The award-winning Big Brains podcast features stories about the pioneering research and pivotal breakthroughs by scholars at the University of Chicago and leading universities across the country.
04/17/25
Can Your DNA Predict Your Future?, with Dalton Conley
What if a single number, derived from your DNA, could predict your income, education level or even who you're likely to marry? In his new book “The Social Genome,” Princeton University sociologist Dalton Conley explores the science behind how our gen… Read more
04/03/25
Can You Really Die of a Broken Heart? The Hidden Dangers of Grief, with Mary Frances O'Connor
When we lose someone, we love, we often say we have a broken heart—but what if that’s not just a metaphor? In her new book “The Grieving Body: How The Stress of Loss Can Be An Opportunity For Healing” University of Arizona Professor of Psychology Mar… Read more
03/20/25
The Science Behind Raising Successful Kids, with Ariel Kalil
New federal data paints a stark picture: American children are falling behind in reading and test scores, with the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged kids growing wider. But is this really just a problem of money? University of Chicago Developm… Read more
03/06/25
Do Animals Understand Death?, with Susana Monsó
What does it mean to understand death? For centuries, philosophers have argued that only humans can truly comprehend mortality. But what if they’re wrong? In this episode, we speak with philosopher Susana Monsó, author of Playing Possum: How Animals … Read more
02/20/25
Why Measles Is Resurging—And The Rise Of Vaccine Hesitancy, with Adam Ratner
In 2000, the United States declared that measles had been eliminated. But just 15 years later, the disease made a comeback—and it hasn’t gone away since. In this episode, Dr. Adam Ratner, director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at N… Read more
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