After the Fact

If you’ve ever seen a manatee, chances are you were in Florida—but these aquatic relatives of the elephant also live across 21 African countries. In this episode, 2017 Pew marine fellow Lucy Keith-Diagne discusses the African manatees that live in remote, murky waters, and explains what makes this species different from other manatees and the challenges marine scientists experience in collecting data on them. Since this episode first aired in 2018, Keith-Diagne and her fellow researchers have collaborated at the first-ever African manatee conference and are initiating new work to help protect this species.

Story: Mangrove forests are natural protectors, shielding coasts from storms, sheltering species, and soaking up carbon. In 2019, when this episode originally aired, 50% of the world’s mangroves had been lost. Now, 50% of the world’s remaining mangroves are at risk.  Reversing the decline of these habitats isn’t just a science—it’s an art, says marine biologist Octavio Aburto. He uses his camera along with high-resolution satellite imagery to assess real-time changes in mangrove coverage—and to reveal the amazing hidden marine life of these critical ecosystems.

The “After the Fact” team provides data and expert analysis on the biggest challenges facing society today. We go behind the scenes with experts, examine solutions pointing the way forward, and feature people and stories that bring data points to life. What keeps you listening to the podcast? Tell us in a short survey at pewtrusts.org/podcastsurvey. Upon submission we’ll enter your name to win a $100 gift card. The survey deadline is Sept. 15 so fill it out soon for your chance to win. Read the official rules for the “After the Fact” podcast giveaway sweepstakes here: www.pewtrusts.org/surveysweepstakes. *NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Open to legal U.S. residents of the 50 U.S., D.C. and Puerto Rico, age 18+ (19+ in AL and NE, 21+ in MS). Void outside the 50 U.S./D.C./Puerto Rico and where prohibited. Sweepstakes starts at 12:00:01 AM ET on [August 9, 2024]; ends at 11:59:59 PM ET on [September 15, 2024].  To enter, complete the survey below, provide all required information, and submit to be automatically entered with one (1) entry. Two (2) prize winners; total ARV of two prizes: $200. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received, Limit: one (1) entry per person. For full Official Rules, visit: www.pewtrusts.org/surveysweepstakes Sponsor: The Pew Charitable Trusts, 901 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20004.

Stat: 13%: The average five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients in 2024, according to the American Cancer Society. This is compared to a 90% average five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with breast cancer. Story: Scientists have made tremendous progress on cancer research to improve patient survival rates. But challenges still exist because some cancers can suddenly become unaffected by treatment.  In this episode, Christina Towers, a cancer cell biologist from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, explains how cancer cells can adapt their metabolic processes—through a mechanism she studies called autophagy—to resist drug therapies. She discusses how her research studying this process could lead to new approaches to prevent and control a cancer’s resistance to treatment—and, ultimately, save lives. And as the first Black faculty member at Salk, Towers shares how her mantra, “Honored to be first but refuse to be the last,” guides her efforts to increase diversity across the scientific community. 

Stat: 11%: An estimated 11% of U.S. adults who have ever had COVID-19 are currently experiencing symptoms of long COVID, which can last three months or longer. This suggests that millions of people across the country could be affected. Story: Long COVID is a health condition that’s continuing to puzzle scientists. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, doctors saw some patients who would recover quickly, while other people’s symptoms continued to worsen—and many symptoms varied widely and lasted long after the initial infection. In this episode of “From Lab to Life,” Keyla Sá, a researcher at Yale University School of Medicine, discusses her work tracking how long COVID develops and a new artificial intelligence tool that can identify the infection’s symptoms and patterns that scientists might not normally recognize.

Marco Hatch, an associate professor of environmental science at Western Washington University and a member of the Samish Indian Nation, shares invaluable insights on the integration of Indigenous knowledge in modern conservation. He highlights how clam gardens, maintained sustainably for over 3,500 years, yield 150%-300% more clam production. The discussion also covers the fusion of traditional fishing practices with scientific methods, emphasizing community engagement and the significance of active stewardship in environmental management.

Stat: 41%: The share of adults who experienced high levels of psychological distress at some point during the pandemic. Story: New studies show that physical touch is vitally important to the human experience. And during the pandemic, many Americans felt the impact of its loss because of quarantines and isolation. But how do our brains and bodies distinguish between different types of touch? In this episode, Ishmail Abdus-Saboor of Columbia University discusses how his research tries to answer that question and explains what touch means for our mental and physical health.

Stat: 73%: The percentage of U.S. adults who have a great deal or fair amount of confidence in scientists to act in the public’s best interests, according to Pew Research Center Story: Scientific discovery is essential to advancing society and improving people’s lives. In this series, “From Lab to Life,” we’re featuring scientists from a range of fields who share a common goal of making the world a better place. Trust in their work is vital to their success, so many scientists are recognizing the need to communicate more effectively to the public about their research and the impact it has outside of the lab. In this episode, Pew Research Center’s Alec Tyson analyzes the latest polling on trust in science, while Donna Dang and Rebecca Goldburg from The Pew Charitable Trusts discuss the importance of conservation and biomedical research to improve the health of our planet and communities.

Every day, science is improving the world. A new series from “After the Fact” tells you how. Featuring conversations with scientists from a range of fields, we look at innovative research that’s advancing society and making people’s lives better. We also learn more about the scientists themselves—personal stories of how they got started and what motivates them. Tune in to hear how these researchers are strengthening trust in science, building community, and making the world a better place.

Stat: 49%: The share of Americans who say the availability of affordable housing in their local community is a major problem, compared to 39% in 2018.  Story: Montana has been rapidly attracting new residents for more than a decade and during the COVID-19 pandemic the pace only accelerated. Housing prices there have tripled in some cities just as in many other states that have seen an influx of people.  In this episode, we hear from Montana state lawmakers Daniel and Katie Zolnikov about the bipartisan legislation they championed to address rising concerns about access to housing. And Indigenous advocates in Montana, Jody Cahoon Perez, Tonya Plummer, and Patrick Yawakie, discuss how they’re helping their Tribal communities seek more affordable and culturally appropriate housing.