Discussions

Suicide bombers and investment bankers

By The World ⋅ February 26, 2010 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

We all tend think of ourselves as conscious, rational beings, but human behavior is largely driven by unconscious attitudes. Science journalist Shankar Vedantam shines a light in these dark corners of the mind in his new book, “The Hidden Brain.” Hear him talk about what suicide bombers and investment bankers have in common, and share your thoughts and questions with him online in The World Science Forum. Download MP3

Can genetically modified crops help feed the world?

By The World ⋅ February 12, 2010 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Last week India rejected what would have been the country’s first genetically modified food crop, a transgenic eggplant. What does this mean for the future of genetically modified crops in India and other parts of the world? And can such crops help feed the world’s hungry? Talk with biologist Lisa Weazel of Portland State University. She’s the author of Food Fray: Inside the Controversy of Genetically Modified Food, and our guest on the latest The World Science Forum. The discussion is live through February, 19th. Download MP3

Visit The World’s Science forum
BBC coverage

Science Forum with Darwin’s descendant

By The World ⋅ January 29, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

This month the movie Creation opened in theaters around the US. It tells the story of Charles Darwin’s life in the months before he published his groundbreaking theory of evolution. The film is based on a book written by his great great grandson Randal Keynes (pictured). The World’s science correspondent, Rhitu Chatterjee talked with Keynes about the process of turning his book into a film. Listen to that interview and post your own questions for Keynes on our latest Science Forum.

How would you fix refereeing mistakes in soccer?

By The World ⋅ November 19, 2009 ⋅ 19 comments ⋅ Transcript

henry_handball150 There’s outrage among Ireland’s soccer fans after France eliminated the Irish national team from the World Cup. A single goal crushed the Irish, a goal that came in overtime and after France’s Thierry Henry controled the ball with his hand. Around the globe soccer fans are once again pondering ways to avoid having such glaring missed calls determine the outcome of games. What’s your take?

Defunct place names

By The World ⋅ October 13, 2009 ⋅ 32 comments ⋅ Transcript

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

On Monday’s Geo Quiz we wanted to know about geographic names that have disappeared. Here’s an example: Tanganyika. Can you find Tanganyika on the map? It once bordered the Indian Ocean and Lake Victoria, but its vanished! Harry Campbell has written a book called “Whatever Happened to Tanganyika?: The Place Names That History Left Behind.” We speak with him. Download MP3

Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

By The World ⋅ October 9, 2009 ⋅ 29 comments ⋅ Transcript

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Today, Barack Obama became the third sitting U.S. President to win the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Obama for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” The announcement drew both warm praise and sharp criticism. We’ll gauge international reaction to the announcement and the World’s Jeb Sharp puts it into historical perspective. What do you think of Obama’s win? Leave a comment below. Download MP3 Photo: White House

What’s on your iPod?

By The World ⋅ October 2, 2009 ⋅ 109 comments ⋅ Transcript

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

As our resident Global Hit maestro, Marco Werman gets to meet some of world music’s biggest stars. He asks them a lot of questions, including this one: “What’s on your iPod?” The answers are always surprising, and always make for a great playlist. But that got us thinking. Why not ask fans of The World the same question? We did, and you responded. Clark Boyd chooses some of his favorite submissions, including Spain’s O’funk’illo. Download MP3

Players: An interview with author Tim Harris

By The World ⋅ September 21, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Later today on the program, anchor Marco Werman speaks with author (and possible contender for world’s greatest sports nerd) Tim Harris. Harris has written a book called Players: 250 Men Women and Animals who Created Modern Sport. Amongst other things, he tells Marco about a vaudeville star who reinvented swimming and the man who worked out how best to jump over objects while riding a horse. Download MP3

Just “hanging out” at IKEA in Beijing

By The World ⋅ August 27, 2009 ⋅ 19 comments ⋅ Transcript

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download MP3

The Swedish home furnishing giant IKEA opened its Beijing store in 1999. A decade later, the store sees plenty of traffic. Thousands of Beijing residents come through the doors every day. It’s just that they’re not actually buying much of anything. Los Angeles Times Beijing Correspondent David Pierson tells us why IKEA is the hang-out of choice for many a Beijinger. Photo by David Pierson. >>> See more of David’s photos.

What’s on your Five Foot Shelf?

By Michael Rass ⋅ July 17, 2009 ⋅ 175 comments ⋅ Transcript

One hundred years ago saw the publication of Charles Eliot’s Five Foot Shelf. But what books from the last 100 years, fiction or non-fiction, have now earned a slot alongside them? >>>Join the discussion

Are you concerned about the drug war in Mexico?

By Michael Rass ⋅ June 9, 2009 ⋅ 14 comments ⋅ Transcript

Mexico’s drug cartels are stepping up the violence. Recently senior police officers, members of their families and a judge have been assassinated in broad daylight. Do you fear this might spill over into the United States? What should Washington do about it?