- Jul 22, 2021 8:00 pm
- 16:09
Our skin warns us of danger through pain signals. If you accidentally put a hand on a hot stove, you would instantly recoil because of the unpleasant burning feeling. Imagine how much worse a burn would be if you didn’t feel any pain. That’s what would happen for people with a prosthetic hand. That may soon change. Researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia have developed artificial skin that can react to pain. Madhu Bhaskaran led this research and is a professor of electronic and telecommunications engineering. (Produced by Cecilia Foster) (Originally aired January 19th, 2021)
Space Travel
We’re now in the era of commercial space travel, though only the super-wealthy can afford a ticket at this point. Blue Origin's spacecraft just carried owner Jeff Bezos to space; a few weeks ago, Virgin Galactic took Richard Branson into the heavens. Where’s NASA in all of this? Or is space the new Wild Wild West, with rich men building rockets instead of railroads? Jeff Foust is a senior writer at Space News. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
We’re now in the era of commercial space travel, though only the super-wealthy can afford a ticket at this point. Blue Origin's spacecraft just carried owner Jeff Bezos to space; a few weeks ago, Virgin Galactic took Richard Branson into the heavens. Where’s NASA in all of this? Or is space the new Wild Wild West, with rich men building rockets instead of railroads? Jeff Foust is a senior writer at Space News. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Artificial Skin
Our skin warns us of danger through pain signals. If you accidentally put a hand on a hot stove, you would instantly recoil because of the unpleasant burning feeling. Imagine how much worse a burn would be if you didn’t feel any pain. That’s what would happen for people with a prosthetic hand. That may soon change. Researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia have developed artificial skin that can react to pain. Madhu Bhaskaran led this research and is a professor of electronic and telecommunications engineering. (Produced by Cecilia Foster) (Originally aired January 19th, 2021)
Our skin warns us of danger through pain signals. If you accidentally put a hand on a hot stove, you would instantly recoil because of the unpleasant burning feeling. Imagine how much worse a burn would be if you didn’t feel any pain. That’s what would happen for people with a prosthetic hand. That may soon change. Researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia have developed artificial skin that can react to pain. Madhu Bhaskaran led this research and is a professor of electronic and telecommunications engineering. (Produced by Cecilia Foster) (Originally aired January 19th, 2021)
Peering Under Paintings
Rembrandt was known for painting his masterpieces on top of other paintings he wasn’t happy with. Van Gogh notoriously used unstable pigments that changed color over time. Several famous paintings by Vermeer may not be Vermeer paintings after all. In recent years, scientists have adapted cameras initially designed for spy agencies to uncover the hidden secrets of famous art. We find out the secrets from John Delaney, senior imaging scientist at the National Gallery of Art, and Dina Anchin, a painting conservator at the National Gallery. (Segment produced by Olivia Young)
Rembrandt was known for painting his masterpieces on top of other paintings he wasn’t happy with. Van Gogh notoriously used unstable pigments that changed color over time. Several famous paintings by Vermeer may not be Vermeer paintings after all. In recent years, scientists have adapted cameras initially designed for spy agencies to uncover the hidden secrets of famous art. We find out the secrets from John Delaney, senior imaging scientist at the National Gallery of Art, and Dina Anchin, a painting conservator at the National Gallery. (Segment produced by Olivia Young)
America’s Wars
America’s military has left Afghanistan after a 20-year war, and we’re not leaving in victory. The Taliban is rapidly retaking territory American troops fought for decades to secure. So what was the point of the last 20 years? Retired Army Colonel and current Boston University professor of international relations Andrew Bacevich America's wars on terror were misguided from the start. If we’d learned from Vietnam—where Baceivh fought—we wouldn’t have tried invading Afghanistan or Iraq—where Bacevich’s son died. Bacevich’s new book is “After the Apocalypse.” (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder, File)
America’s military has left Afghanistan after a 20-year war, and we’re not leaving in victory. The Taliban is rapidly retaking territory American troops fought for decades to secure. So what was the point of the last 20 years? Retired Army Colonel and current Boston University professor of international relations Andrew Bacevich America's wars on terror were misguided from the start. If we’d learned from Vietnam—where Baceivh fought—we wouldn’t have tried invading Afghanistan or Iraq—where Bacevich’s son died. Bacevich’s new book is “After the Apocalypse.” (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder, File)
No Olympic Fans
There are no paying spectators in the stands at Olympic events underway in Tokyo due to the spread of COVID-19 in Japan. So, chalk that up to yet one more thing making these Summer Olympics unusual for athletes. Will the lack of fans cheering and jeering during competition affect how the games play out? We find out from Catherine Sabiston, a sports psychology researcher at the University of Toronto. (Segment produced by Sam Faulconer) (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
There are no paying spectators in the stands at Olympic events underway in Tokyo due to the spread of COVID-19 in Japan. So, chalk that up to yet one more thing making these Summer Olympics unusual for athletes. Will the lack of fans cheering and jeering during competition affect how the games play out? We find out from Catherine Sabiston, a sports psychology researcher at the University of Toronto. (Segment produced by Sam Faulconer) (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)