Listeners share how they are handling conversations around the Israel-Gaza war
The war in Gaza is showing signs of further escalation after Israel announced a renewed ground offensive in the region. On the international stage, Israel is receiving pressure from allied countries, including the US, to end the conflict. As nations grappled with how to handle this conflict on the international stage, on a local level, Angelenos are also trying to figure out how to have tough conversations around the conflict. Today on AirTalk, we’re turning to our listeners to see how they are navigating these dialogues within their families, friends, and houses of worship. Whether you are Muslim, Jewish, or simply have a tie to the region, we want to know how you are handling these discussions. How do you navigate these conversations in a constructive manner? How do you manage speaking with someone who has the opposite viewpoint? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
Understanding the detection process and treatment of prostate cancer
Understanding the detection process and treatment of prostate cancer
On Sunday, former President Joe Biden announced that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer which has spread to his bones. According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer within their lifetime, making it the most common cancer among men in the U.S. following skin cancer. When detected early, prostate cancer is known to be survivable. However, when detected at an advanced stage, what treatment options might be available for those diagnosed? Joining us today to talk about early detection, treatment, and prevention for prostate cancer is Leslie Ballas M.D., professor of Radiation Oncology at Cedars-Sinai. We also want to hear from you! Do you have questions about prostate cancer? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
A new book explores the early years of the AI research race
Last week AirTalk aired a weeklong series looking at the impact that artificial intelligence was having on different areas of life. While the world still grapples with how, when, and why to deploy AI systems, behind the scenes, there's an arms race occurring between the world's top tech players as they all struggle to stay at the forefront of the space. And this race has been going on for years, well before OpenAI's ChatGPT broke into the mainstream. Wall Street Journal reporter Keach Hagey has been following the tech sector's AI ambitions for some time, and has collected her findings in a new book THE OPTIMIST: Sam Altman, OpenAI, and the Race to Invest the Future (W. W. Norton & Company). She joins Larry on AirTalk to talk about her new book, the AI research race, and the people behind the mechanical brains we are increasingly interacting with.
Pasadena schools have been soil tested, here’s what the results say
Pasadena Unified School District released the results of soil tests this week, showing elevated levels of toxic metals at 13 campuses, five months after the Eaton Fire. Pasadena schools that shut down during the peak of the Eaton Fire reopened by February, and parents have been concerned since then about the possible presence of harmful metals like lead and arsenic. The schools are among many sites in the Eaton Fire area that have recently been found to have elevated levels of harmful materials. Pasadena Unified contracted with Verdantas, a “state-licensed environmental consulting firm” to conduct the testing after the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health found properties downwind of the Eaton Fire were more likely to have elevated lead levels. Joining us to discuss the results of the soil testing is K-12 senior reporter Mariana Dale, and Jennifer M. Cotton, associate professor of geological sciences at California State University, Northridge. Do you have a question about the soil test results? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
A new FDA-approved blood test can help diagnose Alzheimer’s
The FDA has approved a new blood test that can help diagnose Alzheimer's disease by detecting amyloid plaque, a substance that is found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's. The new test will cut down on the need for PET scans for Alzheimer's diagnosis as well as CSF tests, which require a spinal tap to test spinal fluid. The new blood test is the latest development in Alzheimer's research. Over the last few year,s two drugs have become available to treat Alzheimer's disease by reducing the amyloid plaque buildup in patients' brains. The drugs can slow the progression of the disease, but cannot restore memory. Today on AirTalk, we're joined by Dr. Hussein Yassine, professor of neurology and director of the Center for Personalized Brain Health at Keck School of Medicine at USC, to talk about the science behind the new Alzheimer's blood test and other advancements in disease treatment.
What does your facial hair mean to you, and why do you keep it?
Beards, mustaches, and goatees have been going in and out of fashion long before Leo J. Wahl invented the first electric clipper in 1919. Sure, the trendiness of a good stache comes and goes, but even when it's not as trendy to be stubbly, rocking some choice facial hair can be a way to express your values. Historically, facial hair has long been tied to masculinity, but it also reflects shifting ideas around maturity, identity, and even aging. Some men grow it simply because they like how it looks, others grow it often because their significant other prefers them to, and of course, many opt for the convenience of not having to deal with the razor bumps of daily shaving. Today on AirTalk, we explore why men grow facial hair and if it carries symbolic meaning for them with Christopher R. Oldstone-Moore, a historian and lecturer at Wright State University in Ohio, and Author of Of Beards and Men: The Revealing History of Facial Hair. We also want to hear from you! Are you gifted with the kind of facial hair that leaves lesser men with oodles of envy? Mayhaps you have a mustache you can’t manicure enough. Or hey, maybe your beard “itches” (sure it does) and you prefer the feel and look of a clean shave. Regardless, give us a call at 866-893-5722 or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com and share why you do or don’t maintain your facial hair.
