After the Fact

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.

Minneapolis' housing success story is discussed with guests from the Office of Community Planning and Economic Development. They highlight zoning disparities, housing strategies, and collaborative efforts. The significance of affordable housing, challenges faced by marginalized communities, and urban planning impact on housing costs are explored. Additionally, solutions for housing access and renting support are addressed, emphasizing the importance of stability for planning the future.

Stat: 70%: The share of Americans who think young adults today have a harder time than their parents’ generation when it comes to buying a home. Story: Putting a roof over their heads is a struggle for many Americans. Rising house prices, restrictive zoning, increasing rents, and a lack of small mortgages are some of the hurdles facing people who want a safe and secure place to call home. In this episode, Alex Horowitz and Tara Roche, directors of The Pew Charitable Trusts’ housing policy initiative, join us to discuss some of the challenges—and how to overcome them—for those pursuing homeownership.

Stat: 60%: The share of Americans who say they’re very concerned about the cost of housing.  Story:  In just a few years, from 2019 to 2022, the national median sale price for a single-family home increased by 25%. And the rising costs of buying and maintaining a house has 60% of Americans concerned. Is the American Dream of homeownership out of reach for many? In this episode of “Housing in America,” Richard Fry, an expert at the Pew Research Center, talks about the current trends in housing, like where people live, housing availability, and homeownership rates, as well as other factors that contribute to the complex housing landscape that Americans face today.

Rising rents, escalating home prices, and limited housing supply. They are some of the forces pushing the American Dream of homeownership out of reach for many. Increasingly, there is bipartisan support to find a way forward. In this season, After the Fact explores these trends and the challenges individuals and families face in finding housing that’s affordable and accessible . We also speak with experts and policymakers who are trying to help more people find a place to call home.