Talk of the Nation

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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.
Updated: 1 hour 9 min ago

Tiny Living: The Rise Of Small Spaces

May 20, 2013 - 1:00pm

As the populations in big cities increase and more people choose to live alone, a new trend of living in very small spaces has emerged. But the tiny living movement is not without controversy as growth of these multi-unit buildings puts pressure on established neighborhoods.

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The Future Of The Workers' Movement

May 20, 2013 - 1:00pm

As membership in private-sector labor unions has continued to nosedive, traditional labor groups have been forced to reevaluate — just as non-union worker groups have emerged. Guest host Jennifer Ludden talks to writer Josh Eidelson about what he calls 'alt-labor.'

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Navigating Silicon Valley As A 'Woman Programmer'

May 20, 2013 - 1:00pm

Prominent women such as Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg and Yahoo's Marissa Mayer are proving that women are finding their place at the table. But in an op-ed for The New York Times, former programmer Ellen Ullman argues that women in the field today face "a new, more virile and virulent sexism."

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Tiny Living: The Rise Of Small Spaces

May 20, 2013 - 1:00pm

As the populations in big cities increase and more people choose to live alone, a new trend of living in very small spaces has emerged. But the tiny living movement is not without controversy as growth of these multi-unit buildings puts pressure on established neighborhoods.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

Categories: NPR Feeds

The Future Of The Workers' Movement

May 20, 2013 - 1:00pm

As membership in private-sector labor unions has continued to nosedive, traditional labor groups have been forced to reevaluate — just as non-union worker groups have emerged. Guest host Jennifer Ludden talks to writer Josh Eidelson about what he calls 'alt-labor.'

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Life In Argentina's 'Little School' Prison Camp

May 20, 2013 - 1:00pm

During Argentina's so-called Dirty War, thousands were abducted and taken to secret prisons like a place known as "the little school," where many were tortured and killed. Guest host Jennifer Ludden talks to a former prisoner, Alicia Partnoy, about her disappearance and her time there.

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Navigating Silicon Valley As A 'Woman Programmer'

May 20, 2013 - 1:00pm

Prominent women such as Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg and Yahoo's Marissa Mayer are proving that women are finding their place at the table. But in an op-ed for The New York Times, former programmer Ellen Ullman argues that women in the field today face what she calls "a new, more virile and virulent sexism."

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Resetting the Theory of Time

May 17, 2013 - 1:00pm

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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When Great Scientists Got It Wrong

May 17, 2013 - 1:00pm

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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Researchers Report Cloning Advance For Producing Stem Cells

May 17, 2013 - 1:00pm

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

May 17, 2013 - 1:00pm

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

May 17, 2013 - 1:00pm

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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Resetting the Theory of Time

May 17, 2013 - 1:00pm

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.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

Categories: NPR Feeds

Researchers Report Cloning Advance For Producing Stem Cells

May 17, 2013 - 1:00pm

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.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

Categories: NPR Feeds

Insects May Be The Taste Of The Next Generation, Report Says

May 17, 2013 - 1:00pm

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.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

Categories: NPR Feeds

Desktop Diaries: Daniel Kahneman

May 17, 2013 - 1:00pm

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.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

Categories: NPR Feeds

When Great Scientists Got It Wrong

May 17, 2013 - 1:00pm

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.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

Categories: NPR Feeds

Will Strong Summer Travel Be A Turning Point For Airlines?

May 16, 2013 - 1:00pm

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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Will Strong Summer Travel Be A Turning Point For Airlines?

May 16, 2013 - 1:00pm

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

May 16, 2013 - 1:00pm

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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