Saturday, April 3rd: Animal Minds
When we gaze into the eyes of a wild animal, or even a beloved pet, can we ever really know what they might be thinking? Is it naive to assume they’re experiencing something close to human emotions? Or, on the contrary, is it ridiculous to assume that they AREN’T feeling something like that? In this hour of Radiolab, we explore what science can say about what goes on in the minds of animals. Guests include: a humpback whale, Paul Thoreaux, camels, Jonah Lehrer, and a bloodthirsty leopard seal.
Saturday, April 10th: Lucy
Chimps. Bonobos. Humans. We’re all great apes. This hour we take a look at what happens when we all try to live together. Our main story is the haunting tale of a chimp named Lucy. When Lucy was only two days old she was adopted by a psychologist and his wife who wondered: if given the right environment, how human could Lucy become? This story and other tales of radical sharing between humans and the creatures on earth most like us.
Saturday, April 17th: Limits
How much can you jam into a human brain? How far can you push yourself past feelings of exhaustion? In this hour of Radiolab, we examine human limits. We talk to Ironman tri-athletes and hear the memorable tale of a man who couldn’t forget. Are we limited by the size of our brain and the strength of our muscles – or will there always be a way to push ourselves just a little bit further? And what about human comprehension? As science barrels forward, will we reach the limit of human understanding?
Saturday, April 24th: Famous Tumors
This hour is dedicated to tumors. It may sound like a grim topic, but what we find when we look closely at these anatomical aberrations, are fascinating tales of evolution, immortality, and even…maybe…God? We’ll hear about a tumor that changes modern science, and the tragic untold story of the woman attached to that tumor. We’ll witness terrifying contagious tumors, tumors that bring joy, and tumors that bring ecstasy. And Robert will try to touch, literally touch, the tumor that killed President Ulysses S. Grant.
Saturday, May 1st: Who Are You?
This hour centers around a chilling question: can you ever really know the people around you? Even those most dear to you–your mother, your child, your loved one–can you ever really know what they are thinking, feeling, or experiencing? Or is it all just a leap of faith? In this episode of Radiolab, we talk to neuroscientists, primatologists, zookeepers, actors, and dog owners, who are all trying to get inside another’s mind.
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