Image from Flickr licensed through Public Domain
For a long time, the handwritten signature was a distinctive mark of individuals. It used to be that credit card transactions, contracts, and other important documents required a handwritten signature to be considered valid. These days, however, electronic signatures are often replacing handwritten ones, but some worry that they are not a secure enough form of identification. Listen to hear an expert discuss the past, present, and future of handwriting and then debate: Are electronic signatures risky?
Story Length: 4:16
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October 5, 2017
4:26
The sounds of male elephant seals are different and each has a unique rhythm. A new study suggests that alpha males are recognized by their calls during mating season. If other males hear the call, they will scatter. An elephant seal’s call is loud and is also used to signal who they are. Males have unique rhythms and females have calls to threaten and calls to their pups. Listen to hear more about the new discoveries about what the calls of elephant seals mean.
Read MoreDecember 9, 2016
3:52
Law enforcement’s use of facial recognition databases is expanding, but the technology is not as accurate as it could be. Nearly half of all American adults, more than 117 million people, have been entered into a database for use by police and FBI. In large databases, it is more likely to find people who look similar. This technology also does not work well with darker skin. Listen to hear more about this technology and debate whether law enforcement should rely on facial recognition.
Read MoreJanuary 26, 2016
5:14
New Hampshire’s primary election is coming up and a record turnout is anticipated. This will be the first presidential primary with the state’s new voter identification law in place. The law, which passed three and a half years ago, requires everyone voting to show a photo ID. Not all states have ID requirements. Election specialists say laws like this push voters away, as many voters may show up to vote without their ID. Others say it’s necessary to prevent voter fraud. Listen to this story about how the new laws might affect the upcoming primary election.
Read MoreSeptember 9, 2015
4:17
When skeletons turn up, a lot of information can be found in the bones. Knowing how to read the bones is the job of a forensic scientist. Bones can help identify missing persons, solve a murder case, or help medical research. In the Bass Donated Skeletal Collection in Tennessee, there are thousands of donated skeletons that serve as silent teachers. People come from all over the world to study these bones and learn from the information hidden in them.
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