After the Fact

Stat: 86 billion. The human brain has at least 86 billion neurons. Story: Breakthroughs in neuroscience and technology have given us a peek into the human mind, yet we have much to discover about how our brains actually learn new things. In the first part of our new series, you'll travel with guest host Ray Suarez to the Brainwave Learning Center, a partnership with Stanford University, where scie...

Story: In this special series on learning, guest host Ray Suarez will examine the latest developments in neuroscience and cognitive psychology, explore workforce trends, and share inspiring stories from people on the journey to becoming lifelong learners.

Stat: 1 million—the number of Americans who default on student loan payments each year. Story: More Americans are seeking higher education, which means more people are taking on—and struggling with—student loan debt. For one first-generation college graduate, the complex repayment system proved overwhelming. We share her story and talk to Chronicle of Higher Education reporter Eric Kelderman and P...

Stat: 130. Opioid use disorder is responsible for approximately 130 overdose deaths a day in America. Story:  One of the biggest health threats facing Americans today is opioid use disorder, with an overdose-related death occurring every 11 minutes. In this rebroadcast of a conversation at Pew with Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams, learn more about this public health challenge and how we can save l...

100 million—The number of people infected each year by a disease transmitted through a mosquito bite. Story: In our latest "Scientists at Work" episode, 2015 Pew biomedical scholar Lindy McBride discusses her research on one of the peskiest and deadliest insects on the planet: the mosquito. Listen in as we learn the facts about mosquitoes and why you may be more susceptible than other people to th...

Story: Our final installment of "After the Fact" fan favorites comes via the West Coast. Steven Bliss of the Public Policy Institute of California selected our first podcast, on the state of the American Dream. Researcher Erin Currier describes the financial hardships facing many families at a time when most people are just happy to make ends meet rather than move up the economic ladder (Episode 1...

Story: "After the Fact" fan favorites continue in August with our second selection. This week, Fred Dews, host of "Brookings Cafeteria," chose our episode on the plight of endangered sharks and some of their unlikely champions (Episode 32). South African Paralympian Achmat Hassiem and Pew's Debbie Salamone were attacked by sharks but now are advocates for their conservation.

Story: "After the Fact" has asked a few special guests to share their favorite episodes of the podcast throughout August. This week, Elaine Bowman, vice president of human resources for The Pew Charitable Trusts, picked our conversation on deepfakes (Episode 47) with Berkeley Professor Hany Farid (formerly of Dartmouth College) as her favorite.

Story: This month, "After the Fact" has asked a few special guests to share their favorite episodes of the podcast. Tune in throughout August to hear some of these "fan favorites" from our archives.

Stat: 80,000. Chilean Patagonia has more than 80,000 kilometers of coastline, the longest in the world. Story: In the latest installment of our "Scientists at Work" series, Pew marine fellow Vreni Häussermann talks about Chilean Patagonia's diverse ecosystem. The region is a near-pristine wilderness like no other—but this mostly unexplored wilderness is at risk. Häussermann hopes her research will...

Stat: 96 percent. Nearly all of America's hospitals used electronic health records as of 2017, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Story: Your medical records have gone digital—a change that promises to make health care more efficient and accessible. But as with any technology, there are glitches. Files could be mismatched, and a typo could lead to a dosing error. In thi...

Stat: 18. At least 18 British colonies existed in North America during the American Revolution—but, as we know, only 13 signed the Declaration of Independence. Story: In honor of the Fourth of July, join "After the Fact" on an audio tour of key historic places in the city known as the Birthplace of America—Philadelphia. Temple University history professor Jessica Roney shares insights about Americ...

Mangrove forests are natural protectors, shielding coasts from storms, sheltering species, and soaking up carbon. Reversing the decline of these habitats isn't just a science—it's an art, says marine biologist Octavio Aburto. He uses his camera along with high-resolution satellite imagery to assess real-time changes in mangrove coverage—and to reveal the amazing hidden marine life of these critica...

Stat: 93. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. estimates 93 percent of marine fisheries worldwide are fished at or beyond sustainable catch levels. Story: A large part of overfishing is driven by subsidies—most of which go to large-scale fishing fleets from industrialized nations. We learn about how subsidies can alter the economics of fishing from Pew's Isabel Jarrett and researcher...

Stat: 46. The percentage of American adults who worry that they will not be able to live comfortably in retirement. Story: After all the hard work and child rearing, do Americans get to finally relax and retire with some financial stability? Research shows the golden age of retirement doesn't always shine. Hear why in the final episode of our series on the American family, which features two retir...

Stat: $233,610. The cost of raising a child through age 17 for a middle-class American family, not including a college education. Story: From diapers to day care and beyond, it's getting more expensive to raise a family in the U.S. And just keeping up with daily costs makes saving for a rainy day or retirement all the harder. We speak with three families about what it takes to make it work—and wha...

Stat: 86. The percentage of women ages 40-44 who are mothers, compared with 80 percent in 2006, according to a Pew Research Center analysis. Story: American women are waiting longer to have children—but are more likely to have kids than they were a decade ago. Also, 1 in 4 parents living with a child is not married. In this episode, a Pew researcher explains the data behind this change in the Amer...

Stat: 7. On average, Americans are waiting nearly seven years longer to get married than they did in 1968, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Story: Does putting off marriage mean people no longer want to say "I do?" To learn more about this trend, we spoke to couples who are waiting to wed—in the first installment of our four-part series on today's American family. Marriage historian Stephanie...

Story: The American family is changing. We explore how over the next four episodes, taking you into the lives of American families through conversations at kitchen tables, in workplaces, and even in the family car on the way to after-school pickup. Host Dan LeDuc also speaks with researchers about the data and trends on these informative and inspiring stories.

Stat: 20 percent. The share of Americans who find the concept of machines doing most human jobs in the future extremely realistic. Story: Will robots take our jobs? They'll need a key human skill first—the ability to think. To find out just how near such a future is, we visited Ashley J. Llorens, chief of the Intelligent Systems Center at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Th...

Stat: 48%—Almost half the members of Generation Z—age 22 or younger—are racial or ethnic minorities. Story: Step aside, Millennials. There's a new, younger group out there: Generation Z, which includes anyone born after 1996. To learn more about this generation, we sat down with Kim Parker, director of social trends research at the Pew Research Center. Listen in to hear about Gen Z's social, cultu...

Stat:  844 million. The amount of people worldwide who lack even a basic drinking-water service, according to the World Health Organization. Story:  For many of us, it can be easy to take water for granted. Turn on the tap and it's there. But today, the world faces a tipping point, with water security—having sufficient access to safe water for our daily lives—at risk. Listen in as our guest, Sandr...

Stat: 40%—Across Africa, the number of giraffes has declined by 40 percent since 1979. Story: Giraffes are dying, and experts are trying to figure out why. Host Dan LeDuc speaks to two giraffe experts, ecologist David O'Connor and researcher Jenna Stacy-Dawes of the San Diego Zoo, who are trying to learn more about these mysterious animals and help giraffes rebound.

Stat: 1919—the year President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill establishing the Grand Canyon as a national park. Story: The Grand Canyon was dedicated as a national park 100 years ago. This anniversary commemorates the canyon's legacy, but it has been around longer than that—at least 6 million years. Our host explores the beauty of this natural wonder with Wayne Ranney, a geologist who has spent his c...

Stat: 100. More than half of children born in developed countries today will reach the age of 100. Story: If you knew you would live to 100, what would you do differently? Increasing longevity will expand and shift the traditional phases of life, according to London Business School professor Andrew Scott. In his conversation with host Dan LeDuc, he describes the challenges and opportunities facing...