Nate Hegyi

2 weeks ago | nhpr.org | Nate Hegyi

One of our listeners is in a pickle. He’s looking to buy an engagement ring but wants to make sure the diamond comes from an ethical and sustainable source. So he sent us an email asking for help. This is our latest addition of “This, That, or the Other Thing.” It's a series about the choices we make to try and build a more sustainable world, whether they have any effect, and what we can do instead if they don't.

1 month ago | nhpr.org | Nate Hegyi |Marina Henke |Kate Dario |Justine Paradis

A magician spins a black top hat to show their audience it’s empty. Then, with the wave of a wand and a few magic words, PRESTO: a snow white rabbit pokes its ears over the brim. Compared to sawing a person in half, pulling a rabbit out of a hat is a joyful bit of magic that entertainers have been doing for more than 200 years. But after the applause dies down, one is left wondering: Where did the rabbit come from? And where did it go?

2 months ago | nhpr.org | Nate Hegyi

After the Irish fought for and won their independence from the British in 1921, they had a problem. Centuries of exploitation had left the island one of the least forested nations in Europe, with less than 2% tree cover. So, they started planting a non-native American tree: fast-growing Sitka spruce, capable of rebuilding their timber resources in record time. And it worked. Today, about 12% of the island is forested.

Jan 25, 2025 | nhpr.org | Nate Hegyi

Ever since fluoridation became widespread in the 1950s, the incidence of cavities in American kids have fallen drastically. The effort is considered one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century. But it’s also one of the most controversial. At really high doses, fluoride is toxic: It can calcify your ligaments and joints and even fuse your spine. It also potentially has impacts on our brains.

Jan 23, 2025 | outsideinradio.org | Nate Hegyi

Ever since fluoridation became widespread in the 1950s, cavities in kids have fallen drastically. The effort is considered one of the ten greatest public health achievements of the 20th century. But it’s also one of the most controversial. At really high doses, fluoride is toxic – it can calcify your ligaments and joints and even fuse your spine. It also potentially has impacts on our brains. There’s a small but growing body of research suggesting that fluoride can inhibit intelligence in children.