Latest Episodes
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Could a Figure Skater Land FIVE Turns?
First up, President Trump's proposed “Board of Peace” has its first meeting today. We ask Abiodun Williams to explain the traditional structures of international diplomacy. Williams is a professor of the practice of international politics at Tufts. And, with figure skating fans in awe of the quadruple jump, we ask what ARE the limits for figure skating? Anette “Peko” Hosoi and Jerry Lu from the MIT Sports Lab talk physics of spinning and jumping, and new technology to push skaters forward. -
Why Don't We Have More Saunas?
It's National Sauna Week, and we stoke the fires of sauna envy in a conversation with Mark Babson, owner of Got Sauna, and Saana McDaniels, former president of the Finlandia Foundation.Plus, what ever happened to Smell-O-Vision?! Sandeep Robert Datta is a neurobiologist at Harvard, and he explains why it’s so hard to authentically replicate the sensation of smell. ---------Have something you’re curious about? Leave us a voicemail anytime at 877-301-8970, or submit questions via the form on our landing page at GBHNews.org.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos. -
Why Does an International Border Go Through This Library?
Winter Olympics has us hooked, and today we spotlight the one sport the US has never won an Olympic medal in: biathlon. Susan Dunklee is a multi-Olympian biathlete and coach based in Vermont. She explains how to excel at both cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.By listener request, we take a look at small town library that has an international border running right through the children's book collection. The Haskell Free Library in Derby Line, Vermont and Stanstead, Quebec faces new challenges under the Trump administration. Board chair Sylvie Boudreau tells us how.And it's time for "The Secret Ingredient". Today chefs Irene Li and Yin Guan teach us how to appreciate artisan Chinese tea, as we kick off Lunar New Year. Guan is the founder of Broken Cup Teahouse in Kendall Square. ---------Have something you’re curious about? Leave us a voicemail anytime at 877-301-8970, or submit questions via the form on our landing page at GBHNews.org.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos. -
What About Teddy Roosevelt?
It's President's Day and we're all about Americana and the executive branch today. First up, a musical spin on our America 250 series with a listen back to De La Soul's 1989 album "Three Feet High and Rising." Writer and historian Dart Adams makes a strong argument for why the rap album was truly revolutionary.Then, we give some attention to lesser-told stories about the American presidency. Megan McCarthy, former editor in chief of Mental Floss, explains why the one and only Theodore Roosevelt is by far her favorite president, plus a few curious tales about Calvin Coolidge.And Merriam Webster editor Peter Sokolowski talks us through the origins of words like “president” and “citizen.” ---------Have something you’re curious about? Leave us a voicemail anytime at 877-301-8970, or submit questions via the form on our landing page at GBHNews.org.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos. -
How Do You Avoid Bad Luck?
Valentine's Day isn't just for people - coyotes are getting it on this time of year too. Meghan Crawford is a biologist with Mass Wildlife and talks us through coyote mating season. And then, don't step on cracks, don't break mirrors, don't let the evil eye notice your good fortune: today is Friday the 13th! Folklore and mythology scholar Kerry Noonan from Champlain College explores the cultural origins of Friday the 13th and what separates superstition from faith. (Bonus: Noonan played the role of Paula Mott in the Friday the 13th Part IV.)---------Have something you’re curious about? Leave us a voicemail anytime at 877-301-8970, or submit questions via the form on our landing page at GBHNews.org.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos. -
How Close Are We to Curing Ovarian Cancer?
Our 'How Close We Are We?' series looks at big-picture problems and the people moving us towards solutions. Today, Sangeeta Bhatia and Angela Belcher -- both researchers at MIT -- explain the advances in treatment for ovarian cancer. And, your DIY questions and conundrums are solved by Mark Philben. Mark writes the “Ask the Remodeler” column for the Boston Globe, and takes your calls on ice dams and other winter home repairs.---------Have something you’re curious about? Leave us a voicemail anytime at 877-301-8970, or submit questions via the form on our landing page at GBHNews.org.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos. -
Why Does Everyone Hate Ticketmaster?
Ticketmaster is the service that music fans love to hate, blaming the industry titan for exorbitant prices and concert tickets that are impossible to get. We get into how things got so lousy for would-be concertgoers with Andy Cush, a music journalist and former contributing editor for Pitchfork. GBH News' Gal Tziperman-Lotan returns with the latest edition of her “Four Things to Know” newsletter. And Jean-Luc Pierite explains the concept of a “sneckdown,” the natural pathways that emerge when people and cars travel through fresh snow. Pierite is Board President of the Native American Indian Center of Boston and a former visiting scholar for MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning.---------Have something you’re curious about? Leave us a voicemail anytime at 877-301-8970, or submit questions via the form on our landing page at GBHNews.org.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos. -
Could You Judge a Figure Skating Competition?
Buy-now-pay-later programs are gaining popularity. Matthew Schulz helps break down who benefits and who takes a risk with BNPL. Matthew is Chief Consumer Finance Analyst at Lending Tree also author of “Ask Questions, Save Money, Make More: How To Take Control Of Your Financial Life.”GBH News' Gal Tziperman-Lotan returns for the Curiosity Desk edition of her Four Things to Know newsletter. And Saturday is Valentine's Day, but also Library Lovers Day. Erin McCarthy, former editor in chief of Mental Floss, has stories to tell about libraries that are dear to us. And, with Winter Olympics in full swing, we head to the ice rink to learn about the judges in figure skating. Our expert has more experience than any judge -- 103-year-old Anne Fauver has opinions, and empathy, for the skaters she judges. ---------Have something you’re curious about? Leave us a voicemail anytime at 877-301-8970, or submit questions via the form on our landing page at GBHNews.org.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos. -
What Happens in the River Under the Ice?
The Patriots lost in the Super Bowl, but there is more to say than just the score. GBH's Esteban Bustillos recaps the odd and interesting moments of his weekend in Santa Clara. Our rivers and ponds are under sheets of ice this winter, and that has us asking what effect does cold and lack of sunlight have on aquatic systems? Edgar talks to Jason Stolarski with MassWildlife's Watershed Project, and Julie Wood, Climate Resilience Director for the Charles River Watershed Association. And on Mondays we present our America 250 series. Today, we're looking at lesser-known battles in the Revolutionary War. Daniel Berger-Jones joins us from the Boston History Company. ---------Have something you’re curious about? Leave us a voicemail anytime at 877-301-8970, or submit questions via the form on our landing page at GBHNews.org.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos. -
Why Is Gillette Stadium in Foxborough?
It's almost Super Bowl Sunday, and the Patriots are in it to win it. We look at why the hometown stadium is actually out of town, in Foxborough, and the economics of that decision. Edgar talks with Christopher Price, Patriots beat reporter for the Boston Globe, and Victor’ Matheson, sports economist at Holy Cross. GBH reporter Craig LeMoult brings us a primer on local athletes to watch at the Winter Games, and gets humbled in his attempt to learn how to speed skate at the Commonwealth Skating Club. And our monthly Stargazer's Guide with astrophysicist Anjali Tripathi. ---------Have something you’re curious about? Leave us a voicemail anytime at 877-301-8970, or submit questions via the form on our landing page at GBHNews.org.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos.
