//podcastplus.net/feed/the-pulse~a689a2ad Go on an adventure into unexpected corners of the health and science world each week with award-winning host Maiken Scott. The Pulse takes you behind the doors of operating rooms, into the lab with some of the world's foremost scientists, and back in time to explore life-changing innovations. The Pulse delivers stories in ways that matter to you, and answers questions you never knew you had. Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:37:34 +0000 https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/tracking.swap.fm/track/sblTq32fyWAjsHzze2LG/dovetail.prxu.org/12369/738cd692-82ac-4d2e-aa57-8f0d8c3a9ba5/thepulse20251010.mp3 We often think of digital distractions, from TikTok to newsfeeds, as a way of giving our brains a break. But in reality, they could be doing the opposite. We talk with psychologist Marc Berman about a better way of restoring our focus — spending time in nature. We also try a dopamine fast, to see if it can really improve our attention spans. Thu, 09 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000 https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/tracking.swap.fm/track/sblTq32fyWAjsHzze2LG/dovetail.prxu.org/12369/738cd692-82ac-4d2e-aa57-8f0d8c3a9ba5/thepulse20251010.mp3 https://play.podtrac.com/npr-510371/edge1.pod.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/thepulse/2023/05/20230530_thepulse_c8989fd6-2756-41fa-9012-5ea8dea76459.mp3?d=1669&size=26706382&e=1178809572&t=podcast&p=510371&awEpisodeId=1178809572&awCollectionId=510371 When NPR host Elise Hu moved to South Korea to be an international correspondent, she ended up getting a crash course on Korean beauty and the country's billion-dollar cosmetics industry. She explains the rise of the industry, its appeal, and the high standards it sets for appearance. On this episode, a conversation with Elise Hu about her new book, "Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty capital." Tue, 30 May 2023 16:00:54 +0000 https://play.podtrac.com/npr-510371/edge1.pod.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/thepulse/2023/05/20230530_thepulse_c8989fd6-2756-41fa-9012-5ea8dea76459.mp3?d=1669&size=26706382&e=1178809572&t=podcast&p=510371&awEpisodeId=1178809572&awCollectionId=510371 https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/whyy-od.streamguys1.com/thepulse/thepulse20210423.mp3 “Trust the science!” It’s a phrase we’ve heard a lot during the pandemic. It’s come to mean things like “wear masks” or “get vaccinated,” but the phrase rubs many people the wrong way — including some scientists. One of the fundamental tenets of science is to be skeptical, and to keep digging deeper and deeper into a topic until something closer to the truth emerges. But sometimes it doesn’t emerge — sometimes we reach a deadlock, leading to fierce arguments in which both sides believe they have science on their side. On this episode, we dig into science, trust, and why we believe what we believe. We hear about a controversial condition called Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS), and what scientists say about its causes; we talk to science communicators about how we forge our beliefs, and what we mean when we say “trust science”; and we hear a science writer’s surprising take on Hollywood’s favorite conman, Frank Abagnale Also heard on this week’s ep... Fri, 23 Apr 2021 10:30:54 +0000 https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/whyy-od.streamguys1.com/thepulse/thepulse20210423.mp3 https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/whyy-od.streamguys1.com/thepulse/thepulse20210416.mp3 Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Open to new experiences, or comforted by routine? Shy or the life of the party? Figuring out what makes us tick is an important part of understanding how we function within our families, communities, and workplaces. Thousands of tests online promise to assess your personality — but what are they actually measuring? Where does personality come from, how does it form, and where does it live? On this episode, we explore the science behind how we become who we are. We hear stories about what makes for a healthy personality, how our brains betray who we are, and why we change depending on who we’re with. Also heard on this week’s episode: Reporter Jad Sleiman explores how advances in brain imaging are bolstering the science behind personality research — including the famous “ Big Five ” personality test. Neuroscientists Colin DeYoung and Emily Finn talk test scores and brain mapping. Countless self-help books promise to turn us into the kin... Fri, 16 Apr 2021 10:30:22 +0000 https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/whyy-od.streamguys1.com/thepulse/thepulse20210416.mp3 https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/whyy-od.streamguys1.com/thepulse/thepulse20210409.mp3 More than 2 million people in the U.S. are incarcerated — and tens of thousands have had COVID-19. The pandemic has brought more attention than ever to the barriers to healthcare in prisons and jails. But this has been a problem since long before COVID-19. Incarceration stamps lasting effects on people’s health, and sends ripple effects beyond the prison walls, into the lives and health of people living on the outside. On this episode, we look at incarceration and its long-term impact on health. We hear the story of Adnan Khan, a formerly incarcerated advocate fighting for better conditions in American prisons; how the design of prisons affects human health; and what it’s like trying to provide mental health care in a setting that’s not really set up for that. Also heard on this week’s episode: We talk with Stanley Richards about his personal experience being incarcerated, and why the very design of prisons creates an assault on people’s health. Stanley is executive vice presi... Fri, 09 Apr 2021 10:30:33 +0000 https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/whyy-od.streamguys1.com/thepulse/thepulse20210409.mp3 https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/whyy-od.streamguys1.com/thepulse/thepulse20210326.mp3 Left to their own devices, viruses are pretty much helpless. They need cells to infect in order to replicate. But they’re sneaky — many of them also manage to stick around long after we think they’re gone. When the immune system sets out to kill infected cells, many viruses hide and continue to cause problems. This aspect has come into much sharper focus during the pandemic, with thousands of people suffering serious symptoms months after first being diagnosed with COVID-19. On this episode, we explore viruses — how they affect our bodies, and what happens when they stick around. We hear from a physician who’s treating long-haul COVID-19 patients, and find out from an immunologist how viruses manage to avoid and evade our body’s defense system. We’ll also explore how new research into the after-effects of viruses could benefit many people who are suffering with other little-understood conditions. Also heard on this week’s episode: What fascinated immunologist Carolina Lopez... Fri, 26 Mar 2021 10:30:02 +0000 https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/whyy-od.streamguys1.com/thepulse/thepulse20210326.mp3 https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/whyy-od.streamguys1.com/thepulse/thepulse20210319.mp3 The modern world is made possible by a web of electromagnetic radiation. Your phone, computer, TV, cable box, radio — all depend on millions of signals zipping past each other every second. As more and more devices and inventions rely on these signals, this highway of information is getting crowded. We explore this unseen world and some of the new issues that are emerging. We hear stories about how scientists are dealing with this increasingly crowded radio spectrum; who has access to high-speed internet, and who doesn’t; and our efforts to listen to space to get a better understanding of our universe, and whether or not we’re alone. Also heard on this week’s episode: We chat with Nicol Turner Lee , who studies equitable access to technology, about who has access to high-speed internet, and who doesn’t. She explains the need for better broadband infrastructure and the challenges families and communities face in staying connected. Turner Lee is the Director of the Center ... Fri, 19 Mar 2021 10:30:25 +0000 https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/whyy-od.streamguys1.com/thepulse/thepulse20210319.mp3 https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/whyy-od.streamguys1.com/thepulse/thepulse20210312.mp3 Who becomes a physician in this country — and who never gets that chance? It’s a question a lot of medical schools are grappling with, as groups like Black people and Latinos remain especially underrepresented among students. What would it take to attract and retain a more diverse group of students? On this episode, we hear stories about people’s path to med school, and the challenges they face along the way. We learn about a major push to increase diversity that happened in the 90s — and what happened to it; why some are rallying to do away with a tough entry exam applicants have to take; and the challenges of being the only person of color in your class. Also featured on this week’s episode: University of Chicago Medicine OB-GYN Pierre Johnson describes his path toward becoming a physician, and the burden of often being the only Black student in the room. His book and nonprofit are called “Pulse of Perseverance.” We talk with Jaya Aysola, the founder and ex... Fri, 12 Mar 2021 11:30:04 +0000 https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/whyy-od.streamguys1.com/thepulse/thepulse20210312.mp3 https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/whyy-od.streamguys1.com/thepulse/thepulse20210108.mp3 Owning a pet means making decisions that affect their health — from what they eat, to whether and how much they exercise, to how they spend their days. Some of those decisions are easy — should we get our yowling cat fixed? — but others are wrenchingly tough — how much is too much for lifesaving surgery? On this episode, we explore some of the emotional, financial, and ethical dilemmas that come with owning a pet. Among the conundrums we explore: Should cats be let outside? When is it OK to crate your dog — and is there science that supports the practice? When do you know that it’s time to let your fur-baby go — and what’s the kindest way to do it? Also heard on this week’s episode: Bioethicist and writer Jessica Pierce weighs in on some of the complicated ethics of owning pets — from whether goldfish and geckos are in solitary confinement, to the humane way of walking dogs. Her latest book is called “Unleashing Your Dog: A Field Guide to Giving Your Canine Companion... Fri, 08 Jan 2021 11:30:37 +0000 https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/whyy-od.streamguys1.com/thepulse/thepulse20210108.mp3 https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/whyy-od.streamguys1.com/thepulse/thepulse20210101.mp3 The pandemic has changed the way a lot of us understand and experience happiness. In normal times, we think of happiness as a big-picture goal — a guiding principle for making decisions. Will this job make me happy? Will this relationship make me happy? Will starting a family, or moving, or switching careers make me happy? But over the past few months, as our lives have increasingly been shaped by restrictions, loss, and fear, many of us have had to reexamine what happiness means, and how we can find it. On this episode, we hear from psychologists who study happiness, and explore what contributes to happiness, and what it means in this unique moment. Also heard on this week’s episode: How do we achieve happiness? That’s a question that University of California psychology professor Sonja Lyubomirsky has been exploring for years. She says happiness is both a state — a fleeting moment — and also a trait, something that’s more stable, and a more dominant characteristic in some p... Fri, 01 Jan 2021 11:30:24 +0000 https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/whyy-od.streamguys1.com/thepulse/thepulse20210101.mp3