Speaking to Short Wave from about 250 miles above the Earth, Josh Cassada outlined his typical day at work: "Today, I actually started out by taking my own blood," he said. The astronauts aboard the International Space Station are themselves research subjects, as well as conductors of all sorts of science experiments: Gardening in microgravity, trapping frigid atoms, examining neutron stars. Then, there's the joy of walks into the yawning void of space. Speaking from orbit, Cassada told fellow physicist and Short Wave Scientist in Residence Regina G. Barber about research aboard the station, what it takes to keep the ISS going and which countries' astronauts make the best food.
Curious about the other goings-on in space? Beam us an email at shortwave@npr.org — we might answer it in a future episode!
WHY do we dream? What do dreams mean? What parts of our brain are working after-hours? We sought out UC Santa Cruz researcher and professor Dr. G. William Domhoff, a world expert on the topic, for this dream-come-true episode. Learn about historical dream research, dream researchers collect dream reports, how neurodivergence affects dreaming, why you should set an alarm to go to bed, how remembering dreams can help solve problems, and more about REM myths! We’ll be back next week to answer all your questions and dig even deeper. Also teeth dreams: WHY.
The House descends into chaos as Kevin McCarthy fails to win the race for speaker on the first three ballots, Republicans prepare to swear in a new member of Congress who made up his entire life story, and the last Congress ends by making Donald Trump's tax returns public and asking the Department of Justice to charge him with multiple crimes. And later, Jon, Jon, and Tommy kick off the new year with a round of Take Appreciator.
For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
Ravi and Rikki kick off the new year by addressing Rep.-elect George Santos’ list of lies, deceptions, and fabrications. Ravi delves into these revelations and debates if Congress can hold him accountable for his dishonesty. They then switch gears to address a provocative piece in The Atlantic, which argues that real estate should be treated as consumption, not an investment, and Rikki questions whether homeownership should still be synonymous with the American dream. Finally, Ravi and Rikki discuss snow days – should schools still have them? Or does remote learning render them obsolete?
The most valuable crypto stories for Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2022.
The former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried is set to appear in person at a Manhattan federal court this afternoon. The Wall Street Journal reports that the disgraced crypto exchange founder will likely plead not guilty to fraud at his arraignment. Plus, a closer look at why Solana (SOL) is climbing, while other cryptos like bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH), were little changed following a flat weekend.
As of 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, the day’s two biggest news stories remain nail-biters. Kevin McCarthy, who, once upon a time, seemed as though he would sail into the role of Speaker of the House of Representatives without so much as a speed bump, has instead run into a wall of opposition, stranding him in DC’s version of limbo. The other story we are watching with knots in our stomachs is that of Damar Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills safety who collapsed last night during Monday Night Football and remains in critical condition nearly a day later. Our guest host, Bob Garfield explores these developing stories, with varying degrees of concern. Also, Mike’s interview with former United States Comptroller General David M. Walker about the House Speakership and who, with McCarthy on the ropes, could throw their hat into the arena.
Exercise can be fraught for people with larger bodies. So, how about a weight-neutral approach to fitness? We kick off our “Bias Against Bodies” series with plus-size trainer and founder of “Big Fit Girl” Louise Green and runner, speaker and author Mirna Valerio. Next week, we explore the challenges of flying on an airplane for people with larger bodies.
Reset explores different approaches to self-care and ways we can prevent the cycle of burnout with therapist, podcast host and author Matthias Roberts, speaker and author Laura Vanderkam and author Jonathan Malesic.
High mortgage rates and a low supply of homes for sale has made homeownership feel out of reach for many Americans. And yet it remains an important way for Americans to build wealth.
We speak with Chris Herbert, with the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, about how homeownership became such an important part of the American Dream, and about other ways to build wealth.