Innovation Hub
WGBHInnovation Hub
Innovation Hub looks at how to reinvent our world – from medicine to education, relationships to time management. Great thinkers and great ideas, designed to make your life better.
2017 WGBH Educational Foundation
Innovation Hub looks at how to reinvent our world – from medicine to education, relationships to time management. Great thinkers and great ideas, designed to make your life better.
2017 WGBH Educational Foundation
What happens when tech influences every aspect of our lives - even who we meet, and what our families look like?
Sometimes, human intelligence trumps artificial.
In a world full of noise, is anyone being heard?
Child’s play isn’t just a game.
Dating and demographics are surprisingly intertwined.
The science behind why you’re sweating away on a stationary bike.
A quarter-century ago, America was far from married to the idea of same-sex marriage.
Coming to a place near you: more robots.
It’s a weird, weird world.
CRISPR has enabled us to manipulate the code of life. Where might it take us next?
Father of online education weighs in on learning loss, screen fatigue and education no longer bound by time and space.
Third time’s the charm? Back to school comes with a new set of challenges in 2021.
The world has gotten really clean during the pandemic and our hyper-sanitized lives may pose health risks.
Amidst speakeasies, mob deals, and train robbers, one man was reinventing what it took to catch a crook.
Social and environmental concerns are now corporate America’s concerns. Can it solve them?
It took a global pandemic to show us that our workplace stress levels are unsustainable.
A new migration crisis looms on the horizon. Where will people go when a changing climate renders their homelands uninhabitable? And what can governments do about it?
What accounts for the extraordinary rise of Amazon, and what does that rise tell us about ourselves?
Regarding the Constitution as divine amounts to “constitutional fundamentalism,” according to one legal scholar.
An earthquake in education pushes us into the future of learning.
Are we doing our work, or just talking about it?
“Latino” describes nearly a fifth of the U.S. population — yet the term only caught on in the 1980s.
The science behind why you’re sweating away on a stationary bike.
To get rich quick, maybe just take a math class.
Language isn’t what it used to be - but that’s actually completely normal.
Before Twitter, before Facebook, before Fox News, there was CNN
How did materials science lead to our 24/7 world?
A historian’s ode to the resilient city, warts and all.
There's only one way to end congestion. Here it is...
We systematically default to adding, even when taking away is the clear answer to our problems.
Before the pandemic, more women were on the non-farm payroll than men. Can they bounce back?
Fewer and fewer Americans work in places like steel mills or on assembly lines, while more and more work in health care — and that’s no coincidence.
How we changed photography, and photography changed us
Faith is all that separates cash from printer paper
Adolescent transgressions once confined to yearbooks are becoming immortal.
What happens when international espionage goes wrong?
When it comes to democracy, sometimes less is more, argues one economist.
An architect and urban planner shares her ambitious vision for creating more just and equitable cities in America.
How the grocery store became our one-stop food haven — and the dark side that comes with that.
Unlike smartphones, our mental hardware is tremendously changeable. Here’s how our remarkably nimble brains rewire themselves.
Your health and life span are deeply impacted by the choices of state politicians
Social and environmental concerns are now corporate America’s concerns. Can it solve them?
CRISPR has enabled us to manipulate the code of life. Where might it take us next?
Are we doing our work, or just talking about it?
The world has gotten really clean during the pandemic and our hyper-sanitized lives may pose health risks.
Amidst speakeasies, mob deals, and train robbers, one man was reinventing what it took to catch a crook.
Regarding the Constitution as divine amounts to “constitutional fundamentalism,” according to one legal scholar.
A Social Security benefit for the nation’s neediest kids would virtually eradicate poverty for children, says one leading economist.
Loneliness has been on everyone’s mind lately, but what impact might it be having on our bodies?
We shall overcome, but how long will it take? A leading sociologist and physician explains why we are only at the “end of the beginning” of our struggle with coronavirus.
Fewer and fewer Americans work in places like steel mills or on assembly lines, while more and more work in health care — and that’s no coincidence.
How we changed photography, and photography changed us
Before Twitter, before Facebook, before Fox News, there was CNN
How did materials science lead to our 24/7 world?
Why many of us lose when the wealthiest move out of high-tax cities.
Numbers don’t always determine stock prices: sometimes our lives and emotions do.
Turns out, there’s a lot more to America’s first president than what you learned in third grade.
A century ago, the Republican Party supported both big business and big government.
This week on Innovation Hub we rerun an education roundtable that examines how COVID-19 has impacted the future of learning.
How the grocery store became our one-stop food haven — and the dark side that comes with that.
Expanding rapid testing for COVID-19 in the U.S. has been anything but rapid. Here’s why.
Could diet and exercise reduce COVID’s impact? A leading cardiologist says yes.
COVID-19 has crushed the global travel and tourism business, but some believe a more sustainable future awaits.
You’re on a roll, but is it skill or just dumb luck?
Many products are painstakingly tailored to the needs of the consumer but design didn’t always work that way.
We may have left office jobs in the pre-pandemic world
COVID has thrown us into a mental health crisis. Can online therapy help?
It’s a weird, weird world.
A roundtable of scholars and parents consider the lasting impact of the pandemic on schools and students.
Could we be heading into a world with far less art?
How did we fall in love with junk?
COVID has turned our world upside down. It’s also created a moment to finally turn things right side up, according to Zakaria.
How the judicial branch went out on a partisan limb
When it comes to fighting the new coronavirus, one infectious disease expert says there’s no silver bullet, but don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
It draws us in and riles us up — but we still can’t look away
With so many out of work, would it cost less to provide more jobs?
The U.S. has the world’s largest economy, but for how much longer?
From pandemic to Health Age in 10, 9, 8, 7...
If you thought you lived in an unequal world before, get ready.
What happens when tech influences every aspect of our lives - even who we meet, and what our families look like?
If the Sandman has been conspicuously absent lately, there’s a reason for that.
What does it take to change someone’s mind?
Colleges were already facing hard times. Could the pandemic be the tipping point to upend the whole industry?
Colleges need to help their students, not punish or police them, says one epidemiologist.
Is there a real difference between men and women’s brains?
Ever wonder about the Stanford behind Stanford University?
Stop me if you’ve heard this one, but stand-up comedy is no joke.
That $15 shirt you just bought may be more costly than you know.
How can you help make our elections secure? Double check your paper ballot.
The world is getting louder and our hearing is paying the price.
How did societal prejudices inform our scientific understanding of ‘race’?
Meritocracy is supposed to reward the talented. Instead, it’s excluding almost everyone.
If you want to learn more about risk and probability, it’s a good idea to ante up.
We didn’t always want to be skinny. Kids didn’t always need separate menus. And we haven’t always known about calories. So what changed?
How can women juggle working and parenting during a pandemic?
What do you get when you assemble an army of volunteers and hope they do their best?
In recent weeks, many states have seen significant increases in COVID-19 cases. What will it take to change the trajectory?
Culture plays a significant role in how we respond to the current pandemic.
A few hundred years ago, the worlds of science and magic were one and the same. The Royal Society helped change that.
It’s hard to imagine life without other people. But would everyone be better off on their own?
Language isn’t what it used to be - but that’s actually completely normal.
School’s out for summer, but the educational losses caused by the coronavirus are only just beginning to be understood.
What effect will social distancing and financial uncertainty have on birth rates?
A century ago, the Republican Party supported both big business and big government.
Many products are painstakingly tailored to the needs of the consumer but design didn’t always work that way.
There’s another pandemic that’s making COVID-19 much, much worse. Obesity.
Child’s play isn’t just a game.
Never before have converging threats to our democracy been so grave, argues one political scientist, and the need to protect it so urgent.
Global carbon emissions dipped during lockdowns, but not by enough to significantly curb climate change.
Teams around the world are working at breakneck speed to create a COVID-19 vaccine, but are expectations about the timeline realistic?
Berry Gordy Jr. built Motown from the ground up, using techniques he had learned as an assembly line worker in a car factory. In the process, he created stars like Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Wonder.
A possible cause of your achy-breaky heart? Your emotional well-being. Dr. Sandeep Jauhar explains the connection between feelings and the health of your heart.
One of the country’s leading infectious disease epidemiologists says, in the rush to reopen states, there’s no plan for what lies ahead.
We used to be the hare, but now we may be the tortoise.
You might not be able to put a price tag on human life, but certain people do. Here’s why.
What will a post-coronavirus world look like?
As we continue to fight the coronavirus, is there a safe way to reopen sections of society?
Turns out, there’s a lot more to America’s first president than what you learned in third grade.
In a national recession, who is hit hardest? How will we recover? And how do robots fit into the picture?
A former head of OSHA explains why science is under attack during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Mayflower sailed 400 years ago with 102 passengers. This year, another Mayflower will sail the same course unmanned.
How much does the zip code you grow up in, determine your future?
Using fewer resources while still growing the economy seems like a dream. But is it reality?
What will it take to stop the coronavirus?
What will we need to do to safely reclaim our urban spaces after COVID-19?
Is it better to be a Jack of all trades or a master of one?
Want to know how to grow produce inside, without soil or sunlight?
You’re on a roll, but is it skill or just dumb luck?
High-priced housing hurts more than just your wallet — it’s hurting America.
Are you really who you think you are?
If you want to get something done, you might need to make some lifestyle changes.
Could an experiment at a small school, in the middle of a field in rural North Dakota, inspire a revolution in America’s public education system?
Does the virtual world change cultural norms, or conform to them?
The New Deal built networks of new roads, but it also paved the way for our country’s future.
Barbie’s personal stylist created Bratz dolls. Could he prove he didn’t steal the idea?
We live in deeply polarized political times. But how did we get here, and where are we headed?
To get rich quick, maybe just take a math class.
The world is getting louder and our hearing is paying the price.
Drug companies often focus on finding a cure for rare diseases, rather than common ones.
We didn’t always want to be skinny. Kids didn’t always need separate menus. And we haven’t always known about calories. So what changed?
The U.S. and Germany both tried to create atomic bombs during WWII, but we got there first. How?
Marketing isn’t rocket science — until NASA gets involved.
Is there a real difference between men and women’s brains?
Ever wonder about the Stanford behind Stanford University?
In the 1950s and 60s, lots of people had job security, annual raises, and pensions. So… what changed?
What do you get when you assemble an army of volunteers and hope they do their best?
There are lots of techniques and strategies for learning, but what really works? We explore the latest research.
Many of us have tried learning a second language. But it turns out: there’s a ticking clock on how long we can do it well. And now we know when the countdown ends.
How is Russian math helping American students?
What can the brain tell us about addiction? A recovering addict and neuroscientist explains.
Immigration, borders, economic inequality and nationalism are some of the challenges facing modern-day Europe - sound familiar? Here’s why Europe’s problems often echo our own and why we should care.
How have many innovative ideas repeatedly been shut down, ignored or written off?
Many people spend time and energy trying to escape from unpleasant thoughts and feelings, but could they have a useful purpose?
How conservative radio hosts got politicians to walk their walk and talk their talk.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one, but stand-up comedy is no joke.
That $15 shirt you just bought may be more costly than you know.
Sharon Weinberger talks about the secret military agency (DARPA) that created everything from stealth aircraft to the internet.
Does income inequality lead to pushier parenting?
No one predicted that the invention of the solid-body electric guitar would lead to the rise of rock ‘n’ roll, not even the people who popularized it.
Why do some cultural icons stay memorable for generations, while others are forgotten?
It’s hard to imagine life without other people. But would everyone be better off on their own?
Child’s play isn’t just a game.
Why have so many attempts to reform our market-driven health care system failed and how might that history inform us about the challenges that lie ahead?
How much does the zip code you grow up in, determine your future?
Using fewer resources while still growing the economy seems like a dream. But is it reality?
Take a look around — you might not be able to see them, but they are everywhere. We are surrounded by forests of bacteria and jungles of microbes. And it turns out, that might not be such a bad thing. But our obsession with cleanliness could be.
What makes the most inventive minds tick?
New tech has promised us more and more connections. So why do Americans feel so lonely?
For better or worse, our devices are changing us.
That ego trip’s not going to take you anywhere — here’s why.
Forget crystal balls — can marshmallows really help us predict the future?
How did societal prejudices inform our scientific understanding of ‘race’?
Language isn’t what it used to be - but that’s actually completely normal.
In the 1980s, we had the opportunity to reverse climate change. Why didn’t we?
Is there a benefit to understanding our darker side?
Meritocracy is supposed to reward the talented. Instead, it’s excluding almost everyone.
High-priced housing hurts more than just your wallet — it’s hurting America
Could an experiment at a small school, in the middle of a field in rural North Dakota, inspire a revolution in America’s public education system?
Does the virtual world change cultural norms, or conform to them?
The New Deal built networks of new roads, but it also paved the way for our country’s future.
Barbie’s personal stylist created Bratz dolls. Could he prove he didn’t steal the idea?
How similar are we to other animals, and what sets us apart?
How has television changed the face of science, and in what ways has science communication changed because of television?
A global battle over innovation.
Are you worrying about the wrong things? Researchers explain why we need to stop stressing about rare events, and focus our attention on more commonplace risks.
Is education a waste of time and money?
The “Little House on the Prairie” books have touched millions of children’s hearts, but what was Laura Ingalls Wilder’s life really like?
Technology can be pretty distracting. How can we use our time more efficiently in the digital world?
Fewer and fewer Americans believe that capitalism - at least the way it has played out in the United States - is working. Can the system be reinvented?
What can we learn about managing risk from unexpected professions?
Vacation's all I ever wanted — but when did that start?
A calorie is not just a calorie. High-fat dairy might be good for you. We explore what the latest nutrition research tells us about diet and weight.
Technology has the power to unite - and divide - us. We look back at what history has to say about tech’s long, complicated and troubled relationship with politics.
The U.S. and Germany both tried to create atomic bombs during WWII, but we got there first. How?
Marketing isn’t rocket science — until NASA gets involved.
Sharon Weinberger talks about the secret military agency (DARPA) that created everything from stealth aircraft to the internet.
Not everyone’s a winner when tech jobs come to town - here’s why.
Plastics. You may love them. You may hate them. But you can’t live without them.
We look back at the surprisingly long history of the gig economy and consider its lasting impact on our working lives.
Tea. Opium. The rise of San Francisco. Clipper ships reshaped America, and America’s role in the world.
The average age of first-time moms - and dads - is getting older. Here’s what that means for our society.
We often hear that the automated workplace is killing jobs. What do the people who make the robots have to say about that?
Vitamins and drugs travel long distances to get to your local pharmacy, and most of them come all the way from China.
Many people spend time and energy trying to escape from unpleasant thoughts and feelings, but could they have a useful purpose?
Getting older is inevitable, but can we improve the way we age?
Is it better to be a Jack of all trades or a master of one?
Does income inequality lead to pushier parenting?
One fish, two fish, red fish or blue? Would you like some green eggs and ham with that too?
We live in deeply polarized political times. But how did we get here, and where are we headed?
There’s a way to end traffic. And it involves cash.
There’s an assessment tool that promises to reveal more about your personality than you already know. Lots of us have used it. But is it accurate?
Why do some cultural icons stay memorable for generations, while others are forgotten?
What can the brain tell us about addiction? A recovering addict and neuroscientist explains
Berry Gordy Jr. built Motown from the ground up, using techniques he had learned as an assembly line worker in a car factory. In the process, he created stars like Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Wonder.
A possible cause of your achy-breaky heart? Your emotional well-being. Dr. Sandeep Jauhar explains the connection between feelings and the health of your heart.
Genetic research has made incredible breakthroughs, but will these new discoveries be accessible to everyone?
Was there always a division between public and private interests?
In the 1980s, we had the opportunity to reverse climate change. Why didn’t we?
Is there a benefit to understanding our darker side?
We debate privacy a lot nowadays… but it turns out that concerns about privacy are nothing new.
Are we narcissistic because of how popular Twitter is? Or is Twitter popular because of how narcissistic we are?
Boomers were greedy. GenX was full of slackers. Millennials are lazy. Maybe the whole idea of generations is the problem, not the people in them.
How have many innovative ideas repeatedly been shut down, ignored or written off?
What happens when we give technology more and more of a voice?
How similar are we to other animals, and what sets us apart?
Discover the history and evolution of the buttons you’re pushing.
No one predicted that the invention of the solid-body electric guitar would lead to the rise of rock ‘n’ roll, not even the people who popularized it.
Why is the United States the biggest exporter of plasma in the world?
America’s murder rate has plummeted over the last 20 years. What caused that drop? And why don’t Americans feel safer?
You might not think a lot about sand. But it’s also crucial to our modern world.
You might be the smartest person in the room. But at the end of the day, are you the most rational?
What makes the most inventive minds tick?
How has television changed the face of science, and in what ways has science communication changed because of television?
Take a look around — you might not be able to see them, but they are everywhere. We are surrounded by forests of bacteria and jungles of microbes. And it turns out, that might not be such a bad thing. But our obsession with cleanliness could be.
How did World War I create modern America?
A global battle over innovation.
Are you worrying about the wrong things? Researchers explain why we need to stop stressing about rare events, and focus our attention on more commonplace risks.
This week, we talk about how we might be able to break our addiction to screens - and why that would benefit us. And then, many Americans are becoming wary of our economic system. But could we reinvent it?
Technology can be pretty distracting. How can we use our time more efficiently in the digital world?
Fewer and fewer Americans believe that capitalism - at least the way it has played out in the United States - is working. Can the system be reinvented?
This week on Innovation Hub, we’ve got stories about twins studies, “Little House on the Prairie,” and some insightful responses from you, dear listeners, about a recent segment we did on whether we overvalue education.
How studying twins can help us understand human behavior and health.
The story of Laura Ingalls Wilder - the pioneer girl from "Little House on the Prairie" - touched millions of children’s hearts, but what was Laura Ingalls Wilder’s life really like? And how did she recreate American history?
This week on Innovation Hub: baby sideshows, turmoil on college campuses, and termites.
This week on Innovation Hub: is our education system set up to fail? Then, we look at "the front page of the internet" and the boundaries of free speech online.
Is education a waste of time and money?
Whether you’re an avid user of Reddit, or have never even visited the website, the content it produces has influenced the media we all consume. But Reddit has also brought up major questions about free speech on the internet.
This week on Innovation Hub, we tackle the origins of the European Union, and how technology has changed the way we — wait for it — wait.
Immigration, borders, economic inequality and nationalism are some of the challenges facing modern-day Europe - sound familiar? Here’s why Europe’s problems often echo our own and why we should care.
Don’t wait, read about waiting NOW.
How does new tech really impact our politics? Why did abolitionist Frederick Douglass think photography would pull the nation together? And why do we care so much about what happens in Casablanca or Stranger Things or Raiders of the Lost Ark?
Technology has the power to unite - and divide - us. We look back at what history has to say about tech’s long, complicated and troubled relationship with politics.
Remember how broken up you were at the end of “The Notebook”? There’s a biological reason for that.
This week on Innovation Hub, we’ve got stories about the science behind healthy eating, the role clipper ships played in early American trading, and how one company is combining fashion and tech.
A calorie is not just a calorie. High-fat dairy might be good for you. We explore what the latest nutrition research tells us about diet and weight.
Opium. The rise of San Francisco. Clipper ships reshaped America, and America’s role in the world.
A 3-D printer that makes clothing. A jacket that heats itself. NASA-inspired fabric. The way we think about clothes is changing — and it could affect the way we dress forever.
Are you putting together your New Year’s resolutions? There are a bunch of ways that you can learn better, whether you want to speak a second language or get better at math.
There are lots of techniques and strategies for learning, but what really works? We explore the latest research.
Many of us have tried learning a second language. But it turns out: there’s a ticking clock on how long we can do it well. And now we know when the countdown ends.
How is Russian math helping American students?
Sometimes we look for solutions to solve a problem. Sometimes we’ve got solutions in search of a problem. And then there are the unfortunate times when our solutions just cause more problems.
This week on Innovation Hub, are meetings actually useful? What happened when Darwin introduced the theory of evolution? And how do randomized trials actually work?
From watching the Food Network to ordering takeout, it’s easier to let other people prepare a meal than to do it ourselves. We dig into the American obsession with food, this week on Innovation Hub. Read More...
This week on Innovation Hub, we’ve got stories on how states are getting creative about health care challenges, and how hotels have influenced American history.
Americans want better health care. And for the next couple of years, the most exciting changes are likely to happen at the state level.
When you’ve checked into and out of hotels, have you ever stopped to think about their role in American history?
This week on Innovation Hub, we’ve got stories about our relationship with plastics, seismic shifts in charitable giving and the risks posed by China becoming the world’s pharmacy.
Plastics. You may love them. You may hate them. But you can’t live without them.
In this season of giving, we explore the seismic shifts underway in the philanthropic landscape and consider why some charities are much more successful at fundraising than others.
Vitamins and drugs travel long distances to get to your local pharmacy, and most of them come all the way from China.
This week on Innovation Hub: how factories, memories, and libraries are changing the way we think.
This week on Innovation Hub, we have songs that speak to the heart, and stories about the organ itself.
Berry Gordy Jr. built Motown from the ground up, using techniques he had learned as an assembly line worker in a car factory. In the process, he created stars like Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Wonder.
A possible cause of your achy-breaky heart? Your emotional well-being. Dr. Sandeep Jauhar explains the connection between feelings and the health of your heart.
This week on Innovation Hub, we’ve got stories about why more American women are having fewer children, and how personality tests like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator shaped our world. Plus, we get your feedback on our recent show, “Votes, Jobs, And Tech.”
The average age of first-time moms - and dads - is getting older. Here’s what that means for our society.
There’s an assessment tool that promises to reveal more about your personality than you already know. Lots of us have used it. But is it accurate?
This week on Innovation Hub, we’ve got stories about why everything you think about big business might be wrong, how precision engineering changed the world, and why your brain knows when you’ve found your BFF.
With the midterms quickly approaching, we’re diving into how new technological advancements are affecting the economy and influencing how people vote.
Automation is not only changing jobs — it’s also changing politics.
Farm laborers, mercenaries… even management consultants. The gig economy is a lot bigger than you realize.
We often hear that the automated workplace is killing jobs. What do the people who make the robots have to say about that?
This week on Innovation Hub: privacy in America, water in Texas, and how social movements REALLY succeed.
We debate privacy a lot nowadays… but it turns out that concerns about privacy are nothing new.
It takes more than a clever hashtag to get your cause rolling. We take a look at how to make real change in America.
We’ve got a crisis on our hands, and inside our faucets.
This week on Innovation Hub, we’ve got stories about free will, corporate rights, and the Spanish flu.
Robert Sapolsky explains why it’s hard to act as if free will is an illusion… even if you believe that free will is an illusion.
Corporations aren’t a minority group, but Adam Winkler says businesses have spent 200 years arguing for their civil rights.
The Spanish Flu was the most devastating pandemic since the Black Death. And it's been mostly forgotten.
Traffic, blue collar workers, and the science of sin. That’s all this week, on Innovation Hub.
There’s a way to end traffic. And it involves cash.
What happens when blue-collar workers get a bigger piece of the pie? The pie gets bigger for everyone.
We’ve been taught that the seven deadly sins are flat out bad for us. But one neuroscientist says: everything in moderation.
The difference between pleasure and happiness, how catastrophes actually happen, and a deep dive into the digital divide. That’s all this week, on Innovation Hub.
We live in a world run by complicated systems. And the failure to understand those systems can have pretty dire consequences.
That sugar-filled doughnut might bring you pleasure, but it probably doesn’t make you happy. Pediatrician Robert Lustig says, yes, there’s a difference between the two, and Americans are focusing too much on pleasure.
Everything is online nowadays. But what does that mean for the one in five Americans who can’t reliably access the internet?
This week on Innovation Hub: the decline of violent crime in America, the commodification of sand, and evolution in the city.
America’s murder rate has plummeted over the last 20 years. What caused that drop? And why don’t Americans feel safer?
You might not think a lot about sand. But it’s also crucial to our modern world.
Turns out, there’s an evolutionary difference between the country mouse and the city mouse.
Hormones, 19th century hacks, and an aging economy. That’s all this week, on Innovation Hub.
For a long time, we didn’t know much about hormones. But once people discovered what these chemicals could do, there was an awful lot of (mostly warranted) excitement.
The story of two brothers in 19th century France, who exploited a mechanical telegraph system to their own ends.
The average American is getting older. Joseph Coughlin says that’s a business opportunity.
This week on Innovation Hub, termites, baby sideshows, and college campuses.
A prominent social psychologist believes young people are being coddled. Here’s why.
It sounds weird to put babies on display at a fair. But Martin Couney did, and he saved thousands of lives in the process.
Termites! They’re gross, weird, annoying… and really important to the future of the planet.
The health risks of our jobs, the untold story of female WWII codebreakers, and why we should work with AI. That’s all this week, on Innovation Hub.
You don’t have to be a crab fisherman to have a dangerous job. Stanford’s Jeffrey Pfeffer tells us why toxic workplaces can lead to health problems.
More than 10,000 women worked as codebreakers during World War II, but their contributions have largely been ignored Liza Mundy tells their story.
In 1997, chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov seemed invincible. But after playing the IBM computer Deep Blue, everything changed.
The science of what we eat, a lack of evidence in medicine, and why useless knowledge isn’t so useless. That’s all this week on Innovation Hub. Read More...
Willpower isn't the only thing dictating what you eat. Neuroscientist Rachel Herz says the color, shape, and presentation of food has a major impact on our diet.
There’s not as much evidence-based decision-making in medicine as you might expect. We take a look at why.
We talk with physics professor Robbert Dijkgraaf about why funding basic scientific research can yield powerful results down the road.
This week on Innovation Hub we explore why the human body makes no sense, the more complex side of P.T. Barnum, and what neuroscience in the courtroom looks like.
The human body is kind of a mess. Why is that?
He was a dynamic entertainer and a prolific business man, but P.T. Barnum was also responsible for shaping how we view celebrity and fake news. We look at how Barnum’s impact lives on.
We’ve been studying how the brain affects crime for decades. But today’s legal system is seeing a different side to neuroscience and the law.
CEOs refusing to stay in their lane. Peaceful scientists creating weapons of war. And making money — or not — while pumping out renewable energy. This week, stories about taking care of business, and how hard that can be.
Today's CEOs don't just stay in their lane. We're seeing more business leaders going public with stances on social issues.
What are the political, ethical, and personal ramifications of scientists using their talents to create weapons of war?
People are paying attention to clean energy these days. But is the field sustainable as a business model?
We take a look at college rankings, the rising global population, and the inner workings of Big Pharma. That’s all this week on Innovation Hub.
Each year, U.S. News ranks U.S. colleges - and the rankings create a buzz. But should prospective students and parents pay any attention to them?
By 2050, Earth will be home to 10 billion people. Can we feed them all without devastating the planet?
Each year, U.S. News ranks U.S. colleges - and the rankings create a buzz. But should prospective students and parents pay any attention to them?
This week on Innovation Hub, are meetings actually useful? What happened when Darwin introduced the theory of evolution? And how do randomized trials actually work?
You’ve been a part of a randomized trial, whether you know it our not. We take a look at how they shape our world.
Charles Darwin might have waited decades longer to offer up his theory of evolution… if he hadn’t received a panic-inducing letter from Asia.
Being busy is a way of life for many Americans. To-do lists and calendars dominate our lives. But all that scheduling might actually make us less productive.
Nobody thought a channel dedicated entirely to cooking would succeed. But as the Food Network grew to enormous heights, it produced some of the biggest names in television.
Nobody thought a channel dedicated entirely to cooking would succeed. But as the Food Network grew to enormous heights, it produced some of the biggest names in television.
Nowadays, not everybody cooks. We look at why fewer people are cooking at home, and how the grocery industry will have to change to compensate.
Hungry for information? Then learn about the history of the American restaurant.
This week on Innovation Hub, we explore the consequences of relationships—how friendship affects our brain chemistry, how politicians interact with businesses, and how precision connected the world.
Big business is good for employees and good for the environment. That’s not a marketing ploy— it’s what the data says.
Precision engineering makes the modern world go round. We talk to author Simon Winchester about why that wasn’t always the case.
What if our friends are responsible for the way our brains work? You might be a little more picky about who you hang out with.
This week on Innovation Hub, we’re taking a look at the beauty of good timing, recent spikes in food allergies, and why we should try a different approach to pest control.
Sometimes when you do something is as important as what you do. We talk with author Dan Pink about how we can time things just right.
The birth of the disposable razor isn't just about shaving. It also involves socialism and Niagara Falls.
In the last 20 years, the prevalence of food allergies in children has increased by at least 50 percent. We talk with two food allergy experts about the possible causes and what researchers are doing about it.
Rats and humans have lived together forever. So why do we keep trying to kill them? We take a look at whether rat extermination is a good idea after all.
We take a look at a few American dreams; from Hershey’s chocolate to the development of computers — and beyond.
There’s a woman who made modern software possible. Here’s her story.
Hershey isn’t just the name on your favorite candy bar. We take a look at the man who popularized milk chocolate, helped give America its sweet tooth, and built his own town.
How soon can we expect robots to rule our lives? Rodney Brooks says we shouldn’t be too worried yet.
With events at the southern border on everyone’s minds, we revisit the histories of immigration and equal rights, and examine how childhood trauma can cause lasting damage.
Up until the early 20th century, it was generally easy to immigrate to the U.S. What changed?
More than 2,000 children have been separated from their parents at the southern border of the U.S. How will that trauma stay with the kids long after they’ve been reunited with their families?
Human rights are hotly debated, but when did that debate begin? UCLA’s Lynn Hunt talks about what might have been the formative moment for human rights - and how we’re constantly changing our definition of equality.
This week we talk about how algorithms might help kids in dangerous situations, the effects of nostalgia, and what happens when the worlds of libraries and journalism collide.
There are 4 million referrals to child welfare services in America every year. How should cities and states decide which ones to respond to?
Those wistful memories from long, long ago might actually help you build a better future.
Newsrooms are shrinking and trust in news is at historic lows. But your local library might be taking up the fight to restore our trust in journalism.
Intelligence can act as a gateway — and a barrier — to a lot of things in this world. This week on Innovation Hub, we take a look at how intelligence and education affects our country, impacts prisoners, and relates to rational thinking.
America is in decline… and it’s all because of smart people making smart decisions.
What if we stopped thinking about prison as a punishment, and started thinking of it as more like rehabilitation? Prison might look more like college.
You might be the smartest person in the room. But at the end of the day, are you the most rational?
This week on Innovation Hub, we rely on numbers to tell us who we are, where we belong, and how we’re doing in life. The data isn’t always as objective as it seems.
They took a beating after the 2016 election, but it’s time to give political polls a break.
More and more industries are being controlled by fewer and fewer companies. The Brookings Institution’s David Wessel explains how that happened, and why it matters.
Boomers were greedy. GenX was full of slackers. Millennials are lazy. Maybe the whole idea of generations is the problem, not the people in them.
Life itself is tangled, knotted, and muddled. This week on Innovation Hub, we’ll try to untangle those knots, whether they lurk in our genetic history or our deepest aspirations.
What do we know about our ancestors? Adam Rutherford says if we look hard enough, we can unpack human history through genetics.
The modern workplace isn’t built for high-achieving couples. And according to Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, that often prevents women from reaching their full potential.
Can you design a more fulfilling and joyful life? Two Stanford professors say they might be able to help.
Toxic workplaces, Afghan rugs, and internet access. That’s all this week, on Innovation Hub.
Our jobs can have a major impact on our health. Toxic management causes 120,000 excess deaths a year in the United States, according to one scholar.
There are a lot of ideas about how the U.S. should help other countries. One former Wall Street executive is using rugs to empower Afghan women.
Roughly one in five Americans don’t have access to the internet. We talk about why that matters.
Do you feel it? A change in the air? Whether it’s carbon dioxide, human behavior, or corporate civil rights, we sure feel it too.
We are a strange, complicated, and weird species. Stanford’s Robert Sapolsky explains the biological underpinnings of humanity’s quirks.
A scientist named Charles Keeling started a continuous measurement of CO2 in the atmosphere in 1958. What he found gave us new insight into how our atmosphere is changing.
The fight for corporate rights didn’t start with the Supreme Court case Citizens United. In fact, corporations have been fighting to expand their rights for 200 years.
This week on Innovation Hub we've got stories about artificial sweeteners, your fear of flying, and not-so-private medical data.
On the surface, artificial sweeteners seem like a no-brainer for anyone trying to lose weight. But, before you reach for the Sweet’N Low, listen to the complex history, and possible negative health effects, of sugar substitutes.
Do you get nervous before every flight you take? This interview is for you.
Medical information stays between a patient and their doctor, right? Author Adam Tanner tells us that may not be the case.
A look at childish things... that might not be all that childish. From early education, to board games, to Superman.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s an article about the lasting impact of Superman.
We know children from high-income families do better in school than those from poorer backgrounds. But that gap is opening up by the time kids are just three years old, says early childhood expert Kathy Hirsh-Pasek.
From Monopoly’s anti-capitalist roots to Twister’s place in the sexual revolution of the 1960s, board games have mirrored the societal values of the day. We explore why.
This week on Innovation Hub, we take a look at broken systems, the connection between music and memory, and how the wealthy view money.
The Three Mile Island disaster. Deepwater Horizon. The 2008 financial crisis. Chris Clearfield explains how these huge crises all started with small issues.
It pumps us up when we’re at the gym, we dance to it at weddings, and we sing along with it at concerts. But can music help us connect to positive memories when we hit old age?
Wealthy people don’t always like to talk about their wealth. And that has implications for everyone.
Money can’t buy happiness. Or can it? This week on Innovation Hub, we’ve got stories about money, love, and the lengths people will go to for both.
After World War II, many American GIs wanted to settle down and start families. Businessman Bill Levitt saw a huge business opportunity and helped create a new vision of suburbia.
We may be moving baby-making from the bedroom to the lab. Hank Greely walks us through the future of reproduction.
How do money and happiness intersect when it comes to finding a job? Economist Robert Frank thinks he might have the answer.
The myriad faults in our bodies, the downsides of corporate subsidies, and the history of a forgotten plague. That’s this week on Innovation Hub.
Our eyesight isn’t great. We get colds easily. It’s hard for us to reproduce. Biologist Nathan Lents catalogues the body’s numerous problems… and what they can tell us about ourselves.
Cities are rolling out the red carpet to attract companies (and the jobs they create). Nathan Jensen thinks they should reevaluate their strategy.
Cities are rolling out the red carpet to attract companies (and the jobs they create). Nathan Jensen thinks they should reevaluate their strategy.
Do voters actually influence politicians? Does neuroscience shape our legal system? And why do we confuse pleasure and happiness?
We’ve been studying how the brain affects crime for decades. But today’s legal system is seeing a different side to neuroscience and the law.
We don’t influence politicians as much as we think we do. Often, it’s politicians who call the shots.
Two brain chemicals are playing a major role in our lives, according to pediatrician Robert Lustig. And corporations are taking advantage of them.
From Aristotle to selfie sticks, from Ford to Foxconn, and from good enough to perfect. That’s all this week, on Innovation Hub.
What did Daniel Defoe, Charles Dickens, and Herman Melville think of the first factories? Find out.
Are we narcissistic because of how popular Twitter is? Or is Twitter popular because of how narcissistic we are?
Dotting your i’s and crossing your t’s is one thing. But mathematician Eugenia Cheng says obsessing over perfection leads to a lot of wasted effort.
We take a look at college rankings, the rising global population, and the inner workings of Big Pharma. That’s all this week on Innovation Hub.
Every year, U.S. News & World Report ranks U.S. colleges - and the rankings create a buzz. But should prospective students and parents pay any attention to it?
By 2050, 10 billion people will call Earth home. Can we feed them all without devastating the planet?
Pharmaceutical drug prices in the U.S. have risen steadily over the past few decades. But why aren’t other countries paying as much for their medications?
We take a look at dirt-covered surgeons, billionaire philanthropists, and the effects of time-saving spending habits. That’s all this week on Innovation Hub.
How did surgery transform from a disgusting, unclean trade to what we know today? The answer: Joseph Lister.
Big philanthropists like Bill Gates and the Koch Brothers are reshaping our society. But, we don’t really have much of a say as to how. We look at the rise of big philanthropy.
Unlike in music, science has few one-hit wonders. We talk with professor Albert-Laszlo Barabasi about how age and skill figure into scientific discoveries.
We explore the life of P.T. Barnum, the future of robotics, and why Americans pay more for solar panels that pretty much everyone else.
In his time, P.T. Barnum showcased “freaks” and oddities. But he also helped shape the entertainment, fake-news culture of today.
How soon can we expect robots to rule our lives? Rodney Brooks says we shouldn’t be too worried yet.
In Australia, an average solar panel installation costs about $7,000. In the US, it’s around $16,000. Andrew Birch tells us why.
The science of what we eat, a lack of evidence in medicine, and why useless knowledge isn’t so useless. That’s all this week on Innovation Hub.
Rachel Herz explains how the brain affects our relationship with food, even without us knowing it.
You would think that every single treatment you’re given at the hospital or doctor’s office is rooted in strong evidence, right? Not necessarily.
What’s the purpose of funding basic research with no obvious application? Robbert Dijkgraaf says it can lead to incredibly useful scientific advancements.
Silent movies, connected toilets, and Amish technology. That’s all this week, on Innovation Hub.
Beyond “Singin’ in the Rain” and “Sunset Boulevard,” what was the transition to talkies really like for Hollywood?
You’ve heard of the smartphone and the smartwatch, but the smart umbrella? David Rose tells us how everyday objects can be made magical.
Even without cars and computers, the Amish have managed to start and grow successful businesses. Professor Donald Kraybill tells us how they’ve developed a surprising culture of innovation without the help of the latest tech.
The Protestant Reformation and Facebook. Pain and the ability to run fast. Nature and psychological health. This week on Innovation Hub, we’re looking at unexpected connections.
There’s a connection between the Protestant Reformation and Facebook. Niall Ferguson explains.
We can push our physical limits with a little help from our brains. Alex Hutchinson takes us through the science of endurance.
Tree huggers might be onto something. Florence Williams explains how nature can make us healthier.
Activist CEOs, the women codebreakers of WWII, and Chinese jobs moving to Africa. This week on Innovation Hub, we've got stories about the personal and the political.
Today's CEOs don't just stay in their lane. We're seeing more business leaders going public with stances on social issues.
During World War II, America employed thousands and thousands of women codebreakers. And their intelligence helped sink countless Japanese and German ships.
Manufacturing jobs may have moved to China... but not all of them have stayed there.
This week, we're diving into Russian hacking, the way we deal with criticism, and how journalism can survive a digital future.
Russian meddling didn't end after Trump was inaugurated. Peter Singer takes us inside Russia's plans for 2018.
All that negative feedback you get at work adds up. It even affects what social circles you run in at the office.
As media outlets continue to struggle, many are analyzing data to figure out what you like and what you hate. Franklin Foer talks about what's next for digital journalism.
This week on Innovation Hub, we’re taking a look at the beauty of good timing, recent spikes in food allergies, and why we should try a different approach to pest control.
Rats and humans have lived together forever. So why do we keep trying to kill them? We take a look at whether rat extermination is a good idea after all.
In the last 20 years, the prevalence of food allergies in children has increased by at least 50 percent. We talk with two food allergy experts about the possible causes and what researchers are doing about it.
The birth of the disposable razor isn't just about shaving. It also involves socialism and Niagara Falls.
Sometimes when you do something is as important as what you do. We talk with author Dan Pink about how we can time things just right.
From conception to retirement, we’re taking a look at all the stages of life.
How did sea urchins help humanity figure out where babies come from? Science writer Edward Dolnick has the answer.
The key to advancing medicine might be found right in your backyard. Harvard’s Jeff Karp finds inspiration in nature to create medical solutions for humans.
Pretty soon, a lot more people are going to live to 100. We talk with Andrew Scott about how that’s going to reshape our society.
This week on Innovation Hub: the science of war, Garry Kasparov tells us about losing to a computer, and what science-fiction can tell us about the future.
What are the political, ethical, and personal ramifications of scientists using their talents to create weapons of war?
In 1997, chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov seemed invincible. But after playing the IBM computer Deep Blue, everything changed.
The Walking Dead. The Hunger Games. The Handmaid’s Tale. Why is so much of our most popular science-fiction bleak and depressing?
From the roots of popularity, to fame on social media, we take a look at social status in its many forms.
Turns out, your mom lied to you when she said that popularity didn’t matter. Psychology professor Mitch Prinstein explains why popularity is significant long after high school.
You can make a living by pursuing your passion online. It’s just really, really unlikely. Author Brooke Erin Duffy and YouTuber Gaby Dunn walk us through the aspirational economy.
Saying that you’re busy isn’t just a way to get out of meeting with a boring acquaintance. An assistant professor at Georgetown University says business actually raises your social status.
TV dinners, popcorn bags, hot pockets… the story behind the invention that led to an entirely new cuisine.
History has a way of sticking around. On this week's show, we take a look back at how history shapes our present.
When did the fight for human rights begin? According to Lynn Hunt, the 18th century. And why? One answer is rather unexpected: the rise of the novel.
Childhood experiences can drastically affect a person’s health for the rest of their life. We talk to doctor Vincent Felitti about what that means for medicine.
Ethan Michaeli, author of "The Defender: How The Legendary Black Newspaper Changed America," traces The Chicago Defender's influence through history, from the Great Migration to the desegregation of the military.
This week on Innovation Hub... we climb up our family tree, we'll take a look at gender in the workplace, and we'll find out the best way to design your life.
What do we know about our ancestors? Adam Rutherford says if we look hard enough, we can unpack human history through genetics.
The modern workplace isn’t built for high-achieving couples. And according to Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, that often prevents women from reaching their full potential.
Can you design a more fulfilling and joyful life? Two Stanford professors say they might be able to help.
Computer programming, energy storage, and casual conversations all have often-unnoticed ripple effects. This week, we dig deeper into some of the aspects of our lives that people rarely give a second thought.
There’s a woman who made modern software possible. Here’s her story.
People are paying attention to clean energy these days. But is the field sustainable as a business model?
Did you know that we say “yes” a lot faster than we say “no”? Linguistics professor and author N.J. Enfield talks with us about the quirks and patterns in how we speak.
We’re gearing up for the holidays with some serious shopping, a little chocolate... and a trip home.
After World War II, many American GIs wanted to settle down and start families. Businessman Bill Levitt saw a huge business opportunity and helped create a new vision of suburbia.
Walmart changed the fate of retail with low prices, more convenience, and greater selection. Now, Amazon sets the rules – and other retailers should be scared of their innovation engine.
Milton Hershey popularized milk chocolate, helped give America its sweet tooth, and built his own town.
From what the Rorschach test actually tells us, to what exactly is going on inside teenagers’ heads, we’ve got stories that explore how and why we think the way we do.
Surgery, protests, and creativity. It's this week's full show.
How did surgery transform from a disgusting, unclean trade to what we know today? The answer: Joseph Lister.
What’s the difference between the 2017 Women’s March, and the 1963 March on Washington? Zeynep Tufekci explores protests in an internet age.
Creativity is a defining quality of humanity. So where did it come from? And how do we use it today?
Chinese students from cities like Shanghai are doing extremely well on worldwide standardized tests. What is the Chinese education system doing right? And what can we learn from it?
Choosing between an engineering and philosophy major? Here’s some help.
Everyone has their eye on the latest iPhone. But would we be happier if we spent our money on things that saved us time? Harvard Business School’s Ashley Whillans has the answer.
Is China pulling ahead in the global race to achieve? What’s the use of a “useless” liberal arts degree? And should you be spending money on time or things? That’s all this week on Innovation Hub.
We may be moving baby-making from the bedroom to the lab. Hank Greely walks us through the future of reproduction.
This week on Innovation Hub, we examine the future of reproduction, how fringe ideas become mainstream, and the life of Leonardo Da Vinci.
Where do fringe ideas come from? It turns out these “unpopular” positions might have been here all along - and may actually be pretty popular.
You probably know him as the man who painted the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. Walter Isaacson tells us there’s a lot more to Leonardo Da Vinci than that.
What role should charter schools play in American education? We speak with two education experts about how charters came to be, and what lies in store for them.
We look at how charter schools are impacting American education, whether perfection is actually an attainable goal, and the pros and cons of merit-based immigration. That’s all on this week’s Innovation Hub.
Lots of lawmakers are promoting “merit-based” immigration. But what is it? You’ve come to the right place.
Dotting your i’s and crossing your t’s is one thing. But mathematician Eugenia Cheng says obsessing over perfection leads to a lot of wasted effort.
We look at how evangelicals changed American politics, why an online troll lives in all of us, and the history and lasting impact of gerrymandered elections. That’s all on this week’s Innovation Hub.
The average online troll isn’t actually a jerk. One professor found nasty commenters are just average people who might be a little cranky.
America has always prided itself on the ability to separate church and state. But that idea has been reimagined with the rise and influence of evangelicals over the last 50 years. We talk with two historians about how this group has influenced the political landscape.
Can ordinary people change a system designed to protect those in power?
What do compulsions, fandoms, and the Polaroid camera have in common? Find out this week on Innovation Hub, where we’re obsessing over obsessions.
This week on Innovation Hub, we learn about different ways to keep track of the facts -- from cataloging the internet to broadcasting live from the Senate.
Means and medians might induce flashbacks to junior high math class. But in a world awash in statistics, knowing the difference between the two is super useful.
Why does it seem like America’s more divided than ever? We turn to psychology for the answer.
Democrats and Republicans aren’t exactly known for their ability to set aside their differences. We take a look at whether bipartisanship is alive and well, floundering, or flatlining.
This week on Innovation Hub, can we meet in the middle? We’re talking division, medians, and bipartisanship.
We learn the story of Ingvar Kamprad who revolutionized the furniture business, going from selling matches to selling matching bedroom sets.
Do you get nervous before every flight you take? This interview is for you.
On the surface, artificial sweeteners seem like a no-brainer for anyone trying to lose weight. But, before you reach for the Sweet’N Low, listen to the complex history, and possible negative health effects, of sugar substitutes.
On the surface, artificial sweeteners seem like a no-brainer for anyone trying to lose weight. But, before you reach for the Sweet’N Low, listen to the complex history, and possible negative health effects, of sugar substitutes.
Medical information stays between a patient and their doctor, right? Author Adam Tanner tells us that may not be the case.
This week on Innovation Hub we’ll take a look at the science of popularity, the hard work that goes into making a living online, and the reason why we always say we’re busy.
Turns out, being famous online doesn’t always translate into a stable income. Author Brooke Erin Duffy and Youtuber Gaby Dunn explain.
Too busy to listen to this podcast? In America, your unavailability is a status symbol.
TV dinners, popcorn bags, hot pockets… the story behind the invention that led to an entirely new cuisine.
Sorry nerds, popularity matters. Psychology professor Mitch Prinstein explains why.
How did sea urchins help humanity figure out where babies come from? Science writer Edward Dolnick has the answer.
We look at when humans learned where babies come from, why a walk in the woods can lower your blood pressure, and which species are adapting well to climate change. That’s all on this week’s Innovation Hub.
Scientists estimate that we could be losing thousands of species to climate change each year. But, take heart says ecologist Chris Thomas: there are also many new species being created.
Tree huggers might be onto something. Florence Williams explains how nature can make us healthier.
Full Show: A Better Way To Learn
Judy Cockerton saw a problem and decided to do something about it. At 48, she shut down her toy store and created a village of sixty homes. The catch? They were reserved for seniors and families with foster kids. We visited Cockerton's village to learn how she built it.
Space: The final frontier. Now, more and more big businesses are eyeing that frontier. We look at the what a competitive market could mean for the future of space travel.
Full Show: Building Something New
Los Angeles has spurred countless culinary concoctions, including the chili burger, Korean tacos and the Cobb salad. Listen as our host Kara Miller takes a trip to California and learns how immigrants shaped LA’s food scene.
Hungry for information? Then learn about the history of the American restaurant.
We’re hardwired to trust people, luck matters a lot more than you think, and the lead crisis is so much bigger than Flint. That’s this week’s Innovation Hub.
The case against empathy, the case for technocrats, and a look at the birth of PR. That’s all in this week’s Innovation Hub.
Manufacturing jobs may have moved to China… but not all of them have stayed there.
It’s impossible to imagine the modern world without code. But according to Philip Auerswald, we might all be coders - without even realizing it.
The global economy is getting more competitive. What can the U.S. do to keep up?
Full Show: Making Trades
Full Show: Things Could Be Different
Americans spend a lot of time, money and energy filing taxes every year, and yet our tax system is both less fair and less efficient than other systems around the world. Author T.R. Reid says the U.S. government should look to other countries’ tax models to fix our own.
Big philanthropists like Bill Gates and the Koch Brothers are reshaping our society. But, we don’t really have much of a say as to how. We look at the rise of big philanthropy.
The Walking Dead. The Hunger Games. The Handmaid’s Tale. Why is so much of our most popular science-fiction bleak and depressing?
Dark money, microbes, oppressive ads, and overconfidence. It’s this week’s Innovation Hub.
There’s a health epidemic that doctors have been ignoring for decades. We talk with Dr. Vincent Felitti about how childhood trauma can affect adults’ health.
Human rights are hotly-debated, but when did that debate begin? UCLA’s Lynn Hunt talks about what might have been the formative moment for human rights - and how we’re constantly changing our definition of equality.
Science gave us penicillin, the moon landing, and the theory of evolution. But scientists also make mistakes. NPR’s Richard Harris tells us why, and what the consequences are.
Full Show: Big Oversights
The key to advancing medicine might be found right in your backyard. Harvard’s Jeff Karp finds inspiration in nature to create medical solutions for humans.
Loneliness is a drag. But it’s also bad for your health. We find out why feeling lonely is as dangerous as obesity.
Full Show: We're All Connected
Our kids are our future, so what happens when we start having fewer of them? Dowell Myers and Fariborz Ghadar explain.
As America celebrates the Fourth with fireworks and barbeques, we take a closer look at the ideals that have shaped our country.
Full Show: Make Up Your Mind
The wealth gap between white and black families has grown since the 1960s. But one man thinks he might have an entrepreneurial solution.
Millennials are known for being liberal. But new research might upend that assumption.
Full Show: The Big Pushback
What’s the difference between the 2017 Women’s March, and the 1963 March on Washington? Zeynep Tufekci explores protests in an internet age.
When America has a problem, we no longer turn to the experts. And that’s a problem, too. At least, according to Tom Nichols and Susan Jacoby.
The decline of experts, why interviews are awful, and how healthy lunches help kids. That's all this week, on Innovation Hub.
Job interviews are stressful, time-consuming, and not even a good way to decide who to hire. So why do we use them? Yale professor Jason Dana explains.
Healthy school lunches might not affect child obesity rates. But they do make a difference. Professor Justin Gallagher explains.
California is a place where big ideas collide against bigger realities, where scientists are trying to turn sunlight into fuel, and where Hollywood became Hollywood. This week, we go there.
It’s a feat that seems like alchemy: turn sunlight into fuel. We talk with CalTech scientist Nathan Lewis about how we may be able to do it one day soon.
California is on a collision course with the federal government. And we’re going to take a look at the crash.
Beyond “Singin’ in the Rain” and “Sunset Boulevard,” what was the transition to talkies really like for Hollywood?
Bioengineering mice to stop Lyme disease, a new approach to refugee aid, and rethinking one of the seven deadly sins. This week, stories about the best way to help people.
Can’t stop checking your phone? Blame your distant ancestors.
Full Show: Obsession
Who was Steve Jobs’ Steve Jobs? Edwin Land. We explore the life and legacy of the founder of Polaroid.
There are fans. And then there are superfans. Author Zoe Fraade-Blanar explains the difference between the two.
Racism doesn’t just exist in the South, men really care about penis size, and having mutual friends doesn’t mean your relationship will work out. Turns out, there’s a lot you can learn from online data.
Older Americans have the AARP. Gun owners have the NRA. But one of the biggest swaths of our population has very little political power.
Whether you’ve encountered them in real life, or just in the video for Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy,” Rorschach tests are everywhere. Damion Searls tells us about their history and impact.
Full Show: What We Really Think
Who pulls the levers of the global financial system? Superhubs. Sandra Navidi explains who they are and what they’re doing.
Full Show: Strange Shifts
You may spend a third of your life asleep… but how much do you know about it, really? Benjamin Reiss walks us through the history of sleep.
Scientists experiment, test, hypothesize… and sometimes they discover something completely and utterly by accident.
Science gave us penicillin, space travel, and computers. But, it also gave us TNT, guns, and heroin. Paul Offit tells us about when science goes wrong.
Pretty soon, a lot more people are going to live to 100. We talk with Andrew Scott about how that’s going to reshape our society.
Unlike in music, science has few one-hit wonders. We talk with professor Albert-Laszlo Barabasi about how age and skill figure into scientific discoveries.
These days, people retire to sun, sand, and shuffleboard. But, it wasn’t always that way. We learn the story of one man who changed the way many people spend their golden years.
It feels great to carve out a few leisure hours each week. But, Professor Julie Rose says that free time should be a right, not a privilege.
What happens when people regularly start living past 100? Plus, if you haven’t made that big scientific discovery yet, don’t worry: there’s time. Finally, we work four more weeks a year now than we did in the 1970s. And that’s a problem.
Our Facebook newsfeeds have become echo chambers. To break out, professor Cass Sunstein says we should embrace a diversity of information.
The Trump phenomenon was built, in large part, by television. Michael Schneider tells us how the former star of The Apprentice is shaking up Hollywood - and creating some unexpected winners.
Full Show: Politics and Screens
No ratings, no stars, and no commercials. We talk with C-SPAN founder Brian Lamb about the secret to success, even when nobody's watching.
Our memories are terrible, mice can lead us astray, and Americans didn't always love chicken. This week, we've got a show packed with surprising facts about both human brains and animal realities.
With President Trump in office, are international students turning away from the US? Inside Higher Ed’s Elizabeth Redden joins us to explain.
Full Show: Between Private And Public
What does social innovation look like? How about prisons in New Zealand that try to keep prisoners out, not in.
Brewster Kahle isn’t just a librarian, he’s the internet’s librarian. And it turns out, that’s a really important job.
Why do federal and local governments pay private contractors to lock inmates up? The answer is surprising.
The American dream has found a new home: Canada. Author and former Canadian diplomat Scott Gilmore believes that Canada has become a more realistic setting for modern-day, rags-to-riches stories.
The American Dream isn’t dead, it’s just found a new home. Plus, it's our geography that makes this country great, says Robert Kaplan. From the Great Migration to President Obama’s political career, here’s how one newspaper saw - and shaped - history.
From the Great Migration to President Obama’s political career, here’s how one newspaper saw - and shaped - history.
What made America great? Well, according to author Robert Kaplan is has a lot to do with our landscape.
What was it like when men and women started going to elite colleges together? Turns out… pretty awkward.
Yes, liberal thought does dominate in academia, and professor Sam Abrams says it’s a problem for higher education.
Full Show: The (Mis)Education of America
Millions of American adults can’t read at a high enough level to keep track of their health care or help with their kids’ homework. Professor Mark Seidenberg says a disconnect between reading researchers and teachers is partly to blame.
There’s a way to reduce inequality… but you aren’t going to like it.
Full Show: Walking the Divide
Beyond the headlines, beyond the soundbites, what is the state of inequality in America? Alan Berube of The Brookings Institution, and Harvard’s Alexandra Killewald joins us to answer that question.
The gig economy has exploded over the past decade. Could Paul Ryan's new health care proposal halt that progress?
The innovations that have made our health care so effective also contribute to what makes it so expensive. MIT economist (who also worked on the Affordable Healthcare Actt) Jon Gruber says we should do a cost-benefit analysis on new drugs to keep costs low.
Dating in the digital age equates to a slew of websites and apps that all purport to offer paths to love. But, while we may have more ways to find that special someone than ever before, actually forging those bonds isn’t quite as easy as swiping right.
Americans are becoming increasingly dependant on our calendars. But what happens when you start to schedule free time? Bad things, says Selin Malkoc.
Marc Edwards was one of the first scientists to confirm lead poisoning in Flint. But it’s the second time he found himself battling the EPA. He tells us why our country’s lead crisis will only get worse.
Should you respond to that suspiciously attractive suitor on OkCupid? Should you invest your money in a “too good to be true” land deal? Before you trust anyone, listen to Maria Konnikova talk about the history and psychology of cons.
North Korea invented its own time zone. Arizona and Hawaii refuse to participate in daylight savings. Steve Hanke thinks it’s time to overhaul, well, time.
Full Show: Mismanagement
One man’s life turns around because, of all things, nougat. We recount the surprising rise of a giant in the world of candy.
What if the spread of violence was treated like the spread of a disease? University of Illinois at Chicago’s Gary Slutkin tells us why we need to take a public health approach to preventing violence in America.
This just in: reading just might help you live longer. Bookworms everywhere celebrate by going to the library.
From illuminated manuscripts to your dog-eared copy of The Hobbit, the book has had a tremendously important place in human history. Keith Houston talks about how books changed the world.
Full Show: The Network Effect
Chocolate’s melting point makes it one of the most fickle sweets in the world. It also prevents manufacturers from transporting it to large swaths of the globe. But the discovery of one of its most important genes could make a big difference.
Full Show: Our Bodies, Our Selves
We get high from making money. Literally. Former Wall Street executive and author Kabir Sehgal explains our obsession with cash and coin.
Spin may have been a part of American life since the beginning, but PR began in the early 20th century.
What would the internet look like if you owned a piece of it? Nathan Schneider thinks it's time for some of the biggest internet players to get cut down to size.
Full Show: Reality And Appearances
Where else have we seen an immigration ban like Trump's? Walter Isaacson walks us through the history of immigration and innovation.
First, Walter Isaacson walks us through the historical links between innovation and immigration. Then, how’s Silicon Valley taking Trump’s immigration orders? And finally, Americans are moving less because new jobs aren’t worth it. Abigail Wozniak explains the declining dynamism of the job market.
Some of America’s best scientists (think Einstein and Tesla) immigrated here from other countries. We talk with a few economists who’ve calculated their impact on American innovation.
How’s Silicon Valley reacting to Trump’s immigration ban? We talk with Bilal Zuberi to find out.
American workers are becoming less mobile. Abigail Wozniak explains what that can tell us about our economy.
Buy this! Drink that! Does it ever feel like advertisements are becoming more and more omnipresent? Author Tim Wu explains.
One of the reasons there aren't more women in leadership positions? Professor Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic says that it's our inability to differentiate between confidence and competence.
Full Show: The Levers Of Power
Money and politics have always been paired. But journalist Jane Mayer and professor Theda Skocpol both say that something new is afoot, thanks in part to a couple of very rich brothers.
Is a patent troll coming after your idea? Well, maybe you should check out Alex Reben's algorithm.
What would your personal utopia look like? Well, it probably wouldn't involve furniture making and no sex. Chris Jennings talks 19th century American utopias.
Even without cars and computers, the Amish have managed to start and grow successful businesses. Professor Donald Kraybill tells us how they've developed a surprising culture of innovation without the help of the latest tech.
Judy Cockerton saw a problem and decided to do something about it. At 48, she shut down her toy store and created a village of sixty homes. The catch? They were reserved for seniors and families with foster kids. We visited Cockerton's village to learn how she built it.
Full Show: How To Make A Perfect World
Full Show: Leaders Have Issues
Why We Can't Agree on Climate Change
Empathy is an inherently good human quality. So, why is Yale psychologist Paul Bloom against it? We talk with him about why feeling others' pain makes for bad public policy.
Parag Khanna believes technocrats get a bad rap in America, and our country could improve - and recover from what he calls “degenerative politics” - if it had more of them in office.
Full Show: It's All In Your Head
Want to become wise? Well, you should first figure out what wisdom actually is. Psychology Professor Thomas Gilovich explains.
Do you believe that the illuminati run the world? That there was a second gunman? That everything is NOT WHAT IT APPEARS? Well, even if you don't, conspiracy theories help shape our world. We look at the psychology behind them.
What makes a genius? Camilla Benbow and David Lubinski have worked on that question for decades; they think they might have some answers.
Full Show: Money Problems
A winter chill is in the air, and there's way too much Christmas music being played. So curl up in an armchair, grab yourself a mug of something, and take a mental vacation with some fascinating conversations from Innovation Hub.
Full Show: City Life, Take Two
How ATMs Spread Money and Microbes
Kilian Kleinschmidt thinks we need to wake up to the world's refugee crisis. And it starts by reimagining where they live.
Self-driving cars are going to be a thing. Soon. But how are they going to reshape cities?
Back in the mid-20th century, wealthy people fled big cities in droves for a quiet life in the suburbs. Now they're coming back. Alan Ehrenhalt, author of The Great Inversion and the Future of the American City, tells us why, and how it's going to change.
Full Show: A Wiser, Better You
Megan Tan’s portfolio project accidentally became a certified hit. Here’s how she created Millennial.
Here’s the story of a culinary experience you’ve almost certainly had - with a backstory you may not know as well.
Want to know anything and everything about cooking? There’s one person you should turn to. Mark Bittman.
Want to be a scientist, but never made it past high school algebra? Barbara Oakley talks with us about why there may still be hope for you - and why you might even have a leg up.
How well do you remember your past? Dr. Julia Shaw explains why your memory isn't nearly as good as you think it is.
Why do we use mice for medical research? As I-Hub's Caroline Lester found out, it all started with fancy mice.
Less than a century ago, chicken was as expensive as lobster. Now, Americans eat. 6 million pounds of chicken every hour of every day. Emelyn Rude tells us how thinking about the chicken as a piece of technology can help explain this change.
You can read a book from 100 years ago… but will your descendants be able to access a USB drive? A look at the world of digital memory.
Full Show: Place Matters
Full Show: Imperfections
Ezra Cornell was fired from his job due to after the Panic of 1837… then helped create our modern communication network.
Gene technology is becoming more and more powerful… and could affect more and more people. MIT researcher Kevin Esvelt tells us why he thinks the public needs to have a say in how we use it.
Do we know what refugees need better than they do? Radha Rajkotia of the International Rescue Committee tells us why giving cash, rather than food and other supplies, could be a better model for foreign aid to refugees.
Pride isn’t just for cheating athletes or bullies. Psychology professor Jessica Tracy explains why pride is a key emotion in human civilization.
Surprised by the election? Us too. Psychologist Mahzarin Banaji thinks our unconscious biases might explain the difference between the public’s expectations and the results.
Full Show: What Happened In This Election? Trump, our Fears, and the Future
How exactly was Donald Trump able to captivate us on his path to the White House? Columbia University Professor Tim Wu explains.
America's manufacturing industry has been hollowed out by globalization and automation. Donald Trump promises he can revive it. MIT researcher Andrew McAfee says that’s not possible.
Full Show: Fear and Our Future
Cary Fowler thinks we might be in trouble. But he’s got a solution. A tiny, tiny solution.
Afraid of the apocalypse? Well, maybe you shouldn’t worry too much. The Earth has already gone through at least five.
It’s very unlikely that you will be killed by a far-off terrorist group. So why do we worry about it so much? National security expert Juliette Kayyem explains what we should - and shouldn’t - be afraid of.
Do you remember your first job? Odds are, it was with a local small business. One of President Obama’s cabinet members talks small businesses, immigration, and jobs.
Full Show: You Can Take This Job
How do money and happiness intersect when it comes to finding a job? Economist Robert Frank thinks he might have the answer.
Robert Propst was a brilliant inventor who wanted to make a better office. Instead, he created something he hated.
Think glancing at Facebook isn’t a big deal? Well, Cal Newport says it can significantly derail your train of thought for about 10 minutes.
According to researcher Brittany Solomon, there’s one personality trait in a husband or wife that can predict success for their spouse: conscientiousness.
It seems like every election is a high-wire race whose outcome is always in doubt. But what if campaigns weren’t as important as you thought?
Why can't you get your teen out of bed in the morning? Why are they so impulsive? Frances Jensen says their still-developing brains are to blame.
Thinking about this election kinda makes you wonder: is there a better system than democracy? Jason Brennan thinks there should be.
Are you really, really tired of this election? Well, maybe democracy isn’t the best form of government. Plus, teenagers are… hard to understand. Neurology professor Frances Jensen says it’s all because of their still-developing brains. And finally, what if campaigns aren’t as important as you thought?
Healthcare in our society needs a band-aid. Here are a few of our favorite conversations about the big challenges in health – and how we might fix them.
Even if you don’t know an Allen wrench from an isosceles triangle, we’ve got a show for you. From why high school math is overrated to why you aren’t able to repair your iPhone, here are some of our best conversations about the fun side of our technical world.
Full Show: Electing the Future
From the Plow to Birth Control: How Tech Reshapes Relationships
February 12, 202149min 44sec
During this pandemic, we may be acutely aware that our love lives and family lives are entwined with the technology that’s all around us. But in fact, machines have been re-inventing our relationships since the days of the ancient plow, which likely led to the birth of marriage itself. That’s according to Debora Spar, a professor at Harvard Business School and former president of Barnard College.
Spar, the author of “Work Mate Marry Love: How Machines Shape Our Human Destiny,” takes us on a journey through the technologies - from the steam engine to the refrigerator - that have affected when, how, and with whom we partner up. And we get a glimpse into a future with no masterplan for how the technologies we have built will further evolve and change us.