Today I Learned

It’s well-known that some animals, like the axolotl and the salamander possess remarkable regenerative abilities. Humans, however, don’t possess this ability (unless you’re a fictional superhero character like Deadpool). We explore the reasons why we cannot regrow our limbs and organs, and if scientists are close to making a breakthrough in the world of regenerative medicine.

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It’s Sexual Health Awareness Month, which means it’s the perfect opportunity to learn about sex. But for many, learning about one’s sexual health might be confusing, embarrassing or even taboo. So who do we turn to when we need to learn about the birds and the bees? Friends, our parents or the internet? We explore the best way to learn, with sex educator June Low.

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As Merdeka approaches, we examine the man who was Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-haj, our first Prime Minister, and founding father of Malaya and Malaysia. We reminisce about Tunku's remarkable life and enduring legacy with Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Hj Shad Saleem Faruqi (Holder of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Chair, University of Malaya, Trustee, Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman) and Johan Rozali-Wathooth (Trustee, Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman).

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If you’ve watched the Planet of the Apes series, you’ve probably wondered: What would happen if apes decided to gang up on humans? Would we stand a chance against them? If apes ever learn to speak, are we absolutely done for? Some even say the apes have entered the stone age. How much longer do we have until they decide to club us in the head and take the world for their own? And if they hypothetically come together, could they develop a culture? Will they demand human (or ape) rights? We pick apart our monkey brains for answers with Dr Felicity Oram, a behavioural ecologist and primatologist who (fun fact!) actually cared for the real-life orangutan that inspired Maurice in the first three Planet of the Apes films.

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Learning languages can be a daunting task, especially when you’re expected to be a master of three or more. But what if we can merge our languages to become one? We explore the idea of a unified language, and also the intricacies involved in language-learning.

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What is the profound connection between Indigenous people and their land? What is the difference between Orang Asal and Orang Asli? We speak to Dr Welyne Jeffrey Jehom, an anthropologist from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of Universiti Malaya about these cultural ties and the challenges these communities face.

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Why are Malayan Tigers so special? Why are there so few of them left in the wild? What led to their decline? Why aren't efforts to protect them working? What would happen if there are no more Malayan Tigers left in the wild? This Global Tiger Day, we explore these questions and more with conservationist Lau Ching Fong, who is also the Acting Director of the Perak State Parks Corporation.

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Gaming has often been associated with myths and stereotypes like fostering laziness, promoting violence, and leading to social isolation. Our listener Jon, an avid gamer in his 60s, wants to challenge these assumptions. Can gaming actually improve our memory, spatial awareness, and alertness? In this episode of Today I Learned, we debunk these myths and explore the nuanced impacts of gaming on our brains.

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Do you love using emojis to convey the emotions behind your words but find that not everyone actually gets what you’re trying to say? Why do people interpret emojis differently? On this episode of Today I Learned we dive into the world of emojis to find out how they’ve evolved as a language and whether the miscommunications are worth the fun.

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In this episode, we explore a question from Nicole Cheok, a parent, who wants the answer to a perennial parenting question: how can we support our children and give them tremendous amounts of love and support… without raising someone who’s spoiled? Tan Cheng Yi, an educational psychologist, gives her take, as we field questions from listeners as well.

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