The Pulse

The Pulse brings you stories about the people and places at the heart of health and science. The Pulse features in-depth reports on health and science issues.
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You can download our podcast here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pulse/id772127662?mt=2

You can tune into The Pulse at these stations:-WHYY 90.9 FM Philadelphia region, PAFriday at 9AM and Sunday at 10AM-WITF 89.5 FM Harrisburg, PAFriday at 7PM -KCUR 89.3 FM Kansas City, MOSunday at 7PM

Find all of our stories at whyy.org/thepulse

Our staff:
Maiken Scott, host
Lindsay Lazarski, pro

ducer
Xavier Lopez, associate producer
Jad Sleiman, reporter
Liz Tung, reporter
Alan Yu, reporter
Sojourner Ahébée – Health Equity Fellow

Have a story idea? Send it to: [email protected]

09/24/2024

Join our host Maiken Scott as she speaks with seedkeepers, farmers, and botanists who share how preserving ancestral plants helps to advance science and expand our understanding of the natural world — and ourselves.

🗓 Don't miss it! Register here ➡️ https://bit.ly/4eBHAPI

09/23/2024

Do you remember being a pre-teen, and wanting to 'fit in' at school so badly? That was the case for Rebecca Kaplan in the early 2000s. Her autism-related sensory issues made making friends really hard.

But — could a pair of blue jeans help👖?

Listen to her story ↓

Growing up in the early 2000s, Rebecca Kaplan faced challenges fitting in due to autism-related sensory issues— but on a whim, she hoped buying a pair of jeans would help.

09/23/2024

Some parents say their children with autism are not supported enough in Philly's schools — but The School District of Philadelphia says they need more staff and resources.

Alan Yu reports ↓

Some parents say their children are not supported enough. The School District of Philadelphia says they need more staff and resources.

09/20/2024

What is the ideal educational environment for a kid to thrive, especially for autistic children?

On this episode, we explore the experiences of autistic kids at school — the unseen challenges they face, and the ongoing fight for better services.

A look at why many autistic kids struggle at school, and what parents and experts say could make a difference.

09/17/2024

Patrick Kennedy and journalist Stephen Fried have teamed up to write a new book together, Profiles in Mental Health Courage.

Maiken Scott interviews both authors about the book, and how it features deeply compelling stories of those living with mental illnesses and addictions ↓

Former congressman Patrick Kennedy and journalist Stephen Fried have teamed up to write a new book together, Profiles in Mental Health Courage.

09/13/2024

Recovery from serious mental illness is tough but possible with care, dedication, and strong relationships.

On this episode, we explore what it takes to treat serious mental illness, and the support needed to stay well.

We hear personal stories about what it takes to treat and recover from serious mental illness.

09/11/2024

A Philadelphia program called Beyond the Bars pulls techniques from music therapy to help students tie music and social-emotional learning together.

Our summer youth correspondents have more ↓

Beyond the Bars pulls techniques from music therapy to help students tie music and social-emotional learning together.

09/06/2024

🚨Our team is hiring a new reporter!

Are you a great storyteller with a deep interest in health and science? Do you have audio reporting experience? Apply here ⬇️

About WHYY WHYY serves the Philadelphia region with trusted journalism, eye-opening storytelling and intimate local arts...

09/06/2024

You've heard that music is the language of the soul — but could it also be a treatment for the body?

On this episode, we explore some of the latest science on the healing power of our favorite tunes, from how they affect our brains, to the promise they show in treating illnesses like epilepsy and Parkinson's.

A look at how music affects our brains, and its power to treat illnesses ranging from Parkison’s to depression.

09/03/2024

Check out our latest podcast extra, where we explore all things teeth 😬

Zoologist Bill Schutt joins us to discuss his new book, Bite: An Incisive History of Teeth, from Hagfish to Humans.

Zoologist Bill Schutt says teeth are power tools for survival. He joins us to talk about his new book “Bite.”

09/03/2024

Our lives are shaped not just by our decisions, but also by the people around us, social trends, and subconscious behaviors.

On this episode, we take a look at some of the hidden forces that shape our behaviors and decisions.

On this episode, we take a look at some of the hidden forces that shape our behaviors and decisions.

08/23/2024

Replay one of our favorite episodes today! Virtual worlds allow us to reinvent ourselves and build new lives. But some of our troubles follow us there.

On this episode, a look at navigating community, love, and work in digital realms.

Virtual worlds allow us to reinvent ourselves and build new lives. But some of our troubles follow us there. A look at navigating community, love, and work in digital realms.

08/19/2024

Hierarchy is important in the workplace. It’s part of the structure that allows decisions to be made and a direction to be decided on. But when do rigid power structures get in the way of collaboration and new ideas? We’re working on a story about hierarchy in the workplace for The Pulse, and we would love to hear any and all stories about this topic.

When did strong power structures help you do good work? When did they become a hindrance? When did you unwittingly break a rule related to hierarchy?

08/16/2024

Interest in using psychedelics for mental health treatments has taken off in recent years — but the field hit a wall on August 9, when the FDA rejected the first-ever M**A treatment for PTSD.

On this episode, the future of psychedelic research ↓

What is the future of psychedelic research after the recent FDA decision to reject M**A as a treatment for PTSD?

08/12/2024

Blast freezers freeze food quickly and at very low temperatures, ensuring freshness and reducing food waste.

Zoë Read looks into these super cold freezers ↓

Blast freezers freeze food super fast and at very low temperatures, which ensures freshness, and cuts down on food waste.

08/09/2024

We’ve been able to harness the cold for a little over 100 years — but innovations like refrigeration and air conditioning have costs and benefits. On this episode, we look at how cold technology has shaped our lives — for better and for worse.

Amid the summer heat, we explore the history and future of cold technology, from innovations in freezing to the next generation of air conditioners.

08/05/2024

AI-powered therapy bots are gaining popularity, but researchers caution that not every service claiming to be a therapist qualifies as one. Grant Hill reports ↓

AI-powered therapy bots are gaining popularity, but researchers caution that not every service claiming to be a therapist qualifies as one.

08/05/2024

Comedian Kelli Dunham has always struggled with asking people for help — but right before her partner Heather McAlister died, Dunham promised to face her fear.

Reporter Justin Kramon follows Dunham as she asks complete strangers for help ↓

Comedian Kelli Dunham accepts a challenge to head to Times Square in New York City to ask a few strangers for help.

08/02/2024

We can all use an assist every now and then — but asking for it can be tough. It can make you feel weak or like a burden.

On this episode, why asking for help is so hard ↓

We can all use an assist every now and then — but asking for it can be tough. We hear stories about the struggles of asking for help.

07/29/2024

Before great white sharks, megalodons ruled the oceans. What researchers have learned about these apex predators and their extinction. Lauren Tran-Muchowski reports ↓

Before great white sharks, megalodons ruled the oceans. What researchers have learned about these apex predators and their extinction.

07/29/2024

13 years ago, AJ Rotondella realized he could catch sharks from the beach. He’s been hooked ever since, even moving across states to chase sharks. Alan Yu reports ↓

13 years ago, AJ Rotondella realized he could catch sharks from the beach. He’s been hooked ever since, even moving across states to chase sharks.

07/26/2024

Before dinosaurs, before trees — even before Saturn had its rings – there were sharks.

On this episode, we take a deep dive into the secret lives of these predators — from their history, to the threats they face, to what makes them special.

We take a deep dive into the secret lives of sharks — from their history, to the threats they face, to what makes them special.

07/22/2024

A promising new cure sparked a wave of renewed interest in gene therapies about a decade ago — but it also set off alarm bells in the financial world. Grant Hill reports ↓

A promising new cure sparked a wave of renewed interest in gene therapies about a decade ago — but it also set off alarm bells in the financial world.

07/22/2024

Hospitals are legally required to care for undocumented patients in emergencies. But when a patient is too sick to be discharged, some turn to a controversial practice.

Alan Jinich reports ↓

Hospitals are legally required to care for undocumented patients in emergencies. But when a patient is too sick to be discharged, some turn to a controversial practice.

07/19/2024

Health care is a billion-dollar industry, and the business aspect often impacts the treatment and care patients receive.

On this episode, we explore how money shapes our health care system — from treatment, to medical debt, to the pharma industry ↓

How money affects our health care system and patient care.

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Videos

Destination Moon

A Crazy Plan to Fight Hurricanes...Using Clouds

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See a Total Solar Eclipse in this Animation

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The Fantastic Fur of Sea Otters | Deep Look

From KQED Science: Unlike whales and other ocean mammals, sea otters have no blubber. Yet they're still able to keep warm in frigid waters. The secret to their survival? A fur coat like no other.

The price tag for meat products made in a lab? $6,000 a pound. Hear more about cellular agriculture in our podcast, The Meat Show.

Farmer Jon McConaughy believes that everyone should see the slaughter process, because it will impact their meat consumption. You can hear more in our podcast, The Meat Show.

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Our reporter Elizabeth Fiedler was out talking to farmers about cellular agriculture today! Rebecca, a traditional dairy farmer, thinks growing food in the lab will unburden farmers and animals. 🎥: by Kim Paynter

🔊 When Pardis Sabeti and her team sequenced their first Ebola genome, they published their data immediately online. As they continued to work, whatever they found they put it up in real time, making important information about Ebola visible researchers all over the world.