On The Point, we continue our conversation with Susan Hockfield, former president of MIT and author of The Age of Living Machines: How Biology Will Build The Next Technology Revolution. We discuss advances in prothesis, how nanoparticles could help combat climate change, and much more.

People don’t typically think about eating nuts that grow in our local woods. Before Europeans arrived, the forests of Cape Cod were more diverse. Stands of nut-bearing hickories, walnuts, beeches, chestnuts, and hazelnuts—all rich food sources—were much more common. Mashpee Wampanoag food activist Danielle Hill says that her people still use and remember these foods.

On The Point, our monthly books show features books on or about magic. Our guests are Jill Erickson of Falmouth Public Library and Caitlin Doggart of Where the Sidewalk Ends Bookstore in Chatham. Mindy Todd hosts. 

On a sunny day in October, an excavator is digging into a layer of sand and cranberry plants along the Child’s River, near the border of Falmouth and Mashpee. Tree stumps are scattered about, and channels of water are diverted around up-turned dirt piles.

"Sometimes mother nature needs a helping hand, and that’s what we’re doing here,” said Gary Anderson, surveying a scene that resembled a construction site. 

You might have missed it, but the floodgates recently opened. The conditions must have set up just right, with east winds over the weekend, followed by very strong northwest winds through Tuesday morning. This brought big numbers of everyone’s favorite little winter seabird ever so briefly within reach of our binoculars. Thousands of Dovekies passed classic seabirding spots over the last few days, including over 1000 at Race Point and more than 4000 at First Encounter Beach in Eastham. Most birders are excited to see just one Dovekie, so this was hitting the jackpot.

Dozens of artists share their vision about the inter relatedness of the climate emergency, racial, and social justice. We talk with the organizers of the Earth Justice show and some of the participating artists. The show was featured at the Higgins Gallery at Cape Cod Community College and is available for virtual viewing.

November is Native American Heritage Month. On The Point, we hear about a  new gallery featuring Wampanoag artists, and some of the films and activities offered through the gallery space. Our guest is Paula Peters of smokesygnals.com.

Every week, more than a dozen student activists from around Massachusetts call into a Zoom meeting. Behind them are glimpses into their lives – superhero posters and hot pink bedroom walls.

“OK. So do we want to start off today's meeting with an agenda?” asked Nico Gentile, the 17-year-old climate organizer running today's meeting.

I have officially crossed the Rubicon into old age.

I have a pair of reading glasses in every room.

I lecture the clerk at Home Depot on how to do his job.

I worry if the house is clean enough for the rescue squad.