

Inquiring Minds
Indre Viskontas
Each week we bring you a new, in-depth exploration of the space where science and society collide. We’re committed to the idea that making an effort to understand the world around you though science and critical thinking can benefit everyone—and lead to better decisions. We want to find out what’s true, what’s left to discover, and why it all matters.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 11, 2018 • 37min
She Has Her Mother's Laugh
Carl Zimmer is a New York Times columnist and author of 13 books about science. We talked to him about his latest book, She Has Her Mother's Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity, which was recently named The Guardian’s Best Science Book of 2018.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Dec 8, 2018 • 16min
Up To Date | Migration Myths and Negative Mass
This week: The UCL–Lancet Commission on Migration and Heath released a new report that busts some common migration myths; and a scientist at Oxford University has come up with an alteration to Einstein's general theory of relativity that could have some interesting effects on our understanding of our universe: negative mass.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Dec 5, 2018 • 39min
Music as Medicine
Dr. Concetta Tomaino is a pioneer in the field of music therapy and the executive director and co-founder of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function. On the show this week we talk to Dr. Tomaino about her work treating individuals suffering the effects of brain trauma or neurological diseases as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Nov 30, 2018 • 14min
Up To Date | Ants with backpacks; Neuron DNA affects Alzheimer's
This week: A study that tracked ants using little backpacks and a look at a new study suggesting a connection between differences in the DNA of our neurons and Alzheimer's.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Nov 29, 2018 • 47min
A New History of a Lost World
We follow up last week’s dino-episode by talking to paleontologist at University of Edinburgh Steve Brusatte about his new book The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Nov 23, 2018 • 43min
A Radical New History of Life
We talk to science writer David Quammen about his new book The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Nov 20, 2018 • 13min
Up To Date | A Polio-Like Virus and Genes Deciding Your University
Up To Date: 10/19/2018Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Nov 20, 2018 • 43min
What It’s like to Discover a Dinosaur
We talk to paleontologist, professor, expeditioner, and science communicator Ken Lacovara about his book Why Dinosaurs Matter. Ken has unearthed some of the largest dinosaurs ever to walk our planet, including the super-massive Dreadnoughtus, which at 65 tons weighs more than seven T. rex.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Nov 17, 2018 • 11min
Up To Date | Smelling Stingrays and a 16 Billion Scoville Cactus
This week: Stingrays are especially affected by oil spills because they’re so good at smelling; and research into using a spicy cactus to treat pain.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Nov 13, 2018 • 52min
Life at the Extremes of Our Capacity
We talk to evolutionary biologist and managing editor at New Scientist Rowan Hooper about his new book Superhuman: Life at the Extremes of Our Capacity.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds