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To The Best Of Our Knowledge

Suspicious Minds

There's a short story about a guy who's so afraid of other people reading his mind that he wears a tin foil hat to protect his thoughts. The tin foil part is crazy, but protecting your mind is maybe not such a bad idea. Academic psychologist Rob Brotherton says there are certain psychological traits that predispose people to believe in conspiracy theories. For example, there's an experiment done by a group of psychologists in Amsterdam. It involves a group of subjects and a messy desk.

FIND OUT HOW LIKELY YOU ARE TO BELIEVE IN CONSPIRACY THEORIES BY TAKING ROB'S QUIZ.

To The Best Of Our Knowledge

Ron Powers on "Mark Twain: A Life"

Samuel Clemens was an energetic and passionate man who traveled the world and created a new American idiom.

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William Ian Miller on "Faking It"

William Ian Miller tells Jim Fleming we're all guilty of faking it, and that a little social duplicity isn't necessarily a bad thing.

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The Real Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott was no "little woman".  Biographer Harriet Reisen uncovers the fierce feminist behind "Little Women".

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Walter Moskowitz tattooing and black eyes

Walter Moskowitz learned tattooing from his father William, who did tattoos from the basement of his barbershop called Willy’s. In bruising Bowery fashion, the shop offered a unique service.

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Steal Like an Artist - Austin Kleon

Austin Kleon gives advice on how to "Steal Like an Artist."

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They Might Be Giants on Kid's Music

John Linnel and John Flansburgh comprise the alternative rock duo They Might Be Giants. Their first album for children, "No!" is quite different.

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Whistlers and Bow Shocks: Hearing the Sounds of Space

Have you ever heard that space is a vaccuum? That space is totally silent? Well, neither of those things is exactly true. Thanks to the research of physicist Don Gurnett, we now know there are thin layers of gas in space that produce all kinds of interesting waves — including sound waves. In this segment, we talk with Gurnett about his research and listen to some downright strange and wondrous sounds from both near and deep space.

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