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Conceived as a cross between a Sunday newspaper and CBS' Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt, Weekend Edition Sunday features interviews with newsmakers, artists, scientists, politicians, musicians, writers, theologians and historians.
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Weekend Edition Sunday

Conceived as a cross between a Sunday newspaper and CBS' Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt, Weekend Edition Sunday features interviews with newsmakers, artists, scientists, politicians, musicians, writers, theologians and historians.

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The Pulse

The Pulse Archive

A happy couple laughing together. (Luiz Woellner Fotografia/Pexels)
The Pulse
Science

Engineering Happiness into our Daily Lives

A look at the science of designing a happier life — from reverse-engineering joy to moments of serendipity.

Air Date: January 9, 2026

Listen 49:43
Dog in noise cancelling headphones. (Photoboyko/Bigstock)
The Pulse
Health

How Noise Affects Our Health

We explore what researchers are learning about the connections between noise, hearing loss, and our well-being.

Air Date: January 2, 2026

Listen 49:34
President Clinton, flanked by Celera Genomics head J. Craig Venter, left, and Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project of the National Institutes of Health, meets reporters in the East Room of the White House Monday, June 26, 2000 to announce that the two teams have completed a rough draft of the human genetic code. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The Pulse
Science

Inside the Dramatic Race to Decode the Human Genome

A look back at the cut-throat competition that led to the historic unveiling of the decoded human genome.

Air Date: December 26, 2025

Listen 49:34
Assistant Leticia Orozco, left, and Dr. Carmen Romo, right, talk to clients while testing them for signs of diabetes during a health fair on June 6, 2025, at the Mexican Consulate in Oklahoma City. (Lionel Ramos/ KOSU)
The Pulse
Health

How Latinos have become especially vulnerable to diabetes, and one reporter’s 'wake-up call’' managing the disease

How a reporter began to investigate diabetes risk, and along the way, made a startling discovery about his own health.

3 weeks ago

Listen 13:10
A patient is refusing a medical prescription. (Bigstock)
The Pulse
Health

When Should Patients Decide for Themselves?

Stories about patient autonomy, and what happens when self-advocacy overrides the opinions of doctors.

Air Date: December 19, 2025

Listen 49:34
Investigative journalist Susannah Cahalan is the author of
The Pulse
Science

Searching for the Truth — and Finding Unexpected Answers

A look at what happens when searching for the truth is personal - and the answers are not what we expected.

Air Date: December 12, 2025

Listen 49:34
In 1973, psychologist David Rosenhan conducted an unusual experiment to test the validity of psychiatric diagnoses. (Photo credit: Jack Rosenhan)
The Pulse
Health

Uncovering the ‘pseudo patients’ from the famous ‘Rosenhan Experiment’

Investigative reporter Susannah Cahalan set out to find eight pseudo patients who'd participated in the "Rosenhan Experiment."

1 month ago

Listen 25:45
While writer Neil Shea explored the Arctic, he came across Arctic wolves, also known as white wolves. (Neil Shea)
The Pulse
Science

Inside the Hidden Wonders of the Shrinking Arctic

A look at the transcendent beauty of life in the Arctic — and how climate change is threatening its survival.

Air Date: December 5, 2025

Listen 50:00
Two women sitting on a white bench. (Elle Hughes)
The Pulse
Health

Why Nurturing Connection is Good for Your Health

What new research shows about why relationships matter, and how to prioritize them amid life’s competing demands.

Air Date: November 28, 2025

Listen 49:34
A muffin and protein rich foods on a scale. (Karens4/Bigstock)
The Pulse
Health

What Science Says About How Much Our Food Choices Matter

Ahead of Thanksgiving, we take a look at new nutrition research, and what we should — and shouldn’t — be eating.

Air Date: November 21, 2025

Listen 49:34
Users on social platforms like Reddit are being accused of using AI to write posts. (Nichole Currie/WHYY)
The Pulse
Science

How not to be mistaken for a chatbot

Top signs from researchers that something was written by AI, and how to avoid sounding like a chatbot yourself.

2 months ago

Listen 14:01
Sleep and neurophysiology researcher Michelle Carr captures a participant during a lucid dream study at Swansea University in Wales. (Michelle Carr)
The Pulse
Science

How to 'Engineer' Your Dreams and End Nightmares

Researcher Michelle Carr explores “dream engineering” in her new book “Nightmare Obscura: A Dream Engineer's Guide Through the Sleeping Mind."

Air Date: November 17, 2025

Listen 31:33
Human hand touching an android hand. (Bigstock)
The Pulse
Science

How Chatbots Make Us Feel

An exploration of how AI is changing the way we feel — about ourselves and everything else.

Air Date: November 14, 2025

Listen 49:34
Marine Corps veteran and ceramic artist Ehren Tool shows his artwork displayed at the
The Pulse
Health

How Veterans Find Healing After War

On this Veterans Day episode, we explore healing after combat — from a psychedelic treatment in Mexico to making ceramic mugs.

Air Date: November 7, 2025

Listen 49:34
Save Download Preview Hacker using laptop. Hacking the Internet.
The Pulse
Science

Cybercrime and How Hackers Prey on Human Nature

We hear about the virus that ushered in the age of social engineering attacks, the history of cybercrime, and what led one man to become a hacker.

Air Date: October 31, 2025

Listen 55:24
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Latest News

  • New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill resigned from Congress in November. A mad scramble is on to get her seat

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