“I have discovered something interesting, but I do not know whether or not my observations are correct.” With these words, Wilhelm Röntgen introduced the world to an invisible power, a power which would in turn be used to both harm and heal. This week, we take a tour of the wide world of radiation, starting with a primer on what radiation actually is and how ... Show More
Jan 27
Ep 199 Sleep Part 2: Predictably unpredictable
Now that we know just how critical sleep is, we’re all making sure we get the amount we need, right? Unfortunately no. One-third to one-half of Americans are not getting enough sleep, according to public health guidelines. Why is that? Hypotheses abound, but many point the finger ... Show More
1h 10m
Jan 20
Ep 198 Sleep Part 1: Sleeping with one eye open
Sleep is a universal experience. It’s not just the lion that sleeps tonight - it’s also the butterfly, the chicken, the jellyfish, the dog, the snake, the worm, and of course the human. What is this widespread physiological process whose spell we are all under? What purpose (or p ... Show More
1h 14m
Jan 13
Special Episode: Daniel Stone & American Poison
The widespread use of leaded gasoline in the 20th century led to one of the world’s biggest public health and environmental disasters, the effects of which are still present today. Since its development in the 1920s, leaded gasoline has been linked to premature death, cognitive i ... Show More
57m 32s
May 2022
Episode 83: Radiation Oncology: The Past, Present, and Future
Ralph Weichselbaum, MD, the Daniel K. Ludwig Distinguished Service Professor of Radiation and Cellular Oncology at the University of Chicago, is the guest of honor on today’s show focusing on radiation oncology as a discipline: the changes that have occurred over the years, the s ... Show More
1h 10m
Jun 2021
X-rays: New ways of seeing
The discovery of X-rays by the German scientist Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895 was nothing short of ground-breaking, opening up a new era in medicine. For the first time, doctors could see inside the human body without the need for surgery, and diagnose many more living patients. X-ray ... Show More
39m 45s
Apr 2018
Nuclear War... Total Annihilation?
Nine countries, including North Korea, have nuclear weapons. What would happen if a nuclear bomb was dropped-- say, in New York City? We talk to nuclear historian Dr. Alex Wellerstein, nuclear engineer Dr. Tetsuji Imanaka, and epidemiologist Dr. Eric Grant. UPDATE 04/27: We've ad ... Show More
34m 4s
Jul 2016
How Radiation Sickness Works
<p>Fortunately, science has very few instances where humans have been exposed to acute radiation poisoning to study for clues to treating radiation sickness. They have found, though, that those few instances have been grave.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href ... Show More
47m 9s
