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Eighty years ago, the United States dropped a weapon unlike anything ever seen before on Japan. In his new book, "The Devil Reached Toward the Sky," author Garrett Graff writes about the development of the atomic bomb from those directly involved. Graff joins us to discuss what was going on inside the brain of those who created the first atomic weapon and what today's leaders can learn from that moment in history.

Mosquito-eating bats eat nearly their entire body weight in insects every night, but bats are under threat of extinction. We look at efforts to reverse the trend.

Larry Sprinkle has been a fixture in Charlotte broadcasting for decades, most recently as the morning weatherman on WCNC. He is entering a new chapter in his long career, and we sit down with him to look back and ahead.

Women make up 51% of the population, but the impression is they’re having a tough time making inroads in politics — witness Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris’ failed presidential attempts. But women in some states make up the majority of those state’s legislatures. Why? What does it take for women to win, and how would our politics and governance change if more they did?

On the local news roundup, ahead of losing their supermajority, Republican members of the North Carolina General Assembly passed more legislation, the skies are changing in Charlotte as flight paths to and from the airport are set to expand and the first snow hit the Queen City in about three years.

By law, solitary confinement in North Carolina ended years ago. But last year, a report revealed some young prisoners were being locked in small rooms alone, 23 hours a day for days — or weeks — on end. A lawsuit was filed to make the state comply with its own law. We'll have more on the story and the damaging effects of this practice.

On the next Charlotte Talks, stories from eastern North Carolina’s Lumbee Tribe about survival and resilience in the face of radical environmental change.

On the next Charlotte Talks, a conversation about decency — or the lack of it — during the recent political campaign and the impact of that rhetoric on young people.

What decisions did voters make? We look at that, at turnout, and at what kind of role North Carolina played in the presidential contest. Plus, congressional and statewide results.

What the GOP-dominated North Carolina congressional delegation — and the large number of new faces who are part of it — may mean for the state and Congress.

Last year, trucks and SUVs made up 80% of new car sales. Some drivers like sitting higher in the cab of a big car. They might feel safer, but are they? In truth, traffic fatalities have only increased with more big cars on the road. We examine this consumer preference — and hear from experts on how this trend is impacting city planning, safety and the climate.

On the next Charlotte Talks, a new book has compiled the best sports writing of the year. We speak with the book's editor about America’s fascination with sport and why the subject can appeal to more than just athletes.

What governments do with their time and your money is a matter of public record. But, as we have seen, governments often drag their feet for months, even years, on releasing documents the public has a right to see. We look at the struggle for transparency.

Following World War II, North Carolina recognized a need for education beyond high school, but shy of a four-year degree. That led to the creation of community colleges. Now, 70 years later, there are 58 community colleges in N.C. and funding is increasing to accommodate growth. We take a look at what’s driving that enrollment, how these schools provide workforce development, and how they help adult learners.

When you think of contributions to the visual arts in the 20th century, New York City and Europe might come to mind. But the South has made its own artistic contributions. And the Mint Museum Uptown is showing over 100 paintings and prints exploring the social history of the period. We talk about this intersection of art and history and what we can learn from it.

On the next Charlotte Talks, the popularity of true crime stories and the ethics of reporting and consuming them.

We look at voter turnout and poll numbers in advance of the Tuesday’s election, Charlotte City Attorney Patrick Baker’s employment ends, reportedly in part because he fulfilled a public records request from WFAE, and Charlotte FC plays a home playoff match for the first time.

On the next Charlotte Talks, a final look at early voter turnout, what we can glean from polls, and how those polls are conducted.

We speak with mental health experts and a veteran about the state of veterans' mental health in the U.S., and how the country treats veterans when they return home.

Donald Trump’s victory doesn’t just have domestic implications. The world is watching, and world leaders are making their calculations about how another Trump presidency might affect international relations. Ukraine, the Mideast and NATO are just a few entities in awkward positions. We look at Trump’s new White House and what his transactional approach may mean to world security.