James Watson, one of the discoverers of DNA's double-helix structure, talks with Steve Paulson about making the discovery and what sort of environment produces scientific breakthroughs.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
Iris Chang is the author of “The Chinese in America: A Narrative History.” She talks with Steve Paulson about that history.
In "Humans, Aliens and Autism" Ian Hacking analyzes the use of the alien metaphor as applied to people with autism.
J.G. Ballard’s futuristic 1975 novel, “High Rise, is about a group of people living in a luxury high-rise apartment building where neighbors organize themselves according to their respective social classes. Literally. The lower class lives on the lower floors, the middle class in the middle and the upper class occupies the most luxurious apartments on the highest floors. Tribal-class warfare ensues. Here’s an excerpt.
If you’re looking for the model of a compassionate doctor, you could start with James Orbinski. As a former member – and president – of Doctors Without Borders, also known as MSF, he’s served in some of the world’s desperate places. He writes about his experiences in the book “An Imperfect Offering.”
It's not just writers that are struggling to make a living these days. Artists and other creative types are also feeling the pinch, especially as more and more businesses that support them disappear — think indie record stores or bookstores. Scott Timberg is a writer who believes the arts economy is collapsing. He tells Sara Nics that if the trend continues, the only artists who'll surive are those at the very top.
Mike Sargent is a filmmaker and a co-founder of the Black Film Critics Circle. He spoke with Anne Strainchamps about the #OscarSoWhite campaign, and racial diversity in Hollywood.
James Bradley tells what happened on the next island over from Iwo Jima, where eight American airmen were captured and beheaded.
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