The Pulse Episode Archive
Often we think of life and death as opposite sides of a coin — categories as final as they are discrete. But in an age when machines ca ...
Air Date: October 25, 2019
Listen 48:53
Cars have played a fundamental role in changing our modern lives — where we live, where we work, the shape of our communities, and how ...
Air Date: October 18, 2019
Listen 49:07
Every culture, workplace, group, and family has its norms — its standards, the way things are done. Norms govern everything from relati ...
Air Date: October 11, 2019
Listen 48:50
Fake vs. Real — And When It Matters
There was a time when seeing was believing — but that’s changing, thanks to new technology that’s elevating fakery to a whole new l ...
Air Date: October 4, 2019
Listen 48:59
Scientist. Farmer. Feminist. Leader. Alpha male. Veteran. African-American. Hindu. Identity isn’t just about who we think we are — it ...
Air Date: September 27, 2019
Listen 48:42
You know when you get butterflies in your stomach? Or your gut clenches with fear? Or the way a gory movie can fill you with nausea? Thos ...
Air Date: September 13, 2019
Listen 48:28
It’s Labor Day, which means we’re celebrating the hard-working people who keep the engines of productivity humming. On this e ...
Air Date: August 30, 2019
Listen 47:13
It was supposed to be a paradise. A parcel of wilderness, reminiscent of the past, where birds and large grazers would find refuge. Conse ...
Air Date: August 23, 2019
Listen 47:45
How Buildings Impact Our Lives
From bungalows to skyscrapers, farmhouses to condos, brownstones to corner shops, buildings define the spaces of our lives. They are our ...
Air Date: August 9, 2019
Listen 49:15
Our planet’s surface is 71% water — with five vast oceans that span a range of temperatures and shades of blue. Humans have long love ...
Air Date: August 2, 2019
Listen 48:41
Everyone loves a good comeback story — but they don’t just apply to athletes and washed-up actors. Revivals can happen for ideas, pla ...
Air Date: July 26, 2019
Listen 49:39
In honor of Apollo 11’s 50th anniversary, we’ve been talking a lot about gettin ...
Air Date: July 19, 2019
Listen 53:22
On July 20th, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon. It was an astounding achievement — ...
Air Date: July 12, 2019
Listen 48:09
What We Call Things and Why It Matters
How we talk about an issue has ramifications that go far beyond the words. Names, descriptions, and terms lay the foundation for how we t ...
Air Date: July 5, 2019
Listen 48:05
The Science of Everyday Objects
From penicillin to the moon landing, we have science to thank for humanity’s greatest achievements. But science has also helped advance ...
Air Date: June 21, 2019
Listen 48:07