Month: August 2019

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Science In Action - Cracking the case of the Krakatoa volcano collapse

Scientists this week are on expedition around the volcano Anak Krakatoa, which erupted and collapsed in 2018 leading to the loss of some 400 lives on the island of Java. The scientists, including David Tappin and Michael Cassidy, are hoping that their survey of the seafloor and tsunami debris will allow them to piece together the sequence of events, and maybe find signs to look out for in the future.

Wyoming Dinosaur trove The BBC got a secret visit to a newly discovered fossil site somewhere in the US which scientists reckon could keep them busy for many years. Jon Amos got to have a tour and even found out a tasty technique to tell a fossil from a rock.

Bioflourescent Aliens Researchers at Cornell University’s Carla Sagan Institute report their work thinking about detecting alien life on distant planets orbiting other stars. Around 75% of stars are of a type that emits far more dangerous UV than our own sun. What, they argue, would a type of life that could survive that look like to us? Well, just maybe it would act like some of our own terrestrial corals, who can protect their symbiotic algae from UV, and in doing so, emit visible light. Could such an emission be detectable, in sync with dangerous emergent UV flares around distant suns? The next generation of large telescopes maybe could…

Exopants Jinsoo Kim and David Perry of Harvard University tell reporter Giulia Barbareschi about their new design for a soft exosuit that helps users to walk and, crucially also to run. They suggest the metabolic savings the suit could offer have numerous future applications for work and play.

(Photo: Volcano Anak Krakatoa. Credit: Drone Pilot, Muhammad Edo Marshal, ITB university in Bandung, Indonesia)

Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Alex Mansfield Reporter: Giulia Barbareschi

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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - State’s Attorney Takes Aim At Juul, KLEO Celebrates City Youth

From paying social media influencers to their ad campaigns to the flavors themselves, Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim believes that Juul, the biggest player in the growing e-cigarette market, is going directly after children. So he’s going directly after the company with a lawsuit.

Plus K.L.E.O. is a non-profit serving kids on the south side through a variety of programs from helping navigate through first jobs to the arts and more. We hear more about their mission and their successes, and get a preview of their Peace Festival that’s taking place this Saturday from executive director Lesle Honore.

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SCOTUScast - Tennessee Wine and Spirits Retailers Association v. Thomas – Post-Decision Podcast

On June 26, 2019, the Supreme Court decided Tennessee Wine & Spirits Retailers Association v. Thomas, a case considering whether Tennessee’s two-year durational residency requirement for obtaining a retail liquor license is constitutional.
In 2016, companies Total Wine and Affluere Investments, Inc. applied for licenses to own and operate liquor stores in Tennessee. Although state law imposed a two-year durational residency requirement that the entities did not meet, the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) had obtained an opinion from the state attorney general that the requirement operated as a discriminatory trade restraint in violation of the U.S. Constitution’s Commerce Clause. TABC, therefore, recommended approval of the licenses, but trade association Tennessee Wine and Spirits Retailers Association (Association)--composed of in-state liquor retailers--threatened to sue TABC if the licenses were granted. TABC, therefore, sought declaratory relief on the validity of the durational residency requirement, and the case was removed to federal district court.
The district court held the requirement unconstitutional, the state declined to appeal, and the licenses issued. The Association, however, pursued its objections before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, which ultimately affirmed the district court--though a dissenting judge argued that the Constitution’s Twenty-first Amendment granted states broad authority to regulate the in-state distribution of alcohol, and would have upheld the residency requirement. The Supreme Court subsequently granted certiorari to reconcile its Twenty-first Amendment and dormant Commerce Clause precedents.
By a vote of 7-2, the Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the Sixth Circuit. Justice Alito delivered the opinion of the Court, holding that Tennessee’s two-year durational-residency requirement applicable to retail liquor store license applicants violates the Commerce Clause and is not saved by the Twenty-first Amendment. Justice Alito’s majority opinion was joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, Kagan, and Kavanaugh. Justice Gorsuch dissented, joined by Justice Thomas.
To discuss the case, we have Michael Bindas, Senior Attorney at the Institute for Justice.
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Crimetown - S2 E17: Operation Bombay Dreams

For years, the FBI has been running a wide-ranging corruption investigation into the Kilpatrick administration. As they dig deeper, the feds uncover a massive pay-to-play enterprise that reaches every level of City Hall. Is Kwame Kilpatrick a crook? Or are his associates just exploiting his name in order to enrich themselves?

For bonus content from this episode, visit crimetownshow.com. 

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The Intelligence from The Economist - Poll reposition: Macri fights back

President Mauricio Macri’s thumping presidential-primary loss in Argentina left the markets fearing a left-wing resurgence. To win over voters, he’s announced a relaxation of some austerity measures. Will it be enough? In the Arctic, wildfires are rampant—and they’ll amplify the very temperature rises that caused them. And, a look at the unlikely rise of Gulf-state book fairs.
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The NewsWorthy - Recession Worries, Robocalls Tool & Explaining Esports – Thursday, August 15th, 2019

The news to know for Thursday, August 15th, 2019!

Today, we're talking about the stock market drop, and why some experts say a recession could be coming.

Plus: a breakthrough treatment for TB, what happened in space that has scientists stumped, and the latest way companies are working to fight those annoying robocalls.

Those stories and many more in less than 10 minutes!

Then, hang out after the news for Thing to Know Thursday's bonus interview. We're explaining the billion dollar industry of esports (aka professional video gaming) and talking about how it's now in colleges and high schools.

Today's episode is brought to you by Blinkist.

 

Read more: 

Stock Market Down: WSJ, Washington Post, CNN, AP

Philadelphia Shoot-Out: Fox News, CNN

Epstein Investigation: NYT, NPR, CNN

TB Treatment Approved: Reuters, Washington Post

Black Hole Lights Up: CBS News, USA Today -- 

Amazon Facial Recognition: Engadget, Cnet, NBC News 

 WeWork IPO: TechCrunch

Robocalls System: Cnet, Engagdet

Jay-Z and NFL: NYT, WSJ, NFL

 

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The Gist - The Problem With “White Supremacy”

On The Gist, getting a bit willy-nilly with “white supremacy.”

In the interview, John Hickenlooper may be mulling a pivot from presidential to Senate candidate, but he was at the Iowa State Fair to weigh in on issues that affect the entire country—and to strike a moderate tone. In last year’s midterms, he says, “the successful Democrat did not embrace the Green New Deal and did not embrace ‘Medicare for All.’ That’s what we’re going to need to do to beat Donald Trump.” 

In the Spiel, there is no greater joy than knowing which kids’ shows—from our own generation or not—are crap.

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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Future Chicago Casino Profits And A New Elder Abuse Task Force

A new survey says that Chicago and Illinois will do quite well once a successful casino opens in the city. But it also says that the profits for the casino’s actual owner will be so low, we may see a situation where no one wants to build one in the first place.

And 20,000 cases of elder abuse were reported in Illinois last year, and experts say the number of actual abuse cases is much higher. We talk to 2 members of a new state task force combating abuse of the elderly and those with disabilities.

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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Trade War With China Affecting Illinois Farmers, Consumers

It’s been well over a year since the Trump administration started slapping tariffs on Chinese goods. China has responded in kind, and Illinois corn and soybean producers are taking a hit as one of their biggest export markets dries up. Additional tariffs will mean average consumers in the state will start feeling it as well.

Plus the Chicago Tribune’s food writers have searched out the best middle eastern food in and around Chicago. We hear about some of their favorites

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The Intelligence from The Economist - Let’s not make a deal: Brexit

Talk grows ever-louder of Britain exiting the European Union without a divorce agreement. Most parliamentarians would rather avoid that—but can they do anything to stop it? We join a Ukrainian military exercise as the country seeks to beef up defences that were nearly wiped out by Russia’s annexation of Crimea. And, China’s tech companies train their sights on the tech-savvy elderly. Additional audio: "English Dawn Chorus, Rural, late spring" by odilonmarcenaro at Freesound.org and “Puzzle Pieces” by Lee Rosevere.