Big Brains

The Supreme Court’s decision on whether Colorado can take former President Donald Trump off the ballot in the 2024 election may be one of the most consequential in its history. The case will turn on the court’s interpretation of Amendment 14, Section 3 of the Constitution, which bars any previous elected official from holding office if they participated in an insurrection. When making their case, Colorado followed the logic of a law review article co-authored last year by University of Chicago Prof. William Baude. The article drew a ton of attention, in part because Baude is a conservative legal scholar and member of the Federalist Society.As the Supreme Court begins oral arguments on Feb. 8, Baude joined Big Brains to make his case for why he thinks Section 3 applies to Trump. But this isn’t an episode about what should happen at the Supreme Court, it’s about what could happen. Whether you agree with Baude or not, understanding the legal theory behind his argument is crucial to understanding any decision that may come from the court. And, as we walk through the scholarship on Section 3, it’ll become clear that there are more than just two outcomes: on or off the ballot, but many outcomes…some with ramifications—including a possible constitutional crisis—all the way to Jan. 6, 2025.Big Brains is sponsored by the Graham School for Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies.

Susan Goldin-Meadow, distinguished scholar of psychology at the University of Chicago, discusses the significance of hand gestures in communication, exploring their ability to reveal thoughts, enhance learning, and reshape thinking patterns. She highlights research on deaf children inventing their own gesture languages and explores the implications of gestures in education and law. The impact of gesturing in learning and communication, as well as the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic for gesturing, are also discussed.

David E. Olson, founding director of the UC Davis Institute of Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, discusses the potential of developing non-hallucinogenic psychedelics for mental health treatment. The podcast explores the therapeutic effects of psychedelics on neuropsychiatric diseases and the need for rapid and effective treatments. The development of novel compounds called cycloplastogens, which promote neuronal growth, is also discussed along with the accessibility of psychedelic therapies and clinical trials.

This popular podcast explores the science of happiness and shares insights from the longest scientific study on happiness. Topics covered include the importance of relationships, the impact of loneliness on physical well-being, the concept of social fitness, the value of time and attention, and the power of human connections.

Renowned professor Robert Sapolsky discusses the illusion of free will, highlighting how biology and environment shape our actions. He challenges societal beliefs and explores the implications on ethics and justice. The podcast delves into the moral dilemma of living without free will, prompting reflection on responsibility and accountability.

Climate change can feel like an impossible crisis these days. Every week there is some new report about the irreversible damage we’re doing to our planet and the havoc it will bring to people’s lives. We all know cutting emissions is the solution, yet governments and companies seem no closer to meeting the goals that scientists say we must hit. It can feel hopeless.There is one possible controversial solution to climate change many in the mainstream haven’t discussed. It’s so controversial, in fact, that some experts say we shouldn’t even be discussing it. But University of Chicago Professor David Keith says we need to talk about it. It’s called solar geoengineering—the process in which you reflect a small fraction of sunlight back into space. As the founding director of the Climate Systems Engineering Initiative at UChicago, Keith is leading a team that will research solar geoengineering and other novel solutions to climate change. 

By now, you've probably heard about the dangers of PFAS “forever chemicals.” These chemicals are all around us—they're in waterproof hiking boots, electronics, nonstick pans and even our drinking water—but there's no way for them to break down in our environment. Epidemiological studies have linked to these chemicals to numerous diseases—from kidney cancer, liver cancer, obesity, decreased fertility and more.American toxicologist Linda Birnbaum has been sounding the alarms about how PFAS are harming our health for the last few decades. She was previously the director of the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences at the NIH and is currently an adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She explains that while we cannot completely avoid PFAS, there are steps we can take to limit our exposure.Subscribe to Big Brains on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Psychologist Adam Mastroianni discusses the perception of moral decline in society and presents research showing it is an illusion. They explore the impact of this perception on loneliness and the distortion of our understanding of societal change. The importance of historical context and not being overly confident in personal perceptions is emphasized.

Steven Levitt, author of 'Freakonomics' and University of Chicago scholar, talks about his role as a data scientist, using a coin flip for decision-making, and his groundbreaking research on crime prevention. He also discusses the link between crime and abortion, the use of GPS ankle bracelets for criminal justice reform, and the benefits of podcasting over writing books.

Renowned terrorism expert Robert Pape discusses the growing acceptance of political violence in the US, with around 12 million Americans believing violence is justified to restore Trump to power. He highlights the need to strengthen democratic institutions and address the approximately 10% of the population that supports violence and extremism. The podcast explores the erosion of freedoms, spread of misinformation, and potential challenges to American democracy, emphasizing the importance of bipartisan efforts and media responsibility in preventing political violence leading up to the 2024 election.