Effective Ex-Presidents, Peer Review, U2's Joshua Tree
Effective Ex-Presidents Guest: Matthew Mason, PhD, Professor of History, BYU At noon on Friday, President Barack Obama will become, “former President Barack Obama.” The typical behavior for someone in that situation has been to head home and settle into the role of “elder statesman.” They often write a memoir, give speeches and set about creating a presidential library to enshrine their legacy. In 1956, Congress passed the Former Presidents Act guaranteeing a stipend and benefits to former commanders-in-chief so they don’t have to stoop to getting a full-time job to pay the bills. President Obama has indicated that he plans to stay in Washington until his youngest daughter Sasha graduates high school, which makes him the first ex-president since Woodrow Wilson to stay in Washington once his administration ends. Obama has also said he plans to return to community organizing and activism. In that life, he's unlikely to ever have the stature or influence he’s had during eight years a President. The Trouble with Peer Review Guest: Tricia Serio, PhD, Professor and Department Head in Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona Publication adds a layer of credibility to scientific studies, stemming from a system called “peer review.” Typically, every study that appears in a scientific journal has been reviewed by other scientists who verify that the study was conducted using sound research principles and is worthy of publication. Peer review is a core principle of the way science is reported and distributed. And now it’s facing a crisis. The Tessera Game for Teens Guest: Derek Hansen, PhD, Professor of Information Technology, BYU This may surprise you, but the National Science Foundation is very interested in online games as a tool to teach kids. A new one it’s backed has just launched online. “The Tessera” is its name and it’s an alternate reality game aimed at teaching teenagers how to think like computer engineers. There’s a haunted tavern and a host of historical computer figures, including Steve Jobs and Alan Turing, who guide players to solve puzzles that unlock important clues in the mystery. Apple Seed Guest: Sam Payne, Host of BYUradio's "The Apple Seed" Sam Payne joins us in the studio to share tales of tellers and stories. Why Your Appendix May Be Important Guest: Heather Smith, PhD, Associate Professor of Anatomy, Midwestern University The appendix at the end of a book is extra material that you can easily skip and still get the gist of things. It may be helpful, but it’s not critical. And for a long time, that pretty much summed up our understanding of the human appendix, too. If you’ve had yours out, no big deal because it basically has no purpose anyway. The Enduring Appeal of U2’s Joshua Tree Guest: Quint Randle, PhD, Professor of Communications, BYU U2’s iconic album, “The Joshua Tree” turns 30 this year and the band is headed out on a commemorative tour. “The Joshua Tree” wasn’t U2’s first album, but it was its first US chart-topper and made the group into a global phenomenon, capable of filling football stadiums. So, why is U2 – arguably the biggest band of the 1980s – still such a big deal? Why have their fans never quit them? Why do songs like “With or Without You” still have the power to make entire stadiums sway rapturously?