The Pulse

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.

We’re going to take the next two weeks off to work on a bunch of new episodes for you! We’ll be back in your feed on June 30 with a special episode: “Science and the Fourth of July”. Subscribe so you don’t miss it!

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.

The post The Quest for Sleep appeared first on WHYY.

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.

The post In Short Supply appeared first on WHYY.

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.

The post Heat Wave appeared first on WHYY.

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.

The post Leap of Space appeared first on WHYY.

Some problems are so big, so entrenched and complicated, you can start to feel like Sisyphus – condemned to roll a boulder up a hill for eternity. But still, we try to solve them. On this episode, we meet people who are finding ways to tackle massive problems. They’re working to slash high drug prices, slow the spread of HIV, and eliminate smoking.