Life on Mars, Jane and Emma, Cyber Bullying, Tech Generation

Life on Mars (00:00)  The possibility of life on Mars used to be a fascinating mystery, but now it’s become a question of critical importance as we prepare to send humans to Mars within the next few decades. So what evidence have we really found of life on the red planet? The answer is understandably complicated, but author David Weintraub is here with us today to help us sort out the facts. He explains the planet’s history of myth and misconception, and why Mars has always captured human imagination. Dr. David Weintraub is a Professor of Astronomy at Vanderbilt University. He is the author of Life on Mars: What to Know Before We Go. Jane and Emma (20:21) Director and producer Chantelle Squires, and writer Melissa Leilani Larson, join Lisa to talk about the upcoming film “Jane and Emma” and why they were inspired to tell this story. Cyber Bullying (51:10) With social media, bullying doesn’t only take place in schools. Bullying follows teens wherever their cellphones are. According to the Pew Research Center, 5-9 percent of teens have experienced some type of bullying or harassment online. Sue Scheff is the author of Shame Nation: The Global Epidemic of Online Hate, and is an advocate of cyberbullying prevention. She joins us to share some tools children should have in order to combat cyberbullying. Tech Generation (1:05:41) How many hours each day should I let my kids play on the iPad? Are videogames rotting their brains? What do I do when they throw a tantrum every time I try to get them off the computer? In their new book, Tech Generation, Mike Brooks and Jon Lasser answer these questions and detail their Tech Happy Life Model, a plan that helps parents teach their kids how to use technology in healthy, productive ways and minimize its negative consequences. Dr. Mike Brooks is a licensed psychologist and director of the Austin Psychology & Assessment Center. He runs the website “Tech Happy Life” and is the co-author of Tech Generation.