Short Wave - Why Big Numbers Break Our Brains

In celebration of our 1000th episode, we're wrapping our heads around big numbers. Educational neuroscientist Elizabeth Toomarian talks about why humans' evolutionarily-old brains are so bad at comprehending large quantities–like the national debt and the size of the universe–and how to better equip ourselves to understand important issues like our finances and the impacts of climate change.

Interested in other ways our brains make sense of the world? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

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The Daily Signal - Climate Series Part 1: History of Climate Change

Climate change has strayed from being a scientific conversation to a hot-button political debate. But what are the facts surrounding climate change? Is climate change real? And if it is, what is causing the climate to change? Do we need to live in fear of climate change?


In a three-part "Daily Signal Podcast" series, experts in the fields of climate and meteorology join the show to explain the history of climate change, its root causes and the appropriate response to it. 

Here in episode one, David Legates—a visiting fellow with the Science Advisory Committee in the Center for Energy, Climate and Environment at The Heritage Foundation and a former director of the Center for Climatic Research at the University of Delaware, explains the history of climate change. (The Daily Signal is the news outlet of The Heritage Foundation.)


According to Legates, “the climate is changing because it always has changed, and it always will change.” 


“We've gone through periods of lots of tornadoes, for example, and then a period where we have almost none,” Legates says. “We've gone through periods where we have lots of hurricanes. We have floods, we have droughts. We go through periodic cycles. So, the climate is sort of the backdrop on which weather plays its randomness, if you want. So, climate does change, always has changed, and as far as I'm concerned, always will change.”


Legates goes on to explain what is known about climate change through the ages and the similarities between climate change patterns today and those seen in the past. 


Enjoy the show!


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State of the World from NPR - Chinese Storytellers Find Freedom in New York City

Inside China, the state is cracking down queer and feminist groups... so some are staging their own events in New York City. Sign up for State of the World+ to listen sponsor-free and support the work of NPR journalists. Visit plus.npr.org. And you can donate to your local NPR member station by going to stations.npr.org

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Slate Books - ICYMI: Should We Quit Romance Novels?

Candice Lim is joined by Slate senior editor Rebecca Onion to talk about their love of romance novels. The romance genre grew rapidly this past year, becoming the fastest-growing category of fiction and generating over $1.4 billion in sales revenue. Partly thanks to Goodreads and BookTok, romance novels are getting into the hands of younger, more outspoken and vocal readers. But recent scandals, including last year’s Hockey BookTok disaster, question the limits of literary thirsting and ask whether we can ever quit romance.

This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.

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The Best One Yet - 👶 “New generation, who dis?” — Gen Alpha’s birth. Pop-Tarts’ mascot. BYD beating Tesla.

What comes after Gen Z? It’s Gen Alpha — Marketers are turning their attention to the children of Millennial parents, and we are too. 

Pop-Tart was the star of the College Football bowls season, thanks to their mascot — Because Kellogg’s new strategy is to give their snacks arms and legs. 

And Tesla has always been (by far) the king of electric cars… until now — Because China’s BYD is now outproducing the electric OG.


$K $TSLA $BYDDY


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What Next | Daily News and Analysis - How Ukraine Loses The War

How much longer can Ukraine and Russia fight at a stalemate? And does the outcome of the war depend on Biden winning a second term?


Guest: Fred Kaplan, Slate’s “War Stories” correspondent and author of The Bomb


If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.

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What Could Go Right? - Hashtag Trauma with Scott Barry Kaufman

What is vulnerable narcissism? Is #trauma a trend? And what psychological traits define our times? Psychologist and author Scott Barry Kaufman guides us through an examination of why, what, and who we are, advocating for a holistic understanding of intelligence and creativity.

What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate.

For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org

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Opening Arguments - OA851: Iowa Judge Cancel Cultures GOP Book Ban

Our first episode of 2024 is a Good News episode! First, Liz and Andrew break down a new argument that might get everything back on track in Trump's DC prosecution.   Then, the duo unpack a recent ruling enjoining Iowa's anti-LGBTQ book ban.   Notes Trump DC per curiam order https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cadc.40415/gov.uscourts.cadc.40415.1208584150.0_5.pdf Trump DC immunity brief https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cadc.40415/gov.uscourts.cadc.40415.1208582803.0_3.pdf Ed Meese amicus brief https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cadc.40415/gov.uscourts.cadc.40415.1208584119.0_1.pdf American Oversight amicus brief https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cadc.40415/gov.uscourts.cadc.40415.1208583989.0_1.pdf In re Grand Jury Investigation, 916 F.3d 1047 (2019) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=8603210867025765580 D. Iowa Order re LGBTQ book ban https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.iasd.85819/gov.uscourts.iasd.85819.65.0.pdf Iowa Senate File 496 https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGE/90/SF496.pdf  

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Amarica's Constitution - Section Three Punditry: The Good, The Bad, and The Silly

The nation awaits the Supreme Court’s seemingly inevitable review of the Section Three case from Colorado, and perhaps Maine as well.  Media around the world is weighing in with editorials and op-Ed’s; a smorgasbord of legal, political, and predictive arguments from professors, editors, elected officials, and others with their own range of expertise.  We continue our attempt to help you make sense of these by choosing pieces that make the range of arguments out there.  We do our best to present their argument and respond to it, bringing Professor Amar’s considerable armamentarium to bear for your benefit.  And this week, Akhil has at least two - maybe three - major new ideas he brings to the national discussion.  They can be found here first.  CLE credit is available from podcast.njsba.com.