KERA's Think

We’ve all been warned not to consult Dr. Google, but when you're pregnant online advice is all too available. Amanda Hess, critic at large for The New York Times, joins guest host Courtney Collins to discuss the hazards of birthing and raising children in a digital world with both helpful and harmful information at our fingertips, and how parents can cut through the online chatter. Her book is “Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age.”  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Acing that Mensa test might not be the definite sign of genius you think it is. Helen Lewis is a staff writer at The Atlantic and host of the BBC podcast series “The New Gurus” and “Helen Lewis Has Left the Chat”. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why the very idea of “genius” is a social construct, why the label excludes as much as it includes, and why it’s time to look at creativity in a new way. Her book is “The Genius Myth: A Curious History of a Dangerous Idea. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

More than a million dollars in taxpayer money was spent observing shrimp on treadmills — and it might’ve been a great investment. Carly Anne York, associate professor at Lenoir-Rhyne University, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss seemingly wacky scientific inquiries – into everything from worm blobs to elephant pee – and how they’ve yielded real breakthroughs that add to both knowledge and the economy. Her book is “The Salmon Cannon and the Levitating Frog: And Other Serious Discoveries of Silly Science.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Late-term abortions are taboo to talk about, but they may be a battleground for all abortion rights. Amy Littlefield, The Nation's abortion access correspondent, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why late-term abortions are both rare and mischaracterized, what she witnessed when she visited an abortion clinic, and where public support for these types of abortions stands now after Dobbs. Her article is “What Would It Mean to Defend All Abortions?”  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is focused on addressing why nearly three percent of children are diagnosed with autism. Vox senior correspondent Dylan Scott joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why Kennedy’s inquiry may be misdirected, how he’s discounting the fact that around 80 percent of autism causes are genetic and why a smoking gun is unlikely to be found. His article is “RFK Jr. is looking in the wrong place for autism’s cause.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Sunshine might be more than a balm for the winter blues — it may also combat autoimmune diseases. Science journalist Rowan Jacobsen joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why researchers are focused on patients with multiple sclerosis and their responses to UV therapies, how these therapies might calm the immune system, and the promise this strategy holds for treating other illnesses. His article “Can Sunlight Cure Disease?” was published in Scientific American.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

From the Wright brothers to the Williams sisters – how do some families produce extraordinary siblings? New York Times Magazine staff writer Susan Dominus joins host Krys Boyd to discuss her exploration of high-achieving siblings, what their parents did right (and what you might be doing wrong), and how a little friendly competition might be a key motivator. Her book is “The Family Dynamic: A Journey Into the Mysteries of Sibling Success.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Parents are taught the warning signs for when a child is being bullied, but how do you recognize when it’s your child doing the bullying? Elizabeth Englander is executive director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State University, professor of psychology and a founding member of the Social and Emotional Research Consortium. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why children bully, what to do to intervene and what can happen if a kid doesn’t get help. Her article “What to Do If Your Child Is the Bully” was published in Scientific American.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Attempts to moderate online hate might actually be creating more harmful content. Tamar Mitts is a professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University, where she is a faculty member at the Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies, the Institute of Global Politics, and the Data Science Institute. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the difficult task of policing online hate, why content moderation isn’t working as intended, and the sites that users go to for the most extreme ideas. Her book is “Safe Havens for Hate: The Challenge of Moderating Online Extremism.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Eel smuggling is one of the most lucrative wildlife crimes —  so what makes these slimy creatures so coveted? Ellen Ruppel Shell, professor emeritus of science journalism at Boston University, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss an animal that’s one of the most trafficked on Earth, a brief history of the significance of eels, and why they’re still somewhat mysterious. Her book is “Slippery Beast: A True Crime Natural History, with Eels.”This episode originally aired August 28th, 2024. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices