The might and magic of human muscles

Our muscles power us -- from the tissue that pumps blood from our heart to the tiny fibers that give us goosebumps. How exactly do muscles work — and how can we best strengthen them? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

About 20% of the world’s oil supply travels through the Strait of Hormuz. The Iran War threatens to cut it off. The history of the Strait of Hormuz, who controls it and how it became so critical to the global oil supply. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Ali Vaez was involved with the 2015 negotiations that led to the Iran Nuclear Deal. He'll explain why, even as a new deal was tantalizingly close late last month, the U.S. and Israel launched their war against Iran. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Analyst Tom Nichols says the Trump administration is fundamentally incompetent. And he says there’s been a systematic erosion of expert trust for years — which is dangerous for American democracy. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Rhythm. It's so much more than the backbone of music – it’s essential to how our brains function. Whether you think you've got it or not, why rhythm is a fundamental part of your everyday life. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

As the war with Iran becomes more entrenched, President Donald Trump now says he thinks he’ll “have the honor of taking Cuba.” What does that mean and what’s at stake? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

U.S. allies say they won't commit military aid to the war in Iran, and some foreign analysts say the U.S. lacks strategy. The view of the war from the international community. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei took control after his father's assassination. What we know about the elusive new leader and his vision for Iran. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Terry Tempest Williams writes about finding beauty in unexpected places, animals, plants, memories and moments. She shows us how to do that in today's increasingly chaotic world. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the moral character of American leaders from George Washington to Donald Trump and what that means for the moral character of the nation. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint