and long recovery.
How runners protect their skin from sweat, weather — and their greatest nemesis: chafing.
49 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…