Podcast

Horizons from PBS News

Health & Fitness

Each week, explore science, health, and technology headlines with leading experts. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Episodes
36
Releases
Weekly
Typical length
25 min
On air since
2026
Latest episode
4 days ago

Episodes

36 episodes, newest first

  1. Why buying concert tickets is a nightmare for fans – and how to fix it

    Show notes

    Ticket prices for concerts and live events have skyrocketed, and fans are increasingly frustrated by how complex the process has become. As bots and other AI agents swarm the system and displace real fans, what can be done to protect consumers? Horizons moderator William Brangham explores the Wild West of buying tickets with Brian Shearer and Ben Sisario. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

  2. Two doctors offer new ideas to prevent gun violence in America

    Show notes

    America has an epidemic of gun violence that claims over 120 people every day. The country has debated what to do about this for years, but little has changed. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores gun safety and public health with Dr. Sandy McKay and Dr. Joseph Sakran, two experts with prevention ideas they argue every American can get behind. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

  3. The hopes and risks of bringing humanoid robots into our homes

    Show notes

    Life-like, humanoid robots have captured our imagination for decades. Now, those robots work in factories and assembly lines all over the world. Will they soon be working in our own homes? Horizons moderator William Brangham explores our robotic future with Aaron Ames of the California Institute of Technology. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

  4. Exploring the science of keeping your mind sharp as you age

    Show notes

    Everyone wants to keep a sharp mind as they age, especially as dementia cases continue to rise. Now, a growing body of evidence suggests almost half of the key risks for cognitive decline can be prevented or delayed. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores the emerging science that can help protect against dementia with Dr. Jonathan Rosand of the Global Brain Care Coalition. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

  5. How a rare genetic mutation could unlock new ways to treat or prevent dementia

    Show notes

    Over 55 million people worldwide are living with the devastating reality of dementia, but researchers have now identified some individuals who share a rare genetic predisposition to developing a type of this tragic disease. Could studying these families unlock new ways to predict, treat, or even prevent Alzheimer's and dementia? Horizons moderator William Brangham explores more with Robert Kolker. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

  6. How much privacy is left in an age of surveillance?

    Show notes

    We are all being watched in ways we never imagined, including vehicle tracking, facial recognition technology and data mining. What does all this digital surveillance mean for the right to privacy? And as a backlash over this monitoring grows, what can you do to protect yourself? Horizons moderator William Brangham explores the ethics of surveillance Byron Tau and Calli Schroeder. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

  7. The science of grief and how it can impact physical health

    Show notes

    If we are lucky enough to live full lives and form meaningful relationships, chances are, we will also experience loss, and with it, grief. As common as grief is, it's also mysterious. Horizons guest moderator Ali Rogin explores the science of grief with Liz Gleeson and Dr. George Slavich. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

    25 min
  8. The lasting health toll of 9/11 on rescue workers and survivors

    Show notes

    It's now believed that more people have died because of the toxic exposures they got from the 9/11 sites than were killed by the terrorists on that day. Survivors, first responders and volunteers have faced everything from cancer to respiratory disorders to PTSD. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores the long-term health impacts with Dr. Michael Crane, Dr. Benjamin Luft and John Feal.
    PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

    24 min
  9. Technology is reshaping education. But is it helping students learn?

    Show notes

    Putting technology into schools was sold as a revolution that would help kids learn. But as tech companies exert greater influence, many are now wondering if screen time is doing more harm than good. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores how technology is shaping education with Natasha Singer, a New York Times reporter and author of "Coding Kids: Big Tech's Battle to Remake Public Schools." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

    25 min
  10. Why America faces a primary care shortage – and why it matters

    Show notes

    There's a critical need for primary care physicians across America, but a shortage of doctors and rising insurance costs are forcing people to forgo preventive care altogether. Americans die of preventable, treatable diseases at far higher rates than people who live in other similar nations. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores possible solutions with Dr. Lucy McBride and Renuka Rayasam.
    PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

    25 min
  11. Can recycling solve the world's trash problem?

    Show notes

    Reduce, reuse, recycle. It's the mantra heard for decades, but does it work? There's a lingering cynicism that recycling is a scam, that it doesn't really help, and it's more about making us feel good than doing something meaningful. Horizons moderator William Brangham separates fact from fiction with Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli of WATS and Judith Enck of Beyond Plastics. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

  12. The alarming decline of bird populations and why humans should care

    Show notes

    Birds are not only wondrous creatures that live amongst us, they're also an essential part of life on Earth – helping grow food, keeping pests at bay and spreading seeds. But more than half of migratory bird populations are declining globally. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores the threats birds are facing with ornithologist Peter Marra of the Earth Commons at Georgetown University. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

  13. Why uterine fibroids remain misunderstood despite affecting most women

    Show notes

    For millions of women, uterine fibroids not only cause painful symptoms, but the diagnosis can bring more questions than answers. Even though most women will develop them, misconceptions remain about who gets them and how they should be treated. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores fibroids and treatment with Dr. Soyini Hawkins and Sateria Venable. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

  14. What alcohol does to our bodies – and why many overlook the risks

    Show notes

    Alcohol is a product so tightly woven into our society that we struggle to see what it's really doing to us. Despite documented links between alcohol and cancer, heart and liver disease, over half of all drinkers think their own consumption doesn't raise their risk for serious health problems. Horizons mo derator William Brangham explores more with Lev Facher, Marissa Esser and Priscilla Martinez. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

    25 min
  15. The unsung heroes of American innovation and ingenuity

    Show notes

    From the light bulb to the iPhone, American inventions have rocketed around the world thanks to their innovation and ingenuity. But some American innovators, including women and people of color, have largely been overlooked. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores why America has been such fertile ground for creative minds with Sujai Shivakumar and Eric S. Hintz. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

  16. Screens are virtually inescapable. What are they doing to our health?

    Show notes

    They're in our pockets, workplaces, homes and schools — screens are everywhere. Americans are spending more than seven hours a day looking at screens. What is this doing to our well being? And does all this screen time affect different generations differently? Horizons moderator William Brangham explores what we know and don't know with researchers Kostadin Kushlev and Courtney K. Blackwell. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

  17. The science of 'Dad Brain' and how fatherhood changes men

    Show notes

    While most scientific research has focused on men, when it comes to parenthood, it's all about mothers. But new research shows that men undergo profound changes biologically and psychologically when they become fathers. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores the surprising science of "Dad Brain" with Darby Saxbe. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

    25 min
  18. Why communities are revolting against data centers

    Show notes

    Artificial intelligence data centers are popping up across America, spurring fierce backlash because of their need for huge amounts of water and power. Is the AI revolution worth the price communities are paying? Horizons moderator William Brangham explores the impact of data centers with Michael Webber, author of "Power Trip: The Story of Energy," which was also made into a series on PBS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

  19. Exploring the questions surrounding UAPs and the search for extraterrestrial life

    Show notes

    Unexplained sightings have appeared in our skies for years, and now the U.S. government has started releasing declassified files about what we used to call UFOs. What explains these phenomena, and what do we know about life beyond Earth? Horizons moderator William Brangham explores what we do know, and what we don't, with Leslie Kean and Garrett Graff, two authors who've studied this topic deeply. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

  20. As the Colorado River dries up, how Western states are confronting the water crisis

    Show notes

    Roughly one in ten Americans gets their water from the Colorado River. But a worsening drought, driven in part by climate change, is drying up the river, and states are fighting over water rights. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores what that means for communities and industries that depend on that water with Luke Runyon, Wade Crowfoot and Joel Ferry. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

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