NPR's Talk of the Nation (News)
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- Host: Neal Conan
- 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 healthcare, Neal Conan offers call-in listeners the opportunity to join enlightening discussions with decision-makers, authors, academicians and artists from around the world.
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When Not In Control, People Imagine Order
Fri, Oct 3
New research shows that when people perceive they have no control over a given situation, they are more likely to see illusions, patterns where none exist and even believe in conspiracy theories. The study suggests that people impose imaginary order when no real order can be perceived.
SpaceX Celebrates First Successful Rocket Launch
Fri, Oct 3
SpaceX's flagship Falcon1 rocket has successfully launched from an island in the central Pacific, becoming the first privately-developed rocket to orbit the planet.
Young Galaxy's Magnetic Field Is Surprisingly Strong
Fri, Oct 3
Current models indicate that the magnetic fields that enclose galaxies grow slowly over billions of years. But scientists have used a telescope to peer back millions of years in time and discovered a distant galaxy with a magnetic field at least 10 times the average strength.
Pick Of The Week: Camouflage For Hiding From Deer
Fri, Oct 3
There is a new line of camouflage clothing designed around the science of how deer see. The new camouflage uses specific colors and patterns specially designed to blend into a deer's vision.
Northeast States Trade Carbon Emission Credits
Fri, Oct 3
A consortium of Northeast states has completed the first cap-and-trade greenhouse gas auction in the U.S. Under cap-and-trade, limits are set on emissions. Companies that do not use up their quota of emissions are able to sell their excess emission capacity to other companies.
Windshield Wipers Invented In 'Flash Of Genius'
Fri, Oct 3
In 1967, Robert Kearns received patents for inventing intermittent car windshield wipers. He offered his idea to automakers but was turned away. When Ford and Chrysler started manufacturing cars with wipers without crediting Kearns, he took the case all the way to the Supreme Court. A new film called Flash of Genius tells his story.
Computer Malfunction Delays Hubble Mission
Fri, Oct 3
NASA has postponed a planned repair mission to the Hubble Space Telescope after a new problem developed with the orbiting observatory.
Eboo Patel On The Importance Of Religious Pluralism
Thu, Oct 2
In this installment of the This American Moment series, Eboo Patel, director of the Interfaith Youth Core, discusses his efforts to promote religious pluralism among young people. Patel believes that this type of mutual respect and understanding is the "big idea of our time."
Learning How Stuff Works From The 'Factory Floor'
Thu, Oct 2
Marshall Brain, an engineer-turned-TV-host, takes viewers behind the scenes to see what goes into producing common consumer products. His show "Factory Floor" airs on The National Geographic Channel.
All-Male 'Romeo And Juliet' True To Bard's Time
Thu, Oct 2
Shakespeare's plays were all-male affairs during his day. And that means Juliet one of his greatest female leads was originally performed by a boy. Washington, D.C.'s Shakespeare Theater Company is staging a new production of Romeo and Juliet with men playing every role.
What Is At Stake In A Credit Collapse?
Thu, Oct 2
The ongoing financial crisis has clarified for many Americans how fundamentally important credit is to the nation's economy. What happens to ordinary people and small businesses when easy credit dries up?
'This American Moment' As Peggy Noonan Sees It
Wed, Oct 1
Peggy Noonan, former speechwriter for Ronald Reagan and columnist for the Wall Street Journal, weighs in on the historical significance of the 2008 presidential election.
Candidates Vie For Key Latino Votes
Wed, Oct 1
In 2004, George W. Bush and the GOP enjoyed a surge of support from Latino voters. Now, four years later, polls show many Latinos are leaning toward Barack Obama.
Must-See VP: Biden-Palin Debate Highly Anticipated
Wed, Oct 1
The much anticipated vice presidential debate between Sarah Palin and Joseph Biden is scheduled for Thursday in St. Louis.
Political Junkie: A Look Ahead To The VP Debate
Wed, Oct 1
In this week's edition of the Political Junkie, guests and listeners weigh in on the upcoming vice-presidential debates, the bailout vote in the Senate, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's potential third term and Obama's boost in the polls.
Candidates Tackle Foreign Policy In First Debate
Mon, Sep 29
Foreign policy took center stage in the first round of the 2008 presidential debates between Obama and McCain on Friday. Ted Koppel, NPR news analyst, weighs in on what the candidates said or didn't say during the debate.
Preaching Politics From Tax-Exempt Pulpits
Mon, Sep 29
Alliance Defense Fund, a conservative Christian group, is pushing for church pastors to be able to endorse political candidates while keeping their tax-exempt status.
Columnist Says McCain Has Serious 'Palin Problem'
Mon, Sep 29
In her article, "The Palin Problem," columnist Kathleen Parker writes that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is clearly out of her league. Parker says Palin should bow out of the race to save the GOP's chances in 2008.
Opposition To Bailout Spans Political Spectrum
Mon, Sep 29
The House is expected to vote Monday on a $700 billion rescue bill for Wall Street. President Bush endorsed the plan and praised Congress for bipartisan cooperation, but opposition to the massive bailout remains widespread.
Solar Winds, Crucial To Life On Earth, Decreasing
Fri, Sep 26
Solar winds invisible gas plasma emitted by the Sun protect the solar system from cosmic rays that are hostile to terrestrial life. But new data from the Ulysses NASA probe indicate solar wind output is lower than has ever been previously documented.
Play Addresses Birth Control And Other 'Taboos'
Fri, Sep 26
Famous for his work on the first oral contraceptive in 1951, chemist Carl Djerassi has published a number of novels and plays over the last 20 years. His latest play, Taboos, grapples with the questions of sex divorced from reproduction.
Google's Android Software Debuts On New Phone
Fri, Sep 26
The long-awaited "Google phone" has arrived. The G1 phone carries Google's Android software and runs on T-Mobile networks. Though its touch screen and online integration make the G1 analogous to Apple's iPhone, the Android platform is open for use by multiple phone developers.
Pick Of The Week: A Visit To The 'Chili Belt'
Fri, Sep 26
Science Friday looks back on last week's broadcast from the heart of the "chili belt" in Tuscon, Ariz.
New Solar Business Trades On 'Open Sky'
Fri, Sep 26
A new hardware store devoted exclusively to solar energy systems is about to open in Swarthmore, Pa. Open Sky Energy will sell solar hardware to consumers and businesses and will also design and install the equipment. Are green energy stores a growing trend?
Energy And The Economy: An Overview
Fri, Sep 26
Between environmental concerns and rising gasoline prices, energy use has never seemed more entwined with the economy. Guests discuss how oil prices are tied to economic growth, and give a roundup of the latest energy news.
Magnet Meltdown At The Large Hadron Collider
Fri, Sep 26
Magnets cooled to extremely low temperatures are an essential element of the massive particle accelerator. Some of these magnets may have overheated last week, causing the Collider to fail its preliminary tests possibly delaying the project by a year.
Foreclosure Woes: How Do They Affect Your City?
Thu, Sep 25
How does the mortgage meltdown affect your city? Anthony Sanders, professor of Finance and Real Estate at Arizona State University, explains how financial unrest has affected Phoenix, and what that says about other cities in the county.
Garagiola: Setbacks Aside, Baseball Still Swinging
Thu, Sep 25
Baseball wasn't always this way blighted by steroids and drug use, weighed down by statistics and science. Legendary sportscaster Joe Garagiola argues that baseball is really about memories and people, and wants to prove that real baseball is still alive and growing.
Raul Yzaguirre Defines 'This American Moment'
Thu, Sep 25
Under the leadership of civil rights activist Raul Yzaguirre, the National Council of La Raza grew into a major Latino advocacy organization in the United States. In the latest installment of This American Moment, Yzaguirre weighs in on what is at stake in the 2008 presidential election.
Bailout Criticized Across The Political Spectrum
Thu, Sep 25
Around the country people are talking about the Wall Street bailout. Liberals argue the plan is a handout to the rich, while conservatives assert it amounts to socialism. Rallies are planned in some cities against the proposal, while John McCain and Barack Obama meet in Washington with President Bush to help work out a solution.
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