Horizons from PBS News

Episodes

• 
  The hopes and risks of bringing humanoid robots into our homes 16.10.2026

  Life-like, humanoid robots have captured our imagination for decades. Now, those robots work in factories and assembly lines all over the world. Will they soon be working in our own homes? Horizons moderator William Brangham explores our robotic future with Aaron Ames of the California Institute of Technology. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
• 
  Exploring the science of keeping your mind sharp as you age 09.10.2026

  Everyone wants to keep a sharp mind as they age, especially as dementia cases continue to rise. Now, a growing body of evidence suggests almost half of the key risks for cognitive decline can be prevented or delayed. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores the emerging science that can help protect against dementia with Dr. Jonathan Rosand of the Global Brain Care Coalition. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
• 
  How a rare genetic mutation could unlock new ways to treat or prevent dementia 02.10.2026

  Over 55 million people worldwide are living with the devastating reality of dementia, but researchers have now identified some individuals who share a rare genetic predisposition to developing a type of this tragic disease. Could studying these families unlock new ways to predict, treat, or even prevent Alzheimer's and dementia? Horizons moderator William Brangham explores more with Robert Kolker. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
• 
  How much privacy is left in an age of surveillance? 25.09.2026

  We are all being watched in ways we never imagined, including vehicle tracking, facial recognition technology and data mining. What does all this digital surveillance mean for the right to privacy? And as a backlash over this monitoring grows, what can you do to protect yourself? Horizons moderator William Brangham explores the ethics of surveillance Byron Tau and Calli Schroeder. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
• 
  The science of grief and how it can impact physical health 18.09.2026 24m

  If we are lucky enough to live full lives and form meaningful relationships, chances are, we will also experience loss, and with it, grief. As common as grief is, it's also mysterious. Horizons guest moderator Ali Rogin explores the science of grief with Liz Gleeson and Dr. George Slavich. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
• 
  The lasting health toll of 9/11 on rescue workers and survivors 11.09.2026 24m

  It's now believed that more people have died because of the toxic exposures they got from the 9/11 sites than were killed by the terrorists on that day. Survivors, first responders and volunteers have faced everything from cancer to respiratory disorders to PTSD. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores the long-term health impacts with Dr. Michael Crane, Dr. Benjamin Luft and John Feal. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
• 
  Technology is reshaping education. But is it helping students learn? 04.09.2026 24m

  Putting technology into schools was sold as a revolution that would help kids learn. But as tech companies exert greater influence, many are now wondering if screen time is doing more harm than good. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores how technology is shaping education with Natasha Singer, a New York Times reporter and author of "Coding Kids: Big Tech's Battle to Remake Public Schools." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
• 
  Why America faces a primary care shortage – and why it matters 28.08.2026 24m

  There's a critical need for primary care physicians across America, but a shortage of doctors and rising insurance costs are forcing people to forgo preventive care altogether. Americans die of preventable, treatable diseases at far higher rates than people who live in other similar nations. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores possible solutions with Dr. Lucy McBride and Renuka Rayasam. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
• 
  Can recycling solve the world's trash problem? 21.08.2026

  Reduce, reuse, recycle. It's the mantra heard for decades, but does it work? There's a lingering cynicism that recycling is a scam, that it doesn't really help, and it's more about making us feel good than doing something meaningful. Horizons moderator William Brangham separates fact from fiction with Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli of WATS and Judith Enck of Beyond Plastics. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
• 
  The alarming decline of bird populations and why humans should care 31.07.2026

  Birds are not only wondrous creatures that live amongst us, they're also an essential part of life on Earth – helping grow food, keeping pests at bay and spreading seeds. But more than half of migratory bird populations are declining globally. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores the threats birds are facing with ornithologist Peter Marra of the Earth Commons at Georgetown University. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
• 
  Why uterine fibroids remain misunderstood despite affecting most women 24.07.2026

  For millions of women, uterine fibroids not only cause painful symptoms, but the diagnosis can bring more questions than answers. Even though most women will develop them, misconceptions remain about who gets them and how they should be treated. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores fibroids and treatment with Dr. Soyini Hawkins and Sateria Venable. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
• 
  What alcohol does to our bodies – and why many overlook the risks 17.07.2026 24m

  Alcohol is a product so tightly woven into our society that we struggle to see what it's really doing to us. Despite documented links between alcohol and cancer, heart and liver disease, over half of all drinkers think their own consumption doesn't raise their risk for serious health problems. Horizons mo derator William Brangham explores more with Lev Facher, Marissa Esser and Priscilla Martinez. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
• 
  The unsung heroes of American innovation and ingenuity 03.07.2026

  From the light bulb to the iPhone, American inventions have rocketed around the world thanks to their innovation and ingenuity. But some American innovators, including women and people of color, have largely been overlooked. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores why America has been such fertile ground for creative minds with Sujai Shivakumar and Eric S. Hintz. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
• 
  Screens are virtually inescapable. What are they doing to our health? 26.06.2026

  They're in our pockets, workplaces, homes and schools — screens are everywhere. Americans are spending more than seven hours a day looking at screens. What is this doing to our well being? And does all this screen time affect different generations differently? Horizons moderator William Brangham explores what we know and don't know with researchers Kostadin Kushlev and Courtney K. Blackwell. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
• 
  The science of 'Dad Brain' and how fatherhood changes men 19.06.2026 24m

  While most scientific research has focused on men, when it comes to parenthood, it's all about mothers. But new research shows that men undergo profound changes biologically and psychologically when they become fathers. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores the surprising science of "Dad Brain" with Darby Saxbe. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
• 
  Why communities are revolting against data centers 12.06.2026

  Artificial intelligence data centers are popping up across America, spurring fierce backlash because of their need for huge amounts of water and power. Is the AI revolution worth the price communities are paying? Horizons moderator William Brangham explores the impact of data centers with Michael Webber, author of "Power Trip: The Story of Energy," which was also made into a series on PBS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
• 
  Exploring the questions surrounding UAPs and the search for extraterrestrial life 22.05.2026

  Unexplained sightings have appeared in our skies for years, and now the U.S. government has started releasing declassified files about what we used to call UFOs. What explains these phenomena, and what do we know about life beyond Earth? Horizons moderator William Brangham explores what we do know, and what we don't, with Leslie Kean and Garrett Graff, two authors who've studied this topic deeply. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
• 
  As the Colorado River dries up, how Western states are confronting the water crisis 15.05.2026

  Roughly one in ten Americans gets their water from the Colorado River. But a worsening drought, driven in part by climate change, is drying up the river, and states are fighting over water rights. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores what that means for communities and industries that depend on that water with Luke Runyon, Wade Crowfoot and Joel Ferry. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
• 
  Why we need to talk more about menopause and its health consequences 08.05.2026 24m

  More than 1 million women in the U.S. start menopause every year, yet this biological certainty is too often shrouded in secrecy or ignored by many mainstream researchers. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores what we do and don't know about menopause with Dr. Sharon Malone and Dr. Lauren Streicher. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
• 
  Why Khan Academy's founder thinks AI tools can transform education for the better 01.05.2026 25m

  Technology has changed the way students study and learn. Now, as artificial intelligence enters the classroom, proponents argue it will be a welcome revolution for schools — but with limited guardrails, could it do more harm than good? Horizons moderator William Brangham explores the future of AI and education with Khan Academy founder Salman Khan, who has launched a new AI assistant for teachers. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy