The Best of Our Knowledge

It started with a brief mention in a biography of Pablo Picasso. A blind man over 100 years ago, guided by a young woman, purchased and collected the early works of some of the greatest artists of the century. That mention began the search for Leon Angely. Rob Couteau talks about the search and the man and his young sidekick in his new book called “A Blind Man Crazy for Color – A Tribute to Leon Angely." We'll talk to Rob about this story.

There was a time when being called a geek was a major put-down. Today, people wear that title with honor. When it comes to understanding technology, a lot of people would assume that young people have the edge. But tech is not a natural ability. Cassidy Puckett, an assistant professor of sociology at Emory University says a growing digital divide among young people is a warning sign that STEM education may not be doing enough to prepare students for the future.Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll find out just who is really good with technology as we redefine geek.

Even families that have great communication skills sometimes need a little help. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, it’s time to talk puberty.

Pregnancy means big changes for a woman and her health. Pregnancy during a pandemic threw out all the rules. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, what science knows and is still learning about COVID and maternity. We’ll also take another look at caring for trans students health, and spend an Academic Minute with your brain on Zoom.

Springtime means the weather gets warmer, the birds start singing a bit louder, and high school seniors around the U.S. are getting their college acceptance, or non-acceptance letters. Each year around this time, The Princeton Review releases its survey of incoming college students. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll hear about the hopes and fears of new college students and their families.

For many people getting back to nature means planting a garden, and that’s actually a really good place to start. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, saving the planet, one garden at a time.

Scientists and Alzheimer’s disease have been doing battle for decades and so far, the disease has been winning. But there are strides being made for earlier and non-invasive ways to detect the condition. Now there is new technology ready for clinical testing that could provide that elusive biomarker. The research on the device was spearheaded by Dr. James Arruda, a professor of Psychology at the University of West Florida. We'll talk about this new technology.

Being an adolescent comes with temptations, frustrations and a ton of mixed messages. So going it alone shouldn’t really be an option. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll talk about the importance of having that one trusted adult.

After school programs around the country are having the same issue as a lot of business: finding enough qualified staff members. This was a problem even before the pandemic, but a new survey from the Afterschool Alliance shows 87% of afterschool programs are concerned about finding and keeping staff, and more than half have had to put interested families on waiting lists. Today on The Best Of Our Knowledge, a discussion on the current state of after school programs.

What makes you happy? It’s a question that has an unlimited number of answers. But the real question should probably be what makes you happier? That’s the one that Randye Kaye asks in her new book called “Happier Made Simple - Choose Your Words, Change Your Life." In the book she asks questions and offers some guidance not to find total happiness…but to find ways to find a bit of happier.