The Pulse

Artificial Intelligence is already guiding surgeons in operating rooms; it’s used to read image scans or take notes during your doctor’s visit. And the pace of AI integration is only getting faster. So what will health care look like in the next 10 to 20 years? Will we consult with an AI-powered doctor before we see our primary care physician or a specialist? Will it give more patients access to cutting-edge care? On this episode; a conversation with physician Robert Wachter on the future of medicine. He’s the chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco and author of “A Giant Leap: How AI Is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means for Our Future." 

For those deep in the dating trenches, love and attraction can feel like uncrackable riddles. How do I make myself attractive to others? How do you know if someone’s into you? What should I look for in a partner — and how do I know if I’ve found “the one”?On this episode, we train a scientific lens on the mysteries of love. We talk with psychologist Paul Eastwick about the latest research on attraction, relationships, and finding love; learn about how dating apps are transforming the courting process; and hear about two couples who found love in unexpected places. Researcher Paul Eastwick discusses what fuels romantic attraction, why dating apps aren’t necessarily the best way to gauge compatibility, and what makes for a good and healthy relationship. Eastwick is the principal investigator for the attraction and relationships research laboratory at the University of California, Davis. His new book is “Bonded by Evolution: The New Science of Love and Connection.” By most measures, Danielle and Kevin Robinson’s longtime marriage is what the kids would call “relationship goals” — they laugh constantly, share the same interests, and get along like a house on fire. But, in the beginning, not everyone thought they were a match — including Kevin. Pulse reporter Liz Tung tells the story of how they got together, and what their romance shows about compatibility, and different kinds of attraction. When it comes to love stories, Celine Broeckaert and Frank Verstraete have a pretty unique one — they fell in love while writing a book about quantum physics. We hear the story of how the unlikely pair — Broeckaert a playwright and filmmaker, and  Verstraete a quantum physicist — met, what it was about working on the book that bonded them together, and how the right partner can bring a new magic to the familiar. Their book is “Why Nobody Understands Quantum Physics: The Story of the Science That Shapes Our World.”

Gladys McLean, a family cook who adapts Southern recipes for healthier eating, Nicole Curry, a reporter who explored cooking and culture with her aunt, Dr. Ayla Stanford, a pediatric surgeon and health equity advocate running for Congress, and Dr. Fatima Cody-Stanford, an obesity medicine physician-scientist, discuss culturally tailored nutrition, community-based trust-building in care, structural drivers of health disparities, and efforts to expand access to quality care.

Charles Knowles, surgeon and recovering alcoholic, reflects on how drinking shaped his life and the medical harms of alcohol. Andrew Stelzer, reporter on the California sober trend, explores people using cannabis or psychedelics instead of booze. They discuss why alcohol can feel good then harmful, substitution strategies, social sobriety, and the rise of zero-proof social spaces.

On January 28, 1986, a frigid cold day with an icy blue sky, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded just 73 seconds after launching from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The accident killed all seven crew members aboard and was the first fatal in-flight spacecraft disaster in NASA's history. For many, the explosion came as an absolute shock. Millions of people were watching live, including school children who were especially eager to catch a glimpse of Christa McAuliffe, a teacher from New Hampshire and the first civilian in space. On this episode, we remember the Challenger tragedy with author Adam Higginbotham who details what went wrong and the aftermath in his book, “Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space.”

Join journalist Adam Higginbotham, who dives into the Challenger disaster's chilling details and its lasting impact on NASA. Science reporter Liz Tong discusses the Viking 1 mission that first landed on Mars, its quest to find life, and the debate sparked by its intriguing results. Health reporter Alan Yu recounts the thrilling journey of New Horizons, from near-misses to groundbreaking discoveries as it flew by Pluto, revealing Earth's icy cousin. Together, they explore the triumphs and tragedies that continue to shape space exploration.

If you go by pop culture depictions, menopause seems like no big deal — a few hot flashes, some comical bouts of hormone-fueled rage, and the “big change,” as it was once called, is over. But for many of the 2 million American women who enter menopause each year, the symptoms can be a lot more serious and long-lasting, ranging from vertigo and joint pain to brain fog and heart problems.On this episode, we take a deep dive into perimenopause and menopause – what’s going on biologically? What can be done to ease symptoms? And why do so many women struggle to receive help from their doctors?We talk with menopause experts about hormone replacement therapy, and why it was demonized for many years; find out what researchers have discovered about the causes of brain fog; and hear about new efforts to deal with medically induced menopause. In this excerpt from our live event, Reimagining Menopause, host Maiken Scott talks with two certified menopause providers — Robyn Faye, an OB-GYN at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia, and Arina Chesnokova, assistant professor in of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine — about the ins and outs of hormone therapy, which symptoms it alleviates, when it’s safe and when it’s not. Watch the full discussion here. Reporter Alan Yu talks with researchers about what’s behind one of the most vexing symptoms of menopause for many women — brain fog. For women who have cancer when they’re younger, especially breast or ovarian cancer, chemotherapy and other medications needed to treat the disease can affect hormones - and suddenly plunge them into menopause, years before they might naturally experience it. We explore what their options are, and why so many say they were not prepared for this change.

Capsule wardrobes have become a popular way to streamline and organize your closet — basically, paring it down to a few staple pieces that you can combine in multiple ways, and freshen up with seasonal accessories. Registered Dietitian Jenn Salib Huber says this is how women should think about nutrition during perimenopause and menopause. Rather than obsessing over calorie counts and macronutrients, they should focus on staples like soy and fish that are not only delicious but can also alleviate symptoms like hot flashes or brain fog. Huber joins us to discuss her new cookbook, “Eat to Thrive During Menopause.” She offers advice for getting the most out of your meals, tells us which ingredients are “must-haves” during menopause, and shares some of her favorite recipes.

Eric Zillmer, a psychologist from Drexel University, discusses the creation of a 'happiness map' for Philadelphia, revealing how specific places can enhance joy. He shares practical habits to boost happiness, including spending time outdoors and fostering social connections. Joining him is Daniel Coyle, author of 'Flourish,' who emphasizes the importance of community in achieving meaning and joy. Together, they explore how shared experiences and open-mindedness can transform our daily lives, making happiness more attainable.

For a lot of us, noise is a constant factor — an inescapable soundtrack playing on loop in the background. Kids screaming, sirens blaring, the roar of traffic, the sounds of music, lawn mowers, construction, and so much more.We ignore it when we can, or wear headphones to block out the racket. But all that noise can actually damage our hearing and, subsequently, our overall health. On this encore episode, we explore what researchers are learning about the connections between noise, hearing loss, and our well-being. We find out whether constant headphone listening could put our hearing at risk, and why live concerts are so loud, along with how to protect your ears. Also, why stigma remains around hearing aids, even though so many people need them.SHOW NOTES:We talk with exposure scientist Rick Neitzel about the long-neglected topic of noise pollution and its effects on our health. He explains the physiological effects of noise, theories on how it causes harm, and some of the most common sources of damaging sound exposure.Meg Wallhagen — a geriatric nurse practitioner and hearing loss researcher — explains age-related hearing loss, and why there still remains a stigma against hearing aids.