The Interesting Legacies of Past U.S. Presidents
Ahead of Presidents Day on Monday, February 21, we highlight some of our past presidents and their accomplishments and failures. Ronald Gruner joins us this week to answer these questions and more.
The Many Modes of Transportation
Dr. Susan Shaheen, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California-Berkeley, joins us this week to highlight the country’s current infrastructure and what more needs to be done to promote greater citizen mobility with bikes, scooters and other non-motor modes of transportation.
The History of Timekeeping
From sundials to mechanical clocks to atomic clocks, humans – throughout the centuries – have kept track of time using many different methods. Physics and astronomy professor Chad Orzel joins us this week to highlight just how much we rely on accurate clocks and how timekeeping technology has evolved across human history.
A Comprehensive Guide to Fandom
What was your favorite comic book series, video game or card game growing up? Depending on your age, it could have been Magic: The Gathering, Batman or Minecraft. In fact, you still could be a fan of these no matter what your age is. This week – we discuss the vast world of fandom and just what it means to be a part of this community.
A New Perspective on Cooking at Home
Ever find yourself staring at a recipe and feeling completely lost or overwhelmed? Us too. Cooking doesn’t have to be this big production, but can instead be a time to unwind, experiment and not always aim for perfection. Cookbook author Leanne Brown joins us this week to unpack how to become a calmer cook this year by planning ahead and setting new expectations.
An Illustrator’s Art
We speak with Tim O’Brien who has illustrated numerous magazine covers throughout the years. O’Brien discusses his career, the history of illustration and how the art form is used to convey a specific, singular moment or feeling that other mediums may not be able to capture.
Starry Night: The Effects of Light Pollution
More than 80% of the world’s population lives under light-polluted skies. Light pollution can impact sleep, health, and the environment. It also means the beautiful stars in our skies are clouded by the bright beams of lights all around us. We discuss the issue of light pollution and how stargazers can bring about change in their local communities.
A Season of Sadness
Researchers estimate that around 10 million Americans suffer from seasonal affective disorder each year. We speak with psychologist Dr. Carrie Ditzel about the prevalence of SAD and how people can combat these feelings and find additional support.
Managing Your Pet’s Health Heading Into 2022
Thinking about adding a new furry member to the family to ring in the new year? Veterinarian Dr. Carol Osborne joins us this week to share some helpful tips on adoption, pet health and how to keep your cat or dog happy and well-adjusted at home.
The Broken School Lunch System
For too long, school lunches in the U.S. have been overlooked. Highly processed foods are often quickly thrown together with a hodgepodge of unhealthy ingredients. Brigaid founder Dan Giusti joins Viewpoints this week to share how he, along with hundreds of professional chefs, are redefining the school lunch landscape.
Decoding the Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone is an intriguing slab of rock. In short, it’s a vital key to understanding the unique Egyptian language of illustrated text referred to as hieroglyphs. Writer Edward Dolnick joins us this week to shed some light on the artifact and how the cryptic message was finally decoded.
Tis’ the Season to Take Care of Your Mental Health
Last minute emails. Gift buying. Traveling. Sometimes the holiday to-do list can feel never-ending. It can be a stressful period. We speak with psychiatrist Dr. Frank Anderson about the importance of setting boundaries and expectations this holiday season.
The Rich History of Comics
There’s nothing quite like comics. The art of illustration mixed with text takes on many forms, including comic strips, books, graphic novels and more. Columbia University professor and author of American Comics: A History Jeremy Dauber joins us this week to help highlight the interesting history of comics and how it’s evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry today.
Regaining Digital Privacy
While it may seem like people have some control over privacy settings, this is merely an illusion argues law professor Neil Richards. This week on Viewpoints - we highlight the lack of privacy online and why consumers should expect better from corporations and their government.
The Vast Expanse of Space
We’ve barely just scratched the surface of space exploration. Many scientists at NASA and in the private sector have set their sights on the eventual human mission to Mars – but what lies past the red planet? Will humans one day be able to travel outside of our solar system? Physicist Dr. Daniel Whiteson joins us this week to explain the strange and beautiful intricacies of the cosmos.
Crafting Korean Fare
Sharing a meal and trying something new is not only a way to expand your palate, but to learn about foreign cultures, customs and traditions. We speak with Korean cook, Joanne Molinaro about her early memories of food and family and the traditional Korean recipes and ingredients that make up the cuisine.
Living in Poverty in the Rural U.S.
Poverty exists, but it’s hard to grasp what it’s really like if you’ve never experienced it firsthand. Journalist Sarah Smarsh joins Viewpoints this week to share her story of growing up poor in rural America. She shares memories from her childhood and her perspective on how modern culture stigmatizes and traps people stuck in the cycle of poverty.
The 150th Anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire
It’s been a century and a half since the fire that reshaped the Chicago landscape took hold across the city. Chicago History Museum curator Julius L. Jones joins us this week to discuss some interesting historical facts about the fire that you’ve probably never heard before.
The Hiccups in Food Messaging & Nutrition at the FDA
The FDA is a massive organization that handles a wide variety of regulations and responsibilities. However, some critics argue that the FDA has failed to evolve with the times, spending large amounts of resources on dated measures and messaging tactics. Former FDA employee Dr. Richard Williams joins us this week to highlight some of these issues within food messaging and nutrition guidelines.
The Modern Library
Many libraries have stepped up and evolved during the pandemic to offer more remote classes and resources, as well as a place to work and connect with others if you need to get out of the house. The best part? It’s all free.
The Mysteries of Alzheimer’s Disease
For many decades, scientists have been trying to decode this disease with no avail. Instead, more questions keep popping up as we learn more about this complex disease and face dead ends in treatment exploration. Two experts in the field join Viewpoints this week to shed some light on modern Alzheimer’s research.
Diversity Dilemmas in Opera
Opera is a beloved art form, but its racial history is as flawed as the rest of our culture. We talk to Naomi Andre, a professor at the University of Michigan, about the history of race in opera and how this traditional art form is evolving with the times.
Designing a Greener Building Landscape
Constructing a new building requires many resources, from hundreds of hours of labor to thousands of pounds of steel, cement, glass and other building materials. Design consultant Ned Cramer joins us this week to uncover how the industry is utilizing new technology to build more sustainably and lessen waste.
The 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11
Today, there are many young adults who were mere babies when 9/11 happened. They learn about the terrorist attacks from history books, television segments and documentaries as well as the firsthand stories of people who lived through the experience. Former FDNY Battalion Chief Joseph Pfeifer joins us this week to share his story from that morning. Pfeifer was the first firefighter chief on the …
