Search results for

Platinum is a key industrial catalyst because its electronic structure gives it an exceptional ability to accelerate oxidation and hydrogenation chemical reactions. Among its uses are in catalytic converters in automobiles and in fuel cells that generate electricity from hydrogen. Catalysts are also critical for methods of upcycling plastic waste and converting old plastics into high-quality new products.

On this week’s 51%, we speak with author Kate Schatz about her new novel Where the Girls Were. Loosely based on her mother’s experience, Where the Girls Were tells the story of a bright teenage girl in the late 1960s who finds herself pregnant and is sent away to have the baby in secret and put it up for adoption. Schatz says secret homes for "unwed mothers" were not uncommon in the U.S. before the decision of Roe v. Wade enshrined abortion rights for (almost) the next 50 years. During the “Baby Scoop Era,” millions of unwed young mothers faced societal pressure to relinquish their newborns for adoption.

Next Friday is the vernal equinox, the first day of Spring, which the media often celebrates by repeating such myths as, "Day and night are equal." But some people must surely glance at local sunrise and sunset listings and see that day is longer than night at every equinox. Real equality will happen the middle of this week.

(Airs 03/12/26 @ 3 p.m.) WAMC’s David Guistina in conversation with Katherine Nadeau, Deputy Executive Director of Environmental Advocates New York, about a memo from NYSERDA, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, about the cost of the 2019 climate law, The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), and what Governor Hochul might do as a result.

Bestselling author Emma Donoghue’s new novel, “The Paris Express,” brings us to Autumn, 1895. Paris is as chaotic as it is glamorous, with industry and invention creating huge wealth and terrible poverty. One morning, an anarchist boards the ill-fated Granville-to-Paris express train, determined to make her mark on history.

Ami Vitale is a National Geographic photographer who was recently designated Explorer at Large.The title is an honor reserved for only the most impactful of storytellers, scientists, and changemakers.We’ll speak with Ami about her new title and her work documenting efforts to reverse extinction around the world.

Forests are fundamental to life on Earth. They store carbon dioxide, regulate water cycles, stabilize soils, and provide habitat for countless species. Forests also supply people with food, wood, and shade that helps cool communities during hot weather.

According to the year-end summary by the Alaska Climate Research Center, Alaska had one of its warmest years of the past 100 in 2025. The average temperature of 29.6 degrees Fahrenheit was the warmest year since 2019. Compared with the 1991-2020 averages, Alaska overall was 1.5 degrees warmer in 2025.

On this week's 51%, we recognize Endometriosis Awareness Month and speak with Dr. Gabriela Aguilar, medical director of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York. Endometriosis is a painful and complex inflammatory disease impacting roughly 1 in 10 women worldwide. Despite how common it is, very little is still known about endometriosis, and too often patients report years of pain before getting an official diagnosis. Aguilar is a board-certified OB/GYN and complex family planning specialist in New York City.

On this week’s 51%, we speak with Brady President Kris Brown about her work advocating for gun control measures in Washington, and why it’s harder today. We also hear from New York State Senator Liz Krueger about the state’s proposed Equal Rights Amendment, which voters will decide on in November.