Innovation Hub

Rivalry: A Double-Edged Sword

What makes rivalries different than other competitions? Edgar B. Herwick III, chief of WGBHs Curiosity Desk, shares his insight.

Dan Pink's Idea Economy

Dan Pink, author of To Sell is Human and Drive, says that in the 21st century economy, ideas are currency.

Sal Khan Reinvents Education

Saving Humanity From Itself

Charles Mann asks whether humanity can save itself from problems of its own making.

Counterfeit Culture

Fake handbags and fake drugs: fighting counterfeit culture.

Cook Like You're A Modernist

Perfect food is the hobby of former CTO Nathan Myhrvold. His modernist cooking methods.

Michael Sandel on America's Commodification

The moral limits of markets with Harvards Michael Sandel.

Is America a Plutocracy?

Author Chrystia Freeland tells us about the rise of the new super rich welcome to the age of plutocrats.

Cyber College: Innovative or Detrimental?

Should college include more digital learning, like Coursera? Kara Miller asks Andrew Delbanco, a professor of American Studies atColumbia and author of College: What It Was, Is, and Should Be, Daphne Koller, a professor at Stanford and co-founder of Coursera, and Prateek Tandon, an economist at the World Bank.

Web Extra: Women in Business

Marissa Mayer, vice president of location and local services at Google and Liz Claman, an anchor at Fox Business Network tell Kara Miller where women fit in the changing world of business and technology.

What Makes Us Happy?

What really makes us happy? Sonja Lyubomirsky debunks happiness myths and shares the science behind true satisfaction.

The Future of Work

The workplace of tomorrow no corporate hierarchy or five day workweek required. Kara Miller speaks with Jason Fried of 37signals, Maynard Webb, former COO of eBay, and Bob Pozen, Harvard Business School lecturer.

Why Kids Must Fail to Succeed

Will your child succeed or fail? Paul Tough has the answer.

How Big Data Changes Lives

How is Big Data the information generated from Google searches, GPS, online shopping and more changing our lives? Kara Miller asked a panel of experts about the benefits and downsides of the international information database.

What's Wrong with Cable?

Sure, the box in your living room has gone from rabbit ears to flatscreen but how much has TV really changed since you were a kid?

The Science of Stocks and Bonds

Can evolutionary biology explain why some people make good investments and others dont?

Seth Godin

Seth Godin, entrepreneur, former Yahoo VP, and author of the "Icarus Deception" shares his views on education and the new "connection economy."

Which State is Most Innovative?

What makes a state innovative? Our guest argues that we should look at how quickly states adopt new policies and has co-authored a ranking of the most innovative states.

ZipCar. Let's Make a List

Rental car giant Avis is acquiring Cambridge-based ZipCar for $491 million. What will this mean for ZipCar and its devotees? Search engines are good at finding a specific piece of information, but what if you wanted a list of related things instead? Our guests invented an algorithm that will builds lists of nearly anything from events in Boston to smartphone apps to quitessential Jewish foods.

Encore: The Mobile Wave

How much is the mobile revolution really changing our lives? Beyond faster, sleaker phones, are there impacts that we cant even see? Author Michael Saylor talks about how mobile computing will fundamentally alter the way we do business and live.

The Future of Shopping

Our guests provide a glimpse of the future of shopping as retailers move out of brick-and-mortar stores and into cyberspace.

The Art of Logos

There is an art to business. Though you may not realize it, that art, in the form of logos, has the power to affect you every day.

The End of Polarization?

New research shows how we can break down political polarization.

Why Nations Fail

Our two guests offer a new take on why nations fail and explain how America can avoid that fate.

Future of Food

Whats the next frontier in food product development? Organic? Gluten-free? Some argue were looking at a revolution in the food industry -- a new consumer awakening that will lead to a radical re-evaluation of what we put into our bodies. We talk to entrepreneurs and food experts about the trends theyre seeing -- and, of course, whether price will be the ultimate deciding factor in what we eat.

The Science of Procrastination

We all like things done fast: food that gets cooked quickly, an internet connection that operates at lightning speed, traffic that zips along. After all, who wants to wait? Do you really want to get to your destination later, when you could get there now? But it turns out that waiting -- procrastinating, even -- may be the key to doing things right. Frank Partnoy makes this controversial -- and perhaps counterintuitive -- case.

Election Dysfunction

Many of us remember the chaos of the 2000 election. Our guest today talks about what we can do to help elections run more smoothly.

Politics and Genes

We all know that our surroundings can influence our political leanings, but could our DNA also affect the way we vote? Our guest today discusses that possibility.

Encore: Global Warming's New Math, Part 1

This year weve seen what many experts agree are real symptoms of global warming - from fires in Colorado to drought that has afflicted more than 60% of the country. And this July was the hottest ever for those of us in the lower 48. Except that it wasnt just July. The average temperature from last summer to this summer is hotter than any 12 month period on record in the U.S. So, whats going on here? We dive into the science -- and the politics -- with author and activist Bill McKibben and...

Funding Scientific and Medical Research

As the election debate heats up, we consider government spending on scientific and medical research. Our guests talk about some of the breakthroughs from government-funded research and whether or not that funding should continue.

Innovations In Aging

If advances in science and technology and improved public health could push our lifespan beyond 100, what would society be like? What would our quality of life be?

Apple and Mobile

New York Times writer Brian Chen talks about whether Apple will remain the 800-lb gorilla in the mobile market. And is Starbucks mobile payment system the wave of the future?

'No Labels': Part 2

We continue our discussion about politics with two of the founders of No Labels, an organization that hopes to move us beyond political bickering towards solving problems. They tell us how we can reinvent the political system and break the gridlock.

Encore: Too Many Workers In Math And Science?

Today, we bring you the flip side of a story we recently covered. One professor argues that there are no shortage of qualified math and science graduates in America - despite what companies say.

Reimagine the City

Our discussion centers on how we can reuse buildings and building materials instead of demolishing and junking them to create a greener city.

Global Warming's New Reality, Part 1

This year weve seen what many experts agree are real symptoms of global warming - from fires in Colorado to drought that now blankets more than 60% of the country. And this July was the hottest ever for those of us in the lower 48. Except that it wasnt just July. The average temperature from last summer to this summer is hotter than any 12 month period on record in the U.S. So, whats going on here? We dive into the science - and the politics - with author and activist Bill McKibben and...

The Myth of the Ethical Consumer

Be honest. Do you really think about where the products you buy come from or how theyre made? We talk with Giana Eckhardt, co-author of the The Myth of the Ethical Consumer.

Can You Spot "The Invisible Gorilla"?

Our minds deceive us all the time. Sometimes in extraordinary and surprising ways. According to psychology professor Chris Chabris, we often overestimate our perception, memory, and reasoning.

The Jugaad Approach

The authors of Jugaad: Innovation tell us about what jugaad is and how it can transform innovation in business.

Healthy Food In Schools

A new study from Harvard aims to make school food healthier and more palatable. We dive into the results.

Encore: New Digs for the Workplace, Part 2

On this episode, we look again at the changing workplace. Are we looking at a future of telecommuting, skyping, and emailing from home? Will employers increasingly move the workplace to the home?

Social Entrepreneurship Keeps Life-saving Vaccines Cool

We talk to the winner of Harvards Presidents Challenge for social entrepreneurship, and experts discuss how a surge of young people want to do good and make money.

Checking In On The Job Market, Part 1

On this episode, we take the pulse of the job market and look at summertime hiring.

As Water Supplies Wane, What's Next? Part 2

As the world population grows, so does the competition for clean water. We talk to experts about how controlling and accessing water will shape our future.

Inside MIT's $100K Entrepreneurship Challenge, Part 2

On this episode, we meet the winners of this years winner of the MIT $100K Challenge, which aims to provide a vehicle for the MIT community to work together and launch great business ideas.

Encore: Crowdsourcing for Science, Medicine and...

A encore presentation of our popular episode about crowd sourcing.

Encore: Crowdsourcing - Kickstarting Local Ideas

An encore presentation of our popular episode about crowdfunding.

New Perspectives on the Genetics of Race

We speak with a scholar taking up the question of whether there are true, distinctive differences between one race and another.

Cybersecurity, Part 1

We lift the veil on cybercrime, which can lead to stolen identities, stolen company secrets even stolen military secrets.

Biotechnology, Part 2

We look at medical treatments and devices that may change how diseases are diagnosed and treated.

Powering Innovation with Education, 2

Were joined by a panel of educators hoping to empower the next generation of mathematicians and scientists.

Are We Educating Enough Innovators?

We ask innovators and teachers about the future of math and science education.

Lessons from the World's Poorest Neighborhoods, Part 1

For one scholar, Indias poorest regions represent innovation innovation that may have lessons to teach the world.

Women, on Their Future in Business

We look at the future of women in business with three luminaries.

Starting a Business, from the Ground Up

We talk to a few local entrepreneurs trying their hand at the business world.

Keeping a Business Innovative, Part 1

We talk to two authors who have looked at what it takes to successfully run an innovative business, from start-ups all the way to behemoths like Proctor and Gamble.

The Modernization of America

How is America's approach to the world changing?

Tech in the Classroom, Part 2

Is a tech takeover of the classroom inevitable?

How Social Media is Shaping us, Part 2

We take a look at how social media is changing us and the world we live in. What do we share about ourselves? And what do we want to keep secret?

Brave New Snacktime

We talk with David Edwards on the mad science behind his food inventions, like inhalable chocolate and caffeine.

A New Look for the Tax Code, Part 2

Does our tax system make any sense? We ask economists Jonathan Gruber and Matt Weinzierel.

The Future of Knowledge: Too Big to Know

We speak with Harvards David Weinberger, author of "Too Big to Know: Rethinking Knowledge: Now that the Facts arent the Facts, Experts are Everywhere, and the Smartest Person in the Room is the Room"

Race Against The Machine, Part 1

We dive into a big debate about the economy with the authors of the widely-discussed book, "Race Against the Machine."

Innovating in the Face of Climate Change, Part 2

It seems like weve been talking about a changing climate for a long time. But while debate, discord, and discussions about the climate continued, from the Kyoto Summit to the Copenhagen Accord, the world kept right on industrializing. We look at how we are beginning to adapt to a new world.

The Tiniest Innovations: Nanotechnology

This week, we dive into the teeny, tiny world of nanotechnology - and find out from those on the cutting edge if it could fundamentally alter and improve our lives.

High-Tech Health, Part 1

Well look at high-tech ways of getting healthy: A nutritionist in your pocket, a marathon coach on your mobile phone and more.

Turning Business Into Good, Part 2

We talk to entrepreneurs whose companies are running online auctions for charities, selling shoes to make money for clinics and educational initiatives, helping finance small businesses and funding socially-conscious organizations.

Innovation For An Energy-Hungry World

We talk to Richard Lester, heat of MITs Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, about what it will take to generate the energy and fuel for a growing population.

The Future Of Advertising, Part 2

Were joined by an executive from Google, and other top minds in the advertising world - including a veteran of Superbowl ads - to ask how advertisers will reach out to us in the future.

A Tour Of Harvard's Innovation Lab

We take a tour through a place where all of those ingredients are mixing together: The brand-new Harvard Innovation Lab, just down the street from our studios at Harvards life-science complex in Allston.

New Ideas For The Job Hunt, Part 1

We examine the role of innovation in the job search, including what sectors are hiring, how social media can help, and what employers really want.

Encore: Innovations In Urban And Digital Learning, The...

Encore: Rethinking Higher Education, Part 3

In this encore edition of Innovation Hub, we speak with Walter Lewin, the MIT professor who was on of the first there to break ground by making his lectures accessible via television and the Web, bringing his teaching to millions of people; the founder of an education hub thats entirely online; and the president of a Massachusetts college that has consistently pushed the envelope in finding new ways to teach - and fund - its students.

Encore: Rethinking Higher Education, Part 1

In this encore edition of Innovation Hub, we speak with Walter Lewin, the MIT professor who was on of the first there to break ground by making his lectures accessible via television and the Web, bringing his teaching to millions of people; the founder of an education hub thats entirely online; and the president of a Massachusetts college that has consistently pushed the envelope in finding new ways to teach - and fund - its students.

New Strategies To Tackle Poverty In Boston, Part 1

We talk to innovators aiming to break that cycle, organizations that are taking homeless people off the streets and investing in families. Each organization has a different mission, but they share the tactic of helping the poor by empowering them.

The Power Of Purse: Funding A Start-Up in Boston

We hear from the people with the purse. Some of the Boston areas most knowledgeable venture capitalists, seed-funders and prize-givers join us to talk about what theyre investing in, how to spot great talent, and whether the economy is finally springing back to life in Boston.

Boston's Young Entrepreneurs, Part 3

We hear from Boston entrepreneurs whove started their own businesses in tough economic times and how theyve made it.

Boston's Young Entrepreneurs, Part 1

We hear from Boston entrepreneurs whove started their own businesses in tough economic times and how theyve made it.

Sustainability Is Served, Part 1

We examine how Bostons top chefs are incorporating sustainability into their work and what changes result.

Green Architecture For The 21st Century

We talk to experts about the newest innovations in green building and how they could change the face of Boston and other cities.

Finding The Next Best Thing, Part 1

We explore seeding new companies, technologies on the rise, and of course, the next big thing.

Making Safer, Healthier Urban Neighborhoods Part 1

In recent years, cities have begun to lure suburbanites back after the exodus out of cities in the middle of the 20th century. We explore remaking urban living, including tackling the problem of underserved communities.

Innovation in the Health Care System, Part 1

As costs continue to climb, adding to the countrys deficit and snarling our politics, we ask about innovative ways to rethink the delivery and business model of health care. How should doctors be paid? How do we address end-of-life care? Should we rethink the HMO system?

Episode 1: Rethinking Obesity Treatment

In the second part of Innovation Hubs inaugural program, we turn to the problem of obesity. What are the most effective behavioral solutions? The best drugs in development? What does the newest research on obesity tell us about how to treat it?