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Shankar Vedantam

Stories

  • caption: On October 30, 1935, a Boeing plane known as the "flying fortress" crashed during a military demonstration in Ohio — shocking the aviation industry and prompting questions about the future of flight.
    Science

    You 2.0: Check Yourself

    The simple "to-do" list may be one of humanity's oldest tools for getting organized. But checklists are also proving essential in many modern-day workplaces, from operating rooms to the cockpits of jumbo jets. As part of our summer You 2.0 series, we explore the power of the humble checklist to help us stay on track and focus on what's important, particularly when pressure is intense and the stakes are high.

  • caption: Even Thomas Edison got it wrong sometimes. In 1890, he marketed this creepy talking doll that was taken off the shelves after just a few weeks. Listen to its <a href="https://www.nps.gov/edis/learn/photosmultimedia/twinkle-twinkle-little-star-edison-talking-doll-cylinder-metal-prototype-design-tenhp-collection.htm">horrifying rendition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."</a>
    Science

    You 2.0: Originals

    What does it mean to be an original? As part of our summer series, You 2.0, we talk with psychology professor Adam Grant about innovators and the challenges they face. Adam gives his take on what makes an original, how parents can nurture originality in their children, and the potential downsides of non-conformity.
  • caption: Social psychologist Eli Finkel says the way to improve marriage may be to expect less of it.

    You 2.0: When Did Marriage Become So Hard?

    There are signs it's getting even harder. In this episode, we explore how long-term relationships have changed over time and whether we might be able to improve marriage by asking less of it.

  • man flying on a paper airplane
    Science

    You 2.0: Dream Jobs

    Finding a new job may be the solution to your woes at work. But there may also be other ways to get more out of your daily grind. This week, we talk with psychologist Amy Wrzesniewski of Yale University about how we can find meaning and purpose in our jobs.

  • Older woman wearing heart-shape sunglasses
    Science

    You 2.0: Rebel With A Cause

    Francesca Gino studies rebels — people who practice "positive deviance" and achieve incredible feats of imagination. They know how, and when, to break the rules that should be broken. So how can you activate your own inner non-conformist? We kick off this year's You 2.0 series by pondering this question.

  • Multicolored hands grasping each other.
    Science

    The Edge Effect

    There is great comfort in the familiar. It's one reason humans often flock to other people who share the same interests, laugh at the same jokes, hold the same political views. But familiar ground may not be the best place to cultivate creativity. From science and business to music and the world of fashion, researchers have found that people with deep connections to people from other countries and cultures often see benefits in terms of their creative output. This week on Hidden Brain, we look at the powerful connection between the ideas we dream up and the people who surround us, and what it really takes to think outside the box.