Asian Democracy, Pumpkin Queen, Breastmilk Vaccination

Politics in Asia (Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan) Guest: Joel Selway, PhD, Asian Politics at BYU; Eric Hyer, PhD, Asian Politics at BYU In Thailand, people are mourning the passing of the world’s longest-reigning monarch King Bhumibol. At his death last Thursday at the age of 88, King Bhumibol had held the throne for 70 years – since shortly after World War II. He’d been a stabilizing influence in a time of increasing polarization for Thailand, punctuated by military coups, the most recent in 2014. With a military junta in control of Thailand since then, the democratic process King Bhumibol presided over is in question.  Meanwhile, there have been some interesting developments in the politics of Hong Kong and Taiwan. Both countries have seen a surge in demonstrations and support for greater independence from China.   Pumpkins: Beyond the Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Guest: Sarah Frey-Talley, CEO of Frey Farms The most popular Halloween pumpkins are big and orange. Millions have already been shipped all over the country for families to buy and use for this spooky season. But there are more exotic pumpkins that people should try – the bumpy, multi-colored, misshapen kinds. These strange pumpkins are perfect for decorating and even eating once the season is over. Vaccinating Babies Through Mom’s Breastmilk Guest: Ameae Walker, PhD, Professor of Biomedical Sciences in the UC Riverside School of Medicine Right from birth, babies in the US begin a series of vaccines to protect them from serious diseases including hepatitis B, chickenpox, polio, diphtheria, measles and mumps. Those vaccines come in the form of shots that are no fun for the baby or its parents. Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have discovered a new possibility for vaccinating babies that entails vaccinating the mother and letting that immunity pass through her breastmilk to the nursing infant. Their research, published in the Journal of Immunology, could be a breakthrough for diseases like tuberculosis, which are difficult to vacc