A Controversy Over Commercial Whaling, Racial Bias & Empathy

This week:  We launched a new discussion on The World Science Forum on Tuesday. So, in today’s show, you’ll hear a story about a controversy over whether or not to legalize commercial whaling. That’s followed by an interview with one of the best known experts on whale populations, marine biologist Stephen Palumbi of Stanford University. And then you can ask Palumbi your own questions and share your thoughts in The World Science Forum. Also in today’s show: unconscious racial bias, the brains of locusts, and emissions from air traffic.

The Science and Ethics of Whaling: Should commercial whaling be legalized? The debate over that question continues to roil international waters. Whaling has largely been banned for nearly 25 years by the International Whaling Commission (IWC). But that moratorium is riddled with contradictions and loopholes. The IWC meets this month in Morocco to consider a new proposal to legalize small-scale whaling by some countries. You’ll hear a story about this proposal, followed by an interview with marine biologist Stephen Palumbi about the science and ethics of whaling. Palumbi is also the guest in our latest Science Forum discussion, so you’ll have a chance to ask him your questions and share your thoughts on the issue.

Report by: Eric Niiler
Guest: Stephen Palumbi
Join the online conversation with Palumbi in our latest Science Forum discussion.
Palumbi is also a musician. We featured him in our Music in Science segment in Podcast no. 48.

Watch a video about Palumbi’s work on the Antarctic minke whales. Credit: Gathwait & Griffin Films.

Elsa’s Favorite Stories:

• CO₂ Emissions from Air Traffic: Air traffic currently contributes just 2-3% of anthropogenic CO₂ emissions, but that could soon change. Improvements in airplane fuel efficiency are not keeping pace with growing demand for air travel. Emissions from aircraft are set to become a significant contributor to climate change by 2050.
  The study.

Watch a video of air traffic over the US in a single day. Credit: Aaron Koblin.

For a video of international air travel, click here.

• Unconscious Racial Bias & Empathy: Racial bias hinders your ability to empathize with a person from a different ethnic group, according to a new study. Normally, when we see someone in pain, our brains react as though we were feeling the pain ourselves. Racial bias, however, can shut down that empathic response.
  The study.
  Science Forum discussion with Shankar Vedantam about the hidden brain.
• Swarming Locusts Have Bigger Brains: Locusts come in two forms: the solitary and the swarming. When conditions are crowded, the insects develop into the gregarious swarming version and can devour crop fields in minutes. The swarming locusts’ brains are about one-third larger than those of the solitary locusts. It may take extra brain power to filter useful information out of the crowd of surrounding insects.
  The study.
  Keep tabs on locust outbreaks with the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Locust Watch page.
  Video of a locust swarm, from the BBC.

Tags: airlines, brain, climate change, emissions, empathy, locust, Minke Whale, race, racial bias, racism, traffic, whale