By putting compassion ahead of doctrinal enforcement, Pope Francis I promises nothing less than a wholesale transformation of the Roman Catholic Church. But, for all of the hope and excitement that he has inspired, is this anything more than just a passing phase? (Francis, after all, will be 80 years old in December. He also…

In a country that’s not only becoming less white, but also more urban and secular, does the Republican Party have a future? On this month’s edition of Up Next: Perspectives on the Future of Everything, host Marty Lasden examines the GOP’s prospects with history professor Donald T. Critchlow, author of Future Right: Forging a New…

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental disorders that has a wide range of impacts. William Mobley, PhD interviews clinicians and researchers to learn more about what we know and what we have yet to learn about autism. Stay tuned for more installments in this series from the Brain Channel. Neurons in a…

It’s been a grueling campaign season but we are finally heading into the last days of this remarkable and highly contentious 2016 election. We’ve careened from record crowds in the primaries, to seemingly daily gaffes and scandals, to the pageantry of the conventions and the spectacle of the debates. Now, the vote count is about…

Mindfulness meditation originated in Buddhist tradition, but the secular application of mindfulness practices in the United States has grown exponentially in recent years. Clinicians and researchers have conducted hundreds of studies assessing the physical and mental health benefits of mindfulness — the practice of maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of one’s thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and…

Ari Shapiro, co-host of NPR’ All Things Considered, charmed a book-loving audience at UC San Diego with tales of how his English classes at Yale set him up for a fascinating career of storytelling in journalism. He recounts his early days as an intern at NPR and traces the steps that took him from Washington…

Despite their importance to reef communities and distribution throughout much of the world’s warmer oceans, little is known about the mantis shrimp, a solitary ambush predator. However, with a fossil record dating back some 400 million years, the history of the mantis shrimp helps researchers understand the evolution of some of their more intriguing features.…

Most people don’t realize how much food they throw away every day — from uneaten leftovers to imperfect produce. In the United States food waste is at an all-time high. More than 40 percent of all edible food is tossed out each year and half of that is fresh but slightly imperfect produce. On top…

Global climate disruption is impacting the planet in ways never experienced in human history. Record-setting warmer temperatures are becoming the norm across the planet and sea-level rise poses a real threat to humanity. The University of California Carbon Slam held this past May brought forth a vision of solutions. At this system-wide event, students from…