Taxonomists are scientists (usually in museums) who classify life. They're field has open boundaries which creates tension for the Taxonomists and is a lesson to all of us dealing with boundaries. To read the article this story was based upon go here: http://nautil.us/issue/66/clockwork/why-do-taxonomists-write-the-meanest-obituaries-rp2This piece …

In this BONUS to our Immersive episode, “Risk,” we explore denial and how most of our lives involve a careful balance of denial to cope with risk. Cindy Gagnon shares her avalanche story to illustrate how denial can be very unexpected. And we hear from several scientists to explain our cognitive coping mechanisms. Are you balancing your denial corr…

A farewell message from Sift and the first episode of our new show called Qualia. You've probably wondered what had happened to the show, right??? Listeners to Sift will surely love the new show even more.You can subscribe to Qualia through Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-913130677Or through any podcast app. I like Radiopublic: https://radi…

Some people run long distances. Why do they do this? What happens to the body when it can't go anymore? Why are some people addicted to it? We answer most of these questions through the personal experiences of ultra-runner, Jordan Wirfs-Brock, and also hear from experts in physiology and medicine along the way. Enjoy!…

We improve our movements. This is called motor learning and it is a very subconscious activity. Hear about the subconscious subverting the conscious mind when it comes to movement, stroke patients getting major benefits from a treadmill, and how punishment is a spice used in violin training. Voices:Prof. Alaa Ahmed - Univ. Colorado BoulderYinfeng K…