The Pulse

12/01/2025

Thanksgiving may be over, but that warm feeling we get from being with family and friends doesn’t have to be.

On this new episode, we explore what research says about prioritizing relationships and why our brains need connection.

What new research shows about why relationships matter, and how to prioritize them amid life’s competing demands.

11/21/2025

Counting carbs this Thanksgiving? Good luck😅

But what if researchers told you that demonizing an entire food group doesn’t really help as much as you think?

On this new episode, the science of our food choices.

Ahead of Thanksgiving, we take a look at new nutrition research, and what we should — and shouldn’t — be eating.

11/19/2025

These days, it's not uncommon for people to be accused of using AI to write an email or maybe a well-thought-out post on Reddit.

But why does detecting AI in writing infuriate people, and how can you avoid sounding like a chatbot? Liz Tung reports ⬇️

Top signs from researchers that something was written by AI, and how to avoid sounding like a chatbot yourself.

11/18/2025

Having a bad dream or a nightmare can seem like an inevitable part of sleep — out of our control. But, does it have to be that way?

On this podcast extra, researcher Michelle Carr discusses dream engineering and her new book, Nightmare Obscura.

Podcast Episode · The Pulse · 11/17/2025 · 32m

11/14/2025

Touched by a bot? Chatbots don't have real emotions, yet somehow, they can so easily provoke ours.

On this episode, the psychological effects of artificial intelligence.

An exploration of how AI is changing the way we feel — about ourselves and everything else.

11/07/2025

For many veterans, the toughest battles start after the uniform comes off.

Ahead of Veterans Day, we explore healing after war on our new episode — from a psychedelic treatment in Mexico to molding ceramic mugs.

On this Veterans Day episode, we explore healing after combat — from a psychedelic treatment in Mexico to making ceramic mugs.

11/03/2025

Americans have lost more than $16.6 billion to cybercrime, and it's still more challenging than ever to sniff out an online scam.

That's why it's never a bad time to check out our episode on cybercrime and how scammers prey on the rest of us.

We hear about the virus that ushered in the age of social engineering attacks, the history of cybercrime, and what led one man to become a hacker.

10/31/2025

It's Halloween — a time when we celebrate the unknown. But what about the scientists who once studied it?

Reporter Nichole Currie tells the story of an old research lab at UCLA that studied ghosts, psychics, and auras.

In the 1970s, UCLA housed The Parapsychology Lab, which became a haven for those with psychic abilities and the researchers who studied them.

10/30/2025

In Boyertown, PA, artist Charlee Heinz turns bones from forest finds into meaningful artwork that explores death and beauty.

Lise Peet reports ⬇️

In Boyertown, PA, artist Charlee Heinz turns bones from forest finds into meaningful artwork that explores death and beauty.

10/29/2025

Coca-Cola rolled out a cane sugar version of its classic soda after President Donald Trump urged the corporation to do so — but debates around the sweetening ingredient in Coke are decades old.

On this podcast extra, we talk with journalist Murray Carpenter, author of Sweet and Deadly: How Coca-Cola Spreads Disinformation and Makes Us Sick.

Coca-Cola’s rise to global brand domination, and how the company influenced our habits and perceptions along the way.

10/29/2025

Do you believe in ghosts 👻? It's okay if the answer is yes. Almost 40 percent of people believe ghosts are real — but some go as far as to prove or disprove the existence of paranormal phenomena.

In time for Halloween, our latest episode explores efforts to study paranormal activity and the people who dedicate their time to it.

From ghosts to ESP, a look at paranormal phenomena and the investigators who chase them.

10/22/2025

Last night we gathered for an insightful evening around the topic of Menopause!

A transition that affects so many of us, and yet it can be a challenge to get good, clear information to help us navigate symptoms and feel our best. Maiken Scott of WHYY's The Pulse hosted a valuable discussion on the latest menopause science, and our lobby was filled with resource tables and good conversation!

For more great events like this one, visit whyy.org/events