It’s Labor Day, which means we’re celebrating the hard-working people who keep the engines of productivity humming. On this episode, we’ll explore how science and technology are changing work and workplaces, and what we are learning about the pitfalls of different work environments. Our current healthcare conundrum certainly stems in part from the coupling of work and insurance benefits — so we’ll look at the past and future of this union. We’ll meet a woman who used science to prove that ladies should be part of the workforce. Plus, the psychology of snarky office emails, and the case for mandatory vacation days.

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The land and vistas around us tell a story about weather, the seasons, and light, but also about human influence, climate change — and shifts in our culture and priorities. On this episode, we travel to changing landscapes: from sprawling tobacco farms in Kentucky to misty forests in the mountains of Peru, and finally to a gritty corner of Philadelphia that’s become infamous. Plus, using food waste to build a new landscape on the ocean floor.

The land and vistas around us tell a story about weather, the seasons, and light, but also about human influence, climate change — and shifts in our culture and priorities. On this episode, we travel to changing landscapes: from sprawling tobacco farms in Kentucky to misty forests in the mountains of Peru, and finally to a gritty corner of Philadelphia that’s become infamous. Plus, using food waste to build a new landscape on the ocean floor.

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Gambling. Drugs. Prostitution. Booze. As a society, we have always regulated behaviors we consider vices. Those regulations were once grounded in moral arguments and rooted in religion. But in recent years, public health has driven our discussions about how to handle troubling or unhealthy behavior. On this episode, we examine the intersection of vice and public health.

It’s summer, and it’s hot. On this episode, we get stranded on an urban ‘heat island’ and learn what people are doing to cool them down. How is the growing global demand for air conditioning affecting our climate? We take a trip to the weather library to understand the difference between day-to-day weather and bigger climate trends. Also: Hot springs, hot flashes, and wildfires.

On July 29th, 1958, President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act and soon we sent men where only our imaginations had taken us. The Pulse celebrates major advancements in space travel and considers the challenges that have — so far — kept us from building a community on Mars. We visit a lab hoping to produce the power source that will fuel tomorrow’s space missions. An analysis of the movie “2001: A Space Odyssey” suggests how the filmmakers got the future so wrong. Also, squashing coworker squabbles in space and why it’s so hard to bake a decent loaf of bread in microgravity.

Shortages can bring minor inconveniences, like expensive avocados or almonds. In healthcare, they can mean the difference between getting the care you need when you need it – or not. On this episode, we look at the dire shortage of child psychiatrists and how it’s affecting families across the country. We’ll explore why blood bank managers despise summer, and why so few hospitals have specially trained nurses to deal with rape victims. Also, shortages in our food supplies – and what we can do to get around them.

Sleep is the new skinny. Americans are obsessed with a good night’s rest — after decades of viewing sleep as a waste of time for people who have nothing better to do. We’ll explore how sleep impacts our health, and the multimillion dollar industry trying to sell us better sleep. Also; insomnia, working the night shift, nightmares, and what we can learn from the sleeping habits of primates.

Happy Birthday, America! From the very beginning, science has shaped this country. Many of the Founding Fathers — Madison, Jefferson, Washington — were science geeks, and their methodical way of thinking is reflected in the Declaration of Independence. To celebrate the holiday, we dig into the science that makes fireworks sparkle, flags durable, and hot dogs delicious. Plus, what brain researchers are learning about the pursuit of happiness and feelings of patriotism.