For us on the east coast, Nemo provides the perfect excuse to hunker down indoors and enjoy the best of this week’s science reporting in the public broadcasting space.
The secret to a happy life?
Without further adieu:
Take-away from this piece: lying to ourselves can not only make us happier, but also more successful. Meanwhile, being perfectly honest about reality can lead to depression. This story is so sad, we’re going to pretend we didn’t hear it.
NPR Science: Close Shave: Asteroid to Buzz Earth Next Week
Don’t worry. It’s only the size of an office building. On another note, the fact that there are entire organizations dedicated to protecting humanity from asteroids is at once troubling and reassuring.
Science Friday: Science of Slumber: How Sleep Affects Your Memory
We spend a third of our lives sleeping, but just how much of it do we really need? Per Radio Lab’s suggestion, we choose to ignore the facts and settle on a nice, round number. Say, 10 hours?
NOVA: Who Killed Lindbergh’s Baby?
NOVA re-opens one of the most intriguing cases of the 20th Century. In the aftermath of his 1927 solo transatlantic flight, Colonel Charles Lindbergh became the most famous human being on earth. Five years later, kidnappers snatched his baby from the family home - while everyone in the house was still awake. What really happened? And why? Modern forensics shine a new light on a murder mystery for the ages.
