The spread of the virus exceeds our capacity to test, contact trace, and isolate those who test positive. Some public health experts say the only option that remains is a second shutdown. NPR's Rob Stein reports on what that would look like.
Derek Thompson, writer and editor at The Atlantic, says there's another part of our virus strategy we may need to rethink. He calls it 'hygiene theater.'
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Short Wave - Butterflies Have Hearts In Their Wings. You’ll Never Guess Where They Have Eyes
Adriana Briscoe, a professor of biology and ecology at UC Irvine, studies vision in butterflies. As part of her research, she's trained them to detect light of a certain color. She also explains why they bask in the sunlight, and why some of them have 'hearts' in their wings.
Plus ... you'll never guess where their photoreceptors are.
She's written about the importance of teachers and mentors in diversifying the STEM fields.
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Plus ... you'll never guess where their photoreceptors are.
She's written about the importance of teachers and mentors in diversifying the STEM fields.
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Consider This from NPR - In The Pandemic, Big Tech Is Bigger Than Ever. Should Consumers Be Worried?
The CEOs of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google faced questions today from a House subcommittee. Some lawmakers believe those companies have too much economic and political power. Former Facebook policy executive Dipayan Ghosh agrees.
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Short Wave - Mars Is The Place To Go This Summer
The United Arab Emirates launched a mission to Mars earlier this month, followed by China days later. And tomorrow, NASA is scheduled to launch its own mission to the red planet that includes a six-wheeled rover called Perseverance, as well as a tiny helicopter. Short Wave reporter Emily Kwong talks with NPR's Joe Palca, who explains why these launches are happening now and the goal of the missions when they get there.
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Consider This from NPR - John Lewis Fought For Voting Rights His Entire Life. Why His Work Is Still Unfinished
John Lewis, the civil rights icon and late congressman from Georgia who represented Atlanta for more than three decades, spent his life fighting for equal voting rights in America.
Myrna Perez, Director of the Voting Rights and Elections Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, explains why his work remains unfinished.
Lewis spoke to 'Fresh Air' in 2009. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
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Myrna Perez, Director of the Voting Rights and Elections Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, explains why his work remains unfinished.
Lewis spoke to 'Fresh Air' in 2009. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
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Short Wave - The Controversy Around COVID-19 Hospital Data
Data are so more than just a bunch of numbers, especially when it's the data hospitals are reporting about COVID-19. Earlier this month, the Trump Administration made a sudden change to the way that information is shared. The process bypasses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, raising concern among some public health officials. NPR's Pien Huang explains the recent controversy, and why the way COVID-19 hospital data are reported is such a big deal.
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Consider This from NPR - First Phase III Vaccine Trial Underway, Government Seeks Thousands Of Volunteers
This morning in Savannah, Georgia, the first volunteer was injected in a phase-three vaccine trial administered by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health. Dr Anthony Fauci hopes that up to 15,000 volunteers will be in place by the end of the week. (Tens of thousands more will be needed for additional vaccine trials.)
It will take months to learn if the vaccine produces an effective immune response. Scientists who've studied antibody reactions in coronavirus patients have reason to be optimistic, at least in the short-term.
And Dr Elke Webber, psychology professor at Princeton University, explains why the pandemic may be getting too big to wrap our heads around.
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It will take months to learn if the vaccine produces an effective immune response. Scientists who've studied antibody reactions in coronavirus patients have reason to be optimistic, at least in the short-term.
And Dr Elke Webber, psychology professor at Princeton University, explains why the pandemic may be getting too big to wrap our heads around.
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Short Wave - Eavesdropping On Whales In A Quiet Ocean
The pandemic has led to a drop in ship traffic around the world, which means the oceans are quieter. It could be momentary relief for marine mammals that are highly sensitive to noise. NPR's Lauren Sommer introduces us to scientists who are listening in, hoping to learn how whale communication is changing when the drone of ships is turned down.
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Consider This from NPR - Expanded Unemployment Set To Expire; Americans Face ‘Utterly Preventable’ Evictions
More than 25 million Americans have been receiving expanded federal unemployment benefits — $600 a week. Those benefits disappear in days.
Congress is unlikely to agree on new package before the end of next week. And temporary moratoriums on evictions are coming to an end in many places around the country.
NPR's Noel King spoke with Matt Desmond, founder of Princeton University's Eviction Lab, about what could happen if Congress doesn't provide more help, and why so many American families were already in trouble before the pandemic.
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Congress is unlikely to agree on new package before the end of next week. And temporary moratoriums on evictions are coming to an end in many places around the country.
NPR's Noel King spoke with Matt Desmond, founder of Princeton University's Eviction Lab, about what could happen if Congress doesn't provide more help, and why so many American families were already in trouble before the pandemic.
Find and support your local public radio station.
Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
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Short Wave - Why Shame Is A Bad Public Health Tool — Especially In A Pandemic
So much of dealing with the pandemic is about how each of us behaves in public. And it's easy to get mad when we see people not following public health guidelines, especially when it looks like they're having fun.
But Julia Marcus of Harvard Medical School says there are pitfalls to focusing only on what we can see, and more empathetic ways to create new social norms.
Julia's written about that for The Atlantic. Here's some of her recent work.
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But Julia Marcus of Harvard Medical School says there are pitfalls to focusing only on what we can see, and more empathetic ways to create new social norms.
Julia's written about that for The Atlantic. Here's some of her recent work.
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