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The Pulse

@thepulse.whyy.org

The Pulse is a health and science show and podcast out of WHYY, an NPR member station. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe: http://bit.ly/1hoExHK

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06.12.2024
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Latest posts by The Pulse @thepulse.whyy.org

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Challenger at 40: How the Disaster Shaped the Future of NASA Podcast Episode · The Pulse · 01/26/2026 · 38m

Forty years ago — for the first time ever — NASA launched a school teacher into space. The organization planned to make history, but instead, a disaster unfolded.

On this podcast extra, @adamhigginbotham.bsky.social discusses what exactly went wrong. bit.ly/4aix80b

27.01.2026 18:48 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Triumph, Tragedy and Ennui: Three NASA Missions That Shaped the Future of Space Exploration Podcast Episode · The Pulse · 01/22/2026 · 50m

NASA missions have continued to shape space exploration, but they don't always go as planned.

On this episode, we take a look at three missions and how NASA's goal of keeping public attention has impacted spaceflight. bit.ly/4jVmhg7

23.01.2026 16:09 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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The Weird Menopause Symptoms No One Ever Told You About — And How to Treat Them Podcast Episode · The Pulse · 01/15/2026 · 50m

When we think of menopause, we picture night sweats and hot flashes, but some other surprising and weird symptoms make the list.

On this episode, we explore women's health, approaching menopause, and what you can do to navigate this inevitable transition. bit.ly/4qpVmLT

16.01.2026 14:35 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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From Soy to Carbs: How Food can Ease Menopause Symptoms Podcast Episode · The Pulse · 01/13/2026 · 49m

Can the food on your plate help you navigate menopause better?

On this podcast extra, we chat with Registered Dietitian Jenn Salib Huber about her new cookbook, “Eat to Thrive During Menopause.” Listen now 🔗 bit.ly/4bzCm8R

14.01.2026 14:30 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Engineering Happiness into our Daily Lives Podcast Episode · The Pulse · 01/08/2026 · 50m

Should you wait for happiness — or create it with intention?

On this episode: the science of designing a happier life, from reverse-engineering joy to moments of serendipity.
bit.ly/49MtbRa

09.01.2026 15:15 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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How Noise Affects Our Health Podcast Episode · The Pulse · 01/01/2026 · 50m

Need some time to wind down from the holiday season — some peace and quiet?

Learn how much noise affects our health by listening to one of our favorite episodes.
bit.ly/45o3W56

02.01.2026 14:54 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Inside the Dramatic Race to Decode the Human Genome Podcast Episode · The Pulse · 12/25/2025 · 50m

As the Holiday season continues, enjoy one of our favorite episodes!

On this episode, a look back at the cut-throat competition that led to the historic unveiling of the decoded human genome. bit.ly/3LkVa12

29.12.2025 15:06 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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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.

Health data shows that Latinos are becoming especially vulnerable to diabetes, but why?

Check out how Reporter Lionel Ramos' investigation into the risk became a personal wake-up call about his own health.
whyy.org/segments/how...

19.12.2025 16:44 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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When Should Patients Decide for Themselves? Podcast Episode · The Pulse · 12/18/2025 · 50m

As patients, it’s hard to know when to take charge and when to let doctors lead.

On this episode, we explore patient autonomy and how our choices impact our health. bit.ly/3YBsGDb

19.12.2025 14:00 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Searching for the Truth — and Finding Unexpected Answers Podcast Episode · The Pulse · 12/11/2025 · 50m

In 1973, psychologist David Rosenhan published a paper about a bold experiment: Asking people to fake hearing voices to get into a psychiatric hospital, to test diagnostic accuracy.

On this episode, journalist Susannah Cahalan tracks down those patients. bit.ly/44ZTdxt

12.12.2025 15:46 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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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."

Over 50 years ago, a psychologist sent several healthy volunteers undercover into psychiatric hospitals. The unusual study tested how accurate diagnoses were.

But who were these mysterious “pseudopatients”? Journalist Susannah Cahalan looked into it ⬇️ whyy.org/segments/pse...

11.12.2025 16:25 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Inside the Hidden Wonders of the Shrinking Arctic Podcast Episode · The Pulse · 12/04/2025 · 50m

Neil Shea’s first trip to the Arctic in 2005 was filled with admiration — from white wolves to indigenous life. So when a warming climate began to threaten the region, he had to go back.

On this episode, @neilshea13 adventures in the Arctic. bit.ly/449vdrB

05.12.2025 15:02 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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Why Nurturing Connection is Good for Your Health Podcast Episode · The Pulse · 11/27/2025 · 50m

Thanksgiving may be over, but that warm feeling we get from being with family and friends doesn’t have to be.

On this new episode, neuroscientists Emily Falk and @dr-brein.bsky.social explain how to prioritize relationships and why our brains need connection. bit.ly/3KwFaIU

01.12.2025 14:51 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 1
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What Science Says About How Much Our Food Choices Matter Podcast Episode · The Pulse · 11/20/2025 · 50m

Counting carbs this Thanksgiving? Good luck😅

But what if researchers told you that demonizing an entire food group doesn’t really help as much as you think?

On this new episode, the science of our food choices with @kevinh-phd.bsky.social & @juliabelluz.bsky.social
bit.ly/49CYEpz

21.11.2025 14:47 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Thanks for joining us!

21.11.2025 14:46 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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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.

Today on @thepulse.whyy.org, @juliabelluz.bsky.social and I discuss several popular topics in nutrition science that are covered in our book #FoodIntelligence:
whyy.org/episodes/wha...

21.11.2025 14:33 👍 18 🔁 4 💬 1 📌 0
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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.

These days, it's not uncommon for people to be accused of using AI to write an email or maybe a well-thought-out post on Reddit.

But why does detecting AI in writing infuriate people, and how can you avoid sounding like a chatbot? Researchers weigh in.
whyy.org/segments/how...

19.11.2025 15:01 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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How to 'Engineer' Your Dreams and End Nightmares Podcast Episode · The Pulse · 11/17/2025 · 32m

Having a bad dream or a nightmare can seem like an inevitable part of sleep — out of our control. But, does it have to be that way?

On this podcast extra, researcher Michelle Carr discusses dream engineering and her new book, Nightmare Obscura.

bit.ly/3LJGl8a

18.11.2025 16:30 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Coca-Cola and a Secret Research Operation Meant to Exonerate Sugar Coca-Cola’s rise to global brand domination, and how the company influenced our habits and perceptions along the way.

"They have brilliantly associated themselves with ... good times, happiness, and fun."

@murray-journo.bsky.social and @thepulse.whyy.org discuss how Coca-Cola has influenced consumer habits & perceptions:

06.11.2025 23:05 👍 10 🔁 3 💬 3 📌 0
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Americans have lost more than $16.6 billion to cybercrime, and it's still more challenging than ever to sniff out an online scam.

That's why it's never a bad time to check out our episode on cybercrime and how scammers prey on the rest of us.

🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

03.11.2025 14:46 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Psychics, ghosts, auras, and the UCLA research lab that studied it all In the 1970s, UCLA housed The Parapsychology Lab, which became a haven for those with psychic abilities and the researchers who studied them.

It's Halloween — a time when we celebrate the unknown. But what about the scientists who once studied it?

Reporter Nichole Currie tells the story of an old research lab at UCLA that studied ghosts, psychics, and auras.

🔗 whyy.org/segments/the...

31.10.2025 13:46 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Animal skulls and bones get a second life in the art works of Boyertown creator In Boyertown, PA, artist Charlee Heinz turns bones from forest finds into meaningful artwork that explores death and beauty.

In Boyertown, PA, artist Charlee Heinz turns bones from forest finds into meaningful artwork that explores death and beauty.

Lise Peet reports 🔗 whyy.org/segments/ani...

30.10.2025 14:28 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Coca-Cola rolled out a cane sugar version of its soda after Trump urged the corporation to do so — but debates around the sweetener in Coke are decades old.

On this podcast extra, we talk about this with journalist
@murray-journo.bsky.social, author of Sweet and Deadly.

🔗 bit.ly/4ofqexy

29.10.2025 14:09 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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Nearly 4 in 10 Americans say ghosts are real. Some even search for proof.

On this episode, a look at paranormal phenomena and the investigators who chase them.

🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

24.10.2025 12:56 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Why urgent care clinics, once derided as ‘doc in a box,’ have spread like wildfire The number of urgent care centers in the U.S. have doubled, from more than 7,000 to more than 14,000 over the last decade or so.

The number of urgent care centers in the U.S. have doubled, from more than 7,000 to more than 14,000 over the last decade or so.

Alan Yu reports why ⬇️
whyy.org/segments/why...

20.10.2025 15:24 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

thanks for being part of this episode!

20.10.2025 15:24 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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If it feels like urgent care centers are everywhere these days — that’s because they are.

On this episode, we explore the rapid rise of urgent care, what’s fueling it, and how it’s affecting care.

🔗 bit.ly/4onrRZx

17.10.2025 13:54 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 1
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What if cures for rare diseases already exist — just waiting to be found?

On this podcast extra, meet @davidfajgenbaum.bsky.social, who not only discovered his own treatment for Castleman Disease, but is now using AI to repurpose existing drugs to help others. 🔗 lnk.to/whyy-thepulse

15.10.2025 20:04 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Chasing giants: One writer’s journey to bring nuance to India’s wild elephant conflict About 10 years ago, writer Kim Frank set out to learn why wild elephants were trampling people in India. She revealed a complex human-wildlife conflict.

About 10 years ago, writer Kim Frank set out to learn why wild Asian elephants were trampling people in India.

After many trips overseas and meeting an Indian Princess, Kim eventually revealed a complex human-wildlife conflict.

Listen to Kim's story ⬇️

whyy.org/segments/cha...

09.10.2025 16:42 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

thanks for joining us!

09.10.2025 16:41 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0