Facebook is making headlines once again with its two billion dollar acquisition of virtual reality company Oculus VR. Today on Word Of Mouth, a look into why the social network has put so much stock in virtual reality. And it’s opening day for the Red Sox as they take on the Baltimore Orioles today. Fans are hoping this year’s roster will bring them to the World Series again, but how much can we really predict at this point in the season? And are stats the final word?
Producer Zach Nugent has been scouring record stores for the best new music offerings in a new segment we're calling The Audio Orchard.
Then we talk with a National Geographic columnist who argues for lifelong love of dinosaurs.
Finally, NHPR environmental reporter Sam Evans-Brown brings us the story of a UNH "pee bus" project. Urine, it turns out, can be pretty useful.
Listen to the whole show and click Read more for individual segments.
Oculus Rift
- Jamin Warren, founder of Killscreen, a videogame culture magazine, is with us to explain why Facebook has put so much stock in virtual reality.
- Benjamin Baumer is one of those post Moneyball hires. He worked for the New York Mets for eight years and is now professor of statistics At Smith College. He’s co-author of the book, The Sabermetric Revolution.
Audio Orchard
- Some new music might be just what you need to put winter behind you. Here to help is producer Zach Nugent in a segment we’re calling ‘The Audio Orchard’ – a hand-picked playlist of his favorite new songs.
My Beloved Brontosaurus
- A look into the wonderful world of dinosaurs: National Geographic, Brian Switek columnist makes the argument for remaining a dino-enthusiasts well into our adult years. He is the author of My Beloved Brontosaurus: On the Road with Old Bones, New Science, and Our Favorite Dinosaurs.
The "Pee Bus" Project
- Here’s a fun fact…the first evidence of dinosaur urine wasn’t discovered until 2002 and, it turns out, paleontologists are still trying to unravel the mysteries of dino-bladders. But one thing’s for certain, dinosaurs probably had big bladders. Beer-soaked college students, not so much. NHPR environmental reporter Sam Evans Brown brings us this story from UNH.