Conversations on Science: What Makes Science, Well, Science?
Episode 85

Homeownership is the largest source of wealth for most American families, and obtaining a safe, traditional 15-to-30-year mortgage is a key step toward achieving financial security. But outdated housing policies and financial regulations have made small mortgages—those for homes priced under $150,000—expensive for lenders and unavailable for millions of qualified and creditworthy borrowers, especially Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous households and those in rural communities. With limited access to small mortgages, many of these families turn to alternative financing arrangements, which often involve financial risks and lack many of the protections traditional mortgages offer.
Stat: 79%: The percentage of people who agree that science has made life easier for most of us.
Story: Science may sometimes seem abstract, but its benefits can be seen everywhere—from the technology in smartphones to the medicines we take. In this episode, we explore what science really is (and what it’s not) with Ira Flatow, host of the popular “Science Friday” radio program, and Carlo Rovelli, a world-renowned theoretical physicist and bestselling author.
Related resources:
All Reality Is Interaction With Carlo Rovelli