Innovation Hub: Recent Episodes
WGBH Educational Foundation
Join host Kara Miller as she engages with top innovative thinkers and examines new ideas and potential solutions to some of our most challenging problems.
This week on Innovation Hub: we dig beneath the surface. Second Life founder Philip Rosedale tells us about the virtual worlds we might soon be spending a lot of time in. Author Catherine Price explains why you might not want to be eating a gummy vitamin every day. And finally, corporations are always experimenting on you. Professors Michelle Meyer and Christopher Chabris say that's probably a good thing.
Companies like Facebook and Amazon are using our data to run all kinds of tests. Professors Michelle Meyer and Chris Chabris explain why we should be thanking them.
You get fired, then what? Apparently use your cellphone a lot less. Data scientist Jameson Toole explains what mobile phone data reveals about employment.
Despite the claims of parents, teachers, and doctors, that morning multivitamin might not be doing much. “Vitamania” author Catherine Price tells us why we should be wary of all the health promises.
Virtual Reality isn’t just for video games. Second Life founder Philip Rosedale thinks VR can change everything, from business travel to biology class.
Before virtual reality, there was a plastic, binocular-like device that filled viewers' worlds with vivid scenes: the View-Master. A peek into how the toy came to be.
The rise of Uber and Airbnb may make you think that we've reached the peak of the "sharing economy." But to Robin Chase, co-founder and former CEO of Zipcar, we're just getting started.
This week on Innovation Hub: life, death, and sharing. Harvard genetics professor David Sinclair on his research into how we may be able to live significantly longer. Then, Zipcar co-founder and author Robin Chase on how the sharing economy is bringing the power of the corporation to the individual. And, writer Nir Eyal on the psychology behind how we tip. Plus, Skidmore professor Sheldon Solomon on the motivating force of thinking about your own death.
The average American lifespan rose from about 50 years to nearly 80 during the 20th century. Can we live even longer? Harvard Medical School’s David Sinclair has done research that he says may one day allow many of us to live to 120.
Thinking about our mortality can change the way we vote, how we dole out punishment, and who we sit close to. Sheldon Solomon tells us about research into this phenomenon.
There’s a reason you’re giving your cab driver a 20% tip. Author Nir Eyal explains how companies use psychology and technology to squeeze more money from you.
The mafia, pirates, gangs, and hackers. What can we learn from them? According to author Alexa Clay, turns out a whole lot — including creativity.
This week on Innovation Hub: icons and infamy. Writer Alexa Clay tells us the surprising lessons about ingenuity we can learn from pirates, hackers, gangsters, and camel milk traders. Then Professor John Ochsendorf takes us on a tour of world architecture, and explains how, in some ways, classical architects were far more advanced than their modern counterparts. Author Declan Fahy talks about a new breed of celebrity scientist, and why they’re influencing public perception and public policy. And NOVA producer Paula Apsell will give us an inside look at how those scientists become celebrities.
The Burj Khalifa might be the tallest building in the world, but is it the most advanced? MIT Professor John Ochsendorf thinks that today’s architects should take a page from classical structures.
Move over, Britney there's a new kind of celebrity in town. American University's Declan Fahy explains the rise of the celebrity scientist, and why they're important to all of us.
This week on Innovation Hub: Promises, promises. Author Micah Sifry explains why we thought the Internet was going to transform politics, and why it hasn't... yet. Then, former Microsoft executive Kentaro Toyama explains his journey from tech-enthusiast to serious skeptic. Professor Ian Bogost says that being always "on" means we now have more jobs than ever – a phenomenon called hyperemployment. And finally, on the 50th anniversary of medicare, Yale's Jennifer Klein lets us in on the bumpy, innovative history of the transformative social program.
Ever feel like you’re still at work, long after you’ve left the office? Well, you’re not alone. Professor Ian Bogost argues we live in a “hyper employed” time, and offers some ideas what we can do about it.
As Medicare turns 50, Yale Professor Jennifer Klein explains how the social program changed America - and why it almost didn’t happen.
Computer scientist Kentaro Toyama used to use tech to help the poor around he world. But slowly, he started believing it wasn't the answer. He explains why tech isn't doing much to educate the underprivileged or spur social change.
The Internet was supposed to revolutionize democracy and make government more responsive; so far, that hasn’t really happened. Author Micah Sifry tells us what went wrong, and what could still go right.
In science-fiction, you’ll encounter a lot of computers that can feel... HAL 9000, Deckard, WALL-E. But what about computers that can really sense your emotions? MIT Professor Rosalind Picard takes a look at this artificial-feeling future.
This week on Innovation Hub: the thrill of anticipation, and the agony of computers that can read your mind. Author Dan Mongan talks about how companies will charge us wildly different prices, once they've got all our information. Rosalind Picard explains the link between computers and emotions. Peter Moore tells us the history of our quest to predict the weather. And finally, Emma Pierson gives us the lowdown on how she used stats to analyze her love life.
Are you paying the same price for a pair of sunglasses on Amazon as your friend? Maybe not. Dan Mongan tells us how companies are using big data to take as much of our money as possible.
What if you could learn about your relationship by analyzing your own data? Statistician Emma Pierson did just that, combing through all the emails she and her boyfriend had sent each other over the years. She found some… interesting data points.
Before the 1800s, our climate was unpredictable, poorly understood, and frightening. Author Peter Moore gives us the untold story of a generation of maverick scientists who finally let us predict the weather.
Who sings for the unsung masses? Well, here at Innovation Hub, we do. This week, we’ve got stories of everyday people, from the crowds thronging Disneyland to that slow-moving line at the pharmacy. First up, professor Fiery Cushman examines the psychology behind morality, and shows us why our society’s concept of justice isn’t always based on fairness; sometimes it’s just about luck. After that, writer Austin Carr takes us into the world of Disney, and explores the high-tech way that the company is reinventing the happiest place on earth. Then Dr. Jeremy Greene tells us why the generic medicine we’re taking isn’t so generic after all. Finally, Pam Mueller explains why we might want to stop bringing computers into crowded lecture halls or big corporate meetings.
Rides, costumed princesses… and wearable technology? Writer Austin Carr goes into the high-tech process of reinventing the happiest place on earth.
What's in a name (brand)? Professor Jeremy Greene takes a look at the complex history of “generic” medicine, and its impact on modern health care.
Justice isn’t always based on ethics or fairness, sometimes it’s based purely on luck. Harvard’s Fiery Cushman examines the science and psychology of morality, and how it affects our daily lives in unexpected ways.
We all get distracted in meetings, and it’s mostly because of, you guessed it, our computers. But not for the reasons you think. Pam Mueller explains why you might want to take your notes longhand.
If you’re over 30 and you haven’t sold a tech company worth $10 billion… what are you doing with your life? Randall Lane, editor of Forbes and author of “You Only Have to Be Right Once,” takes a peek behind the hoodie to examine the customs and morays of our new tech royalty.
That shrimp you serve at your cocktail party? It might have traveled 9,000 miles to end up on your plate. “Four Fish” author Paul Greenberg talks about the revolution in modern fishing.
Shrimp, billionaires, and the invention of modern glamour. On Innovation Hub, we'll explore excess of all kinds, and tell you how to cope with it.
Before it was embraced by Frank Sinatra and Jay-Z, a serial inventor’s pet project kept exploding.
Mistresses, Nazis, and lost love — the story behind Chanel No. 5 isn’t just about perfume. Tilar Mazzeo, author of “The Secret of Chanel No. 5,” explains how Coco Chanel invented modern glamour.
This week, we take a look at progress. Tech and culture writer Steven Kotler will tell us how science fiction movies and novels are quickly turning into “science fact.” KPBS’s David Wagner reports from San Diego on how a new kind of GMO might just help us phase out malaria. Stanford Business professor Margaret Ann Neale explains winning strategies for how to get ahead in the workplace. Entrepreneur Nir Eyal gives us tips to kick our tech addition. And Arnold Thackray talks about the extraordinarily humble billionaire behind Moore’s Law.
You can’t always get what you want – or can you? Stanford Business School professor Margaret Ann Neale argues that you can negotiate successfully; it just takes a little help from science.
If GMOs in your grocery cart caused a stir, what will happen when they're buzzing around your backyard? KPBS' David Wagner says we should get ready for the next big step in genetic rewiring: wild flies and mosquitos.
As any Mad Men fan knows, the once-trendy fedoras that men sported were hung up the second they entered the office. Author and entrepreneur Nir Eyal wants that habit to come back in style – this time, with our iPhones.
We all owe a big thanks to Gordon Moore. Fifty years after he predicted an exponential rise in computing power – known as Moore’s Law – author Arnold Thackray gives us a glimpse into the unusual life of the visionary.
The gizmos we gawk at in Star Trek and Blade Runner still seem light-years away. But the rapid growth in computing power may have put us on a fast track. Science journalist Steven Kotler tells us why it’s time to start saving up for that flying car.
This week, our guests shun simple explanations. Film and media studies professor Jason Mittell reveals why we can actually handle more complexity in our television shows than ever before, despite our shorter attention spans. Planetary scientist Jim Bell predicts the possibility of everyman space travel. And, finally, Northeastern's Kara Swanson makes the case for one of the most controversial markets yet — the free buying and selling of human organs. For a fresh take on what you thought you knew, tune into our show on complexity.
Do we know our bodies’ true value? Northeastern's Kara Swanson says the massive gap between organ supply and demand makes it much higher than we might think.
We’ve all heard the age old complaint: hundreds of shows, but nothing to watch. Author and Professor of Media Jason Mittell explains why that disgruntled channel-flipping is becoming a thing of the past — and how today's television just keeps getting better.
The idea of turning a knob to change a channel has gone the way of the dinosaurs. But today’s point-and-click comfort didn’t arrive overnight. We can thank Eugene Polley and his enormous Flash-Matic for getting the ball rolling in 1955.
If you think today’s travelers have reached the last frontier, think again. Arizona State Planetary Scientist Jim Bell explains how space startups will launch us into a new age of exploration.
Whether it’s work, school, the kids, or having a David Bowie/Queen collaboration stuck in our heads, we’re all under pressure. This week, we’ll examine how we get under pressure, and how we get out of it. Harvard’s Teresa Amabile will tell us about workplace creativity, and what types of tension can heighten it. Reporter Daniel Gross looks at the engineering and psychology behind one of the most aggravating experiences in human existence… traffic. James Bessen, an economist at BU, gives some insight and historical context into the fear of knowing that a robot might soon have your job. Finally, John Ioannidis talks about the stress scientists are under to come up with interesting research, and how that’s created a crisis in scientific literature. So give love one more chance, and listen to our show about pressure.
If you’re worried that a robot might take your job, well, you’ve come to the right place. Economist James Bessen explores why technology may NOT displace workers - and why 19th-Century textile workers have a lot in common with techies in Silicon Valley.
You’ve probably seen all those clickbaity headlines proclaiming the miraculous results of a radical new scientific study. But how accurate are these? Stanford’s John Ioannidis says… not very. He’ll explain the crisis in scientific literature.
A lax dress code; an open office; awesome cafeteria food. What can companies do to truly foster creativity among their workers? Harvard’s Teresa Amabile has done a landmark study to figure it out, and she’s uncovered some counterintuitive results.
Traffic isn't just bad for our moods — it's also hurting the planet. Daniel Gross delves into the underlying engineering behind traffic jams, and how cleaning them up will also reduce emissions.
As Einstein’s groundbreaking theory of relativity turns 100, Innovation Hub takes a look at the preeminent genius of the 20th Century. We’ll explain why Einstein was a rebel, how his work continues to shape the world around us, and what his life says about the nature of intelligence.
Join guests Walter Isaacson, Amanda Gefter, Hiawatha Bray, David Shenk, and Elaine Castles as they explore the continuing reverberations of the most important scientific theory of the past 100 years. Get excited as this podcast comes to your iPod at exactly, but not past, the speed of light.
There was a time Albert Einstein couldn’t get a job teaching high school math. Biographer Walter Isaacson takes a look at Einstein’s remarkable life, and tells us why being an outsider and underdog might have helped him be even more genius.
We might put Albert Einstein up on a pedestal as the quintessential genius. But author David Shenk and psychologist Elaine Castles argue that the way we've defined intelligence is all wrong.
Using a physical map to find your way around? That's so, like, ten years ago. Tech writer Hiawatha Bray examines the science and history that gave us GPS — and how we owe some of that to Einstein.
Amanda Gefter used to think science was boring. That was before she debated the meaning of nothing in a Chinese restaurant and snuck into a physics conference with her dad. Gefter reflects on her unusual journey towards writing about science.
We live in a world that's all about self-interest — but the ways to do what's best for us are constantly changing, and often murky. This week, we hear from behavioral economist Richard Thaler about the birth of the discipline, and why the belief that humans are rational actors is all wrong. Then, picking the right job: you might not be looking, exactly, but you're happy to keep your options open. Enter the new website Poachable and its CEO Tom Leung. Plus, we go to war to protect our own interests. But as the New America Foundation's Peter Singer and Duke's Missy Cummings explain, the art of war is changing fast — and might soon have barely any humans involved at all.
Even if you’re pretty happy with the job you have, you still might want to see if there’s anything better. CEO Tom Leung talks about Poachable, his anonymous online talent marketplace that lets you look for cool new jobs, without your boss finding out — and lets companies find the right match as well.
Ever wondered why you kept throwing good money after bad at the poker table? Or why people buy cars with super-high interest rates? Richard Thaler, a founding father of behavioral economics, takes us through the "logic" behind bad decisions, and the surprising ways our irrationality changes the entire economy.
From unmanned drones to bomb disposal, robots are steadily becoming an ever bigger part of the military. But drones aren’t the only way that automation is changing the way we fight.
The basic components of human conflict may never change, but the way we fight certainly will. Peter Singer, a senior fellow at the New America Foundation, and Missy Cummings, director of Duke's Humans and Autonomy Lab, explain how developing technologies like robots and hacking are radically transforming the way America goes to war.
There’s a fine line between sharing and oversharing. And with our increasingly digital lives, it’s very easy to cross that line. Just think of that time your aunt wrote about her knee surgery on Facebook, or your friend from high school tweeted some way too in-depth details about his dating life.
Here at Innovation Hub, we’re all about sharing, including sharing some interviews that touch on oversharing. Don’t worry though, we won’t tell you anything about our dating lives.
The Onion had it right: it feels like 90% off our waking hours are spent staring at glowing rectangles. But tech writer Clive Thompson explains how even more screens could help us concentrate.
It’s not just your third-grade teacher that’s telling you to sit up straight -- Monisha Perkash has created a little chip that helps improve our posture and health.
Forget pregnancy tests - in the near future, you could diagnose dozens of diseases, from AIDS to cancer, in the comfort of your home. Dr. Eugene Chan and Professor Andrew Ellington discuss what that means for doctors, patients, and healthcare costs.
Before putting every detail of your life online was even a thing, Justin Hall had a blog. The web pioneer reflects on more than 20 years of oversharing, and he imagines the future of our connected lives.
This week on Innovation Hub, we look at building the physical world — and our communities. Entrepreneur Brad Feld talks about how places outside Silicon Valley and New York might be a better fit for many entrepreneurs. Reporter Daniel Gross looks at the major impact our addiction to concrete is having on the planet. Social Scientist Kate Krontiris examines why Americans aren’t engaged with the community they live in, and how we can change that. Finally, building better… people. We’ll look at how humans are using new technologies to change the rules of natural selection that Darwin laid out for us.
Entrepreneur Brad Feld explains what he looks for in a company, and why he decided to build his life in Boulder, Colorado over the flashier tech hubs of San Francisco and New York.
Already tired of the 2016 election? Well, you’re not alone. Social scientist Kate Krontiris tells us why Americans don’t really care about civic engagement, and how we can fix that.
Forget about the Six Million Dollar Man. We already have the technology to become better, stronger, and faster. Academic and businessman Juan Enriquez explains how we’re all going through unnatural selection.
You already feel guilty about the car you drive to work, but you might want to start feeling guilty about your workplace too. Reporter Daniel Gross takes a look at why concrete is helping destroy the environment.
We’re seeing things differently this week. Historian Laura Snyder will talk about the guy who discovered the microscope. Then, psychologist Claude Steele will examine how stereotypes disastrously affect the way we all view each other. After that, entrepreneur Andrew Keen views the Internet from a different vantage point, and what he’s seeing isn’t pretty. Finally, we’ll see - and feel - artwork in an entirely new way. Entrepreneur Brenden Ciecko and curation expert Elizabeth Merritt give us a peek into the future of museums.
The Internet connects us, gives us access to approximately one billion cute cat videos, and lets us buy whatever we could want from Amazon. But entrepreneur Andrew Keen thinks the Internet isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and he shows us the deep loneliness and inequality resulting from our digital lives.
When was the first time that humans perceived the world as it really was? Historian and author Laura Snyder says it was the in the 1600s, with the development of microscopes.
Picture yourself touching Rodin’s The Thinker with haptic gloves - which would allow you to feel the sculpture without actually laying a finger on it. That world may soon be a reality. Entrepreneur Brendan Ciecko and curation expert Elizabeth Merritt give us a peek into the future of museums: virtual reality, individualized guides, and no more boring audio tours.
Psychologist Claude Steele says stereotypes are even more important than we realize, and he explains the psychology that underpins them.
A lot of innovation depends on the masses to really get going. Take the problem of healthcare and education around the world: we just don't have enough experts to go around. That's where mental health expert Vikram Patel and UNICEF’s Jordan Naidoo see lay people stepping up to the plate. Then, social scientist Toby Miller explains that even if we all cut down on using paper, it isn't enough to help the planet — our digital footprint also needs to be accounted for. Columbia's Ruth DeFries tells us why our desperate quest for food created civilization, as well as huge problems we need to fix. Plus, an object from the past that ended up on everyone's doorstep in America.
Hunger isn’t just driving you to get that double bacon cheeseburger at Five Guys - it’s also been a main force behind all of civilization. Columbia's Ruth DeFries talks about the unexpected ways our quest for food has shaped, and is still shaping, the world we live in.
The world doesn’t have nearly enough teachers or doctors to meet its growing demand. Mental health expert Vikram Patel and UNESCO's Jordan Naidoo tell us about ingenious new solutions to address these serious problems.
Learn how, long before the Internet revolutionized commerce by bringing everything to your door, two men connected hard-working, rural Americans to conveniences and delights that came from thousands of miles away.
Printing everything out seems so wasteful, but is sending an email any better? Social
scientist Toby Miller looks at the real environmental consequences of our digital lives.
We’re all about the unexpected here at Innovation Hub. And this week’s show is chock-full of the unexpected. Whether it’s the unheralded invention that led to the modern city, the truth behind why getting an engineering degree might not be such a good idea, or the weird way the music industry is broken, we’ve got you covered. Come with us on a thoroughly unpredictable journey.
Beyonce, Taylor Swift, and Iggy Azalea all have one thing in common, and it’s a marketing guru named Gogi Gupta. Hear what selling music really means in an age of torrents and streaming video.
There’s an invention that’s made the modern metropolis possible. No, it’s not the automobile or steel. It’s the elevator. Tom Sybert, host of the Elevator Radio Show, explains how the elevator completely transformed how we live.
If you’ve got an engineering degree, you’re pretty much set for life, right? Well, that might not be the whole picture, according to Rutgers Professor Hal Salzman, who argues that there’s entirely too many STEM graduates. And we get a peek at what the STEM job market is truly like, from a roundtable of students and recent grads.
Floods, drought, crime waves, terrorism, and superstorms. The modern city faces myriad catastrophes and crises. Judith Rodin, President of the Rockefeller Foundation, tells us how cities can cope with these challenges, and what they can do to bounce back.
Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers gives a candid conversation about why we aren’t funding science the way we need to, what’s wrong with our education system, and how the tech landscape has changed for women since those controversial comments ten years ago.
The World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace, the EPA… Pepsi. Writer Andrew Winston gives us a glimpse of the the future of corporate-driven environmentalism.
From the invention of the wheel to that $5 shirt you bought at H&M, what would your life look like without trade? Author William Bernstein explains how trade gave rise to the world as we know it.
This week on Innovation Hub, we're ready for some tradeoffs. We’ve got author William Bernstein explaining how trade has shaped our daily lives, from camels to the compass to that cute new pair of shoes. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers talks about what the government is trading away when it doesn’t fund science. Writer Andrew Winston sees if profit-driven companies might give something up in return for a healthier environment. Finally, engineering professor Anne Goodchild looks at the trade-offs of our new delivery economy.
Ordering those six pairs of Game of Thrones-themed socks from Amazon and having them sent straight to your door sure is convenient, but what does it mean for the world we live in? Engineering professor Anne Goodchild talks about the new delivery economy, and how it’s going to affect the environment.
This week on Innovation Hub: when to care about the superficial things, and when to look beneath the surface. To begin, Beyond Meat’s Ethan Brown and Bitty Food’s Megan Miller tell us about the dramatic changes happening in the world of food, and why protein is about to look a whole lot different. Professor Roberta Ness explains why, despite the hype, science is failing to make a lot of real profess because of the way it is currently funded. Then, Stanford’s Peter Belmi on how your looks affect your social class, and why feeling attractive also makes you feel rich.
Trade in your burgers and chicken wings for cricket flour and meatless protein. Bitty Foods' Megan Miller and Beyond Meat’s Ethan Brown tell you why your dinner is going to look radically different in 20 years.
Is science in a rut? Professor Roberta Ness thinks so, and she wants institutions and the government to start funding risky, out-there projects.
Looks matter. But not just for the reasons you think. Stanford’s Peter Belmi explains how attractiveness and social class are inexorably linked.
Lawyers that work at Walmart. It could happen, says legal professor Gillian Hadfield. She argues that unless the profession embraces change, lots of lawyers will be out of work.
We’re all about tearing down institutions here on Innovation Hub. From replacing journalists with robots to the end of the HR department, we love bringing you stories about how old ways of doing things are being completely upended. And even more than that, we love telling you how that upending will affect your life.
So we’re excited for this week’s show, where we’ll give you a look at what’s changing the legal profession, colleges, and even our notions of creativity.
Peter Thiel thinks colleges are failing America, wants innovators to stop focusing on computers, and believes billionaires need to stop crediting luck for their accomplishments. He’s just getting started.
Extroverts aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Behind every self-promoting glad-hander lies a quiet, unassuming introvert, who might actually have all the best ideas. Susan Cain, author of “Quiet,” thinks that we had better start listening to them.
From the polio ward of a hospital to the Gumdrop Mountains and Lollipop Woods, the surprising journey of a sweet little game.
This week on Innovation Hub: death and taxes and vending Machines. First up, learn why tech heavyweight Peter Diamandis thinks anyone could come up with the next world-changing idea. Then, if you haven’t stopped listening in order to create a world-changing idea, anthropologist Mimi Ito will tell you how online education is increasing the learning gap between rich and poor. Plus...taxes. Michael Norton, a business professor at Harvard, shows how taxes could be slightly less soul-crushingly awful. And finally, to take the edge off of hearing about taxes, a vending machine that answers trivia questions and gives away cool new gadgets.
Luck, smarts, or optimism? Author Peter Diamandis tells us the real reasons why billionaires become billionaires, and how he thinks anyone could create the next world-changing idea.
You hate your taxes. That’s not a qualified statement, there’s just absolutely no chance that you like paying your taxes. But according to business professor Michael Norton, there’s a way for you to enjoy giving your hard-earned money to the federal government. It’s all about where it goes.
Anthropologist Mimi Ito explains how the rise of online learning might actually increase the educational divide between rich and poor.
Vending machines that ask trivia questions and give out electronics. Take a peek at the new world of interactive advertisements.
It’s easy to think you’re right all time. But even a fan of Innovation hub -- intelligent, cultured, and devastatingly attractive as you most certainly are -- can sometimes be incorrect. Psychologist David Dunning explains why people are so confident, even when they have no idea what they’re talking about.
This week on Innovation Hub: what humans have done, why we're flawed, and what could replace us. We start with psychologist David Dunning, who explains why people are so sure of themselves, even when they don’t know what they’re talking about. Then, techie artist Darius Kazemi and computer scientist Kris Hammond look at the phenomenon of writing bots, and why computers could be the novelists of the future. Plus, author Diane Ackerman argues we’ve entered a new epoch, one that’s defined by the actions of humans.
The man who liquefied air and changed the city’s nightscape...was also an active participant in one of history’s most evil regimes.
Robot art has come a long way from HAL singing “Daisy” in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Algorithms are writing novels now. Bot artist Darius Kazemi and computer scientist Kris Hammond talk about the future of computer-generated narratives.
Climate change, megacities, ocean acidification. Author Diane Ackerman believes humans have shaped the world so much that we’re now living in a new geologic epoch, one that’s defined by our actions.
Incubators. They’re supposed to help startups raise capital, build revenue, and maybe become the next Facebook or Yahoo! But how effective are they? Reporter Daniel Gross examines the industry.
This Week on Innovation Hub: competition, culture, and culinary robots. Entrepreneur Vivek Wadhwa tells us how much the world’s going to change in the next 15 years. Then, we examine the difference between Eastern and Western mindsets with psychologist Hazel Markus. Reporter Daniel Gross shows us what really goes on in the world of incubators. Plus, ever wondered what happened to Pets.com? Stanford business professor William Barnett talks about how competition — and even failure — strengthens innovation.
For every Apple or Google, there’s a not-so-triumphant Pets.com or AskJeeves. Business professor William Barnett tells us how smart companies compete, and why winning may lead to unexpected pitfalls.
Tiger moms or helicopter dads? Psychologist Hazel Markus talks about the stark differences between Eastern and Western cultures, and how they affect the way we all view the world.
3-D printed food, self-driving cars, and robots everywhere. Technology is going to radically alter our lives in the next fifteen years, at least according to entrepreneur Vivek Wadhwa. And immigration might be the key to that change.
Pepsi, GM, and Google are looking to hire journalists, and Contently co-founder Shane Snow is helping them do just that. He discusses the future of freelancing for journalists, and how big companies fit into the picture.
Noah Webster may be the most important founding father you’ve never heard about. Historian Joshua Kendall talks about how Webster helped write the Constitution, invented American English, and was so crotchety we’ve basically forgotten about him.
This week on Innovation Hub: why we laugh, why we cry, and why we’ve forgotten about one of the most important figures in American history. First, Contently co-creator Shane Snow describes the new world of journalism, sponsored by brands like GM and Pepsi. Then, cognitive scientist Jim Davies will tell us how evolution is to blame for us getting nightmares after watching The Walking Dead. And Noah Webster helped write the Constitution, developed American English, and was a major contributor to the first census. Joshua Kendall explains why basically everyone forgot about him. Plus, long before the backspace, a single mom made a fortune erasing our mistakes.
There’s a reason why you spent twelve hours mainlining every episode of House of Cards -- your brain can’t tell the difference between fiction and reality. Cognitive scientist Jim Davies explains the science behind why we laugh, why we cry, and why we binge watch.
The days of passive consumers are long gone. If advertisers want to engage today’s audiences, they need to create shareable experiences, say Thinkmodo co-founder James Percelay and advertising professor Edward Boches.
The Great Depression, World War II, 9/11 -- the New Yorker has published through all of it. David Remnick, the magazine’s editor, looks at what the future holds -- and why print’s not dead.
Your HR department may be in for a massive change. But instead of destroying HR, automation could actually save it, says Steve Miranda, Managing Director of Cornell University’s Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies.
This week on Innovation Hub, the New Yorker is still going strong after 90 years. Its editor, David Remnick, explains why print isn’t dead. And although private money is being poured into public education, Elizabeth Green, CEO of Chalkbeat, says that may not actually improve the system. Thinkmodo co-founder James Percelay and Boston University advertising professor Edward Boches discuss the advertising industry’s shift away from traditional models and toward shareable experiences. Plus, Cornell University’s Steve Miranda on why automation could save the HR department.
Private foundations are now pouring billions into public education. But Elizabeth Green, CEO and editor-in-chief of Chalkbeat, says that this may not fix the system.
Next week on Innovation Hub, we embrace nerdiness. It begins with Weird Al Yankovic: he just won a Grammy for his recent album — but he's also been innovating for decades. We have a roundtable with Farhad Manjoo of the New York Times and investor Roger McNamee who talk about the big picture in today's tech world, and whether the nerds of Silicon Valley are staying true to their roots. Author Annie Murphy Paul tells us how to define brilliance and how to continue getting smarter. Plus, drones, drones, and more drones!
Amazon wants to deliver books, CDs, and diapers to us by drone. But testing drones around the country opens up a world of potential problems.
Kara talks with recent Grammy winner Weird Al about how he’s stayed fresh throughout his career. Plus, they geek out together on grammar.
Look ahead 10, 15 years. How will technology shape our lives? We ask Roger McNamee, an investing legend in Silicon Valley, and Farhad Manjoo, who writes about tech for the New York Times.
We’ve long debated whether intelligence is innate or acquired. Author Annie Murphy Paul talks about the latest scientific research - and looks at simple techniques that may be able to enhance our brains.
This week on Innovation Hub, relationships are complex even before technology gets added to the mix. Sociologist Pepper Schwartz and Christian Rudder, co-founder of OK Cupid, discuss how online dating has changed how we meet people. New York Magazine writer Melissa Dahl explains how computers might better at flirting than humans. Plus, Ainissa Ramirez on another complicated relationship: the one between kids and science.
Love may be a battlefield, but Christian Rudder of OkCupid and Pepper Schwartz of Perfect Match think that online dating is changing the entire war.
If you want cutting edge cuisine, try deer leg aged in beeswax. Corby Kummer, senior editor at The Atlantic and author of The Joy of Coffee, talks about the big food trends we’ll see in 2015 - and how the work of the world’s most creative chefs filters down the rest of us.
When Yale professor Ainissa Ramirez discovered that few kids understood the science of the world around them, she left academia to help fix science education.
Stanford researchers studied how men and women talk when they’re flirting, and Melissa Dahl, a writer for New York Magazine, discovered that - so far - your computer’s better at it than you.
This week, copying and reinvention go hand in hand. Ryan Raffaelli and Matthew Drinkwater talk about how to best meld the worlds of fashion and tech in the coming years. The Wall Street Journal's Sarah Marshall explains why we might want to pare down our media diets. Reporter Jeff Tyler heads to Italy to see if the Renaissance could return anytime soon. Plus, Clive Thompson on why being a copycat isn't such a bad thing.
We’ve suffered from information overload for years. But Wall Street Journal social media editor Sarah Marshall sees a future with a finishable news experience.
Matthew Drinkwater, head of the Fashion Innovation Agency, and Ryan Raffaelli, assistant professor at Harvard Business School discuss the history -- and future -- of fashion and technology.
Reporter Jeff Tyler heads to Italy to discover whether the formula that made the Renaissance work centuries ago can be recreated in the modern world.
It can take dozens of back-and-forth emails just to set up a quick meeting. Now, an artificial intelligence personal assistant can do it for you. Dennis Mortensen, CEO of x.ai, explains why you shouldn’t be afraid.
Visit the Eiffel Tower, the White House, and even the city of Venice -- all by traveling to China. Technology writer Clive Thompson argues that these copies echo deeply-rooted Chinese beliefs, but are also a way to innovate.
This week, we examine how scarcity can help us more forward. First, author Robert Bryce argues that we shouldn't be worried about dwindling resources in the world. In fact, he thinks they're conserved by increasingly efficient technologies. Then, with college textbooks becoming prohibitively expensive, business professor Linda Williams came up with a radical plan -- make them free. Plus, Eileen Pollack explains the continued dearth of women in the sciences.
Ten years ago, Larry Summers made some remarks on the lack of women in math and science -- and it created an uproar. Author and professor Eileen Pollack was so outraged, she began to research for answers.
Inventor Percy Spencer originally worked on radars for Raytheon, but his discovery -- and subsequent experiments -- produced a household appliance that changed the way we consume food.
At hundreds of dollars each, college textbooks are becoming prohibitively expensive. Business administration professor Linda Williams and Ariel Diaz, founder and CEO of Boundless, are working to change that.
Thanks to customizable data, fashion startup Stitch Fix makes your closet look more like a Netflix queue.
Our most precious resources are dwindling, but author Robert Bryce suggests that breakthrough technologies will actually improve the environment -- and continue to make peoples’ lives better.
We’re rethinking everyday things we overlook, starting with the doctor's office. With rising costs and inefficient care, more people are looking for answers outside the main primary care system -- including Harvard Medical School’s Dr. Ateev Mehrotra and Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle, from Mass General Hospital. Then, accounting may seem like a boring job, but author Jane Gleeson-White argues those bean counters might be our only hope. And author Geoff Colvin explains why talent doesn't matter -- it's all about practice, practice, practice. Plus, ants may ruin a picnic, but one researcher says that they’re vital for urban environments.
From long waits to high prices, our current primary care system is failing too many patients. Doctors Ateev Mehrotra and Rushika Fernandopulle examine ways to overhaul the system.
There may be no such thing as innate talent. Geoff Colvin, author of “Talent is Overrated,” has looked at the research and argues that there’s a clear -- though challenging -- path to the top.
Accountants might get a bad rap. But in an economy that’s gotten by for decades without including the real costs of production, they might also be our only hope, argues Jane Gleeson-White, author of “Six Capitals, or Can Accountants Save the Planet?”
They might ruin a picnic, but new research shows that ants are actually a vital part of our urban centers.
Tech billionaires may be the royalty of the 21st century. Randall Lane, editor of Forbes and author of “You Only Have to Be Right Once,” describes their world and what makes them tick.
We're living in a world of abundance brought on by innovation. Author Paul Greenberg describes the long journey that fish now takes to arrive on our plates, and discusses whether there are ways to make it more sustainable. Then, we look at the natural habitat of tech billionaires through the eyes of Forbes editor Randall Lane. Plus, we’ll sniff out the story of the iconic Chanel No. 5 and its larger-than-life creator Coco Chanel.
Love, loss, and creativity -- there’s more to Chanel than just perfume. Tilar Mazzeo, author of “The Secret of Chanel No. 5,” tells the story behind Coco Chanel and her iconic brand.
A serial inventor’s best-known project burst into flames before being embraced by the rich and famous.
Even fish caught in the U.S. may travel over 12,000 miles before it reaches your plate, says “Four Fish” author Paul Greenberg.
Dive into how life is changing for everyone -- from toddlers to octogenarians. First, Leslie Martin and Howard Friedman discuss a decades-long study that tracked a group of people as they aged, and the surprising trends they saw about who really lives the longest. Then, Dane Stangler and Elizabeth Isele push us beyond the "25-year-old in a hoodie" stereotype to look at the growing number of entrepreneurs over 50 -- and what they're creating. Plus, UC Berkeley professor Alison Gopnik explains why children can be much better problem solvers than their parents.
Parents usually think their kid is brilliant -- and the latest research may be proving them right. UC Berkeley professor Alison Gopnik explains why children can be much better problem solvers than their parents.
Be good, don’t retire, and keep worrying. A decades-long study, analyzed by psychologists Leslie Martin and Howard Friedman, reveals some surprising trends about who really lives the longest.
Forget the “25-year-old in a hoodie" stereotype. The Kauffman Foundation’s Dane Stangler, and Elizabeth Isele, founder of Senior Entrepreneurship Works, look at the growing number of entrepreneurs over 50 -- and what they're creating.
Seniors have become increasingly tech-savvy, and startups are beginning to respond to this rapidly-growing market with tailored apps and products, according to Time correspondent Katy Steinmetz.
It’s no surprise that people in your inner circle can affect your physical and emotional state. But even your friends’ friends can transform your life -- for better or worse -- says Yale professor Nicholas Christakis.
John Kestner, founder of Supermechanical, and David Rose, author of “Enchanted Objects,” describe the home of the (near) future: increasingly wired and connected, anticipating your every move.
We’re making a resolution: to give you a glimpse of what you’ll need to know for 2015. Keep in mind that happiness, motivation and even weight loss can be contagious, says Nicholas Christakis, a doctor and professor at Yale. Then, author David Rose and John Kestner, founder of Supermechanical, talk about what our wired homes could look like in the not-to-distant future. Jennifer Lerner of the Harvard Decision Science Lab explains how our emotions subtly manipulate us. Plus, a few of our favorite guests look ahead to the new year.
A shattered arm didn’t stop one guitar player from redefining music and influencing rock & roll for generations.
If you’re sad, you should wait on making any high-stakes financial decisions, argues Jennifer Lerner, co-founder of the Harvard Decision Science Lab. Research shows that even when you don’t think you’re making decisions based on emotions -- you are.
The lone genius myth, is just that -- a myth -- according to Joshua Wolf Shenk, author of “Powers of Two: Seeking the Essence of Innovation in Creative Pairs.” And the creator of one of the most iconic pairs -- Kermit and Miss Piggy -- is the subject of a new book, “Make Art Make Money: Lessons from Jim Henson on Fueling Your Creative Career.” MIT cultural anthropologist Natasha Dow Schull, author of “Addiction by Design: Machine Gambling in Las Vegas” explains the gambling industry’s latest innovations and why they’re not so good for people. Plus, Twister -- why it’s less fun with one.
The gambling industry has made serious money by manipulating the science of human behavior, according to Natasha Dow Schull, a cultural anthropologist at MIT.
Is the stereotypical lone genius just a myth? There would be no Beatles without Lennon and McCartney, no Google without Page and Brin, no Apple without Jobs and Wozniak.
Jim Henson breathed new life into puppeteering by embracing technology and offering up a few of his own inventions.
How do states with smaller populations grab young talent? We look at Vermont’s strategy - and why it’s so tough to lure millennials away from New York, San Francisco, and Chicago.
The term “eating your own dog food” comes from programmers who force themselves to use the programs they create; that’s how the bugs get worked out. According to technology writer Clive Thompson, politicians should take a cue from the tech world -- and live by their own policies.
On this week's show -- it’s sink or swim. First up, Sean B. Carroll on Charles Darwin and the early days of survival of the fittest. Then, neuroscientist and author Daniel J. Levitin explains how to tackle modern-day information overload. We'll hear from Robert Kurzban on humans as political animals, and why we don't always make decisions in our best interest. Plus, commentator Clive Thompson on why politicians should "eat their own dog food."
Without the money to attend medical school, one inventor instead developed a futuristic -- and life-saving -- material.
Scientists often live by the mantra “publish or perish.” But one young naturalist kept a revolutionary theory to himself for 20 years. And when Charles Darwin finally shared his findings, he faced tremendous criticism, says Sean B. Carroll, the author of "The Making of the Fittest."
Technology is transforming the environment faster than our brains can keep up. The consequences for productivity and creativity are serious, says Daniel J. Levitin, a neuroscientist and author of “The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload.”
People think their political beliefs are fair and benefit society. In reality, though, most political views are driven by self-interest -- even when we don’t realize it -- says Robert Kurzban, co-author of “The Hidden Agenda of the Political Mind: How Self Interest Shapes Our Opinions and Why We Won’t Admit It.”
Digital distractions bombard us every second and stop us from making a dent in that lengthy to-do list. Technology writer Clive Thompson explains how we could put our many screens to better use.
The most important asset a company has in today’s world is the creative power of its workers. But that talent economy might not last forever, warns Roger Martin, author of “Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works.”
Sometimes you just have to take matters into your own hands. For starters, the home pregnancy test was just the beginning: Dr. Eugene Chan and professor Andrew Ellington examine the growth of home diagnostic tests for everything from HIV to cancer. Today, we all take the ability to express ourselves online for granted. But broadcasting our personal lives to the world comes with serious downsides. Justin Hall, one of the world's first bloggers, reflects on the last 20 years. Professor Roger Martin discusses how much the “talent economy” matters to Americans, and why it is in danger. Technology writer Clive Thompson has a commentary on multitasking. Plus, your mom would be proud – a chip that reminds you not to slouch.
Home pregnancy tests have been used for years -- but in the near future we could be diagnosing dozens of diseases, from cancer to AIDS, in the privacy of our own homes. Dr. Eugene Chan and Professor Andrew Ellington discuss what that means for doctors, patients, and health care costs.
Hours slouched over computers have taken a toll on our backs -- and overall health. Now, Monisha Perkash has created a little chip to help improve peoples’ posture -- and outlook.
Justin Hall began writing about his life online 20 years ago, before the word “blogging” even existed. He reflects on the pros and cons of a world where you can share your every thought.
This week, Innovation Hub separates fact from fiction. First, author Michael Specter explains why rational beings choose to believe irrational things, and why denial is dangerous for all of us. Then, Ben Casselman of FiveThirtyEight runs the numbers and finds out that despite the hype, entrepreneurship isn't thriving as much as it used to be. Plus, experts weigh in on whether we should really be worried about giving our babies iPads – for the holidays, or any other time of year.
That tablet might teach kids valuable skills, but it could also negatively affect their development. Dr. Tovah Klein, Director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development, and Dr. Gary Small, professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, discuss the long-term impact of technology on children.
An obituary – published in error – spurred one inventor to take a second look at his legacy.
People often blame memory lapses on age, but new research shows that excuse might not cut it anymore.
A growing mistrust of science has brought with it whooping cough epidemics and GMO bans, stalling society’s progress, argues Michael Specter, author of "Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens Our Lives."
Entrepreneurship gets a lot of media attention. But despite all the hype, data shows the ranks of entrepreneurs are actually shrinking, according to Ben Casselman, chief economics writer for FiveThirtyEight.
A stray piece of metal in a Philadelphia shipyard provided the inspiration for an affordable toy with a uniquely American twist.
Highways may have defined the 20th century, but airports are shaping the cities of the future, according to John Kasarda, author of “Aerotropolis: The Way We’ll Live Next.”
Forget apps to help you with last-minute shopping. This season, we look at how innovations are reshaping our holidays — altering approaches to travel, family gatherings, food, and more. Guests include: Nancy Koehn, historian at Harvard Business School; Courtney Reagan, CNBC’s retail reporter, and Howard Anderson from Harvard Business School; John Kasarda, professor at the University of North Carolina and author of "Aerotropolis: The Way We’ll Live Next."
Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, created a cultural shift in the way that we consume coffee. But he also had more early failures than successes, says Nancy Koehn, a historian at Harvard Business School.
Forget little improvements in gadgets or delivery speed. Courtney Reagan, CNBC’s retail reporter, and Howard Anderson, a lecturer at Harvard Business School, discuss what retailers really need to change to stay relevant in the coming years.
Don’t keep all those holiday truffles to yourself this year. Yale researchers report that chocolate tastes better when it’s shared.
Thanksgiving (and other assorted holidays) are just around the corner, so we thought it would be a great time to revisit a few traditions. We hear from Clay Shirky, writer and technology theorist, about why colleges will have to adapt – and quickly. David Crystal, British linguist and author, explains that technology isn't changing language as radically as people fear. Then, Ruth Reichl talks about how food journalism is changing and why sitting down together for meals still matters. Plus, the sticky history of bubblegum.