This is the final lab of semester 4, before Titi and Zakiya go on winter break.

Real talk: Did it really happen if it’s not on social media? Do you even exist if you’re not on the feed? These days, it seems like everyone and their dog has an IG or a TikTok account. But this ability to constantly socialize online is still relatively new for society. This week, Titi and Zakiya ask how social media may impact our well-being, attention spans, and the ways in which we communicate with one another. Guest: Dr. Jeff Hancock

Anyone else feel like everything is getting more expensive? That's because it is. Inflation is driving up the cost of all our basic needs, from bread and milk, to chicken wings! This week we want to help you — and ourselves — understand the economy. We’ll hear about the current state of the United States economy, and learn about how to prepare for a recession. Guest: Dr. Vanessa Perry

We know friendship is important, but let’s be real – it gets harder to make new friends as we get older. In a follow up to What About Your Friends – Lab 026, Titi and Zakiya learn about romance in friendship, how people approach friendships differently, and how we can handle conflict with our besties. Guest: Dr. Marisa G. Franco.

If you could go on a first-class trip to space…would you? Titi and Zakiya learn more about the history of space exploration and its origins, the rise of commercial space flights, and what we should consider as more people are going to space. Guest Expert: Jordan Bimm

Monkeypox has been around for a long time. But with the recent increase in cases, the virus seems to be dominating our headlines and social feeds. Titi and Zakiya learn what Monkeypox is, how it got here, and why public health recommendations don’t always align with science. Guests: Dr. Angie Rasmussen and Kenyon Farrow.

We’ve all seen things blow up in the comments section on social media! And this week, we’re asking ‘how do you change someone’s mind’? We’re asking how we make up our mind, what happens when someone tries to change it, and why we see strong reactions when debating topics big and small. Guest: David McRaney.

This week we’re talking all about the chemicals found in food packaging and how they impact our bodies and the environment with guest expert Justin Boucher, Operations Director at the Food Packaging Forum.

This week we’re celebrating National Oyster Day! We’re talking all about shellfish aquaculture, and how cultivating oysters fits into our economy, environment, and changing climate. Guest: Dr. Bill Walton.

It feels like everyone is online these days, but is that really the case? In this lab, Titi and Zakiya discuss the state of internet access in the US, digital disparities in minoritized communities, and how algorithm bias affects us in real life.

There are chips in every computing device out there, from refrigerators to smart phones to cars. They are vital to how our world runs – and right now, there's a shortage. We learn what’s behind the shortage and what’s being done to close the gap. Guest: Al Thompson, Intel VP of US Government Relations

Nail art and nail styling has been trending in mainstream culture, but it’s not new! This lab focuses on the history and culture behind nail care, the intimate relationships between nail techs & their clients, as well as some of the health, safety, and labor issues affecting the industry.