After the Fact

Because of their massive size, blue whales are known as the ocean's "gentle giants."   They are vital to the ocean ecosystem, but their numbers are declining. In this episode, 2016 Pew marine fellow Dr. Asha de Vos unpacks the significance of blue whales to our ocean's health and how effects from human activity, such as increased shipping and the whale-watching industry, influence the blue whale's...

Have you tried to figure out whether the fish you eat is sustainably sourced? At least 1 in 5 fish caught in the global ocean is a product of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing—one of the main threats to the health of the ocean. In this episode, part of our "From Lab to Life" series, we hear from Grantly Galland, who supports The Pew Charitable Trusts' work on fisheries around the world....

Each year, The Pew Charitable Trusts releases the "State of the City" report, which offers a data-rich snapshot of Pew's hometown, Philadelphia. In this episode, Katie Martin, who leads Pew's Philadelphia research and policy initiative, breaks down the highlights from the 2025 edition. She discusses the city's successes, such as the decrease in poverty—at 20.3%, it's the lowest it's been in more t...

According to Pew Research Center, 55% of U.S. parents report being extremely or very concerned about the mental health of teens today. And several factors are driving that concern: increased influence of technology and social media, lingering effects of the pandemic, and social pressures like extracurricular activities and academic performance. Substance use is also linked with mental health and i...

Story:  Wildfires have once again made headlines, highlighting the growing intensity and frequency of natural disasters across the United States. And these disasters leave more than destruction in their wake; they have lasting effects on communities, including expensive recovery bills. In fact, 2024 was the fourth-costliest year on record with 27 natural disasters that resulted in at least $1 bill...

Stat: 1/3: Placental-related disorders, such as miscarriage and pre-eclampsia, affect around a third of human pregnancies. Story: The placenta is a temporary yet vital organ that can have long-term effects on the lives of babies and mothers. But it's often discarded and remains an understudied part of pregnancy.  In this episode of our "From Lab to Life" series, Geetu Tuteja describes how her lab...

Stat: 40%: Up to 40% of the food supply in the United States is wasted each year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Story:  When you see the perfect displays of produce in grocery stores, do you ever wonder whether it's all sold before it spoils? It isn't, and stores often pay to send unpurchased produce to landfills. In this episode of "After the Fact," Evan Ehlers, founder of Shar...

Stat: $1.6 trillion : The amount that Americans collectively owe i n student loan debt. Story:  In the United States, getting a college degree is often seen as a pathway to a prosperous future. But since the 1980s, the price of college has skyrocketed, leaving millions of students to rely on federal loans to help cover the cost. Now, many borrowers face high monthly payments that are difficult to...

More people are living longer. According to Pew Research Center, within the next 30 years, the population of Americans age 100 and over is expected to increase more than fourfold. With an aging population, how will the stages of our lives shift and expand? In this episode from 2019, Andrew Scott, longevity expert and economics professor at the London Business School, discusses what individuals and...

Stat: 45% : The share of U.S. adults who describe research scientists as good communicators.  Story: How does good communication help build trust in science? In this episode of "After the Fact," we sit down with Hank Green—a science communicator and "internet guy" with over 30 million subscribers across his YouTube channels—to help answer this question.  Green reflects on how his 2023 Hodgkin lymp...

Stat: 1 in 4 : More than 2 million Americans suffer from opioid use disorder, but only about 1 in 4 receive any care. Story:  Opioid use has become a major public health problem in the United States, but there are many obstacles to treatment, including stigma. In this episode, members of Pew's substance use prevention and treatment team explain how to overcome barriers to care—and how new rules fr...

Stat: 4 million to 7 million : The United States has a shortage of 4 million to 7 million homes.   Story: For many Indigenous communities, the concept of land or home ownership can stand in opposition to their cultures—which often place more emphasis on land stewardship. But just like communities across the country, on and off the reservation, housing availability and affordability is a growing pr...

Stat: 41% : The share of U.S. adults who have some form of health care debt.   Story: Millions of Americans are struggling with debt, from credit card bills to unexpected medical expenses. And many face a tough choice between paying off debt or covering basic needs such as rent, food, and health care. But what happens when these debts go unpaid?  In this episode, Lester Bird of The Pew Charitable...

Stat:  1 foot : the amount the sea level rose in the Chesapeake Bay in the last century, twice as fast as the global average. Story: Climate change is driving sea-level rise and worsening coastal flooding across the globe. And in many coastal communities, the rising waters are changing local environments and the places people call home. For generations, the Nause-Waiwash people have raised familie...

The rise of deepfakes—realistic fake videos made with artificial intelligence software—is making it even more difficult to sort fact from fiction.  When this episode originally aired in 2019, 57% of social media news consumers said they expected what they see there to be largely inaccurate. And the public continues to be wary about changes in the digital landscape. In 2023, Pew Research Center fou...

Stat: 2 million : The number of times people with mental health conditions in the United States are jailed annually.  Story: In the United States, law enforcement officers and emergency room physicians are often the only service providers on call to respond to people in a mental or behavioral health crisis — but they don't always have adequate training or capacity to handle these calls. As communi...

If you've ever seen a manatee, chances are you were in Florida — but these aquatic relatives of the elephant also live across 21 African countries. In this episode, 2017 Pew marine fellow Lucy Keith-Diagne discusses the African manatees that live in remote, murky waters, and explains what makes this species different from other manatees and the challenges marine scientists experience in collecting...

Story: Mangrove forests are natural protectors, shielding coasts from storms, sheltering species, and soaking up carbon. In 2019, when this episode originally aired, 50% of the world's mangroves had been lost. Now, 50% of the world's remaining mangroves are at risk.  Reversing the decline of these habitats isn't just a science—it's an art, says marine biologist Octavio Aburto. He uses his camera a...

The "After the Fact" team provides data and expert analysis on the biggest challenges facing society today. We go behind the scenes with experts, examine solutions pointing the way forward, and feature people and stories that bring data points to life. What keeps you listening to the podcast? Tell us in a short survey at pewtrusts.org/podcastsurvey . Upon submission we'll enter your name to win a...

Stat: 13% : The average five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients in 2024, according to the American Cancer Society. This is compared to a 90% average five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with breast cancer. Story: Scientists have made tremendous progress on cancer research to improve patient survival rates. But challenges still exist because some cancers can suddenly become u...

Stat: 11% : An estimated 11% of U.S. adults who have ever had COVID-19 are currently experiencing symptoms of long COVID, which can last three months or longer. This suggests that millions of people across the country could be affected. Story: Long COVID is a health condition that's continuing to puzzle scientists. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, doctors saw some patients who would recover quickly...

Stat: 150%-300%: Beaches maintained with Indigenous management techniques experience 150% to 300% more clam production than beaches without.  Story: Conserving the environment sometimes requires people to actively manage a natural place and Indigenous communities across North America have shown the way for centuries. In this episode, Marco Hatch, associate professor of environmental science at Wes...

Stat: 41% : The share of adults who experienced high levels of psychological distress at some point during the pandemic. Story: New studies show that physical touch is vitally important to the human experience. And during the pandemic, many Americans felt the impact of its loss because of quarantines and isolation. But how do our brains and bodies distinguish between different types of touch? In t...

Stat: 73% : The percentage of U.S. adults who have a great deal or fair amount of confidence in scientists to act in the public's best interests, according to Pew Research Center Story: Scientific discovery is essential to advancing society and improving people's lives. In this series, "From Lab to Life," we're featuring scientists from a range of fields who share a common goal of making the world...