Matt Purdy

Associate Producer

Innovation Hub
Ellis Island — which once welcomed millions of immigrants to the US — is pictured here shrouded in fog.

What immigration does for innovation

Some of America’s best scientists (think Einstein and Tesla) immigrated here from other countries. We talk with two economists who’ve calculated their impact on American innovation.

What immigration does for innovation
Empathy

How empathy leads us astray

How empathy leads us astray
Protesters dressed as robots demand a basic income

Swiss voters reject a plan to give everyone a guaranteed basic income

Swiss voters reject a plan to give everyone a guaranteed basic income
Doctors diagnose a patient remotely at the First Hospital of Zhejiang Province

When technology goes wrong in your doctor's office, it can have serious consequences

When technology goes wrong in your doctor's office, it can have serious consequences
iphone broken

Why we don't fix anything anymore

Why we don't fix anything anymore
philly housing

Advocates are embracing a new first step to help the homeless: permanent housing

It used to be much harder for the homeless to get permanent housing. But a new push to house the homeless before treating addiction or mental health issues is changing that.

Advocates are embracing a new first step to help the homeless: permanent housing
Pasta

Paleo Schmaleo: Why the Paleo diet is wrong

New research into how our brains grew so large flies in the face of the trendy Paleo diet.

Paleo Schmaleo: Why the Paleo diet is wrong
volcano

Scientists are looking at riskier ways to reverse climate change

We may one day need a silver bullet to cool the climate down. A look at the options - and the unintended consequences.

Scientists are looking at riskier ways to reverse climate change
Kids need more play time

The case for play

In hunter-gatherer societies, kids learned through play. In today's world, it's still important for all kids to have more time to do so, a psychologist says.

The case for play
Aging

'The first person to live to 150 has already been born.'

Aging is a disease — not just an inevitable process. That's according to researcher David Sinclair, who explains why 150 year olds will be good for society.

'The first person to live to 150 has already been born.'
Laptops

Integrating technology too tightly with education presents its own kind of problems

Technology is not always the answer to eradicating poverty, says a former Microsoft executive. Imagine that.

Integrating technology too tightly with education presents its own kind of problems