Bob Barrett

Over the years there have been two words that have summed up the most effective weapon in the fight against cancer...all cancer: early detection.  Now researchers are trying hard to make early detection quicker, easier...and earlier.  

On today’s Health Show we’ll hear about advances in the early detection of cancer...and hear from a clinical researcher about the feasibility of finding warning signs for cancer in blood.  We’ll also focus on one of those tests that is generating a lot of controversy: the PSA test for prostate cancer.

Talking about race in America is still an uncomfortable conversation.  But a professor in Boston found that teaching a class on the topic was a great way to bring the conversation to a racially diverse collection of high school students. Today on The Best Of Our Knowledge, we’ll talk about that class and about the new book “High Schools, Race, and America’s Future What Students Can Teach Us About Morality, Diversity, and Community".

Once a woman is diagnosed, treated and cured of breast cancer...her journey is far from over.  In fact, it’s more than likely just beginning.  On today’s Health Show, a lively conversation with a breast cancer survivor about her book “The Adventures of a One-Breasted Woman”.

We’ll also hear from an artist who survived breast cancer...and wanted to do more to help than just wear a pink ribbon.  You’ll be surprised when you hear just what she IS wearing.

While you were vacationing last summer, there were groups of middle school students around the country on a quest in the search for the origins of life.  Today on The Best Of Our Knowledge, our Astrobiology Series returns with the students of the Exxon/Mobile, Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp, and learn about their quest to find life on one of the moons of Saturn.

Plus we spend an academic minute exploring the link between the winds and the waters.

Do you have high blood pressure? Are you sure? Most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms, even if their blood pressure readings get dangerously high. On today's Health Show we'll talk about Hypertension and how to avoid it...or live with it.

We’ll also hear from the N-I-H about a new method of screening for coronary artery disease using M-R-I technology.  And we’ll hear a compelling story of how cops and other first responders in Chicago are changing the lives of mentally ill kids.

The president’s annual State Of The Union Address usually has a little something for everyone...and this year’s was no different.  When it comes to education, the president focused on the very young. Today on The Best Of Our Knowledge, we’ll hear portions of the president’s speech and hear how one state is trying to get a jump on the trend of early education.    We’ll also learn about a collection of letters from one of America’s great 20th century writers: Kurt Vonnegut.  Plus we spend an academic minute juggling hate speech and the first amendment.

Over the past decade there have been an explosion of new laboratory tests for disease plus a steady movement to electronic health records.  At least in the developed world.  In countries where resources are scarce there is little to no health infrastructure in place.  But the answer to some of those issues may be sitting in your pocket.  On today’s Health Show we’ll hear how cell phones are being transformed into mobile labs.

There’s always been a conventional way to get an education.  You go to kindergarten, then grammar school, then high school, then college.  Then it’s off to the workplace, hope you enjoyed the ride, watch your step...have a nice day.  But with economic times being as dodgy as they’ve been over the past five years, that convention has been broken...at least when it come to college.  Today on The Best Of Our Knowledge, we’ll hear how the non-traditional student is the new normal.

Plus we spend an academic minute teaching old dogs news tricks.  Young ones, too.

David Goldhill is president and chief executive officer of G-S-N, The Game Show Network.  He is also an author and crusader for a consumer based universal health care system.  After the  death of his father, Goldhill, began a personal exploration of a health-care industry that for years has delivered poor service and irregular quality at astonishingly high cost. On today’s Health Show we’ll here from David Goldhill about his book
“Catastrophic Care: How American Health Care Killed My Father--and How We Can Fix It”

Teaching history can be daunting.  I mean, where do you start?  Even if you narrow it down to American history, there are so many stories that even the best teachers can only scratch the surface.  That’s what makes the “Don’t Know Much About...” book series so much fun.  Author Ken Davis takes a topic, like the presidents of the United States, and leaves you with information you didn’t know you didn’t know. Today on The Best Of Our Knowledge, a conversation with Davis about his book about the POTUSes.

Plus we spend an academic minute with a few negative ads.