The Pulse – April 18, 2014

A happy marriage, children, a good life…then illness changes everything. Sixty-five million Americans care for an ill or elderly loved one. On today’s show, we’ll take a look at the challenges of transitioning from spouse to nurse.

Recreational pot smoking is legal in Colorado and will soon be legal in Washington. Some legislators in the Delaware Valley aren’t blind to the trend, but they’re conscious of the potential negative health impacts of marijuana. While legislation is being proposed, the day Philadelphians can light up in public is still distant. We take a look at the current state of research on the effects of getting high.

The pharmaceutical industry is facing an existential moment of sorts, as it tries to find a way to continue profitability in the wake of the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. The latest buzzword in the world of Big Pharma is “Patient Centricity.” The industry says they’re “thinking about improved patient health outcomes” not just the next pill to hit the market. We attended a pharma conference in Philly to learn more.

The physics of skateboarding, creatures that make your skin crawl, and why Philly has such passionate sports fans are just a few examples of the questions to be answered at the Philadelphia Science Festival. We get a sneak peak at the fun.

At a lab at the University of Delaware, Chemical engineer Richard Wool is utilizing everything from plants to chicken feathers to make things like tractors and sneakers. He sat down with Jewish Voice editor Shoshana Martyniak for our series “So, What Do You Do,” in which we pair a scientist with a lay person for down-to earth conversations about science.

Also on the show, how the tiny coqui frog of Puerto Rico became a canary in the coal mine of climate change, the science behind why facial hair can sometimes make men more attractive and a new way to get doctors to follow medical guidelines…by putting a human story behind them. 

Music from today’s show: 

“What Would I Want? Sky” – 6:46Animal CollectiveAlbum Fall Be KindLabel Domino

“Weed Party” – 3:09Band of HorsesAlbum Band of HorsesLabel Sub Pop

“Love Department” – 7:23ChipocriteAlbum Hit and RunLabel Chipocrite

“What Love” – 3:53Jagwar MaAlbum Howlin’Label Mom + Pop

“Get Innocuous!” – 7:11LCD SoundsystemAlbum Sound of SilverLabel DFA/Capitol

“Whatta Man” (featuring En Vogue) – 5:07Salt-n-PepaAlbum Very NecessaryLabel Next Plateau

“Night of the Thumpasorus Peoples” – 5:10ParliamentAlbum Mothership ConnectionLabel Casablanca