Press Play with Madeleine Brand
The Moth Radio Hour Helps Map the Brain, and Henry Rollins on the Ramones
Berkeley scientists used “Moth Radio” audio to map where we store the meanings of words in our brains. The research gives an unprecedented window into how we interpret language and could be used to help stroke victims.
By Madeleine Brand • • 50m ListenUC Berkeley scientists recently used audio from “The Moth Radio Hour” to study where we file away the meanings of words in our brains, giving researchers an unprecedented window into how we interpret language. Their findings might help people who have difficulty speaking. Also, weeding at the Berkeley Public Library triggered protests and the head librarian’s resignation. Should the public have a say in which books public libraries get rid of? Then, we’ll talk about “Snowden”, Waze, and “textalyzers” in our weekly web roundup with Xeni Jardin. After that, it’s the 40th anniversary of the Ramones’ debut album this month, and Black Flag frontman and KCRW D.J. Henry Rollins talks about why the punk band means so much to him. And finally, Comcast will buy Dreamworks Animation. When does a mass media company become too massive?
In this episode
5 stories‘Moth Radio’ Helps Berkeley Scientists Map the Brain
UC Berkeley scientists recently used audio from “The Moth Radio Hour” to study where we file away the meanings of words in our brains , giving researchers an unprecedented window into how we interpret language.
Read the story8 min‘Weeding’ Triggers ‘Librarygate’ at Berkeley Public Library
For gardeners, weeding can be a sometimes-unpleasant, but necessary task, and it’s the same for librarians. When they take books out of circulation, it’s referred to as ‘ weeding ’. They’ll remove books from the shelves that people have lost interest in and replace them with newer books.
Read the story7 min‘Snowden’, Waze Vulnerability, and ‘Textalyzers’
Edward Snowden is no longer just a symbol of the fight for freedom from surveillance, he’s become a major motion picture. Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as the whistleblower in Oliver Stone’s “ Snowden ”. The trailer for the film, which opens in September, was released Wednesday.
Read the story8 min40 Years After Ramones Debut, Henry Rollins Reminisces
It’s been forty years this month since the Ramones released their first album. The self-titled debut came out in April 1976, and on the iconic cover by Punk Magazine photographer Roberta Bayley, the boys stand slouched in their leather jackets and tough-guy poses in front of a graffitied brick wall.
Read the story15 minComcast to buy Dreamworks Animation. Is the Mass Media Company Too Massive?
Dreamworks Animation will be sold to Comcast for $3.8 billion . The animation company will join an already-crowded Comcast portfolio that includes Universal Pictures, Focus Features, the television networks MSNBC and Bravo, not to mention Hulu, Fandango, the Universal theme parks, and the Philadelphia Flyers hockey franchise.
Read the story8 min
