Talk of the Nation http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5&ft=1&f=5 Journalist Neal Conan leads a productive exchange of ideas and opinions on the issues that dominate the news landscape. From politics and public service to education, religion, music and health care, Talk of the Nation offers call-in listeners the opportunity to join enlightening discussions with decision-makers, authors, academicians and artists from around the world. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Talk of the Nation http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5&ft=1&f=5 Resetting the Theory of Time Generations of physicists have claimed that time is an illusion. But not all agree. In his book <em>Time Reborn: From the Crisis in Physics to the Future of the Universe</em>, theoretical physicist Lee Smolin argues that time exists--and he says time is key to understanding the evolution of the universe. Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775924/resetting-the-theory-of-time?ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775924/resetting-the-theory-of-time?ft=1&f=5 Generations of physicists have claimed that time is an illusion. But not all agree. In his book Time Reborn: From the Crisis in Physics to the Future of the Universe, theoretical physicist Lee Smolin argues that time exists--and he says time is key to understanding the evolution of the universe.

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]]> Researchers Report Cloning Advance For Producing Stem Cells Scientists reported this week in the journal <em>Cell</em> that they had used somatic cell nuclear transfer techniques to create a source of embryonic stem cells from the skin cells of a patient. George Daley, director of the stem cell transplantation program at Boston Children's Hospital, and Josephine Johnston of the Hastings Center discuss the research. Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775918/researchers-report-cloning-advance-for-producing-stem-cells?ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775918/researchers-report-cloning-advance-for-producing-stem-cells?ft=1&f=5 Scientists reported this week in the journal Cell that they had used somatic cell nuclear transfer techniques to create a source of embryonic stem cells from the skin cells of a patient. George Daley, director of the stem cell transplantation program at Boston Children's Hospital, and Josephine Johnston of the Hastings Center discuss the research.

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]]> Insects May Be The Taste Of The Next Generation, Report Says A report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization says insects offer a huge potential for improving the world's food security. Peter Menzel, co-author of <em>Man Eating Bugs</em>, describes some insect-based cuisine and the western aversion to creepy-crawly snacks. Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775920/insects-may-be-the-taste-of-the-next-generation-report-says?ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775920/insects-may-be-the-taste-of-the-next-generation-report-says?ft=1&f=5 A report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization says insects offer a huge potential for improving the world's food security. Peter Menzel, co-author of Man Eating Bugs, describes some insect-based cuisine and the western aversion to creepy-crawly snacks.

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]]> Desktop Diaries: Daniel Kahneman Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman is the latest subject in our <em>Desktop Diaries</em> series, although he has no desk. Kahneman, professor emeritus at Princeton University, won the Nobel Prize in economic sciences in 2002 for his research with the late Amos Tversky on our sometimes irrational intuitions and how they affect decision-making. Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775922/desktop-diaries-daniel-kahneman?ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775922/desktop-diaries-daniel-kahneman?ft=1&f=5 Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman is the latest subject in our Desktop Diaries series, although he has no desk. Kahneman, professor emeritus at Princeton University, won the Nobel Prize in economic sciences in 2002 for his research with the late Amos Tversky on our sometimes irrational intuitions and how they affect decision-making.

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]]> When Great Scientists Got It Wrong In <em>Brilliant Blunders: From Darwin to Einstein</em>, astrophysicist Mario Livio explores the colossal errors committed by scientific greats, from chemist Linus Pauling's botched model of DNA, to Charles Darwin's failure to understand genetics--the very mechanism of natural selection. Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775928/when-great-scientists-got-it-wrong?ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775928/when-great-scientists-got-it-wrong?ft=1&f=5 In Brilliant Blunders: From Darwin to Einstein, astrophysicist Mario Livio explores the colossal errors committed by scientific greats, from chemist Linus Pauling's botched model of DNA, to Charles Darwin's failure to understand genetics--the very mechanism of natural selection.

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]]> Will Strong Summer Travel Be A Turning Point For Airlines? As the summer travel season approaches, air travel provides a barometer for the health of the U.S. economy — and airlines report they're having a good year. After years of financial troubles, industry representatives hope U.S. travelers are more willing to fly. NPR senior business editor Marilyn Geewax explains what summer travel tells us about the health of the economy. Thu, 16 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184524662/will-strong-summer-travel-be-a-turning-point-for-airlines?ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184524662/will-strong-summer-travel-be-a-turning-point-for-airlines?ft=1&f=5 As the summer travel season approaches, air travel provides a barometer for the health of the U.S. economy — and airlines report they're having a good year. After years of financial troubles, industry representatives hope U.S. travelers are more willing to fly. NPR senior business editor Marilyn Geewax explains what summer travel tells us about the health of the economy.

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]]> Managing The $30 Million 'One Fund' To Aid Boston Victims Days after the marathon bombing, officials established the One Fund for Boston to assist victims and their families. Attorney Ken Feinberg, who managed similar funds after Sept. 11 and Virginia Tech and is managing this fund, says there's no easy way to decide who gets how much of the $30 million that's been donated. Thu, 16 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184524656&ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184524656&ft=1&f=5 Days after the marathon bombing, officials established the One Fund for Boston to assist victims and their families. Attorney Ken Feinberg, who managed similar funds after Sept. 11 and Virginia Tech and is managing this fund, says there's no easy way to decide who gets how much of the $30 million that's been donated.

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]]> Ex-Ambassador To Iraq Weighs In On Talking To 'Monsters' As the death toll in Syria climbs and critics blast the Obama administration for not taking more decisive action, former ambassador Christopher Hill points instead to a failure of diplomacy in an op-ed in the <em>New York Times</em>. Hill talks about what the U.S. faces in facilitating talks between the regime and Syrian rebels. Thu, 16 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184524658/ex-ambassador-to-iraq-weighs-in-on-talking-to-monsters?ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184524658/ex-ambassador-to-iraq-weighs-in-on-talking-to-monsters?ft=1&f=5 As the death toll in Syria climbs and critics blast the Obama administration for not taking more decisive action, former ambassador Christopher Hill points instead to a failure of diplomacy in an op-ed in the New York Times. Hill talks about what the U.S. faces in facilitating talks between the regime and Syrian rebels.

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]]> Looking Ahead With The Wonders Of Krulwich In the latest installment of our "Looking Ahead" series, NPR science correspondent and Radiolab co-host Robert Krulwich talks about reporting on big ideas in imaginative ways, the old days at NPR and what he's wondering about today. Thu, 16 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184524660/looking-ahead-with-the-wonders-of-krulwich?ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184524660/looking-ahead-with-the-wonders-of-krulwich?ft=1&f=5 In the latest installment of our "Looking Ahead" series, NPR science correspondent and Radiolab co-host Robert Krulwich talks about reporting on big ideas in imaginative ways, the old days at NPR and what he's wondering about today.

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]]> Treadmill Desks And The Benefits Of 'Walking Alive' <em>New Yorker</em> staff writer Susan Orlean has spent years trying to find the right desk chair. She considered a pricy museum-worthy chair, a kneeling chair and a yoga ball before ditching the seat altogether for a treadmill desk — and discovering the health benefits of moving at work. Wed, 15 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184232468/treadmill-desks-and-the-benefits-of-walking-alive?ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184232468/treadmill-desks-and-the-benefits-of-walking-alive?ft=1&f=5 New Yorker staff writer Susan Orlean has spent years trying to find the right desk chair. She considered a pricy museum-worthy chair, a kneeling chair and a yoga ball before ditching the seat altogether for a treadmill desk — and discovering the health benefits of moving at work.

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]]> Looking Ahead: Chris Hedges On Poverty, Politics, U.S. Culture In the latest installment of our "Looking Ahead" series, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former <em>New York Times</em> Middle East bureau chief Chris Hedges talks about the decisions that led him on his career path, and where he sees the country going in the next decade. Wed, 15 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184232470/looking-ahead-chris-hedges-on-poverty-politics-u-s-culture?ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184232470/looking-ahead-chris-hedges-on-poverty-politics-u-s-culture?ft=1&f=5 In the latest installment of our "Looking Ahead" series, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former New York Times Middle East bureau chief Chris Hedges talks about the decisions that led him on his career path, and where he sees the country going in the next decade.

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]]> Analyzing The Language Of Suicide Notes To Help Save Lives About a third of people who attempt suicide leave a note. John Pestian and others at Cincinnati Children's Hospital are merging psychology and computer analysis to see if such notes can help diagnose suicidal tendencies in the living. Wed, 15 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184232472/analyzing-the-language-of-suicide-notes-to-help-save-lives?ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184232472/analyzing-the-language-of-suicide-notes-to-help-save-lives?ft=1&f=5 About a third of people who attempt suicide leave a note. John Pestian and others at Cincinnati Children's Hospital are merging psychology and computer analysis to see if such notes can help diagnose suicidal tendencies in the living.

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]]> The White House Under Fire And The Democratic Party's Future As questions linger about the official response to the Benghazi attack, the White House faces new challenges related to probes by the IRS and the Justice Department. Political Junkie Ken Rudin discusses the week in politics and the future of the Democratic Party with former DNC chair Howard Dean. Wed, 15 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184232466/the-white-house-under-fire-and-the-future-of-the-democratic-party?ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184232466/the-white-house-under-fire-and-the-future-of-the-democratic-party?ft=1&f=5 As questions linger about the official response to the Benghazi attack, the White House faces new challenges related to probes by the IRS and the Justice Department. Political Junkie Ken Rudin discusses the week in politics and the future of the Democratic Party with former DNC chair Howard Dean.

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]]> The Legacy Of Gen. Ridgway And America's War In Korea The ongoing conflict on the Korean Peninsula is the legacy of the Korean War, which helps explain relations between the north and south. In a new book, historian Victor Davis Hanson discusses how the strategies of U.S. Gen. Matthew Ridgway helped to turn around what appeared to be "a lost war." Tue, 14 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/14/183950904/the-legacy-of-gen-ridgway-and-americas-war-in-korea?ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/14/183950904/the-legacy-of-gen-ridgway-and-americas-war-in-korea?ft=1&f=5 The ongoing conflict on the Korean Peninsula is the legacy of the Korean War, which helps explain relations between the north and south. In a new book, historian Victor Davis Hanson discusses how the strategies of U.S. Gen. Matthew Ridgway helped to turn around what appeared to be "a lost war."

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]]> The Promise And Limitations Of Telemedicine Telemedicine is nothing new, but advancements in technology have made it even more widely available. Neurologists can now treat Parkinson's patients from miles away, therapists can reach service members overseas, and general practitioners can work in rural areas without actually going there at all. Tue, 14 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/14/183950898/the-promise-and-limitations-of-telemedicine?ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/14/183950898/the-promise-and-limitations-of-telemedicine?ft=1&f=5 Telemedicine is nothing new, but advancements in technology have made it even more widely available. Neurologists can now treat Parkinson's patients from miles away, therapists can reach service members overseas, and general practitioners can work in rural areas without actually going there at all.

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