“Birdbrain” may be an insult, but birds are far smarter than they’re often given credit for. Irene Pepperberg, PhD, talks about her five decades of research with gray parrots, how she teaches parrots to communicate with English words, how birds’ mathematical and other abilities compare with young children, how the field of animal cognition has evolved over t ... Show More
Aug 20
Why numeracy counts in everyday life, with Ellen Peters, PhD
From deciding whether to buy a house to weighing the risks and benefits of taking a new medication, many important life decisions hinge on understanding numbers, statistics and probability. Ellen Peters, PhD, author of “Innumeracy in the Wild: Misunderstanding and Misusing Number ... Show More
35m 22s
Aug 13
Encore - How science can help you change your behavior for the better, with Katy Milkman, PhD
What can you learn from the science of behavior change that can help you make the changes you want to see in your life? Katy Milkman, PhD, a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and author of the book How to Change: The Science of Getting From Where Y ... Show More
43m 42s
Aug 6
Encore -- Why we choose to suffer, with Paul Bloom, PhD
Why do people like to watch scary movies or listen to sad songs? Why do we run marathons and raise children, even though both of those pursuits come with struggle and pain? Paul Bloom, PhD, discusses why suffering is linked to meaning in life, the connection between pleasure and ... Show More
23m 18s
Dec 2024
Brainy Birds: Crows, Ravens, and Parrots
Did you know that some birds are super smart? In this episode, we’ll explore how crows, ravens, and parrots use their brains in amazing ways. These birds can solve tricky puzzles, make tools to get food, and even remember things for a long time. Parrots can copy human speech, and ... Show More
8m 7s
Feb 2022
Birds of a Feather Learn Together
Mindy and Guy Raz are dropping off Reggie at the University of Clever Birds, where they learn about a new class all about opening... trash cans?! Discover how the Sulfur-Crested Cockatoo can break into any trash can! It's the who, what, when, where, why, how and WOW of Bird Beaks ... Show More
22m 54s
Jan 2025
What Scientists Have Learned From 125 Years Of Bird Counts
This winter marks the 125th year of Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count, in which bird nerds across the Western Hemisphere venture outside to record all the birds they see and hear.Scientists use that data to understand how birds are faring, where they’re moving, and what they’re up t ... Show More
18m 22s
Jan 2025
The Moth Radio Hour: Birds of a Feather
Let the feathers fly! This week, a special avian hour. Stories from a Ravenmaster, a scientist, and a reluctant chicken farmer about the birds that made them as happy as a lark or as crazy as a loon. This episode is hosted by The Moth's former Artistic Director, Catherine Burns, ... Show More
58m 1s