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The Pulse focuses on stories at the heart of health, science and innovation in the Philadelphia region.
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The Pulse

The Pulse focuses on stories at the heart of health, science and innovation in the Philadelphia region.

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The Pulse

The Pulse Archive

Half Vaxxed
The Pulse

The Pulse Presents: Half Vaxxed — The Rise and Fall of Philly Fighting COVID

The first episode looks at the promise of the nimble, young startup that pledged to vaccinate Philadelphia.

Air Date: August 25, 2021

Listen 25:06
(Photo by Monstera from Pexels)
The Pulse
Health

Kids and Mental Health

We’ve heard it again and again — kids are resilient. But they’re also sensitive, with social and emotional needs every bit as compl ...

Air Date: August 20, 2021

Listen 49:00
Today, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among Black children ages 10 to 19. And that rate is rising faster for them than for any other racial or ethnic group.(BIGSTOCK/motortion)
The Pulse
Health

‘We are in a state of emergency’: What's behind the rising suicide rate among Black kids

Today, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among Black children ages 10 to 19. And that rate is rising faster for them than for any other racial or ethnic group.

5 years ago

Listen 16:48
Jacob Smollen as a kid with his grandmother, Mindy Smollen. (Courtesy of Jacob Smollen)
The Pulse
Health

Losing a grandmother brings questions about grief, and why we feel what we feel

The task, experts said, is figuring out how best to carry on, while still honoring the person who’s no longer with us

5 years ago

Listen 7:02
Illustration of a young woman standing and looking at her reflection in a mirror
The Pulse
Science

Changing Appearances

We’ve all heard the saying: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” The problem is that’s not how the world works. Just about everyt ...

Air Date: August 13, 2021

Listen 47:57
Kevin and Karen Gardner at the farmer’s market in Yellow Springs, near Dayton, Ohio. (Jocelyn Robinson/For WHYY)
The Pulse
Health

Going wig-less — learning to live with alopecia

In movies, bald women are portrayed as strong; in real life, they’re seen as odd. One woman gradually decided to just go with it.

5 years ago

Listen 7:31
Before and after weight loss. For those who have bariatric surgery, changes in appearance happen quickly, creating new social situations to navigate. (CollageM/Bigstock) 

The Pulse
Health

When the world treats you differently after weight loss

For those who have bariatric surgery, changes in appearance happen quickly, creating new social situations to navigate.

5 years ago

Composition of people faces, colors, organic textures, and flowing curves
The Pulse
Health

Who We Are at Core

Who are you? There are dozens of ways to answer that question, from your name and nationality, to your relationships and job, all the way ...

Air Date: August 6, 2021

Listen 48:59
Silhouette profile group of men women and girl of diverse culture
The Pulse
Health

The Role of Race and Ethnicity in Medicine

Every time you go to see a new doctor, you have to fill out forms that ask your name, your age, your family history — and your race and ...

Air Date: July 30, 2021

Listen 48:33
Nichole Jefferson (far left) is a kidney patient advocate based in Dallas, Texas. (Photo courtesy of Nichole Jefferson)
The Pulse
Health

How a clinical tool meant to predict kidney function could be hurting Black patients

Is an equation most commonly used to predict kidney health unintentionally contributing to health disparities — and reinforcing racist thinking?

5 years ago

Listen 21:17
An illustration of two birds talking to each other
The Pulse
Science

The Building Blocks of Language

Language is how we connect — to each other, to the past, to the future — how we create culture, communicate ideas, and make decisions ...

Air Date: July 23, 2021

Listen 48:51
A lab officer cuts a DNA fragment under UV light
The Pulse
Health

New Developments in Cancer Treatment

It seems like every week, we hear about new breakthroughs in cancer treatment — new discoveries, new medications, new hopes for a cure. ...

Air Date: July 16, 2021

Listen 48:45
A research technician works to clone DNA in an immunotherapy research lab. (Elaine Thompson/AP Photo)
The Pulse
Health

How a clinical trial cured cancer — in some cases

A researcher’s experience as a patient motivated him to find cures. He focused on cancers caused by the human papillomavirus.  

5 years ago

Listen 18:58
Close-up of virus cells or bacteria
The Pulse
Health

The Aftermath of Viruses

Left to their own devices, viruses are pretty much helpless. They need cells to infect in order to replicate. But they’re sneaky — ma ...

Air Date: July 9, 2021

Listen 49:49
Lt. John A. Kooistra, Jr.
The Pulse
Health

The Secret History of Mars Exploration

Humans have been obsessed with Mars for thousands of years, but it wasn’t until the mid-20th century that we began to have actual break ...

Air Date: July 6, 2021

Listen 13:11
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