The Best Of Our Knowledge
Mondays, 3-3:30 p.m.
Throughout the world, new discoveries are being made every day that shape our ways of thinking and redefine our understanding of today’s information-driven society. "The Best of Our Knowledge" highlights those breakthroughs across multiple disciplines and across the globe, putting you in touch with the men and women at the forefront of their fields. Each week, host Lucas Willard examines some of the issues unique to college campuses, looks at the latest in emerging research, and invites commentary from experts and administrators from all levels of education.
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The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education and research.New research offers a glimpse at the evolutionary link between prehistoric creatures and contemporary fowl.And fossilized amber is sought after for jewelry. A new study demonstrates the substance that takes Mother Nature millions of years to create can be synthesized in the lab. -
The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education and research.Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are predicting an active 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. We’ll speak with an atmospheric scientist about this year’s forecast.The president of Vassar College discusses executive orders directed at colleges and universities.And we’ll speak to a super speller who participated in the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee. -
The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education and research.Humans aren’t the only animals able to keep a beat. And we may not be the best at it either.A new study examines the time-keeping abilities of a special sea lion. -
The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education and research.The East African Savannah is known to be the cradle of humanity.Now, researchers are presenting a different history of homo sapiens, theorizing they evolved all across the continent including in rainforests as early as 150,000 years ago. -
The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education and research.Scientists have discovered a new color. Only a handful of people on Earth have seen “olo” – a greenish-blue hue that can only be seen by using special equipment.And we’ll learn how scientists are aging stars – not by the light they emit, but by their “sound.” -
The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education and research.In recognition of Mother’s Day, we’ll learn how Affectionate Mothering impacts children as they grow up.It’s graduation season, and students are showcasing their research, and preparing for life after college.And new research provides a deeper look at what’s underneath Yellowstone National Park. -
The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education and research.Scientists say recent publications by the MICrONS project are a watershed moment for neuroscience. We’ll speak with Dr. David Markowitz, who coordinated the effort to the develop the most advanced 3D map of neuronal circuitry ever. -
The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education and research.We may not remember our earliest days, but that doesn’t mean that infants aren’t making memories.And in a challenging time for higher education, we’ll speak with the college presidents of two merging institutions. -
The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education and research.As the Trump administration continues to take actions against colleges and universities, we’ll speak with Dr. Havidán Rodríguez, President of the University at Albany, about how the public institution is planning for changing federal policy.And new research examines how stress affects the body at the cellular level. -
The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education and research.Einstein theorized that at the center of a black hole, the laws of time and space break down. But quantum theory might allow researchers to further our understanding of the unknown.And an underground water source that feeds rivers in the Pacific Northwest could be much larger than previously thought.
