The Pulse

Explore the hidden connection between art and science. Learn about the presence of mathematics in literature and how it helps to understand structure and pattern in writing. Discover the inspiration composers find in nature, particularly birdsong. Dive into the intersection of art, science, and the natural world, including an artist's project capturing the energy and essence of a riverbed.

We spend a lot of time thinking about happiness. Wondering if we are truly happy, and how we could get there. We try to predict what will make us happy in the future, or what might lead to misery down the road. We chase success, money, and love. We work hard or maybe move from place to place to find fulfillment. But what actually brings us contentment is often very different from what we thought, and researchers are trying to quantify what leads to that lasting sense of well-being.On this episode, we'll explore happiness - and how we can find more of it. We'll hear about the longest-running study on the subject, find out if money is really a game-changer, and talk to a therapist who says we need to stop obsessing over happiness.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The teenage years can be an emotional rollercoaster. One moment everything is great, it's amazing, then suddenly life is terrible, and all is ruined. But - it seems like something else is going on right now, beyond these expected ups and downs. Statistics are rising across the board for issues like anxiety and depression, the number of kids receiving mental health treatment, or reporting that they feel hopeless.So what's happening - and what's to blame? On this episode: teens, their mental health, and how families can navigate these challenging times. We'll hear from psychologists, parents and teens about their approaches and solutions. We'll also visit a gymnasium full of teenagers to hear what they really want to know about mental health, and meet an adolescent who found an unexpected ray of hope in a very dark place.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Explore the future of remote work and hear about the latest research on the benefits and challenges of working from home. Learn about the impact of remote work on productivity and employee loyalty, as well as the competition between the office and the home. Discover the concept of cyberloafing and its controversies, and understand the importance of relationships and small interactions in the workplace.

Science is all about observing the world. But how do you study something you can't see, smell, or hear — like the tiniest particles all around us? How do you test a new energy source when it doesn't really exist yet? These are the challenges that the world of physics often faces. You can come up with theories, using modeling and calculations, and devise some kind of experiment on paper to investigate things. But then you have to translate those ideas into tangible, real-world experiments, which is often incredibly challenging. On this episode, we peek behind the curtain of multimillion-dollar physics experiments that are changing the way we understand our world — and hear about some of the big challenges they face. We dig into the origins of the James Webb Space Telescope, talk with xkcd cartoonist Randall Munroe about some of his more outlandish — and complicated — physics calculations, and hear from accelerator physicist Suzie Sheehy about the physics experiments that changed the world.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Whether you're a student or a doctor, a plumber or a truck driver, a university lecturer or a radio reporter, artificial intelligence is changing the way we work. For some workers, A.I. is taking over tedious and time-consuming tasks, freeing them up to focus and get more done. For others, it's led to questions about what A.I. means for the future of work — or whether, in a few years, they will have jobs at all. What are the limits of A.I.'s abilities? How can it help us do our jobs better rather than simply replacing us? What checks and balances do we need to control its development? And are there any jobs that will not be affected? On this episode, we explore how A.I. is transforming the way we work — for good and for bad. We hear stories about the future of robot plumbers, the push to integrate A.I. into medical education, how physicians are responding to its increasing presence in medicine, and the dystopian threat of neurotechnology.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It seems like every day, new skin care products hit the market: lotions, serums, collagen boosters, light therapy, at-home lasers — potions and procedures designed to coax our skin into peeling and healing, plumping and renewing. Their promise: wrinkle-free faces, poreless, dewy skin, and an eternally youthful glow.But there's no one magic bullet to flawless skin. And what is this chase really about?On this episode, we get into the science of skin care, looking at what works, what doesn't, and what dermatologists have to say about the latest frontiers in our quest for eternal youth. We hear stories about a new treatment that uses stem cells to rejuvenate skin, some shady aspects of the Botox business, and why K-beauty has taken global skin care by storm.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

If you've tried to book a doctor's appointment lately, chances are, it's been challenging. Many practices are not taking new patients, or open slots are weeks or months away. For some patients, it has meant gritting their teeth through pain and anxiety.For others — like people living in rural areas or trying to see in-demand specialists like psychiatrists or neurologists — it can feel almost impossible to get an appointment at all, posing real threats to their health. Medical organizations warn that we're experiencing a physician shortage — and that things will only get worse.On this episode, we look at this, and other, shortages plaguing the world of medicine, from medications to donated blood. We investigate what's causing this scarcity, and some potential solutions. We'll hear stories about the surprising origin of the physician shortage, and why we still have unemployed MDs sitting at home; what's behind the recent shortages of several high-profile medications; and how researchers are trying to address the chronic shortage of donated blood.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

For centuries, writers and philosophers have imagined what a perfect world might look like — if only we had a chance to start over, build it all from scratch. The term "utopia" comes from ancient Greek. It literally means "no place," but it's also a pun on "eutopia," meaning "good place." In other words, it's a good place that doesn't exist. But that hasn't stopped a never-ending stream of dreamers and seekers — from political and economic theorists, to dictators, hippies, and religious zealots — from trying to create utopias of their own.So, what is it that makes the idea so seductive? Who is attracted to a more perfect world? And what happens when it all goes wrong? On this episode, we explore modern attempts at real-life utopias. We'll hear about an AI researcher's doomed mission to establish a post-apocalyptic community in the Scottish Highlands, what it's like growing up in a utopian community, and the dark side of efforts to build sustainable smart cities around the world.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

When you're at the doctor's office or a hospital, it's easy to get frustrated. Why is this taking so long? Why do the nurses look so tired? Why does my doctor seem distracted? Who's making sure my diagnosis is right?There are people, stories, and entire worlds that could provide answers to these questions — but as patients, we don't get to see them. So, on this episode, we'll take you behind the waiting room doors, to talk about some of the big issues that affect the health care workforce. We'll hear stories about the decades-long fight over residents' work hours, the history of travel nursing, and what two long-time ER nurses have to say about burnout. We'll also meet some of the crucial, but little-known, professionals who work behind the scenes in medicine.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy