

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

Sep 19, 2018 • 45min
The Coyote Story
We talk to writer and historian Dan Flores about his book Coyote America: A Natural and Supernatural History.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Sep 18, 2018 • 13min
Up To Date | Do Apple's Health Claims Check Out?
This week: Kishore takes a closer look at some of the health claims made during the recent Apple Keynote.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Sep 12, 2018 • 33min
How Sloppy Science Creates Worthless Cures, Crushes Hope, and Wastes Billions
We talk to celebrated science journalist Richard Harris about the “reproducibility crisis” in science and his new book Rigor Mortis: How Sloppy Science Creates Worthless Cures, Crushes Hope, and Wastes Billions.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Aug 28, 2018 • 31min
How Intuition and Reason Divide Our Politics
We talk to political scientist Eric Oliver about the surprisingly high percentage of people who believe in conspiracy theories and the reasons behind those beliefs. His forthcoming book is Enchanted America: How Intuition and Reason Divide Our Politics.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Aug 26, 2018 • 15min
Up To Date | Attention Is an Illusion; Ant Highways
This week: A new study shows we only focus on something a few milliseconds at a time, but we don’t notice because we’re pulsing that focus; and research on how ants avoid traffic jams so perfectly. Thanks to guest co-host Trace Dominguez!Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Aug 21, 2018 • 44min
A Pianist Rebuilds Her Brain
We talk to author Andrea J. Buchanan about her experience with a brain injury and how she used playing the piano to recover. Buchanan’s new book is The Beginning of Everything: The Year I Lost My Mind and Found Myself.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Aug 19, 2018 • 13min
Up To Date | Monsanto Cancer Case and Kids Believe Lying Robots
This week: A jury decided that Monsanto’s Roundup caused a man’s cancer but the science is murky and a new study shows that children are susceptible to peer pressure by robots.Links:https://www.reuters.com/article/us-monsanto-cancer-lawsuit/monsanto-ordered-to-pay-289-million-in-worlds-first-roundup-cancer-trial-idUSKBN1KV2HBhttp://robotics.sciencemag.org/content/3/21/eaat7111Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Aug 14, 2018 • 48min
The Material That Will Revolutionize the World
We talk to chemist Joseph Meany about his book Graphene: The Superstrong, Superthin, and Superversatile Material That Will Revolutionize the World.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Aug 12, 2018 • 12min
Up To Date | Google Glass Lives! and Breaking Dog Urine News
This week: A Standford study used Google Glass to help kids with autism understand others people’s emotions; and breaking news regarding the way dogs pee. Links:http://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2018/08/google-glass-helps-kids-with-autism-read-facial-expressions.htmlhttps://blogs.scientificamerican.com/dog-spies/small-dogs-aim-high-when-they-pee/Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Aug 3, 2018 • 12min
Up To Date | How Plants Tell Time, Lab-Grown Pig Lungs, Stolen Fields Medal
This week: A new study from the University of Bristol showing the way plants accumulate sugar helps them tell what time it is; scientists have successfully transplanted lab-grown lungs into pigs; and Caucher Birkar was awarded the Fields Medal—and then it was immediately stolen. Links:https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-08/uob-pct073118.phphttps://www.sciencenews.org/article/scientists-transplant-lab-grown-bioengineered-lungs-pigshttps://www.npr.org/2018/08/02/634889308/prestigious-mathematics-medal-stolen-minutes-after-it-was-awardedSupport the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds