Above the Noise

Host Shirin Ghaffary Shirin dives deep into the research to figure out how your position in society affects your health.

How can you spot bad science reporting? Host Myles Bess helps you get above the noise by following 4 simple letters: G - L- A- D.

Continuing the conversation from last week’s video "Can Your Social Status Make You Sick?" Above the Noise hosts Myles Bess and Shirin Ghaffary respond to viewer questions and comments.

Does marijuana actually have any health benefits or are potheads blowing smoke trying to justify their high? Host Myles Bess clears the smoke on medical marijuana research and gets into the weeds discussing some of the high hurdles researchers face when trying to study marijuana.

Shirin Ghaffary weighs the potential health risks of drinking energy drinks, and compares them to other sugary, caffeinated beverages. What do you think -- should the U.S. ban energy drinks for minors?

Above the Noise hosts Myles Bess and Shirin Ghaffary continue our investigation into the health risks of energy drinks and respond to viewer questions and comments.

Above the Noise hosts Myles Bess and Shirin Ghaffary respond to viewer comments and discuss how social media affects their mood.

Thousands of people of all ages participated in marches for science across the country on April 22. But some scientists feel that marches like these are a mistake and risk politicizing science. This is a special report about young activists at the San Francisco march. What do you think about the role science plays in society, and the efforts to advocate for federal funding for scientific research?

Adam Savage was co-host of science television program Mythbusters for 14 seasons, and now runs tested.com. He chats with Above the Noise host Shirin Ghaffary about why scientific inquiry is more important than ever.

Host Myles Bess breaks down the research around why our brains can so easily make us believe that fake news is real news.

Host Myles Bess breaks down gerrymandering, and how politicians on both sides of the aisle use sophisticated software to rig the voting system in their party's favor. What does this mean for YOUR vote?

Host Myles Bess takes a deeper look at how algorithms are being used in the criminal justice system -- and whether not computer programs make better predictions about criminal behavior than humans.

Host Myles Bess dives into the science and policy surrounding the use of genetically engineered mosquitoes to combat mosquito-borne diseases like Zika, Dengue Fever and chikungunya.

Host Myles Bess explores how homeless students get the help they need when different federal agencies use competing definitions to define who’s homeless.

Shirin Ghaffary looks into why the crime rate in America can be such a confusing, and often misleading, topic to read and write about.

Host Shirin Ghaffary explores how 3-D printed guns are affecting the gun debate in the United States.

Out with the old, in with the young-- young blood that is. Blood transfusions from young donors are gaining hype as an anti-aging treatment, but what does the research say about it?

We all know the stereotypes. If you’re up early, you’re a go-getter. If you sleep in, you’re lazy. But how much control do you REALLY have over when you go to bed and when you wake up? And why are teens notorious for sleeping in?

What role does climate change play in extreme weather?

In some cases, it’s a crime for teens to sext. Should it be?

Virtual reality is the hottest new thing on the media landscape. Chances are even your granny has tried 360 video! Advertisers and media companies are all scrambling to find a way to deliver VR ads and stories to consumers. Scientists say VR can also promote empathy -- the ability to put yourself in somebody else's shoes. But can VR actually make you a better person?

New research suggests that some people need to procrastinate in order to get things done. Could this be a good or bad thing?

How do we decide who can immigrate to the U.S?

The internet can certainly make life super convenient-- like the ability to easily keep up with distant friends and relatives-- but it also makes it super easy for other people to know your stuff. Even stuff you don’t want them to know about. So how can we protect our privacy online?

In today’s digital world, privacy is something that is getting harder and harder to protect. But what if simply scanning your face provides enough information to track you and learn your habits?

2017 was a big year. Not just for America and the world, but also Above the Noise! Join Myles by a cozy fireplace as he reflects back on this year.