Comfort Women, Printable Clothes, Challenger Whistleblower

Guest: Mark Peterson, PhD, Professor of Asian Studies and Korean Language at BYU  Japan and South Korea have settled a dispute that has, for decades, stirred animosity between them. At a meeting in Seoul just before the new year, Japan agreed to contribute $8 million to a fund for women who, during World War II, were forced to work in Japan’s brothels. Only a few dozen of these women known euphemistically as “comfort women” are still alive. But the agreement is as much about symbolic repentance as it is about the money. For its part, South Korea promises to stop bringing up the issue of Japan’s war-time sex slaves.

Guests: Haluk Beyenal, PhD, Professor in WSU’s Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering; Doug Call, PhD, Professor of Molecular Epidemiology in the Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health at Washington State  According to the CDC, at least two million infections and 23,000 deaths are the result of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Hospitals now see “superbugs” that are resistant to so many drugs they’re nearly invincible and lead to almost certain death if they make it to a patient’s blood stream.  The race is on to create new antibiotics, yes. But also to come up with treatments that don’t involve drugs the bacteria can develop a resistance to. How about electricity?

Guest: Danit Peleg, Recent Graduate from Shenkar College in Isreal, Creator of the first 3D-printed fashion collection using home printers, Adviser for designers and fashion houses on new technologies  How cool would it be if you could design an outfit on your home computer, click a button, and have it pop right out on a 3D printer – perfectly tailored to your measurements?  It’s not as futuristic as it sounds.

Guest: Allan McDonald, Author of “Truth, Lies and O-Rings: Inside the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster”  We spoke with a man who nearly took the fall for NASA back in 1986. Most people who were alive then remember exactly where they were on the morning of January 28th. Space Shuttle Challenger launch. 73 seconds into the flight. All 3 crew members died.

Guest: Gaurav Desai, PhD, Professor of English and African Studies at Tulane University, Author of “Commerce with the Universe”  The relationship between India and the U.K. has improved quite a bit in the 70 years since Gandhi fought for India’s independence from British rule. The statute of Indian independence leader Mohandas Gandhi unveiled in London’s Parliament Square was erected to mark the 100th anniversary of Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa to begin the movement toward Indian independence.  But that South African period in Gandhi’s life isn’t necessarily glossed-over.