NYU sociologist Eric Klinenberg, author of Going Solo and Heat Wave, is joined by two graduate students to discuss their research into NYC's response to climate change and Hurricane Sandy. Liz Koslov, a doctoral student in Media, Culture, and Communication at NYU, talks about her research in coastal Staten Island, where residents are trying to figure out if the government will buy them out of their homes, and at what price. Sociology doctoral student Jacob Faber explains his work on the geography of Sandy's impact, in terms of flooding, access to public transit and problems with electricity and sewage.

Eric Klinenberg, NYU sociologist and author of Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone, discusses why living alone is on the rise--and why it is so appealing.

LISTENERS: Do you live alone? What do you find surprisingly appealing about living solo? Do you feel more plugged-in to the city or not? Tell us the pros and cons of living alone. Call us or comment here!

This week, meteorologists are predicting that heat waves will hit hard and heavy in the midwest. Though many consider them to be merely a nuisance, heat waves are among the deadliest natural disasters in the U.S. So why don’t we treat heat waves with more concern?