All Episodes 2017 - 2023

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.

New research shines the spotlight on a new plastic pollution menace -- microfibers.

Check out this blooper special of Myles over the last few years. Can you believe his beard was once that short?

The founding principle of the U.S. justice system is fairness, right? Well, maybe not when it comes to the U.S. bail system. What do you think? Is America’s bail system fair?

When you turn 18, our society generally considers you an adult. You can join the military. You’re eligible for jury duty. And, of course, you gain the right to vote. However, you can get a job, pay taxes, and even be tried as an adult for some crimes at 16. Clearly, laws have an impact on nearly everyone well before they can cast their vote. Maybe we need to rethink the voting age. Should 16-year-olds be allowed to vote?

As active shooter drills become more common in schools, there’s debate over what type of drill is best. Do hyper realistic drills better prepare students, or are they unnecessarily traumatizing? Join students from PBS NewsHour’s student reporting labs as they investigate which kind of drills are most effective.

Suspensions have some unintended consequences. They disproportionately target minorities, and some students who get suspended are more likely to repeat a grade, drop out of school, and become involved in the criminal justice system. But suspensions are viewed by some as a necessary tool to keep schools safe. It may not be great for the suspended student, but they say it’s more important to keep everyone ELSE at the school safe. Should suspensions be suspended?

No one wants to talk about it, but suicide is a leading cause of death among teens. The good news is, schools are uniquely positioned to help. Student reporters from PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs investigate what schools can do.

College costs are insane these days. It’s getting to the point where unless your last name is Bezos or Zuckerberg, a college education kinda feels like a pipe dream. One answer is FREE COLLEGE paid for by the government, which many liberals and even some conservatives are getting behind. But, “free” college really isn’t free. That money has to come from somewhere. Is free college really as good as it sounds?

In late 2018, a Chinese researcher revealed that he created the first ever genetically edited babies. He altered the DNA of twin girls before they were born. In response, the world kind of went nuts, raising a HUGE bioethical question. When is gene editing OK? How far is too far when altering life itself?

With #dresscoded and #Imnotadistraction, school dress codes are coming under fire from students who say these policies can be sexist and racist. But many argue strict dress codes are necessary for a safe learning environment. So, how should schools decide on dress code policies?

It’s not hard to find a high school student who is stressed about homework. Many are stressed to the max--juggling extracurricular activities, jobs, and family responsibilities. It can be hard for many students, particularly low-income students, to find the time to dedicate to homework. So students in the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs program at YouthBeat in Oakland, California are asking what’s a fair amount of homework for high school students?

What do you get when you mix car stunts, youth culture, and Oakland? Sideshows! Sideshows have become big in Oakland, where drivers will block major intersections to perform car stunts like donuts and figure eights, while large crowds gather to watch. But here’s the catch-- they can be real dangerous and because of that they are totally illegal. And chances are in some way or another there’s a clash between youth and car culture and cops near you too. In Oakland, they are creating a huge divide in the community, where many supporters say sideshows are part of Oakland culture and are calling for legal safe venues. While many opponents view sideshows as a dangerous public nuisance and are calling for harsher legal penalties. So students in the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs program at Oakland Military Institute in Oakland, California are asking: what should Oakland do about sideshows? And chances are there’s a clash between youth, car culture and cops near you too.

Myles breaks down why deepfakes can cause so much damage, and talks to Jabril, the host of YouTube channel Jabrils, about how to spot them.

False equivalence: what does it mean, and why is it helping to spread misinformation online?

We all know how easy it is to spend hours watching videos on YouTube. Why do we go down that rabbit hole? Mostly because of a combination of computer programming and marketing know-how called ALGORITHMS.

Even by conservative estimates, the average American spends over 6 hours per day staring at a screen. That’s a lot of time. What does the scientific research say about it? Is it good or bad for us?

If the Internet's making you feel meaner, you're not imagining it. People really do act differently online than they do in person. Here’s why.

Plastic bottles are EVERYWHERE and are a big source of pollution. But banning them might create another problem for the environment. Here’s why.

Zoos are great, right? You get to be up close and personal with some amazing animals that you’d pretty much never get to see in the wild. Clearly, zoos are a win for people. But when it comes to the animals, zoos might cause more harm than good. Should zoos exist?

There’s been 5 times in U.S. history where the guy who became president lost the popular vote, but won the electoral vote. And two of those times were just in the last 20 years. And with a new presidential election coming up, there’s lots of chatter about the value of the electoral college with critics asking is it time to get rid of the electoral college?

Climate change is THE existential question that humanity is facing. But are we too late? Has climate change reached the point of no return? Are we doomed?

Traditionally thought of as gun-free zones, some schools are now allowing teachers to carry guns in classrooms— an effort that is meant to increase school safety, particularly when it comes to stopping school shootings. But this move is sparking controversy nationwide, as many opponents question whether arming teachers with guns would actually make schools safer.

Minimum wage in the U.S. has been $7.25 an hour for the last 10 years. Raising it could lift low-income workers out of poverty, but it might also kill jobs and potentially hurt the economy. Should it be raised or should it stay the same?

We’ve all heard that violent video games make you violent, but is it true? Myles and PBS NewsHour Student Reporters from Etiwanda High School in Southern California dive deep into the research to get a better understanding of the debate.

Pretty much every rich, developed nation on the planet has universal healthcare, EXCEPT for the U.S. Should we join them, or does our current healthcare system have advantages that we don’t want to lose?

The driver’s license is often a symbol of freedom, especially if you’re a teen getting one for the first time. So PBS NewsHour student reporters from Northview High School in Southern California decided to investigate the debate happening around the country over whether people living in the U.S. illegally should be allowed to get driver’s licenses.

College is often presented as THE best path to success. But it’s not the only path. Is college really the best option?

To slow the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, public health experts are telling us to stay home and practice “social distancing.” Think social distancing doesn’t matter if you’re young and healthy? Think again. It’s not about you-- it’s about protecting the community. And in this Above the Noise video, we get into why it’s so important, even if you’re not in a high risk category.

This whole coronavirus thing is messing up every aspect of society. School is no exception, with millions of students now stuck at home dealing with a bunch of new stress. How do you deal with so much uncertainty in the time of coronavirus?

With new information about COVID-19, comes misinformation too! False claims and rumors about everything from treatments and remedies to how the virus is spread are popping up everywhere-- it’s hard to keep track of what’s accurate and what’s not. Myles not only sets the record straight by speaking to a public health expert to answer some of your most burning COVID-19 questions, but also gives you some quick tips on how to vet if what you’re coming across online is accurate or not.

InThisTogether is the new coronavirus mantra. But at the same time, hate crimes against Asian Americans are on the rise and black people are dying from COVID-related causes at alarming rates. We talked to comedian and CNN show host W. Kamau Bell to ask him if we're really "all in this together."

Our host, Myles Bess, talks with comedian and CNN-host W. Kamau Bell about why so many communities of color are being hit so hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

Family really getting to you? You’re not alone. Even as stay-at-home orders are loosening, you’re probably spending way more time at home than you’d like to be. This can lead to some family tension—especially between teens and parents. Myles Bess talks to some experts about how to keep the peace with your family.

If you’re in high school and plan on going off to college at some point in the next couple years, the coronavirus has put YOU in UNCHARTED territory. Pass-fail grades, delayed SATs, and cancelled extra curriculars can put a GIANT question mark on your college application. How will the coronavirus impact going to college?

As protesters around the country demand racial justice and a re-examination of policing in communities, the conversation has also spread to schools -- with many asking if police should be on campuses.

In the earlier days of the coronavirus pandemic, there was a lot more confusion about whether people should wear masks to protect themselves and others from the virus. Here’s why recommendations have changed – even for kids and teens – and how they help keep COVID-19 in check.

With gun violence making headlines in Wisconsin, Myles turns to high school students in Black River Falls, Wisconsin to share their investigation of Red Flag Gun Laws — a bipartisan and little known part of the gun control debate.

The debate over the best way to teach sex ed in America continues to rage on, but student voice is often left out of the conversation when schools are deciding on what to teach. So Myles and PBS NewsHour Student Reporters from Oakland Military Institute investigate the pros and cons of the various approaches to sex ed and talk to students to find out how they feel about their sexual health education.

Protests can be peaceful one minute. Chaotic the next. And can even turn violent a minute after that. This episode looks at not WHY people protest, but HOW. Is there a right way to protest?

Americans face many obstacles when it comes to voting and it reflects in our voter turnout numbers. The process of getting registered and getting to the polls isn’t the same for everyone and depending on where you are it can make voting really hard and these hurdles can discourage people from voting all together. So...is voting too hard in the U.S?

If you’re a citizen and at least 18, you can vote in elections, right? Well, no. If you’ve been convicted of a crime, it’s possible that you could have that right taken away. It’s called felony disenfranchisement.

The ramp up to the 2020 presidential election has been, well...stressful. The political divide was in full effect, and America is on edge. Our host, Myles Bess, reflects on the year leading up to the big day -- and asks our audience how they are dealing with this historic moment.

Despite schools being the safest they’ve been in over 30 years, more and more schools have turned to surveillance--facial recognition cameras, apps that track movements, and software that monitors email and social media accounts--in the name of safety. And the tug of war between student privacy and surveillance wages on while tech companies make a lot of money off this new industry.

Living with catastrophic wildfires has become an unfortunate reality for many residents of the United States, particularly in the West. And climate change has made the fire season even longer and more intense than previous years. Deliberately setting “good fires,” or prescribed burns, could help prevent future fires by clearing away unwanted brush and debris. But organizing controlled burns is a lot of work, and it has its risks, too.

When politicians like AOC and Trump hop on social media, are they forming real connections with young people who might vote for them...or are they just being awkward?

Is there an upside to virtual school? We teamed up with PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs at Black River Falls in Wisconsin to learn how students have been dealing with the pandemic and online learning.

People are turning to flexitarianism for many reasons. Producing a lot of meat and dairy has a big effect on climate change. Eating a lot of meat and dairy is also problematic for animal welfare, our health, and food security. Learn more about the pros and cons of eating meat and dairy and follow Myles, a self-proclaimed meat lover, on his 7-day vegan journey.

The stock market is a game, and you gotta play it to have any chance of making money. But it’s, like, complicated and stuff. So, I made this video and now I get it. Sorta. Follow me on my journey as I pull back the curtain on the stock market!

I've been seeing growing momentum on Reddit and TikTok from teens who want to get vaccinated with or without parental consent. This has me wondering: Should teens be able to get vaccines without their parents' permission?

The pandemic has created what scientists call the anthropause, which is a large slowdown in human activity. That’s allowed all sorts of wild animals to get comfortable in and around cities, from boar in Rome to turkeys in my own hometown of Oakland, CA. As we humans keep expanding and taking up more space, sharing our cities with wild animals might be our best chance to protect them. So, can we learn to coexist with animals in an urban world?

Whether you want to admit it or not, racism is a problem in schools across the country.

Unpaid internships can be a touchy subject for a lot of people. For some, it’s a temporary sacrifice to get one step closer to a paying job. For others, it’s just a tool companies can use to exploit people for free labor. So, the question for today is, should we abolish unpaid internships?

This year in 2021 alone over 20 states have introduced bills that would ban trans girls from competing in girls' sports in middle and high school-- some bans even apply to elementary school and college. And these bills are controversial. So in this video we are asking, what’s the debate about trans girls in sports all about?

Do you ever get that feeling that you just don’t belong? That you’re a fake who might be found at any minute? There’s a term for that -- imposter syndrome. In this video, we explore why this feeling exists and what you can do to fight against it.

What’s in a name? That’s a loaded question when it comes to the names of public schools in the U.S., which are commonly named after historical figures. But what if the person your school is named after did something problematic: like owning slaves, being a eugenicist, or an advocate for segregation? Well, some students across the country are leading the charge to rename schools that are named after people who they think do not reflect the values they want in their school’s namesake. So in this video journalist and host, Myles Bess asks how do you decide if, when, and how to rename a school?

Looking woke online can seem pretty selfish and empty, but can it ever become real activism?

The thrifting industry has grown over the last few years and Gen-Z gets a lot of the credit. However, critics worry that this growth has made thrifting less accessible to low-income families and those that need it.

Why is each generation lonelier than the one that came before it?

Learn how to win an argument online, when to bow out, and how to respectfully engage people you don’t agree with.

Students are leading #metoo movements around the world in their high schools, demanding an end to sexual assault and harassment. But can this activism actually change rape culture?

Recently, the bodies of Indigenous children were discovered lying in unmarked graves at former Residential School sites in Canada. How are Indigenous youth of today healing from this history and demanding accountability?

How will billionaires in space benefit us, the regular, NON-millionaires-and-billionaires stuck on this planet for the foreseeable future?

Why do you love conspiracy theories and who’s profiting from spreading them?

Can ADHD meds like Adderall turn you into a better student with better grades?

Cancel culture has made headlines a bunch in recent years, but when students start canceling each other does it go too far?

Why do you see what you see online and in social media and how can that influence your identity and behavior?

Indigenous communities across the globe are experts at managing and protecting land. Is it time the U.S. finally returned STOLEN parklands back to them?

A lot of books are getting BANNED lately, especially those that focus on LGBTQ youth or the impact of racism. We all know books can be powerful, but many parents and politicians argue we need to protect kids from content they think is too mature, or even harmful. But what if you are LGBTQ or a person of color and these books reflect your lived experiences?

Much of the animal testing we do isn’t necessary anymore, but we keep doing it. Why?

Pronouns are small but controversial words - especially when it comes to expressing gender identity. Myles digs into the history of gender pronouns and asks: why do they matter?

If it seems like things are more expensive these days, it’s cause they are! Myles digs into the current causes of inflation.

Things are expensive! How can we get prices under control? Myles digs into different ways to fight inflation.

Why isn't a 32-hour week the norm already? The history behind the 40-hour work week and why we still have it.

There’s a lot of noise on mental health TikTok, but there’s also some truly helpful info! We chatted with Dr. Patrice Berry for tips on how to get the most out of it.

There's a lot of hype around the high cost of college, and students are wondering where their money is going.

If "just say no" didn't work 30 years ago, can it really work today?

Are lobbyists really as bad as their reputation?

Beavers are dam-building, furry little cuties but did you also know that these adorable rodents can help protect landscapes from wildfires and drought and fight climate change?