
Program Menu

Go on an adventure into unexpected corners of the health and science world each week with award-winning host Maiken Scott. The Pulse will take you behind the doors of operating rooms, into the lab with some of the world’s foremost scientists, and back in time to explore life-changing innovations. The Pulse delivers stories in ways that matter to you, and answers questions you never knew you had.
Listen at noon every Sunday and Monday on WHYY-FM
-
Hosted by Maiken Scott
Recent Articles
Powerlifting pioneer Jan Todd recalls her barrier-breaking deadlift record 50 years later
In 1975, Jan Todd set a Guinness World Record with a 394.5-pound two-handed deadlift — but training was tough at a time when women weren’t expected to lift heavy.
1 week ago
Listen 7:04Veteran recalls covert CIA bombing operation in Laos during the Vietnam War
50 years ago, Don Super joined the military in hopes of helping the Lao people during the Vietnam War — instead, he found himself a part of a secret carpet bombing campaign.
2 weeks ago
Listen 19:43The U.S. dropped millions of tons of bombs on Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Some remain, and could still explode.
2 weeks ago
Listen 11:5020 years after its first upload, YouTube is changing the way people learn
Users of all ages turn to the platform to master new skills, solve problems, and learn on their own terms.
3 weeks ago
Listen 3:10‘Cuddle Parties’ serve as an antidote for loneliness and lack of touch
Touch is a human need, but many people report they are not getting enough touch in their lives. ‘Cuddle parties’ aim to provide a safe space for touch and connection.
3 weeks ago
Listen 11:33To relieve loneliness, AI companion robots move in with seniors
About one in four older adults report feeling socially isolated. Could AI companion robots help to relieve loneliness?
3 weeks ago
Listen 12:00‘Peak algorithm’: Why some people are pushing back against machine curation
Have we reached peak algorithm-driven culture? Finding the balance between human and machine curation.
4 weeks ago
Listen 11:29How a Disney World superfan made a career out of reviewing theme park food
AJ Wolfe’s life once revolved around planning her next trip to Disney World. She made it a career.
1 month ago
Listen 7:25Doctors still struggle to predict which patients with severe brain injuries will recover
Doctors have to make life and death decisions for patients with severe brain injuries, but they can’t always agree about the potential for recovery.
2 months ago
Listen 19:04Plastic surgery regret — what causes it, and how to avoid it
At 21, Carla Papas was excited to get a new nose — instead, she ended up with medical bills, trouble breathing, and crippling insecurity.
2 months ago
Listen 15:29A growing medical field looks at how skin and mental health are connected
Patients with skin conditions have long known their skin can affect their mental health and vice versa. More clinicians are exploring that.
2 months ago
Listen 10:50‘Did I waste 15 years of my life?’ Investigating my bipolar diagnosis
It's estimated that 5 to 10 million Americans have bipolar disorder. But what do we really know about the condition?
2 months ago
Listen 34:30Some scientists and government agencies are concerned over the test’s impact on animals, and whether it is still useful for research.
2 months ago
Listen 11:50Patients without family or health care proxies face overtreatment or limbo in hospitals
A program matches unrepresented patients with volunteers who can make care decisions for them during health care crises.
3 months ago
Listen 7:16How experiments with gila monster venom led to blockbuster weight loss drugs like Ozempic
Elon Musk wants to cut funding for scientific research, but the weight loss drugs he promoted also came from government funded basic science.
3 months ago
Listen 8:48Partners
