Shows / The Pulse
The Pulse
Go on an adventure into unexpected corners of the health and science world each week with award-winning host Maiken Scott. The Pulse takes you behind the doors of operating rooms, into the lab with some of the world's foremost scientists, and back in time to explore life-changing innovations. The Pulse delivers stories in ways that matter to you, and answers questions you never knew you had.
Episodes
The PulseThe Ghost in the Machine: When Tech Seems to Have a Mind of Its Own
Sometimes, it can feel like tech has a mind of its own — from the smart speaker that suddenly starts laughing, to the chatbots that say oddly human things. On…
The PulseWhy Nurturing Connection is Good for Your Health
Most Americans say that spending time with loved ones is one of the most important things in their lives — and yet, amid the hustle and bustle of our…
The PulseThe Peptide Craze: Benefits, Risks and the Science Behind Them
Peptides are having a moment – but how much do we actually know about them? On this episode, we explore the potential benefits and risks. We investigate the…
The PulseAdult ADHD: Why You Know What to Do But Can’t Do It
On this episode, we explore ADHD in adults — how to spot it, how to treat it, and how to function with it. We talk with a leading psychologist about what’s…
The PulseThe Fight to Save Rural Hospitals — and Access to Healthcare
It’s a story that’s unfolding across America, from Texas to Tennessee, Kansas to the Rust Belt — rural hospitals are struggling or closing, leaving residents…
The PulseThe Strange Science of Color — And Our Quest to Understand It
On this encore episode, we explore the world of color — from how we perceive it, to our efforts to describe and differentiate its many shades. We talk with a…
The PulseHow the Cereal Industry Won Breakfast
Cereal was born as a health food — but quickly, sweet, crunchy flavor, bright colors, and fun shapes became more important than the nutritional value. That…
The PulseThe Science of Eating: What We Get Wrong About Diet and Nutrition
We all know we’re supposed to eat healthy — but what exactly does that mean? On this episode, what’s on your plate, why it matters, and how to make sense of…
The PulseUnder Pressure: How Weather Affects our Health
As summer winds down, some people are celebrating the approach of fall, while others are dreading the shorter, colder days. We know that weather can affect our…
The Pulse'I Could Have Been Lindsay Clancy’
A judge declared a mistrial in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy after jurors said they were deadlocked over whether she should be held criminally responsible…
The PulseThe Search for Life on Mars: From Mars Mania to NASA’s Rovers
On this episode, a look back at our search for life on Mars. We hear about the Viking mission to Mars — the first to land a craft on the Red Planet — and the…
The PulseJon Ronson, 101 Princesses, and a World of Unraveling Men
Journalist Jon Ronson's new book starts with a series of panicked text messages from his son — who had been lured to a massive, gothic-looking castle in…
The PulseThe Search for Wilderness
Sometimes, modern life can feel like an endless cacophony of distractions. We spend our days being inundated with noise and traffic, news and emails…
The PulseWhat's Really Going On Inside Animals' Heads?
Do animals feel love, anger, or empathy? Researchers have long dismissed such ideas as anthropomorphism, arguing that attributing human emotions to animals was…
The PulseQuitting Antidepressants: From Withdrawal to Tapering One Step at a Time
Erica Gerard tried to find the right antidepressant for over two decades, one where the benefits outweighed the side effects. Finally, she decided to get off…
The PulseThe Science of Imagination: Transforming How We Think, Feel, and Live
In some ways, our imagination is like an all-access pass. It can transport us to a different place, it allows us to picture a beautiful beach, or a lush flower…
The PulseThink Inside the Box: How Limits Fuel Creativity
We tend to think that creativity flourishes in the absence of limits, when we have all of the freedom to innovate and dream big. But what if the opposite is…
The PulseThe Future of Pain Relief: Managing Chronic Pain, Laughing Gas, and Safer Opioids
Millions of people in the U.S. have chronic pain that’s unresponsive to medical interventions. But there are new and comprehensive ways of treating pain. We…
The PulseJet Lag, Cruise Outbreaks, and Vacation Constipation: How to Deal with Travel Health Woes
Vacations are a time to experience new things, and restore our minds and bodies — but sometimes the opposite happens. On this episode, when vacations wreck…
The PulseHow Reliable Is Forensic Science? The Truth About Criminal Profiling and Investigations
Investigators have long relied on science to help solve crimes, from fingerprint and blood splatter analysis to the psychology of criminal minds. But not every…
The PulseChasing Wildlife: From the Golden Toad to Giant Elephants
When twin brothers Trevor and Kyle Ritland were children, their father — a biologist — would tell them stories about a mythical creature that lived high in the…
The PulseFrom Buzz to Burnout: How Alcohol Affects the Brain and Body
At the best of times, alcohol makes us feel great — relaxed and gregarious, warm and fuzzy, happy and confident. But at the worst of times, it can morph into a…
The PulseHow Science and Ingenuity Built Early America
Two hundred and fifty years ago, Philadelphia was not just the center of political revolution, but a hub of scientific discovery. For America’s founders…
The PulseThe Body Remembers: Exploring the Invisible Wounds Left by Serious Illness
On this episode, we explore the lingering effects of medical crises, both physical and emotional, and what true healing really means. We hear about one…
The PulseYou’ve Heard of ‘Dad Bod’ But How About ‘Dad Brain?’
We often talk about the biological and emotional transformation of motherhood, but what happens to men’s brains when they become fathers? On this episode, host…
The PulseHow Music Shapes Memory, Emotion, and Imagination
Music can transport us to a different time and place — but how does that happen? We explore how music affects our brains — from its ability to tap into our…
The PulseWhen Healthcare Meets the Law: Abortion, Cannabis, and Corporate Medicine
On this episode, we look at the intersection of health, medicine, and the law. We explore how the upcoming rescheduling of marijuana may impact research on the…
The PulseEngineering Happiness into Our Daily Lives
Think about the last time you were really happy — where were you? What were you doing? Who were you with? And, most importantly, how can you recreate that…
The PulseThe Strange Science of Color — And Our Quest to Understand It
On this episode, we explore the world of color — from how we perceive it, to our efforts to describe and differentiate its many shades. We talk with a…
The PulseWhat It Takes to Survive a Disaster
When disaster strikes and the chips are down, who makes it out alive? On this episode, we explore what it takes to survive a crisis. We hear the incredible…
The PulseThe Complexity of Motherhood
How do you sum up the experience of motherhood, and all of the changes it brings, both big and small? It’s a transformation that affects everything — hormones…
The PulseHealing with Psychedelics: Veterans, PTSD, and the Science of Mind-Altering Drugs
For decades, psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA were regarded as dangerous drugs of abuse — but that’s started changing as research increasingly…
The Pulse40 Years After Chernobyl: What Caused the Disaster — and How It Changed Nuclear Energy
Forty years ago, news was only beginning to emerge that an accident had occurred — one that could put millions of people at risk. A reactor at Chernobyl…
The PulseSo Many Cravings, So Few Rewards: Understanding How Dopamine Works
Science writer Michaeleen Doucleff was sitting on a beautiful beach with her daughter, but she couldn’t relax. She kept reaching for her phone, checking it…
The PulseWhat Greenland Can Teach Us About The Earth’s Past and Future
Politicians are eyeing Greenland as an important strategic location, perfectly situated between Europe and North America. President Donald Trump has said he…
The PulseInside the Boom of Urgent Care: How It’s Changing American Medicine
The number of urgent care centers in the U.S. has doubled over the past decade, and it isn’t hard to see why — they fill a void in the market. Urgent care…
The PulseWhy We Need to Talk About Poop
Have you ever looked in the toilet bowl and wondered, ‘Is that normal?’ Well, you’re not alone — and according to neurogastroenterologist Trisha Pasricha, it’s…
The PulseThe Problem with Being Perfect: How Unrealistic Standards Hurt Our Minds and Bodies
We often think of perfectionism as a virtue; a kind of shorthand for high standards, a solid work ethic, and attention to detail. But in reality, perfectionism…
The PulseUnearthing the Hidden Stories of Women Scientists
From Kevlar to windshield wipers, pulsars to dark matter and radioactivity, women are responsible for countless scientific discoveries and inventions that…
The PulseWhen Love Becomes Caregiving: How Illness Changes Relationships
Over 60 million Americans — or one in four adults — currently serve as family caregivers for partners, parents, or other loved ones with illness or disability…
The PulseAlready Forgotten About Your New Year’s Resolution? Here’s Why
The signs are all there — the perfectly packed gym bag is collecting dust in your closet, the kitchen pantry has quietly been refilled with junk food, and your…
The PulseHello? From Bell’s First Call to Gen Z’s Telephobia: 150 Years of the Telephone
When Alexander Graham Bell made the first-ever phone call on March 10, 1876, he never could have dreamed how the telephone would evolve — not to mention the…
The PulseBeyond Anthropomorphism: The Science of Animal Emotions
Do animals feel love, anger, or empathy? Researchers have long dismissed such ideas as anthropomorphism, arguing that attributing human emotions to animals was…
The PulseRevenge Feels Great — But the Cost is High
When someone wrongs us, getting revenge can feel like the only right move — the only way for us to balance the scales, to set the world right again. But the…
The PulseWill My Doctor Be a Bot? AI and the Future of Medicine
Artificial Intelligence is already guiding surgeons in operating rooms; it’s used to read image scans or take notes during your doctor’s visit. And the pace of…
The PulseFinding Your Match: The Science of Love and Attraction
For those deep in the dating trenches, love and attraction can feel like uncrackable riddles. How do I make myself attractive to others? How do you know if…
The PulseClosing the Gap: Improving Health Outcomes for Black Americans
When it comes to serious health issues like obesity, heart disease, and cancer, Black Americans have higher rates and worse outcomes than most other groups in…
The PulseFrom Buzz to Burnout: How Alcohol Affects the Brain and Body
At the best of times, alcohol makes us feel great — relaxed and gregarious, warm and fuzzy, happy and confident. But at the worst of times, it can morph into a…
The PulseChallenger at 40: How the Disaster Shaped the Future of NASA
On January 28, 1986, a frigid cold day with an icy blue sky, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded just 73 seconds after launching from Cape Canaveral…
The PulseTriumph, Tragedy and Ennui: Three NASA Missions That Shaped the Future of Space Exploration
Space exploration relies heavily on the interest of the public — the voters, and taxpayers, who are ultimately footing the bill. But that support and…
The PulseThe Weird Menopause Symptoms No One Ever Told You About — And How to Treat Them
If you go by pop culture depictions, menopause seems like no big deal — a few hot flashes, some comical bouts of hormone-fueled rage, and the “big change,” as…
The PulseFrom Soy to Carbs: How Food can Ease Menopause Symptoms
Capsule wardrobes have become a popular way to streamline and organize your closet — basically, paring it down to a few staple pieces that you can combine in…
The PulseEngineering Happiness into our Daily Lives
Think about the last time you were really happy — where were you? What were you doing? Who were you with? And, most importantly, how can you recreate that…
The PulseHow Noise Affects Our Health
For a lot of us, noise is a constant factor — an inescapable soundtrack playing on loop in the background. Kids screaming, sirens blaring, the roar of traffic…
The PulseInside the Dramatic Race to Decode the Human Genome
Twenty-five years ago, President Bill Clinton stood before a podium in the East Room of the White House, and, in front of an all-star lineup of researchers and…
The PulseWhen Should Patients Decide for Themselves?
As patients, we often wonder what our role should be when it comes to getting better. Should we research options, get second opinions, and ask lots of…
The PulseSearching for the Truth — and Finding Unexpected Answers
In 1973, Stanford psychologist David Rosenhan published a bombshell paper called “On Being Sane in Insane Places.” In the paper, Rosenhan described faking…
The PulseInside the Hidden Wonders of the Shrinking Arctic
Over the course of 20 years, writer Neil Shea explored the awe-inspiring landscape of the Arctic. He saw narwhals poking their tusks above the water, herds of…
The PulseWhy Nurturing Connection is Good for Your Health
So often, our relationships take a backseat to everything else on our to-do lists — but new research shows that nurturing personal connections plays a central…
The PulseWhat Science Says About How Much Our Food Choices Matter
Ahead of Thanksgiving, we do a deep dive into what we actually know about diet, and what we should and shouldn’t be eating. We talk with a nutrition and…