Stereotypes feel synonymous with many of the characters that we see on TV and in the movies. All Asians know martial arts or own small stores. Black women are sassy, while Latino men are dashing. Germans are efficient, most Brits are evil—but also classy, even if they’re uptight and mean—and…
We take most of our rituals for granted. From the social conventions that dictate how we greet one another to the ways that we express our religious faiths, we follow familiar patterns that are often simply accepted. But these rituals were not established arbitrarily or by happenstance. Indeed, by digging…
Is there life beyond the Earth? This question has tantalized humanity for ages … and has been a focus for both scientists (what is really out there?) and storytellers (what would it mean to us if it is?). Join us as we explore the ways in which exobiology – the…
The story of the pandemic is, among many things, a story of scientific triumph. In a timely documentary from CNN Films, we are granted rare, real-time access to the elite scientists who put their lives on the line to take on one of the biggest scientific, logistical and public…
4 Scientists. 3 Comedians. So many ridiculously wrong answers.
Two of your favorite programs from the National Academy of Sciences – The Science & Entertainment Exchange and LabX – are joining forces to bring you the crossover event of the summer! We’re mashing up The Exchange’s Science Speed Dating format…
Most of us welcome summer, happily transitioning from winter’s hibernation spent bundled up in wooly sweaters to the carefree season of shorts and bathing suits. But the extreme, record-breaking high temperatures of 2021 signal the arrival of a new and deadly season. Impacting parts of the country that traditionally enjoy…
Teenagers often make questionable choices – ones that routinely prompt parents to ask this question without any expectation of a satisfying answer. The stereotypes from film and television make this stage of life feel especially scary. But neuroscientist Adriana Galván says that these decisions and that this period of adolescence…
It takes only a cursory look at the numbers to reveal the staggering wealth disparities that are very clearly marked by race/ethnicity in this country. The net worth of a typical white family is nearly ten times greater than that of a Black family in the United States, a ratio…
The topic of childhood trauma is more relevant than ever as we emerge from a pandemic that has gripped the globe. Join us for a discussion with pioneering physician and California’s first-ever Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris as she reveals the science behind Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic…
What do the IRS, election fraud, great music, Russian bots, deep fakes, and volcanoes have in common? The answer: Benford’s Law. But if you’re like us, you a) didn’t know this and b) don’t understand what this Law is all about. Not to worry because we’ve got you covered. Or…
