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Intelligent Design: Only a Theory

Brown University biologist and evolution proponent Kenneth Miller examines whether the theory of Intelligent Design holds up to scientific scrutiny. In his new book, Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America’s Soul.

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The Histories by Herodotus

Robert Strassler is editor of the new edition of The Histories by Herodotus, a Greek historian living in the 5th century BCE. It’s a history of the rise of the Persian Empire and its war with Greek city-states.

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Clothes Make the Man, Markings Make the Bird

Researchers have found that slightly changing a bird’s appearance also changes its behavior. In a recent study, researchers darkened the reddish breast feathers of male barn swallows using a cheap marker. Within a week, the birds had higher testosterone levels! Dr. Kevin McGraw is co-author of the study and an evolutionary biology professor at Arizona State University.

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States of the Union: Maryland

Find out about Tuesday's special election in Maryland's 4th District, why Maryland attracts so many biotech firms, and how the state became one of the most reliable for Democrats in presidential elections. Lisa Rein covers Maryland politics for the Washington Post and the paper's Maryland Moments blog, joins us to discuss what matters to voters in the Free State.

States of the Union fact of the week: Maryland has the highest median household income in the United States.

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Underreported: Book Power

When Francisco Goldman's book The Art of Political Murder was published in the U.S., it had ripple effects in Guatemala, where the book was used to prove points by warring factions in the country's civil war. Nathaniel Popper has written a new article, "The Novelist and the Murderers," in the July 7th issue of The Nation about how a single book can have a dramatic effect on a country's political climate.

We'd like to hear from you. Has a single book had a dramatic impact on your own political views? Tell us about the book, and why you reacted so strongly to it.

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