Rethinking the Declaration at 250: The grievances that started America

Rethinking the Declaration at 250: The grievances that started America

"All men are created equal", "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"... We've learned and heard people talk about the preamble of the Declaration of Independence many times over the years, but what about the rest of it? We sit down with Binghamton University professor Robert Parkinson to discuss the 27 grievances, how the Declaration nearly fell apart, and how two little quotation marks change our entire understanding of America's most famous document.

Not everyone gets addicted: The science of vulnerability

Why do some people develop an addiction while others don't? In this episode, Jared Bagley, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Binghamton University,  talks through his work in addiction neurogenetics — what we currently know, what remains poorly understood, and why he thinks the overlap between neuroscience and genomics is where the field needs to go.

The Artistic Side of Earth Data

In this episode of The Aha! Moment, host David Hermanovitch sits down with Sarah Nance, Assistant Professor of Integrated Practice at Binghamton University's Department of Art and Design, to explore the intersection of scientific data and artistic expression. Sarah shares how she transformed raw environmental data into stunning works of art — from stitch maps derived from ice quake events in glaciers, to musical compositions built from sea level measurements. Along the way, she discusses how data and creativity don't have to live on opposite sides of the brain, and that art might just be one of our most powerful tools for understanding a changing planet.

Sequelitis: Diagnosing Hollywood’s Franchise Addiction

You may think that the goal of movie studios is to churn out as many sequels as quickly as possible, but there's so much more strategy that goes into sequel production than what meets the eye. In this episode, we sit down with Professor Subimal Chatterjee from the Binghamton University School of Management to explore the science behind movie sequels. Discover why studios strategically time their sequels, and learn the surprising truth about how sequels perform at the box office compared to critical reviews.

The psychology of impulse donations at checkout

You're at the checkout, and that familiar prompt appears: "Would you like to round up to the nearest dollar for charity?" Most of us have faced this moment—but what actually drives that split-second decision? In this episode, host David Hermanovitch sits down with Lauren Dula, Associate Professor at Binghamton University's College of Community and Public Affairs, to explore the surprising world of impulse charitable giving. Lauren's research reveals that checkout donors aren't just smaller versions of traditional philanthropists—they're completely different. Discover what sparks these micro-donations, who's most likely to give, and what this means for the future of charitable fundraising. Whether you're a shopper, a nonprofit professional, or simply curious about human behavior, this conversation will change how you think about that next checkout prompt.