About 10 years ago, writer Kim Frank set out to learn why wild Asian elephants were trampling people in India. After many trips overseas and meeting an Indian Princess, Kim eventually revealed a complex human-wildlife conflict. Listen to Kim's story ⬇️ whyy.org/segments/cha...

Mysteries of the wild often pull scientists from labs to mountaintops, forests, and far-off places. On this episode, a quest for the vanished golden toad, a journey to find wild Asian elephants, and a look at the global wildlife trade’s impact. 🔗 bit.ly/48MvBPI

Despite major advances in understanding how genetics, lifestyle, and environment shape health, it remains a mystery why similar patients can have such different outcomes. On this episode, we discuss what factors shape health, disease, and survival. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

Weightlifting, once for only bodybuilders, is now popular for strength and brain health. On this remixed episode, we explore the proven and emerging benefits of pumping iron and why so many people say it’s changing their lives. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

When we see surprising couples, like Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson, we can’t help but wonder what brought them together 💘 In this podcast extra, we explore the mysteries of attraction and love. 🔗 bit.ly/4m66NW5

We think of Martians as belonging to the realm of sci-fi — but in the early 1900s, they were believed to be a real civilization living on Mars 👽 On this episode, why astronomers once believed in life on Mars. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

Labor Day is over, and it's back to work — back to a laundry list of emails, meetings, and projects. How can you possibly stay productive when your workload is massive? On this episode, we explore productivity, what works, and what doesn't. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

AI in the classroom🤖? Teachers in Philadelphia and New Jersey make the case for and against using artificial intelligence in school. Alan Yu reports 🔗 whyy.org/segments/tea...

It’s that time of year when students with big dreams go all in — piling on extracurriculars and chasing perfection. They call it Ivy League Fever 🤒 Reporter Najay Greenidge explores how pursuing prestigious schools impacts students' mental health 🔗 whyy.org/segments/ivy...

I was honored to be on The Pulse to explain the science of learning and why understanding how we learn matters so much more to transforming education than AI and the internet. Get a primer on the research and why it matters in this episode 👇

It's back-to-school time. Students, teachers, and parents are facing numerous challenges — from using AI in the classroom to reckoning with the long shadow of the pandemic. On this episode, we explore how our rapidly changing world is transforming school. 🔗 bit.ly/4lLyHGH

Reports on a Legionnaires' disease outbreak are making the news. Back in 1976, the same illness was a mystery. On this Pulse Extra, listen as Reporter Elana Gordon tells the story of how scientists tracked down the origin of this deadly illness. 🔗 bit.ly/4mmZASv

"Part of what Fligor contributed to the field through his study was the idea of measuring sound according to 'dose' — a combination of how loud a sound is and how long you’re exposed to it — as opposed to volume alone." whyy.org/segments/cou... @thepulse.whyy.org #hearing #health #keeplistening

The scans are clear, you rang the bell, you've beaten cancer — but now what? Reporter Nicole Leonard spoke with people who survived cancer at a young age about the emotional journey that followed. 🔗 whyy.org/segments/tee...

Surviving traumatic events and devastating illnesses is a reason to celebrate. We ring the bell, throw a party, and get back on our feet — but we often learn, the fight is rarely over. On this episode, the quieter struggle that follows survival. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

Surviving traumatic events and devastating illnesses is a reason to celebrate. We ring the bell, throw a party, and get back on our feet — but we often learn, the fight is rarely over. On this episode of The Pulse, the quieter struggle that follows survival. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

More than a hundred thousand people in the US are waiting for a life-saving organ — but the pressure for organ donations is putting some donors at risk. On this Pulse Extra, @brianmrosenthal.bsky.social discusses his recent investigation into the issue. 🔗 bit.ly/3HdqTz7

While it might be unbelievable today, boys were once required to swim nude at YMCA pools — yet some recall the experience with no shame. Andrew Stelzer reports this history of nude swimming. bit.ly/4f66SqE

Shame can make us feel isolated, hurting our health and relationships — but it can also drive growth. On this episode, we untangle why we feel it, where shame comes from, and how it affects our behavior and health. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

We have a treat for you this summer! Check out one of our favorite episodes: The Inner Workings of the Ocean. We explore the Earth's defining feature, the largest ecosystem, and the engine that powers our planet 🌊 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

Sleep isn't just what fuels us to get through the day. It's a biological function, just as vital as your heartbeat. On this episode, we discuss how finding your body’s unique sleep rhythm can help you get better rest. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

We have a special treat for you this summer! Amid the summer heat 🥵, we explore the history and future of cold technology on this encore episode of The Pulse — from innovations in freezing to the next generation of air conditioners. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

23andMe shared consumer DNA with a big pharma company, and got a million-dollar investment in return. But how much is a tube of spit worth? And who should profit — the company or the people who shared their DNA whyy.org/segments/how...

New Episode 🚨: When scientists set out to decode the human genome, they knew it could change medicine forever. What they didn't expect was the behind-the-scenes and hostile race to get there. On this episode, the human genome project and the price of DNA. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

The first draft of the human genome was announced 25 years ago by President Bill Clinton — but behind the scenes of this scientific discovery was a little-known fierce and hostile competition. 🔗 whyy.org/segments/25-...

Friends enhance our lives — we laugh with them, share memories, and provide emotional support. And it turns out our brain loves these kinds of connections. On this episode, we delve into why our brains are drawn to friendship. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

When someone harms you, revenge can feel like the only way to even the score. But that urge you feel — the one that seems like justice — isn't. On this episode, @realjameskimmeljr.bsky.social talks about his new book, The Science of Revenge. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

A few months after the war in Gaza started, Fatima Mohamed Alshindi's husband and son were killed in an attack. Fatima expressed her grief through poetry — until a California artist used AI to turn her words into music. 🔗 whyy.org/segments/how...

Think the creative arts are just for fun? Think again. At one Philadelphia preschool, creative arts aren't a break from learning. Research shows they are the key to it. 🔗 whyy.org/segments/the...

What happens when we make room for creativity — not only in art, but in how we learn, heal, and build the world around us? On this episode, we explore creativity and what happens when we let imagination take charge. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

We’ve all heard the sayings — “Revenge is a dish best served cold” or “Revenge is sweet.” But is it? We’re working on an episode about revenge, and we want to hear your stories. Did you finally get even with someone 😈? Or were you the one who got burned 🔥?

For 30 years, Kathy Sanders has sought answers about the terrorist attack that killed her grandsons, the Oklahoma City bombing. Now, she hopes a new piece of evidence will bring her closer to the truth. 🔗 whyy.org/segments/the...

We all want the truth — from our family, friends, the media, institutions, and the government. But how exactly do we know when we're being fed the truth or lies in disguise? On this episode, what it takes to prove the truth. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

Cybercrime has been around for as long as computers have, but today it’s a global threat impacting supply chains, infrastructure, and the economy. On this episode, we explore how it’s evolved, how it affects us, and how scammers exploit human nature. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

In the year 2000, the ILOVEYOU virus swept the globe and cost the world economy billions of dollars. But was this a brilliantly coded virus, or did human nature take over when people saw a love letter in their inbox? 🔗 bit.ly/4dl0Y4n

Mother's Day is approaching, and we have a special treat for you! Check out one of our favorite episodes! It's all about modern motherhood — the challenges, the sometimes impossible standards, and the strategies that help moms thrive. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

In 1975, Jan Todd set a Guinness World Record with a 394.5-pound two-handed deadlift. But the road to this accomplishment was tough, she recalls training in a world that didn't expect women to lift heavy. 🔗 whyy.org/segments/for...

For years, weight lifting has been based on outdated myths — like it’ll make you bulky or is just for the Conan the Barbarian types. But that’s far from the truth. On this episode, the history of lifting and the ways it boosts brain and mental health. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

The CIA and military carried out a secret bombing campaign in Laos during the Vietnam War, killing thousands of civilians. One veteran recounts how he got pulled into the campaign, was forced to stay, and why, 50 years later, he does everything he can to help the people in Laos. 🔗 bit.ly/3EwaFjr

It's been 50 years since the Vietnam War ended, yet the people of Southeast Asia are still dealing with dangerous and unexploded bombs across their landscape. Could declassified historic satellite images help find them? 🔗 whyy.org/segments/vie...

It was a pleasure to speak with Maiken Scott of @thepulse.whyy.org about Vietnamese refugees, trauma, parenting, & more to mark the upcoming 50th anniversary of war & diaspora. My interview is the last 12 minutes or so of this thoughtful episode.

It's been 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War — a conflict that forever changed the lives of veterans, refugees, and those still in Southeast Asia On this episode, the war's legacy and the quiet, ongoing efforts toward reconciliation. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

Muscles aren't just for flexing. They carry stories of beauty, strength, and health. On this podcast extra of The Pulse, Bonnie Tsui talks about her new book, On Muscle, exploring how our muscles shape culture, identity, and well-being. 🔗 spoti.fi/4jEdTQC

About one in four older adults reports feeling socially isolated. Could AI companion robots help to relieve loneliness? 🔗 whyy.org/segments/how...

Cuddling with strangers sounds odd...until you realize it’s good for your mental health. 'Cuddle parties' are one of the latest solutions for loneliness and a lack of touch. 🔗 whyy.org/segments/cud...

You’ve probably heard about the loneliness epidemic, and who is most vulnerable. But do you actually understand how this feeling can trigger serious health issues in the body? On this episode, we explore social connection and why our lives depend on it. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

Before algorithms ruled the internet, we found new music, movies, and online videos by talking to real people. And that human touch is what some people say algorithms will never be able to compete with. whyy.org/segments/pus...

Hard to believe YouTube launched just two decades ago. Now sharing our lives on video seems second nature. On this episode, the 20th anniversary of YouTube. We explore how this leap from private moments — to sharing constant content — has reshaped us. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

AJ Wolfe turned her love for Disney parks into the Disney Food Blog, but taking on this dream job as a food writer was not easy. Alan Yu reports ⬇️ whyy.org/segments/dis...

Our jobs can give us identity and purpose, but they can also become a never-ending to-do list that prevents us from truly living. On this episode, why — and if — work-life balance matters, and how to achieve it. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse