The Black Death: Pondering a past plague during today’s pandemic
In the 14th century, a virulent plague killed nearly half of Europe’s population. What can we learn from that time as we navigate COVID-19?
Doctors to the rescue
Andrew Lustig, founder and president of Global Outreach Doctors, talks about sending physicians and integrative medicine practitioners to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where gender violence and rape are pervasive.
Hemp: Growing into the future
The hemp plant is amazingly versatile and resilient, and it can be used to produce innumerable healthy products and services. So why was it made illegal, and what does the future hold? We talk to hemp farmers Ed Berg and Scott Perez.
Aliens: A world beyond
The notion of aliens from other planets often conjures images of flying saucers and little green men. But could they really exist?
How intelligent is artificial intelligence, anyway?
Are we rapidly approaching the day when artificial intelligence will be smarter than the people who invented it? What are the benefits of AI, and what are the dangers? We talk to computer scientist Melanie Mitchell about her new book.
How to deal with mental and physical challenges–on the farm and beyond
Dr. Robert Fetsch has for decades been helping farmers and ranchers deal with disabilities — from injuries brought on by hard work, to mental health problems like anxiety, depression, and anger.
For the love of soil
A conversation with agro-ecologist, educator, and author Nicole Masters, on how to apply regenerative agriculture practices for health and profit–and how these can have a transformative effect on both our well being as growers, eaters, and members of the planetary ecosystem.
Lost City of the Monkey God
How do you find an ancient Mesoamerican city under a dense and dangerous rainforest? Steve Elkins figured it out, and Doug Preston wrote a book about it…and now it’s the cutting edge of archaeology.
Superminds
All of us are part of a collective intelligence–from our communities, to our workplaces, to our governments. We talk to MIT professor Tom Malone about how artificial intelligence and information technology can make our group mind smarter–and more democratic.
Big data vs. the little virus
Lauren Ancel Meyers combines a deep knowledge of biology and statistics and biology to create models that help us deal with seasonal epidemics like influenza and major worldwide pandemics.