Listen Live
Donate
 on air
Schedule

KCRW

Read & Explore

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Culture
  • Events

Listen

  • Live Radio
  • Music
  • Podcasts
  • Full Schedule

Information

  • About
  • Careers
  • Help / FAQ
  • Newsletters
  • Contact

Support

  • Become a Member
  • Become a VIP
  • Ways to Give
  • Shop
  • Member Perks

Become a Member

Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

DonateGive Monthly

Copyright 2025 KCRW. All rights reserved.

Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
Cookie Policy
|FCC Public Files

Back to WNYC's Radiolab

WNYC's Radiolab

Fate and Fortune

We question what decides the trajectory of our lives--individual force of will, or fate?

  • Share
KCRW placeholderBy Jad Abumrad • Dec 4, 2011 • 1 min read

If destiny isn't written in the stars, could it be written in our genes? Kids struggle to resist marshmallows, and their ability to holdout at age four turns out to predict how successful they're likely to be the rest of their lives. And an unexpected find in a convent archive uncovers early warning signs for dementia in the writings of 18-year-olds.

Learn or or listen again to this week's episode.

Banner image: Nedieth

  • KCRW placeholder

    Jad Abumrad

    creator of "Radiolab," and host of the new podcast “Fela Kuti: Fear No Man”

  • KCRW placeholder

    Robert Krulwich

    host of 'Radio Lab'

    Culture
Back to WNYC's Radiolab