Prove it, innate, survival of the fittest, organic… scientific terminology is part of our everyday language, but are we using the terms correctly? Today we’re testing the theory of misusing scientific terms. And, with the state breaking ground on a new women’s prison next month, we’ll consider whether the specific needs of female inmates can be addressed by re-thinking prison design. Then, mental illness creates a stigma that is almost impossible to erase, even for sports celebrities. We wonder: why isn’t Delonte West in the NBA?
Listen to the full show and Read more for individual segments.
Misused Science Terms
Annalee Newitz, is editor-in-chief at io9, Gawker Media’s science fiction blog. Her article, “Ten Scientific Ideas Scientists Wish You Would Stop Misusing,” compiles the opinions of a group of scientists about their worst pet peeves when it comes to misusing scientific terminology.
Word Origins: 1977 Edition
Dave Wilton is author of Word Myths and editor at WordOrigins.com. He joined us on the line to talk about the new words of 1977, the year “text-message” was officially declared a word.
What Is Rock N' Roll?
ThoughtCast's Jenny Attiyeh's brings us a story that tries to get at the roots of rock n' roll. We know it when we hear it, but what is it, really?
A New Design For NH Women’s Prisons
NHPR’s Emily Corwin brings us a story set in New Hampshire, where architects are working with the department of corrections to design a $38 million state prison for women, with women’s needs in mind.
Mental Illness In the NBA
David Haglund is senior editor at Slate and runs Brow Beat, Slate’s culture blog. He wrote the article “Why Isn’t Delonte West in the NBA?” which examines how the NBA handles mental health issues and the stigma of mental health in pro-sports.
