KUED Programs

Pogue gives the third degree to scientists pushing the limits of technology -- not only to solve horrific murders -- but also to try to prevent crimes before they even happen. He learns the latest techniques, from unraveling the clues embedded in a decomposing corpse, to detecting lies by peering directly into a suspect's brain, to tracking the creation of a criminal mind. And we meet a genius crime-stopper who's made some terrifying discoveries, including how easy it is for a bad guy to highjack -- not just your laptop -- but your kids' toys, medical devices and even your car.

How do you get a genius brain? Is it all in your DNA? Or is it hard work? Is it possible that everyone's brain has untapped genius - just waiting for the right circumstances so it can be unleashed? From a man who suddenly acquired an extraordinary musical gift after a freak head injury to a "memory athlete" who can remember strings of hundreds of random numbers, David Pogue meets people stretching the boundaries of what the human mind can do. Then, Pogue puts himself to the test: After high-res scanning, he finds out how the anatomy of his brain measures up against the greatest mind of the century - Albert Einstein.

Have you ever wondered what's going on inside an Animal's head? How do they see the world -- and us? Is your dog really feeling guilty when it gives you that famous "guilty look?" Do pigeon brains possess "superpowers" that allow them to find their way home across hundreds of unfamiliar miles? David Pogue meets -- and competes -- with a menagerie of smart critters that challenge preconceived notions about what makes "us" different from "them" expanding our understanding of how animals really think.

How well can we understand what's going on in the brains of non-human animals? Do our pets - like dogs - have the same feelings we do? How smart are animals really?

David Pogue, popular technology reporter for The New York Times, is the new host of this science magazine series. What are the secrets behind your favorite foods? Why are some treats -- like chocolate chip cookies -- delectable, while others -- like cookies made with mealworms -- disgusting? You might think you understand what makes something sweet, salty or bitter, but Pogue gets a taste of a much more complicated truth, as he ventures into labs and kitchens where everything from apple pie to Thanksgiving turkey to juicy grasshoppers is diced, sliced, dissected and put under the microscope. If scientists can uncover exactly what's behind the mouth-watering flavors and textures we take for granted every day, could they help us enjoy our food more -- without packing on the pounds?

Mobile phones that read your mind? Video games that can cure cancer? Wearable robots that give you the strength of Ironman? David Pogue investigates which technologies are likely to transform daily life for you -- and your grandkids. They're already taking shape in laboratories around the world -- and gadgets that once were purely science fiction are on the verge of becoming as common as the iPhones and Androids Pogue reviews every day. What technological hurdles must engineers and computer scientists overcome before robots, mind-readers and holograms are all around us? And what will it mean to us as humans if we become even more entrenched in a 24/7 digital world?