Leonard Lopate - Please Explain
-
Please Explain: Pasta
Pasta is a staple of Italian food, but noodles are also an important part of Asian cuisine. Pasta is versatile, comes in hundreds of shapes and sizes, and on this week’s Please Explain we’ll find out how it’s made and ways to cook with it. Joining us: Ron Palladino, pasta expert and Fresh Pasta counter general manager at Eataly, and Jack Bishop, editorial director of America’s Test Kitchen and author of several cookbooks, including The Complete Italian Vegetarian Cookbook, Pasta e Verdura,...
-
Please Explain: Olive Oil
Lou DiPalo, third-generation expert olive oil importer and the co-owner of Di Palo Fine Foods in New York City, and Nancy Harmon Jenkins, a writer and food historian who’s the author ofThe New Mediterranean Diet Cookbook, tell us all about olive oil--from its history to to how it's made to its many varieties.
-
Please Explain: The Science of Cooking
For Please Explain, Curious Cook Harold McGee talks about the science of cooking—from how heat changes meat to the differences between baking powder and baking soda. He’s the author of a number of books, including Keys to Good Cooking, and On Food and Cooking.
-
Please Explain: Mushrooms and Fungi
Eugenia Bone, author of Mycophilia: Revelations of the Weird World of Mushrooms, talks about the world of mushrooms and other fungi. She’ll cover how to forage for mushrooms, how to identify the good and the poisonous, how fungi grow, and how to eat them.
-
Please Explain: Fertilizer
Fertilizer is crucial for food—plants need it in order to grow and thrive. Harold Van Es, professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at Cornell University, explains what fertilizer is made of, why it's so important, and how to manage it. Let us know if you have a question! Leave it as a comment or call us at 212-433-9692.
-
Please Explain: Grains
Grains have been a cornerstone of the human diet since the dawn of civilization. We'll find out about the wide variety of grains and the difference between whole, refined, and enriched grains.Abdullah A. Jaradat, USDA Department of Soil Management Research, and Maria Speck, author of Ancient Grains for Modern Meals, explain.
-
Please Explain: Natural and Artificial Flavors
If you look at many packaged food, you’re likely to find the words “natural flavors” and “artificial flavors” on the ingredients list. These terms seem ambiguous, but they explain why much of the foods Americans eat tastes the way it does. For today’s Please Explain, explain Dr. Gary Reineccius, professor and head of the Flavor Research and Education Center in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota, and Barb Stuckey, professional food developer and author...
-
Please Explain: Cheese and Making Cheese
Sascha Anderson, Director of Education at Murray’s Cheese, and Gianaclis Caldwell, cheesemaker at Pholia Farm and author of Mastering Artisan Cheesemaking, talk about the wide variety of cheeses, how to select cheeses, and how to make cheese.
-
Please Explain: The Science of Baking
Baking canseemlike magic, but it's not—it's chemistry! And understanding even alittleabout what is going on when you combine ingredients and add heat can make you a much more successful and satisfied baker.Shirley Corriher, author of BakeWise: The Hows and Whys of Successful Baking, and Chef Scott McMillan, a pastry art Instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City,explain the particulars of baking—from different flours to measuring by weight to the differences between...
-
Please Explain: Superfoods
This week’s Please Explain is all about so-called superfoods—natural, whole foods that are superior sources of anti-oxidants and essential nutrients. Dr. Drew Ramsey, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University, and co-author of The Happiness Diet and the forthcoming Fifty Shades of Kale, explains which foods are healthiest—from nuts to fish to olive oil to grass-fed beef—for our bodies and our brains.
-
Please Explain: Endocrine Disruptors and Human Health
There’s growing concern that endocrine disrupting chemicals have been linked to health problems in humans, and this month a report issued by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme called these chemicals a "global threat" that should be addressed. Heather Patisaul, Associate Professor, Department of Biology, North Carolina State University, and Urvashi Rangan, director of the Consumer Safety and Sustainability Group at Consumer Reports, explain what...
-
Please Explain: Nursing
This week's Please Explain we'll find out what nurses do, how they're trained, and why there always seems to be a shortage. Dr. Bobbie Berkowitz, Dean of Columbia University School of Nursing, explains the art and science of nursing. She's joined by Ghislaine Chery, nurse at Jamaica Hospital and for the Visiting Nurse Service of New York.
-
Please Explain: Hearing and Sound
For this week’s Please Explain, we’ll find out how we process all the sounds we hear every day—from the hum of the heater to the wail of sirens to music to speech—and how it shapes our brains and behavior. Seth Horowitz, neuroscientist and assistant research scientists at Brown, explains how we hear, why songs get stuck in our heads, why certain sounds make us cringe while others are soothing, the ways we’ve learned to manipulate sound, and the difference between hearing and listening. He’s...
-
Please Explain: How to Exercise Smarter
Some 45 million Americans belong to a gym or exercise on their own, hoping to improve their physical fitness and their health. Gretchen Reynolds, writer of the New York Times Phys Ed column and author of The First 20 Minutes, answers questions and debunks myths about exercise. She explains the latest research on the mental and physical benefits of exercise and tells how much and what kind of exercise is needed to stay fit, improve health, or lose weight. If you have a question about...
-
Please Explain: The Post Office
When you drop a letter in a mailbox, how exactly does it end up where it’s supposed to go? We’ll find out how the U.S. Postal Service works and why it’s struggling for survival. Nancy A. Pope, curator from the National Postal Museum and organizer of Systems at Work, and Richard John, professor at Columbia University School of Journalism and author of Spreading the News: The American Postal System from Franklin to Morse.
-
Please Explain: The Year in Science 2012
Corey S. Powell, Editor at Large of Discover magazine, talks about the biggest stories in science last year—including the new Mars rover; the discovery of the Higgs boson; the Human Microbiome Project; climate change, storms, and melting polar ice; private space flight; self-driving cars; the comeback of measles, mumps, and whooping cough; and more! We've covered a number of the stories listed in Discover's top science stories of 2012: Please Explain: Fungal Meningitis and Compounding...
-
Please Explain: Helium
Today's Please Explain is all about helium and the helium shortage. We speak with Dr. Martin Stute, a noble gas geochemist at Barnard college and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and with Dr. Joe Peterson a Bureau of Land Management Assistant Field Manager for Helium Resources in the BLM Amarillo, Texas Field Office.
-
Please Explain: Stress
This week’s Please Explain is all about stress—and why it can take a toll on our mental and physical health. We're joined by Dr. Drew Ramsey, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, looks at how stress affects our health and ways to cope with stress and anxiety in everyday life. He’s co-author of The Happiness Diet. And Rajita Sinha, director of the Yale Stress Center, and Professor of Psychiatry, Neurobiology and Child Study at...
-
Please Explain: Mold
Mold is a common household nuisance—it can appear on shower curtains and in damp basements and on aging foods in the refrigerator, but it’s a major concern in the aftermath of flooding caused by Sandy. Industrial hygienist and environmental health expert Monona Rossol and microbiologist Chin Yang, of Prestige EnviroMicrobiology, explain what mold is, where it comes from, how it grows, what it can do to your home and health, and how to get rid of it. Resources on Mold:...
-
Please Explain: The Microbes Inside
On this week’s Please Explain we’ll learn about the microbes, bacteria, and fungi in and around our households, hospitals and other buildings. Rob Dunn, biologist in the Department of Biology at North Carolina State University, project director of the Wild Life of Our Homes, and author of The Wild Life of Our Bodies: Predators, Parasites, and Partners That Shape Who We Are Today, and Jessica Green, Director of the Biology and the Built Environment (BioBE) Center at the University of Oregon,...
-
Christopher Hayes on the Election
Christopher Hayes, Editor at Large of The Nation and author of Twilight of the Elites,talks about what’s been going on on the campaign trail with the presidential election just days away.
-
Please Explain: Predicting the Weather
ForPlease Explainwe’re looking at how experts predict the weather—and storms like Hurricane Sandy—and how improving technology is making the science more precise. Dr. Robert Gall, Development Manager of the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Dr. Adam Sobel, Professor in the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University.
-
Please Explain: Skyscrapers
Kate Ascher, author of The Heights: Anatomy of a Skyscraper, and Carol Willis, founder, director, and curator of the Skyscraper Museum, discuss the history and future of tall buildings—from Chicago’s 17-story Auditorium Building to Dubai’s 160-story Burj Khalifa. They’ll explain how they’re built, how they work, and how they’ve changed cities.
-
Please Explain: Fungal Meningitis and Compounding...
This week’s Please Explain looks at the outbreak of fungal meningitis from contaminated steroid shots. We’ll find out how epidemiologists trace outbreaks like this to their origins and what compounding pharmacies are and how they work. Dr. Emil Hiesiger, clinical associate professor of neurology, NYU School of Medicine, and Dr. William Schaffner, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt University and president of the National...
-
Please Explain: Stunts
Jumping off buildings, running from a car engulfed in flames, getting into a brawl with a villain all some of the feats we see frequently in movies—and they’re performed by stuntmen (and women). Two experts join us to explain how stunts are performed in movies and on television: Hal Needham worked as a stuntman on more than 300 feature films and he was a pioneer in improving stunt technology and safety. He also directed the films Smokey and the Bandit, Cannonball Run, and Hooper, among...
-
Please Explain: Cloud Computing and Data Barns
From Apple's iCloud to Dropbox, cloud computing is becoming an increasingly important and useful part of digital life. This week's Please Explain is about the physical structures that make cloud computing possible, and their hidden impact on the environment. We're joined by James Glanz from The New York Times, who spent a year investigating the physical structures that make up and support cloud computing, and Dennis Symanski, Senior Project Manager at the Electric Power Research Institute.
-
Please Explain: Prosthetics
Alena Grabowski, Assistant Research Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, and research scientists at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Denver, and Mike McLoughlin, Research and Exploratory Development at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory describe the latest prosthetic design and technologies and how they allow amputees to regain mobility.
-
Please Explain: Concussions and Sports
For this week’s Please Explain, director Steve James talks about his new film “Head Games,” a revealing documentary about the concussions in American sports, along with former Ivy League Football Player and WWE Wrestler Christopher Nowinski, author of the book Head Games. It covers eye-opening evidence and cutting-edge science on head trauma from the nation’s leading medical experts and gives first-hand accounts from the athletes, coaches, and parents.
-
Please Explain: What Organic Labels Mean
Thomas Bjorkman, professor of horticulture at Cornell’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY, and Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Director, Consumer Safety and Sustainability Group at Consumer Reports, discuss what the organic label indicates about how food is grown, and what the various animal welfare labels indicate about how meat or eggs were bred and raised.
-
Please Explain: Butterflies
Monarch butterflies have started to make their long journey south to Mexico. On this week’s Please Explain, we’ll find out about the many different species of butterflies—from their coloring to their attraction to flowers to their cocoons. We’re joined by Bob Robbins, Curator of Lepidoptera, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, and Dr. Cole Gilbert, Associate Professor of Entomology at Cornell University.
-
Please Explain: Wonder Bread
Aaron Bobrow-Strain, author of White Bread: A Social History of the Store-Bought Loaf and professor of politics at Whitman College, explains the colorful history of white bread and tells us what makes it so soft, so white, and have such a long shelf life. He’ll also discuss how the kind of bread you eat has defined social status for centuries.
-
Please Explain: Spiders
This week we'll take a look at the creepy crawly world of spiders. Dr. Norm Platnick, curator emeritus in the Museum’s Division of Invertebrate Zoology, and Hazel Davies talk about spiders, which are among the most versatile animals on the planet—they're able to inhabit every continent but Antarctica and are able to survive in environments that range from deserts to rainforests to crowded cities. There's an exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History called "Spiders Alive!" It's on...
-
Please Explain: Pigeons
Pigeons seem to be everywhere in New York City, and they fill city squares in London and Venice. We’ll take a look at why these birds thrive in urban areas around the word and how they’re able to find their way home from hundreds of miles away. Andrew Blechman, managing editor of Orion magazine and author of Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird, and Courtney Humphries, author of Superdove: How the Pigeon Took Manhattan…and the World, join us.
-
Please Explain: Teams and Teamwork
This week’s Please Explain takes a look at the art and science of teamwork. We’re joined by Scott Wiltermuth, Assistant Professor of Management and Organization, at USC’s Marshall School of Business, and Dr. John Krakauer, Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience, Director, Center for the Study of Motor Learning and Brain Repair, the Johns Hopkins Hospital Department of Neurology.
-
Please Explain: Meditation
The practice of meditation has existed for some 2,500 years. David McKeel, Director of Practice Education at Shambhala Meditation Center of New York, and Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal, clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown Medical School and author of Transcendence: Healing and Transformation through Transcendental Meditation, tell us what meditation is, how it works, and the research into its health benefits.
-
Please Explain: Doping
More than 100 athletes have been banned from competing in the London Olympics because of doping suspensions. Doping allegations have become common in many sports, most notably in cycling, baseball, and track and field. Dr. Dennis Cardone, Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at New York University Medical at Trinity Center, and Dr. Gary Wadler, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of medicine at Hofstra University, explain how performance-enhancing drugs...
-
Please Explain: The Higgs Boson
Early this month, researchers at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, announced that they found convincing evidence of a new particle called the Higgs boson. Sometimes called the “god particle,” the Higgs boson gives mass to the elementary particles that make up the universe. Brian Greene, Professor of Mathematics and Physics and author of The Elegant Universe, The Fabric of the Cosmos, and The Hidden Reality, and Kyle Cranmer, Assistant Professor of Physics at New York...
-
Please Explain: Artificial Sweeteners
We'll find out about artificial sweeteners and low- and no-calorie sugar substitutes like aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose.
-
Please Explain: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by anxiety and unreasonable thoughts and fears that lead to repetitive behaviors. Trying to ignore or stop these thoughts often only increases distress and anxiety, and people who suffer from OCD feel driven to perform compulsive acts to reduce or ease feelings of stress and anxiety. Dr. Helen Blair Simpson, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center and the Director of the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at the New York...
-
Please Explain: Tattoos
Tattoo artist Scott Campbell, of Saved Tattoo in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and Dr. Lars Krutak, of the Department of Anthropology at the Smithsonian Institution, discuss the history of tattoos and body decorations, the mechanics of getting a tattoo, the art of tattoo design, and how they can be removed.
-
Please Explain: 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and Saving for...
Tax-advantaged accounts like the 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans are popular ways to invest money for retirement, but unlike traditional pension plans, these plans require people to manage their investment strategies yourselves. Eleanor Laise, Editor, Kiplinger's Retirement Report, and Anthony Webb, research economist at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, discuss how these plans work, how best to manage them, and how to plan—and save—for retirement.
-
Please Explain: Vitamins
Patsy Brannon, Professor of Nutrition, Cornell University explains what vitamins do and which are most important.
-
Please Explain: Drones
Nick Paumgarten, staff writer for The New Yorker, explains what drones are, how they work, and the technological advancements that are making drones more prevalent in military and civilian life. He’s the author of “Here’s Looking at You” in the May 14 issue of The New Yorker.
-
Please Explain: Credit Ratings
This week we'll find out about credit reports and credit scores and how to manage them effectively. Jeffrey Blyskal, senior editor of Consumer Reports, joins us to explain how they work and what they mean. If you have a question, call 212-433-9692 or leave a comment below.
-
Please Explain: Lobbying
It's estimated that over $3 billion was spent on lobbying efforts last year. On this week's Please Explain, Alex Blumberg from NPR's Planet Money describes how lobbying works, the role that all that money plays in politics, and what kind of influence that money buys. Call us at 212-433-9692 with your questions, or leave them in a comment below!
-
Please Explain: Movie Special Effects
Dr. Doug Roble, the Creative Director of Software at Digital Domain, the multiple Academy Award-winning visual effects studio in Venice, California, talks about the history of special effects in filmmaking and explains the art and science of creating them. ??
-
Please Explain: Deep Sea Exploration
David Gallo, Director of Special Projects at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, talks about the mission to map the Titanic wreck, and other underwater expeditions, such as the search for Air France flight 447. He explains how scientists explore the ocean and what they've found.
-
Please Explain: Satellites
For this week's Please Explain, Jonathan McDowell, astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Boston, and Laura Grego, senior scientist in the Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, tell us how satellites are designed, launched, and how they to make things like GPS and cable television possible.?
-
Please Explain: Bullying
Bullying is commonplace in schools, but in recent years cyber-bullying, suicides, and school shootings have shown bullying to be a very serious issue. On this week's Please Explain we'll find out what constitutes bullying and aggression among children (and adults), its repercussions, and how parents, children, and schools should address it. We're joined by Elizabeth Englander, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State...
-
Please Explain: Anxiety and Benzodiazepenes
Please Explain is all about the anti-anxiety medications benzodiazepenes. Psychologist Dr. Douglas Mennin and Lisa Miller, contributing editor at New York magazine, whose article "Listening to Xanax" appears in the March 26 issue of the magazine, explain how they work and why they're addictive.
-
Please Explain: The Science of Taste
Barb Stuckey, professional food developer and author of Taste What You're Missing: The Passionate Eater's Guide to Why Good Food Tastes Good, explains the science of taste, and shows how our individual biology, genetics, and brain create a personal experience of everything we taste.
-
Please Explain: Norovirus
Today's Please Explain is all about the Norovirus, which is the leading cause of outbreaks of food-borne illness. We'll speak with Dr. Aaron Margolin and Dr. Christine Moe.
-
Please Explain: The Subway
This week's Please Explain takes a look at something familiar (yet still mysterious) to every New Yorker: the subway. John Tauranac, architecural historian and designer of city and transit maps, and Andrew Sparberg, former Long Island Railroad manager and director of the railroad technology program at Technical Career Insitutes, talk about how the subway was built and how it transformed the metropolitan area.
-
Please Explain: How to Save the World--World Peace
This week's Please Explain is the final installment of our series How to Save the World. Jeffrey Sachs discusses whether it's possible to achieve world peace. He's Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University and Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. His most recent book is The Price of Civilization.?
-
Please Explain: How to Save the World — Food Security
This week's Please Explain continues our series How to Save the World. Glenn Denning, Director, Center on Globalization and Sustainable Development at the Earth Institute at Columbia University, and J. Matthew Roney, Research Associate, Earth Policy Institute, examine the global food supply.
-
Please Explain: How to Save the World--the Future of...
Wherever humans go, they leave trash behind. The average American throws away over 1,130 pounds of waste per year. On this week's Please Explain, we continue our series How to Save the World, looking at how we dispose of garbage, how recycling and composting and smaller packaging can cut down on the amount of garbage people throw away around the world, and how garbage can be used as a renewable, green energy source. Joining us are Nickolas J. Themelis, Director, Earth Engineering Center, and...
-
Please Explain: How to Save the World--Climate Change...
This week's Please Explain, the third in our series How to Save the World, is about climate change and how to stop it. David Archer, professor of geophysical sciences at the University of Chicago, and author of The Long Thaw: How Humans are Changing the Next 100,000 Years of the Earth's Climate, and Global Warming: Understanding the Forecast; and Klaus Lackner, Director of the Lenfest Center for Sustainable Energy at Columbia University's Earth Institute join us to talk about carbon in the...
-
Please Explain: How to Save the World--Population Growth...
This week's Please Explains is the second in our series on how to save the world--ways to approach complex global problems such as climate change, food supply, garbage disposal, the global water supply, and violence. Today we're looking at the population explosion--there are now 7 billion people on the planet. We're joined by Hania Zlotnik, director of the population Division at the Department of Economics and Social Affairs at the United Nations, and Dr.Joel E. Cohen, mathematical biologist...
-
Please Explain: How to Save the World--The Global Water...
We're kicking off a series of Please Explains on how to save the world--ways to approach complex global problems such as climate change, food supply, garbage disposal, population control, and violence. Today's topic is how to protect the world's water supply. Upmanu Lall,?Director of the Columbia Water Center, and Sandra Postel, founder of the Global Water Policy Project and National Geographic Freshwater Fellow join us to discuss the state of fresh water around the globe.
-
Please Explain: Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis remains one of the world's deadliest diseases--accounting for 9.4 million cases and 1.7 million deaths in 2009, according to the WHO. Maryn McKenna, science journalist and author of Superbug, and Dr. Neil Schluger, Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology, and Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University Medical Center and Chief Scientific Officer for the World Lung Foundation, give us a history of the disease, how it spreads, why it's so hard to treat, and how drug-resistant...
-
Please Explain: Hoarding
Almost everyone has closets full of stuff, favorite mementos, and expanding collections of books or shoes or spices or hotel shampoos. But sometimes our emotional attachments to stuff can spiral out of control, and people become not just pack rats but compulsive hoarders. Dr. Robin Zasio, therapist who specializes in treating hoarding and other anxiety-related disorders, explains what compulsive hoarding is and how to treat it. She'll also give advice about how to live a less-cluttered,...
-
Please Explain: Willpower
New York Times science writer John Tierney?, co-author of Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength, talks about self-control. He's joined by Dr. Walter Mischel, Niven Professor of Humane Letters in Psychology, Columbia University. They'll explain how to build willpower and how conserve it for crucial moments.
-
Please Explain: Teenagers' Brains
In October, neuroscientists Sandra Aamodt and Sam Wang were on Please Explain to discuss how a young children's brains develop. And this week they return to discuss the brains of adolescents and teenagers--from sleep problems, gender differences, behavior issues, learning disabilities, and hormones. They investigate myths about brain development and sort through the factors that matter--and those that don't--in brain development from childhood to college. They're the co-authors of Welcome to...
-
Please Explain: The Railroads
Railroad historian John Hankey, and Bob Lettenberger, Director of Education for the National Railroad Museum talk about the history and significance of the freight and passenger railroads in the United States. They'll also discuss the deterioration of our passenger railways in the 1950s and 1960s and?the current state of rail travel here, compared to other countries.Our phone number has changed! It's now 212-433-9692!
-
Please Explain: The Flat Tax
Herman Cain has gotten a lot of attention for his 9-9-9 tax plan, Governor Rick Perry recently unveiled his own flat tax proposal, and there have been numerous presidential candidates who have made a flat tax plan the basis of their campaigns. Joseph J. Thorndike is the director of the?Tax History Project at Tax Analysts?and a contributing editor for?Tax Notes?magazine looks at the history of the flat tax, how it compares to our current tax system, and what the proposed flat tax plans would...
-
Please Explain: The Flat Tax
Herman Cain has gotten a lot of attention for his 9-9-9 tax plan, Governor Rick Perry recently unveiled his own flat tax proposal, and there have been numerous presidential candidates who have made a flat tax plan the basis of their campaigns. Joseph J. Thorndike is the director of the?Tax History Project at Tax Analysts?and a contributing editor for?Tax Notes?magazine looks at the history of the flat tax, how it compares to our current tax system, and what the proposed flat tax plans would...
-
Please Explain: E-mail and Online Etiquette
Lizzie Post and Anna Post (great-great granddaughters of Emily Post) explain the ins and outs, the rules and pointers of communicating by e-mail and online. They are co-authors of the 18th edition of Emily Post's Etiquette.
-
Please Explain: Children's Brains
Neuroscientists Sandra Aamodt and Sam Wang discuss how a child's brain develops, from conception to college, looking at language learning, sleep problems, gender differences, and behavior issues. They debunk myths and look at the factors that matter--and those that don't--in children's brain development. They're the co-authors of Welcome to Your Child's Brain: How the Mind Grows from Conception to College.How well do you know your child's brain? Take this quiz to find out!
-
Please Explain: The Lottery
We'll find out how lotteries work and why we play. Victor Matheson, Associate Professor of Economics at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, and? Brent Kramer, a data analyst at the Fiscal Policy Institute, and Adjunct Assistant Professor at Borough of Manhattan Community College, tell us where lottery money comes from, where it goes, and look at what the odds are of winning it big!
-
Please Explain: Endangered Species
Joe Roman, author of Listed: Dispatches from America's Endangered Species Act; George Amato, director of the American Museum of Natural History's Sackler Institute of Comparative Genomics; and Ernie Cooper, from TRAFFIC, a joint wildlife trade monitoring network of the World Wildlife Fund and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, discuss the Endangered Species Act, which species are at risk and why, and the efforts are made to protect them.If you have questions, call us at...
-
Please Explain: The UN General Assembly
The General Debate of the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly is happening in New York through September 30. The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations, comprising all 193 Members of the United Nations. On this week's Please Explain we start off with Warren Hoge, Senior Advisor for External Relations for the International Peace Institute in New York and former foreign correspondent for the New York Times,...
-
Please Explain: Common Sense
Common sense seems simple enough, but it can be more complicated and less helpful that you would expect. Duncan J. Watts, sociologist and Yahoo! Principal Researcher, explains the benefits and limitations of common sense and looks closely at how common-sense reasoning can be misleading. His book Everything You Know Is Obvious once You Know the Answer draws on the latest scientific research and real-life examples to show how common sense attempts to predict, manage, and manipulate social and...
-
Please Explain: The Inner Lives of Dogs
For many of us, dogs are loyal friends and companions, but we know very little about how they see the world. On this week's Please Explain, we look at what we know about how dogs perceive the world and how dogs can be trained to help in search and rescue efforts.We're joined by John Bradshaw, the Director of the Anthrozoology Institute at the University of Bristol and the author of Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet and Alexandra Horowitz,...
-
Please Explain: Cephalopods and Sea Creatures
You may have spent time at the beach this summer, watching the waves and swimming in the surf, but on this week's Please Explain, we're going below the surface to look at some of the creatures that live on the ocean floor--cuttlefish, squid, and octopus. Roger Hanlon senior scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and Ellen Prager, formerly the chief scientist at Aquarius Reef Base in Florida and author of Sex, Drugs, and Sea Slime join us to talk about...
-
Please Explain: Gluten
More and more gluten-free products have been appearing on grocery store shelves in recent years, and for this week's Please Explain segment, we'll find out what gluten is and find out the causes, symptoms, and treatment for celiac disease and other gluten sensitivities. Dean Lavornia is Chair of the Baking & Pastry Department at the Johnson & Wales University College of Culinary Arts in Providence, Rhode Island. He's created a number of gluten-free recipes for those in his family with celiac...
-
Please Explain: Thunder and Lightning
Thunderstorms are one of the most dramatic features of summer, so this week's Please Explain is all about thunder and lightning storms. Walt Zaleski, Warning Coordination Meteorologist Program Manager, National Weather Service, Southern Region Headquarters, tells us what causes these storms, how they're tracked and studied, and how the weather works.
-
Please Explain: Roller Coasters
This week's Please Explain is all about roller coasters--from the old classics like the Cyclone to the new wild rides like the Green Lantern! We're joined by two roller coaster experts: Jeffrey Rhoads, Associate Professor at Purdue University's School of Mechanical Engineering, where he co-teaches a course in the physics of roller coasters, and Jacob Miller, PhD candidate at Purdue University's School of Mechanical Engineering (studying vibration), whose personal passion is the Millennium...
-
Please Explain: Urban Evolution
Jason Munshi-South, assistant professor at Baruch College, and Rob Dunn, associate professor of biology at North Carolina State University and author of The Wild Life of Our Bodies: Predators, Parasites, and Partners That Shape Who We Are Today, discuss how cities and urban environments change the animals, insects--and even bacteria--that live within them. They'll also cover how natural selection and evolution work and how they study it.
-
Please Explain: Weeds
Weeds pop up in lawns and gardens and even in cracks in sidewalks. Lars Anderson, plant physiologist with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service on the campus of UC Davis; and Kristin Schleiter, Curator of Outdoor Gardens and Herbaceous Collections at the New York Botanical Garden, look at the wide variety of weeds, why they seem to thrive everywhere, and ways to eliminate--or accept--them.?
-
Please Explain: Wildfires
This summer wildfires have raged in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, as well as throughout the country, and so far over 5,800,000 acres have burned this year alone. Ken Frederick and Tom Romanello, Bureau of Land Management fire specialists at the National Interagency Fire Center, explain how wild fires start and spread, how they behave, and how they're contained and extinguished. We'll also find out why there seem to be so many this year, and what happens to an area after a fire. Call us at...
-
Please Explain: Jellyfish
A series of new studies has revealed that jellyfish are far more than mindless blobs that can spoil your day at the beach. On today's Please Explain, Steve Bailey, Curator of Fishes at the New England Aquarium, and Marine Biologist and Chief Aquarist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium?Michael Howard discuss why jellyfish are much more complex and interesting than scientists once thought.?
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Coupons
The old cost-saving measure of clipping pages from the backs of newspapers has been transformed into a multibillion dollar industry by the advent of Groupon, the online group coupon service. Felix Salmon, finance blogging editor at Reuters, and Andrea Woroch of Coupon Sherpa, talk to us about the history of coupons, reveal why they're such a boon to businesses, and dissect Groupon's business model. Do you clip coupons? Have you used daily deal sites like Groupon and Living Social? If so,...
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Sunscreen and the New FDA Rules
The FDA passed new federal regulations on sunscreen labels, to take effect next year. On today's Please Explain Dr. Michelle Hanjani, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center tells us what those changes are, what they mean, how sunscreen works, and how much it really protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
-
Please Explain: Why Honeybees Are Disappearing
Bees are disappearing from their hives in mass numbers, and there's no clear explanation of why. Many believe that bees are a barometer of the health of the planet, and colony collapse disorder is raising questions about pesticides, genetically modified crops, monocultures, and mechanization of beekeeping. Taggart Siegel, director, and Jon Betz, producer, of the documentary "Queen of the Sun" tell us why honeybees are important to human life and agriculture, and the factors that are most...
-
Please Explain: Aspirin
Aspirin is used to treat everyday aches and pains and has even been shown to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and maybe even some cancers. Alan Arslan, MD, Assistant Professor in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecolgy and Environmental Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, and Diarmuid Jeffreys, author of Aspirin: The Remarkable Story of a Wonder Drug, discuss how aspirin works.
-
Please Explain: Apocalypse Predictions
You may have noticed billboards and people handing out pamphlets in the subways claiming that the world will on May 21. Well, since that's tomorrow, for today's Please Explain we thought we'd investigate the long history of doomsday predictions. We're joined by Jesus Rodriguez-Velasco, Professor in the Department of Latin American and Iberian Cultures at Columbia University, who teaches a class called "The End of the World." John R. Hall, professor of sociology at the University of...
-
Please Explain: Generic Drugs
On today's Please Explain, we'll look into the science behind and history of generic drugs. Just how identical are they to their name-brand counterparts? Could they be part of the solution to America's rising health care costs? Are there certain instances when you shouldn't go for the generic option? Joe Graedon, author of The People's Pharmacy, will answer these questions and more.
-
Please Explain: Bad Bugs
You may have noticed the first gnats, flies, and ticks of the season. Today's Please Explain is about bad bugs--the dangerous, destructive, and poisonous creatures that are feared and sometimes misunderstood. Amy Stewart, author of Wicked Bugs joins us.
-
Please Explain: Recipes
On today's Please Explain, we'll look into the art of crafting the perfect recipe. Deb Perelman, author of the popular blog SmittenKitchen.com, and John Willoughby, the executive editor of America's Test Kitchen, join us. They'll explain how to best translate home cook's imprecise cooking strategies into publishable recipes, how preparation times are calculated, and examine their favorite examples of recipes both perfect and terrible. WEIGH IN: What are some of your most poignant recipe...
-
Good Friday Gospel Hour
Leonard hosts his annual Good Friday gospel hour. This year he'll combine it with a bit of Please Explain, and he'll talk about the history and particulars of gospel music. Do you have a question about gospel music? Leave a comment below! ? ? PlaylistThey Led My Lord Away, Marion Williams (All of My Appointed Time)The Sun Didn't Shine, Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet (The Gospel Sound)One Day, Harmonizing Four Remember Me, Swanee Quintet (Beloved Songs of Easter)He Arose from the Grave, Sister...
-
Please Explain: Hormone Replacement Therapy
The hormones estrogen and progestin have been prescribed to women to relieve symptoms of menopause. Studies have shown that hormone replacement therapy can increase the risk of cancer, but earlier this month, a new study showed that among some women, it can reduce the risk of breast cancer and heart attack. The conflicting information has left many women confused.?Dr. Andrea LaCroix, Professor of Epidemiology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, and Dr. Rowan T. Chlebowski,...
-
Please Explain: Apartments
Apartments are a hallmark of city living, and on today's Please Explain, we'll take a look at how they've evolved. New York Magazine architecture critic Justin Davidson and architect and writer James Sanders talk about the variety of New York apartments--from co-ops and condos to tenements and railroad flats to lofts and the classic six--and about how rent control and co-op boards function. We want to hear your apartment stories! Tell us about the kinds of apartments you've lived in, and...
-
Please Explain: Anger
Anger is one of the forces that has sparked protests across the Middle East, from Egypt to Libya to Syria. It can be a motivating force, but it can also be destructive and damaging when it goes unchecked. On this week's Please Explain, we're taking a look at the roots and consequences of anger. Dr. Philip Muskin, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, and Dr. Howard Kassinove, Professor of Psychology and Director, Institute for the Study and Treatment of Anger...
-
Please Explain: Radiation
The crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan has raised many questions about what kind of radiation is leaking and what the health risks of it are. Kenneth Mossman, Professor of Biomedicine and Biotechnology at the University of Arizona, and radiation physicist Jacqueline Yanch, senior lecturer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, explain radiation--from nuclear fallout, to airport body scanners, to x-rays and medical treatment.?
-
Please Explain: Tsunamis
This morning, an 8.9 magnitude earthquake occured 230 miles northeast of Tokyo, Japan, causing a large tsunami. The full extent of the impact of the tsunami is not yet known, and there are tsunami alerts for Russia, Hawaii, and the West Coast of the United States. On today's Please Explain, we'll try to answer all of your questions about tsunamis with Humboldt University Professor of Geology Lori Dengler who is currently at the National Weather Service monitoring the situation, and Geoff...
-
Please Explain: Tsunamis
This morning, an 8.9 magnitude earthquake occured 230 miles northeast of Tokyo, Japan, causing a large tsunami. The full extent of the impact of the tsunami is not yet known, and there are tsunami alerts for Russia, Hawaii, and the West Coast of the United States. On today's Please Explain, we'll try to answer all of your questions about tsunamis with Humboldt University Professor of Geology Lori Dengler who is currently at the National Weather Service monitoring the situation, and Geoff...
-
Please Explain: Accents and Dialects
Today's Please Explain is all about accents in the English speaking world--how did Australians come to sound different than New Zealanders? Why do some people lose their accents quickly...while others can hold on to them for decades? NYU Professor of Linguistics Gregory Guy and North Carolina State University Distinguished Professor of English Walt Wolfram will discuss the various accents in the English-speaking world and even analyze some samples from volunteers!
-
Please Explain: Silk
The first silk textiles were created some 5000 years ago. This week's Please Explain is all about silk, and how fibers made by worms create versatile fabrics and have helped shape the culture of much of the world. Mark Norell, Chair of the Division of Paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History, who is currently finishing a book on the Silk Road, talks about the history of silk; Ingrid Johnson, professor of Textile Development and Marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology;...
-
Please Explain: Sneezing
This week's Please Explain investigates a common phenomenon that's mysterious to many of us: sneezing! Dr. Marjorie Slankard, Clinical Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, and Director of the Allergy Clinic at New York Presbyterian Hospital, and Dr.Neil Kao, allergy and asthma specialist with the Allergic Disease and Asthma Center in Greenville, South Carolina, join us.
-
Please Explain: Computer Viruses and Worms
This week's Please Explain is about computer worms and viruses. Richard Ford, from the Center for Security Science at the Florida Institute of Technology, and Lance Ulanoff, Editor in Chief of PC Magazine, tell us how viruses and worms are created, how they infiltrate individual computers, explain the damage they can wreak and how we can best protect our machines.
-
Please Explain: Salt
Salt is found on most dining tables and in most kitchens--but this ubiquitous household item has a long and curious history. It's a flavor enhancer, an ice melter, has been used as a currency, and has shaped civilization. Mark Kurlansky, author of ?Salt: A World History, and Dr. Sonia Angell, Director, Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Control, New York City Health Department, explain what salt is, where it comes from, and discusses its influence on history and on our health.
-
Please Explain: Tests
SAT, PSAT, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, GRE, NAEP, PISA...when did the nation become obsessed with standardized testing and what do these exams tell us? On this week's Please Explain, testing experts Howard Everson and David Rindskopf explain how these tests are put together and what they are supposed to evaluate. Dr. Everson is co-chair of the Technical Advisory Committee for the National Center for Education and the Economy, as well as the chair of the Technical Advisory Committee for Testing and...
-
Please Explain: Wool
This cold weather has caused many of us to pull out our wool sweaters for extra warmth, and for this week's Please Explain we're talking about wool--and the process of gathering and using wool, from the sheep to the sweater! Clara Parkes, author of The Knitters Book of Wool: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding, Using, and Loving this Most Fabulous Fiber and The Knitter's Book of Yarn: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Yarn, and Dr. Christopher Lupton, Professor, The Bill...
-
Please Explain: Sustainable Seafood and Seafood Safety
Our latest Please Explain is all about seafood--how it's harvested, what sustainable fishing entails, and how fish gets from the sea to your plate. We're joined by Sheila Bowman, senior manager of outreach and education, Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, and Dr. Gina Solomon, who is both a medical doctor and a senior scientist with Natural Resources Defense Council.
-
Please Explain: Espionage
Today's Please Explain looks at spying, the organizations that do it, and how it's carried out and why. We're joined by Thomas S. Blanton, from George Washington University National Security Archives, and Joseph Weisberg, former CIA operative and author of An Ordinary Spy.
-
Please Explain: Health Care Reform
President Obama's health care reform has been seen as too much intervention by some and not enough of an overhaul by others, but few people know exactly what the new law includes and how it changes health care and health insurance in this country. On this week's Please Explain, Washington Post correspondent?T. R. Reid explains the ins and outs, the costs and the savings, of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. He's the author of The Healing of America: A Global Quest for...
-
Please Explain: Food Myths
Harold McGee discusses and debunks myths about food and cooking for today's Please Explain. He's the author of Keys to Good Cooking: A Guide to Making the Best of Foods and Recipes.
-
Please Explain: Running
The New York City Marathon is this Sunday, and thousands of runners will be racing through all five boroughs. On today's Please Explain, we'll find out what's involved with completing the marathon's 26.2 miles. David Willey, Editor-in-Chief of Runner's World magazine and Charlie Butler, executive editor of Runner's World and co-author of The Long Run: A New York City Firefighter's Triumphant Comeback from Crash Victim to Elite Athlete, join us now to talk about how runners race, train, deal...
-
Please Explain: Procrastination
Putting thing off until the last minute is a compulsion many people share. On this week's Please Explain, Dr. George Ainslie, Professor of Psychiatry at University of Cape Town, in South Africa, and Dr. Joseph Ferrari, professor of psychology at DePaul University, tell us what causes us to procrastinate, how it affects productivity, and methods for ending procrastination. Dr. Ferrari is the author of Still Procrastinating? The No Regrets Guide to Getting It Done. Dr. Ainslie is the author of...
-
Please Explain: Dating Etiquette
If you've ever wondered how long you should wait before asking for a second date, or if it's acceptable to split the check, or whether or not you should declare that you are in a relationship on Facebook, today's Please Explain will provide some answers. Thomas P. Farley and Diane Gottsman discuss the etiquette of dating.
-
Please Explain: Psychedelic Drugs
Please Explain takes a look at LSD and psychedelic drugs. Dr. Nicolas Langlitz, assistant professor of Medical Anthropology at the New School, and Dr. Stephen Ross, Assistant Professor at NYU Medical Center, Departments of Psychiatry and In-Patient Service, explain how psychedelic drugs affect the brain, how hallucinogens work, and new research into therapeutic uses for psychedelic drugs.
-
Please Explain: Food Myths
Harold McGee discusses and debunks myths about food and cooking for today's Please Explain. He's the author of Keys to Good Cooking: A Guide to Making the Best of Foods and Recipes.
-
Please Explain: Running
The New York City Marathon is this Sunday, and thousands of runners will be racing through all five boroughs. On today's Please Explain, we'll find out what's involved with completing the marathon's 26.2 miles. David Willey, Editor-in-Chief of Runner's World magazine and Charlie Butler, executive editor of Runner's World and co-author of The Long Run: A New York City Firefighter's Triumphant Comeback from Crash Victim to Elite Athlete, join us now to talk about how runners race, train, deal...
-
Please Explain: Procrastination
Putting thing off until the last minute is a compulsion many people share. On this week's Please Explain, Dr. George Ainslie, Professor of Psychiatry at University of Cape Town, in South Africa, and Dr. Joseph Ferrari, professor of psychology at DePaul University, tell us what causes us to procrastinate, how it affects productivity, and methods for ending procrastination. Dr. Ferrari is the author of Still Procrastinating? The No Regrets Guide to Getting It Done. Dr. Ainslie is the author of...
-
Please Explain: Dating Etiquette
If you've ever wondered how long you should wait before asking for a second date, or if it's acceptable to split the check, or whether or not you should declare that you are in a relationship on Facebook, today's Please Explain will provide some answers. Thomas P. Farley and Diane Gottsman discuss the etiquette of dating.
-
Please Explain: Psychedelic Drugs
Please Explain takes a look at LSD and psychedelic drugs. Dr. Nicolas Langlitz, assistant professor of Medical Anthropology at the New School, and Dr. Stephen Ross, Assistant Professor at NYU Medical Center, Departments of Psychiatry and In-Patient Service, explain how psychedelic drugs affect the brain, how hallucinogens work, and new research into therapeutic uses for psychedelic drugs.
-
Please Explain: Invasive Species (Friday, 12 February...
Growing global trade means more bugs and plants end up where they don't belong, causing widespread environmental damage. On today's Please Explain, we'll learn how invasive species—from Asian purple loosestrife to the Colorado potato beetle—can wreak havoc when they're accidentally imported to a new environment. We're joined by Robert F. C. Naczi, Curator of North American Botany at the New York Botanical Garden; Jessica Arcate Schuler, Manager of the Forest, at the New York Botanical...
-
Please Explain: BPA (Friday, 05 February 2010)
Bisphenol-A, known as BPA, is an important building block of several plastics and plastic additives. Concern about the use of BPA in consumer products has been growing, and questions about its safety and its effect of human health have led some retailers to remove products made of it from their shelves; some states, cities, and even countries have even banned its use altogether. On today's edition of Please Explain, we'll look into what the studies of BPA show, why the scientific community...
-
Please Explain: Indian Classical Music (Friday, 29...
Hindustani music, a classical musical tradition of northern and central India, can be traced back to Vedic times, around 1000 BC. On today's edition of Please Explain we'll take a look at India's rich culture of music and its trademark instruments. Tabla player Dibyarka Chatterjee, and sitar player K. V. Mahabala join us to talk about the history and traditions of Indian classical music, and to perform.
-
Please Explain: The Soil (Friday, 22 January 2010)
On today's edition of Please Explain, we'll look at what's in the earth beneath our feet. Chris Smith National Leader for Technical Soil Services, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Michael A. Wilson, Research Soil Scientist, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Survey Research and Laboratory, describe what soil is made of, how and why it differs from place to place, and why rich dirt is crucial to healthy growth. /> Find out more about the twelve soil orders here.
-
Please Explain: Postpartum Depression and Perinatal...
On today's Please Explain, we'll look into the causes and symptoms of postpartum depression, and the field of perinatal psychiatry, the evaluation and treatment of psychiatric disorders associated with female reproductive function. We're joined by Dr. Catherine Monk, Irving Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology, Columbia University Medical Center, and Dr. Shari Lusskin, Director of Reproductive Psychiatry, at NYU Langone Medical Center and Mt. Sinai Medical Center.
-
Please Explain: Alcohol (Friday, 06 November 2009)
Our latest Please Explain is all about alcohol—what it is, how it works and the ways it affects our bodies. We'll be joined by Dr. Rueben Gonzales , Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Texas and by Dr. Henry R. Kranzler , Professor of Psychiatry and Genetics and Developmental Biology at the University of Connecticut Health Center.
-
Please Explain: Sleep (Friday, 23 October 2009)
Sleeping is something all of us do every day, but exactly what happens to us when we sleep isn't completely understood. On today's edition of Please Explain, we're looking into why we sleep, why we sometimes can't sleep, and why many of us aren't sleeping enough. Dr. Allan Pack , Chief of the Division of Sleep Medicine and Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Michel Cramer Bornemann , Co-Director of the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center at Hennepin County...
-
Please Explain: Regional Accents (Friday, 16 October...
You can tell a lot about someone from the way they speak. On today's edition of Please Explain we'll look at the different accents found around the United States and find out where they come from and why they persist. Joining us are Natalie Schilling-Estes, Associate Professor of Linguistics at Georgetown University, and Kara Becker, of the Department of Linguistics at New York University. Clips of the New Jersey, Outer Banks, Boston, and Midwest accents are from the International Dialects...
-
Please Explain: Prions (Friday, 09 October 2009)
On today's Please Explain we're looking at prions and how they can cause infectious diseases such as Mad Cow disease and the Chronic Wasting disease that's been affecting deer, elk, and moose herds in the West and Midwest. Dr. David Westaway, Professor of Neurology and Director of the Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases at the University of Alberta; and Walker Jackson, postdoctoral associate in the Lindquist Laboratory at MIT's Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research join us.
-
Please Explain: Animal Migration (Friday, 02 October...
The days are growing shorter and colder, and birds, butterflies, and other animals are starting to head to warmer climates for the winter. These journeys are often thousand of miles—monarch butterflies can fly as far as 3,000 miles to winter in Mexico. On today's Please Explain, we'll find out how these animals know when and where to go. We'll also talk about how climate change is affecting animal migration. We're joined by Leon Kreitzman, co-author with Russell Foster of Rhythms of Life and...
-
Please Explain: Sharks (Friday, 25 September 2009)
There are some 440 species of sharks, and the fish have been swimming in the oceans for 420 million years, before dinosaurs existed. On today's Please Explain we'll find out about sharks, from hammerheads to great whites, and look at how they are becoming threatened. We're joined by Melanie L. J. Stiassny, Axelrod Research Curator of Fishes, Department of Ichthyology, American Museum of Natural History; and John Maisey Curator and Axelrod Research Chair, Division of Paleontology, American...
-
Please Explain: Trees (Friday, 18 September 2009)
You may have noticed that leaves have started turning, marking the end of summer. On today's Please Explain we'll find out why leaves change color and everything else about trees, with Jessica Argate, Forest Manager, New York Botanical Garden, and David Allan Sibley, author of The Sibley Guide to Trees.
-
Please Explain: Typography (Friday, 11 September 2009)
Our latest Please Explain is all about typefaces and typography. Typeface designer Jonathan Hoefler, type designer and president of Hoefler & Frere-Jones and Steven Heller, co-chair of the MFA Designer as Author program at the School of Visual Arts and author of the VISUALS column for the New York Times Book Review, will explain how typefaces are created and why typography is important to communication and design.
-
Please Explain: Intuition and Gut Reaction (Friday, 28...
On today's edition of Please Explain, we're looking at instinct, intuition, gut feelings, those unconscious reactions that guide so much of our decision making. We're joined by Timothy Wilson, Sherrell J. Aston Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, and author of Strangers to Ourselves: Discovering the Adaptive Unconscious, and by Gerd Gigerenzer, director of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, and author of Gut Feelings: The Intelligence of the...
-
Please Explain: Neurofeedback (Friday, 21 August 2009)
Neurofeedback is a method of training the brain by monitoring brain activity with sensors. Individuals can see their brain activity on a screen in real time and learn to regulate it themselves, in order to "train" their brain to perform specific tasks more efficiently. We'll hear about how it works with Dr. Sarah H. Lisanby, Director of the Division of Brain Stimulation & Therapeutic Modulation, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New...
-
Please Explain: Spices (Friday, 14 August 2009)
Most spices are delicious, some have medical value and a good amount of them have changed the course of human history. On this week's Please Explain we'll learn all about spices, from Anise to Vanilla. We'll be joined by Dr. John E. Hayes , Assistant Professor of Food Science at Penn State University and by chef Michael Krondl . Michael is also the author of numerous books, including The Taste of Conquest .
-
Please Explain: Endangered Languages (Friday, 07 August...
More than half of the world's nearly 7,000 languages are at risk of dying out in the next century. On this week's Please Explain, we take a look at what causes languages to disappear and the efforts to document and revive endangered languages around the world. Gregory Anderson, Director of the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages, and Anthony Woodbury, Professor of Linguistics at the University of Texas, join us.
-
Please Explain: Obesity (Friday, 31 July 2009)
According to recent studies, about 1/3 of Americans are obese, and between 1998 and 2006, the obesity rate rose 37% in this country. Obesity-related illnesses accounted for an estimated $147 billion in 2008, nearly 10 percent of all U.S. medical spending, according to the Centers for Disease Control. On today's edition of Please Explain, we're looking into the causes of the dramatic rise in obesity and the health risks that come with it. We're joined by Dr. Louis Aronne, Clinical Professor...
-
Please Explain: Mosquitoes (Friday, 17 July 2009)
Mosquitoes are one of the downsides of summer, and they are expected to be especially bad this year due to all the rain this spring. We'll find out why mosquitoes buzz and bite, how they transmit dangerous diseases, and some ways to get rid of them. Joseph M. Conlon, a retired U.S. Navy entomologist and the Technical Advisor for the American Mosquito Control Association, and Thomas W. Scott, Director of the UC Davis Mosquito Research Laboratory and Professor of Entomology, join us.
-
Please Explain: Plastic Surgery (Friday, 10 July 2009)
On today's Please Explain, we'll look at plastic surgery, from liposuction to Botox to rhinoplasty, and what happens when someone goes under the knife to improve his or her appearance. We'll be joined by Dr. Robert Grant , Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital and by Dr. Reza Jarrahy Assistant Professor in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at UCLA.
-
Please Explain: Dry Cleaning (Friday, 26 June 2009)
Today's Please Explain is all about dry cleaning—how it works, what chemicals are used, and how it is becoming more environmentally friendly. We'll be joined by Wayne Edelman, President and CEO of Meurice Garment Care and past President of the National Cleaners Association. He is also the doctor of "Ask The Clothes Doctor" on Garmentcare.com. And Kim Kostka, Professor and Acting Dean of the Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin Rock County.
-
Please Explain: The Atmosphere (Friday, 19 June 2009)
On today's edition of Please Explain, we'll look at the Earth's atmosphere—what it's made of, how it makes life on the planet possible, determines weather patterns, and how human activity is changing it. We'll be joined by Dr. Joel S. Levine, Senior Research Scientist at NASA Langley Research Center, and Dr. Richard Somerville, Distinguished Professor Emeritus and Research Professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, and author of The Forgiving...
-
Please Explain: Bees (Friday, 12 June 2009)
The honeybees is just one species of bee, and they often get the most attention, but there are an estimated 20,000 different species of bees in the world. Bees play an important role in pollinating plants, and many have highly developed methods of socialization and communication. We'll learn all about bees, and the latest on Colony Collapse Disorder, with Bryan Danforth, professor of entomology at Cornell University, and Maryann Frazier, senior extension associate in the Department of...
-
Please Explain: Girls (Friday, 22 May 2009)
Today's Please Explain is about the nature of girls—their minds, bodies, brains, emotional lives, and behaviors. We'll be joined by psychotherapist Lisa Machoian and Margaret M. McCarthy, professor of physiology at the University of Maryland. /> Listen to last week's Please Explain: Boys.
-
Please Explain: Bankruptcy (Friday, 08 May 2009)
Bankruptcy rates went up 32% in 2008 compared to the previous year. Marie Beaudette , blogger for the Wall Street Journal's Bankruptcy Beat and Dow Jones Newswire reporter, and Robert Lawless , Galowich-Huizenga Faculty Scholar at the University of Illinois College of Law, explain what filing for bankruptcy means for corporations and consumers and why the rate of bankruptcy filings is expected to go up in the next year.
-
Please Explain: Jazz Improvisation (Friday, 01 May 2009)
Improvisation is one of the most important aspects of Jazz, but it's not as easy as it sounds. Jazz pianist Bill Charlap breaks down improvisation and gives a special live performance.
-
Please Explain: Bankruptcy (Friday, 08 May 2009)
Bankruptcy rates went up 32% in 2008 compared to the previous year. Marie Beaudette , blogger for the Wall Street Journal's Bankruptcy Beat and Dow Jones Newswire reporter, and Robert Lawless , Galowich-Huizenga Faculty Scholar at the University of Illinois College of Law, explain what filing for bankruptcy means for corporations and consumers and why the rate of bankruptcy filings is expected to go up in the next year.
-
Please Explain: Bankruptcy (Friday, 08 May 2009)
Bankruptcy rates went up 32% in 2008 compared to the previous year. Marie Beaudette , blogger for the Wall Street Journal's Bankruptcy Beat and Dow Jones Newswire reporter, and Robert Lawless , Galowich-Huizenga Faculty Scholar at the University of Illinois College of Law, explain what filing for bankruptcy means for corporations and consumers and why the rate of bankruptcy filings is expected to go up in the next year.
-
Please Explain: Bankruptcy (Friday, 08 May 2009)
Bankruptcy rates went up 32% in 2008 compared to the previous year. Marie Beaudette , blogger for the Wall Street Journal's Bankruptcy Beat and Dow Jones Newswire reporter, and Robert Lawless , Galowich-Huizenga Faculty Scholar at the University of Illinois College of Law, explain what filing for bankruptcy means for corporations and consumers and why the rate of bankruptcy filings is expected to go up in the next year.
-
Please Explain: Bankruptcy (Friday, 08 May 2009)
Bankruptcy rates went up 32% in 2008 compared to the previous year. Marie Beaudette , blogger for the Wall Street Journal's Bankruptcy Beat and Dow Jones Newswire reporter, and Robert Lawless , Galowich-Huizenga Faculty Scholar at the University of Illinois College of Law, explain what filing for bankruptcy means for corporations and consumers and why the rate of bankruptcy filings is expected to go up in the next year.
-
Please Explain: Bankruptcy (Friday, 08 May 2009)
Bankruptcy rates went up 32% in 2008 compared to the previous year. Marie Beaudette , blogger for the Wall Street Journal's Bankruptcy Beat and Dow Jones Newswire reporter, and Robert Lawless , Galowich-Huizenga Faculty Scholar at the University of Illinois College of Law, explain what filing for bankruptcy means for corporations and consumers and why the rate of bankruptcy filings is expected to go up in the next year.
-
Please Explain: Bankruptcy (Friday, 08 May 2009)
Bankruptcy rates went up 32% in 2008 compared to the previous year. Marie Beaudette , blogger for the Wall Street Journal's Bankruptcy Beat and Dow Jones Newswire reporter, and Robert Lawless , Galowich-Huizenga Faculty Scholar at the University of Illinois College of Law, explain what filing for bankruptcy means for corporations and consumers and why the rate of bankruptcy filings is expected to go up in the next year.
-
Please Explain: Measuring Climate Change (Friday, 24...
There's substantial evidence that the earth is undergoing major adjustments as a result of human-made carbon emissions in the atmosphere, but what does climate change really mean? NASA climate scientist Gavin Schmidt and photographer Joshua Wolfe , editors of Climate Change: Picturing the Science , explain how scientists gather evidence and information about how the earth's climate is changing—measuring air and ocean temperatures, water levels, glaciers and polar ice caps, and tracking...
-
Please Explain: Addiction (Friday, 17 April 2009)
There are more than 20 million substance abuse addict in America today and about 2 million of them turn to residential rehab each year. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us to explain the science behind addiction and the toll it takes on individual addicts.
-
Please Explain: Organ Transplants (Friday, 10 April 2009)
The lives of more than 100,000 patients in the U.S. depend on finding an organ to replace a damaged or diseased one. Only a fraction of people who need a new kidney, liver, or heart actually receive one, but the procedure saves thousands of lives every year. We'll be joined by Dr. Jean Emond , Thomas S. Zimmer Professor of Surgery and Director of Transplantation at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, and by Susan Senk who received a heart transplant in 2007. Find out more about organ donation in...
-
Please Explain: How We Read (Friday, 03 April 2009)
If it comes to you easily, being able to read is easy to take for granted. But reading is an extraordinarily complex process, one that researchers are still working to understand fully. On today's Please Explain we look at the science of reading. Dr. Sally E. Shaywitz and Dr. Bennett A. Shaywitz are professors in Learning Development at the Yale University School of Medicine and Co-Directors of the Yale Center for Learning.
-
Please Explain: Socialism (Friday, 27 March 2009)
The term "socialist" has been tossed around in the news lately in reference to any number of Obama Administration policies. Find out what socialism really means, where it came from, and how it got such a bad wrap. Eric Foner is Dewitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University and James Surowiecki is business columnist for the New Yorker. James Surowiecki will be leading a conversation on the economy at The New Yorker Summit on May 5th. More information here.
-
Please Explain: Flowers (Friday, 20 March 2009)
Today is the first day of spring, and the first buds and flowers are starting to appear. Here to explain the diversity and scientific complexity of flowers and how to cultivate flower gardens are Dr. Amy Litt, Director of Plant Genomics and Cullman Curator at the New York Botanical Garden, and Kristin M. Schleiter, Curator of Herbaceous Collections and Outdoor Gardens, at the New York Botanical Garden.
-
Please Explain: Superstition (Friday, 13 March 2009)
Friday the 13th is a date that makes some people cringe. Where does superstition come from and why are people all over the world prone to superstitious beliefs? We'll be joined by Dr. Edmund Kern , Associate Professor of History at Lawrence University and by Stuart Vyse , Professor of Psychology at Connecticut College.
-
Please Explain: Oil (Friday, 06 March 2009)
Petroleum (and all of its byproducts) have shaped our world into what it is today. Discover where oil comes from, how it's refined and how much of it is left in ground on this week's Please Explain. Dr. John B. Curtis is Professor in the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. Dr. William Fisher is a Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences and Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas.
-
Please Explain: Vitamin Supplements (Friday, 27 February...
It may seem like common knowledge that taking vitamins is good for you, but over the last few years several studies have failed to show that vitamin supplements help prevent chronic disease or prolong life. In fact, things like vitamin C, can actually help cancer cells grow. We'll be joined by New York Times Health Columnist Tara Parker-Pope and Dr. Gery Deng of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's Integrative Medical Services.
-
Please Explain: Emotion and Color (Friday, 20 February...
Feeling Blue? Green with envy? Why not try putting on some rose-colored glasses. On this weeks Please Explain learn how color can have a tremendous effect on your mood. Dr. Andrew J. Elliot studies how we respond to color at the University of Rochester. Dr. David Brainard is professor of psychology and studies human vision and color perception at the University of Pennsylvania.
-
Please Explain: Luck (Friday, 06 February 2009)
From superstition to simple probability, luck has different meanings in different cultures. We'll find out why whether that lucky charm really can help you win the lottery. Richard Wiseman is a psychology professor at the University of Hertfordshire and author of the book The Luck Factor . Jeffrey Rosenthal is a professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of Toronto. His book is Struck by Lightning: The Curious World of Probabilities .
-
Please Explain: Cockroaches (Friday, 30 January 2009)
Nearly a third of all NYC households are infested with cockroaches. We find out all about roaches, and why they're among the hardiest species on the planet! Urban entomology specialist Eric P. Benson is a professor at Clemson University; Richard Cooper of Cooper Pest Solutions says he has a "passion" for cockroaches and ways to kill them.
-
Please Explain: Cold (Friday, 23 January 2009)
Please Explain is all about cold - which many of us may have been feeling lately, with high temperatures rarely going above the 30s lately here in NYC! Dr. John Castellani is Research Physiologist with the US Army Research Institute for Environmental Medicine. Dr. David Phillips is one of Canada's best-known climatologists.
-
Please Explain: Food, from the Farm to the Table...
Please Explain is all about our modern food systems, and how food gets from the farm to the table. Susanne Freidberg is associate professor at Dartmouth College and the author of the book Fresh . Rich Pirog is associate director of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.
-
Please Explain: Credit (Friday, 09 January 2009)
Credit, and its misuse, are major causes of our current economic crisis. On Please Explain, find out about the pros and cons of credit, how it's evolved in recent years, and what role it can now play in an economic recovery. Jeffrey Blyskal is a Senior Editor with Consumer Reports.
-
Please Explain: Baking (Friday, 19 December 2008)
'Tis the season for holiday cookies, cakes, and pies. Find about the chemistry of baking, and why techniques and ingredients really do matter when creating the tastiest baked treats. Chef Katherine Alford is editor and Test Kitchen Director for the Food Network; Dorie Greenspan is a food writer, expert baker, and author of several cookbooks including Baking: From My Home to Yours .
-
Please Explain: Metabolism (Friday, 12 December 2008)
Some diets and supplements claim to work by speeding up metabolism. Find out how metabolism works, why it's essential to life, and whether food, exercise, and supplements really can accelerate it...or slow it down. Dr. Rosalind Coleman is Professor of Nutrition and Pediatrics at UNC-Chapel Hill; Marion Nestle is Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at NYU. She's author of several books including, most recently, What to Eat .
-
Please Explain: Tea (Friday, 05 December 2008)
After water, tea is the most widely-consumed drink in the world. Please Explain is all about tea! Find out why it's so popular, and how it's shaped world history. Michael Harney is a tea expert as well as a buyer and blender for Harney & Sons of Connecticut; Jane Pettigrew is a tea historian and writer.
-
Please Explain: The Sun (Friday, 21 November 2008)
The Sun makes up about 99% of the total mass of the Solar System. Find out what the sun is made of, how hot it is, and why humans couldn't survive without it. Dr. Grace Wolf-Chase is an astronomer with Chicago's Adler Planetarium and a senior research associate in the Department of Astrophysics at the University of Chicago; Chris Lintott is an astrophysicist with Oxford University and the co-host of the BBC's astronomy program, "The Sky at Night."
Recommended Shows
PROGRAM INFORMATION
- Ithaca, NY
- Current Affairs
- WNYC
- English
-
WNYC Radio
160 Varick St.
New York, NY 10013212-433-9692 -
Visit the station website
Email the show
Update show info
