The Curiosity Desk

First up, we begin with an AI panel focused on AI in medicine. Guests are Dr. Leo Celi and Dr. Adam Rodman from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and STAT News Health Technology correspondent Katie Palmer. ​ Then, Gal Tziperman-Lotan returns with Four Things To Know for May 26th, 2026. Lastly, Champion cheese wheel racer Abby Lampe recaps yesterday's Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake . 

First up, it’s the inaugural edition of our segment “ICYMI,” where we talk about some lighter news of the week you might’ve missed. Joining today is GBH’s Adam Reilly and Globe reporter / TikTok darling Emily Sweeney .  Then, Edgar responds to a listener question about cooking with vanilla, and why some people make the case that the imitation stuff is better than pure vanilla extract. Helping us o...

First up, Edgar talks with Joan Donovan and Steven Rai , a colleague from her Critical Internet Studies Institute, about the extremist ecosystem online that radicalized the shooters in Monday’s attack on a mosque in San Diego.  Then, Could 3D printed houses create a more affordable world of the future? We meet & talk with AJ Perez, a research scientist at MIT’s Office of Innovation. Lastly, Ed...

First up, Edgar talks “concurrent signaling” – when the walk sign coincides with a green light – and how  it can complicate getting around the city for people with disabilities (and plenty without). He’ll sit down with GBH’s Meghan Smith and disability rights advocate Casandra Xavier .  Next up, following new penny-rounding guidance from the Division of Standards, we meet DOS Commissioner Dave Rod...

What’s actually happening in those academic departments at research institutions? Edgar asks MIT economics chair Jon Gruber.  Then, we’re getting up to speed on Four Things To Know, with help from GBH’s Gal Tziperman-Lotan.  Lastly, is it possible to learn while you dream? A recent piece in the New Yorker posits that you can. We’ll talk with columnist Shayla Love and dream researcher Karen Konkoly...

First up, we open with a housing panel, comprised of Jesse Kanson-Benanav from Abundant Housing MA, and Commonwealth Beacon Housing Reporter Jennifer Smith. Then,  Edgar talks with Jeff Ziesmann, general manager of the new totally-not-a-sitcom-anymore WKRP in Cincinnati.  Lastly, we end our Monday with Kevin Hampe from The Society in Dedham for Apprehending Horse Thieves, whose legendary club whic...

First up, It’s been an especially chaotic month for higher-ed reporters, now with cuts to research at MIT, the closure of Hampshire College & more.  GBH’s Kirk Carapezza takes us behind his reporting for College Uncovered .  Then, Researchers just discovered as many as 10,000 new exoplanets out in the universe. We’ll talk astronomers can glean about these outer worlds, with NASA’s first ever e...

First up, Misinformation researcher Joan Donovan returns, as we celebrate 30 years of The Internet Archive with founder Brewster Kahle. We'll chat about what the Wayback Machine can do to combat misinformation & carry out its mission of providing "Universal Access to all Knowledge"  Then, contractor Mark Philben returns for the May addition of “Ask the Remodeler.” 

 First up, MIT economics chair Jon Gruber on what easing regulations around the use of GLP-1’s could do for the U.S. economy.  Then, Chemist & professor Krishna Kumar ​breaks down the “P”  of GLP-1’s (peptides) and what it would mean for RFK Jr to change regulations surrounding them.  Lastly, why don’t we ever see baby pigeons? Edgar investigates in a classic Curiosity Desk feature. 

First up, Edgar talks with GBH’s Emily Judem and self-deporting immigrant Anderson Costa about what ICE anxiety is doing to Framingham's Brazilian community.  Second up, Gal Tziperman-Lotan returns with Four Things to Know. We’ll also air one of Edgar’s features on why we never seem to see baby pigeons.   Lastly, we explore why the U.S.’ war is in Iran impacting the price of fertilizer, with Sean...

First up, GBH's Esteban Bustillos joins Jonathan Tannenwald from the Philadelphia Inquirer to compare Boston’s readiness against Philadelphia.  Then, We’re  learning about this history of prom with Amy L. Best, sociologist & author of the book “Prom Night:  Youth, Schools, and Popular Culture.”  Lastly,  Edgar answers some etymological curiosity questions with Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette...

First up, GBH's Zoe Matthews joins in person for a reporter's notebook on her story looking at the question: could urban gardening be Boston's answer to rising food insecurity?  Then, Historian Daniel Berger-Jones joins in person to talk about lesser-known Back Bay history, including the only governor to be beheaded in Massachusetts.  Lastly, Joanne Chang, Co-Owner of Flour Bakery + Cafe joins in...

First up, Disinformation researcher Joan Donovan breaks down how malicious PR firms & internet trolls manufacture smear campaigns for the digital age.  Next, as we approach Mother's Day on Sunday, we'll explore what motherhood looks like for 3 different areas of the animal kingdom: land, air, and sea. We'll be speaking with biologist Mikaela Gerwing about monkeys, Mass Audubon Naturalist Tia P...

First up, as the Supreme Court considers a ban on telehealth-prescribed abortion medication, Edgar meets abortion rights activist and co-founder of The MAP , Susan Yanow.  Second up, we’re getting caught up on Four Things To Know , courtesy of Gal Tziperman-Lotan from the GBH Daily Newsletter.  Last up,  we're celebrating the turn of spring, cranberries farmers throughout New England are on their...

First up, The FDA is making it easier to study the medical applications of psychedelic drugs. Edgar talks about the policy change with Genny Kanter , associate professor of public policy at USC, before turning to Franklin King lV to discuss his work at MGH’s Center for the Neuroscience of Psychedelics. Then, we’ll talk about the merits of BMI with Dr. Mara Gordon , a physician and writer based in...

First up, Edgar learns about the first-ever care package – delivered 80 years ago – and discusses the state of global humanitarian aid with Michelle Nunn, CEO of CARE .  Then, Edgar talks with music journalist Tim Reilly about what everyone gets wrong about Bob Dylan.   Lastly... What’s the weirdest thing you can buy at the Oddities & Curiosities expo? Edgar gets a debrief from GBH Morning Edi...

First up we celebrate May Day. We are learning some essential Massachusetts labor history, from the 1912 Bread & Roses Strike in Lawrence up ’til our present moment, with Steve Striffler, director of the Labor Resource Center at UMass Boston. Next, Edgar explores the evolutionary link between dinosaurs of millennia past and our modern-day birds, with author & evolutionary biologist Steve B...

First, i t’s B.U. misinformation researcher Joan Donovan on why so many people – on the left & right – were quick to cry conspiracy after the WHCA dinner shooting, and the impact of manifestos in our digital era. Then: As climate change creates harsher conditions for farmers, scientists are MIT are working to develop drought-resistant super-seeds. We’ll learn more with professor Benedetto Mare...

 First up, It’s our AI news panel. We're talking about local and national job losses to AI, major security risks in Anthropic’s Mythos, and a few ethical questions around morality and artificial intelligence with Globe reporter Hiawatha Bray, who joins UMass Boston’s Nir Eisikovits and J. Hughes from the podcast "Prosthetic Gods.”   Secondly, we’re tending to the public media garden that is the GB...

First, we learn about the inner workings of debt court, and a deluge of under-prepared, under-resourced coverage attorneys working on behalf of debt collection agencies, with GBH’s Liz Neisloss and former coverage attorney Sandy Patterson. Then, Merriam-Webster editor-at-large Peter Sokolowski returns to talk through the words that defined our April.  Lastly, University of Michigan's Elizabeth Tri...

Up first, Edgar learns about the history of Mashpee Wampanoags in the American Revolution, with ​Ava Costello & Richard DeSorgher from the Mashpee Historical Commission. Then, we have Author & architect Michael P. Murphy on his new book The World in Ten Buildings: How Architecture Defines Who We Are and How We Live.  Lastly, Wildlife conservation biologist Mikaela Gerwing helps us answer a...

First up, we check in with NENC’s Cori Princell, who oversaw coverage across public radio newsrooms in New England. She’ll discuss a few standout stories for the weeklong reporting series, and how climate consciousness can be as good for your health (& wallet) as it is for the planet.  Then, we mend some clothes! Today, Edgar meets textile artist Jessamy Shay Kilcollins to get a crash course i...

Up first, MIT Economics Chair Jon Gruber breaks down the role and responsibilities of the Fed and its chair, in light of confirmation hearings this week for Kevin Warsh.  Then,  historian Susan Strasser speaks to the social & historical context behind our notion of “spring cleaning.”  Lastly, Edgar talks decluttering, de-griming, dusting & more with Rayanne Lara from the Newton-based clean...

First, we dive into the science of oil extraction with geoscientist Robert Buchwaldt. Next, Edgar visits Quincy Gas, where he speaks with owner Harvey Kertzman and violist Caroline Leguia about the new tunes you can hear at the station. Finally, ahead of the new NOVA documentary Rain Bombs airing tonight at 9 p.m.,  we’re joined by storm chaser Mike Olbinski and Colorado State University atmospher...

When GBH Reporter Craig LeMoult found a 1926 copy of The Boston Post hidden in his home, he uncovered a forgotten piece of Boston history. What did the headlines reveal? And how much has really changed in 100 years?