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8 minutes
[ Culture ]
Maps, A Distorted Look At Our World
How do we take our 3D globe and turn in into a flat map? Well, you really can’t, here’s how distorted maps of our world are shaping our perspective and what we can–maybe–do about it!
6 minutes
[ Animals ]
Laying Out Earth’s History on a Football Field
How much do you really know about this planet’s history? How long have we been here? How does that compare Earth’s entire history? With the help of a football field, let’s gain a little perspective on these questions.
22 minutes
[ Business ]
Can We “Fix” the Problem with News?
By Dr. Lynda
How does the “news” effect our biases, or vice versa? Can we create a better world if we are all in our biased corners? Here’s a way forward…
16 minutes
[ Animals ]
Things to Celebrate One Year Ago: Good News from December 2015!
By Dr. Lynda
If I refreshed your memory about the dreadful things happening in the news one year ago, you’d remember them. But what about the good things? Did we hear enough of that too! Here are some remarkable things to celebrate from a year ago!
7 minutes
[ Art ]
Astoundingly Intricate Designs of the Smallest Form
By Dr. Lynda
What if beauty was all around us, in puddles and drainage ditches? Well, it most likely is and here’s someone who can show us!
14 minutes
[ Books ]
The Teen Forger Who Saved the Lives of Thousands
By Dr. Lynda
History is our best teacher when we hear a story told in a way that stays with us in details and imagery. Take a look at this bit of astonishing creativity…
6 minutes
[ Art ]
Why Do We Love the Mona Lisa?
We all know about this iconic painting. But why is the Mona Lisa so famous? Well, it’s quite a fascinating story filled with intrigue and the tides of pop-culture.
26 minutes
[ Culture ]
A New Home for a Very Special Violin
Take a moment to appreciate the beautiful story of holocaust survivor Joseph Feingold, his violin, and the lives his violin has touched in the hands of budding young musicians.
10 minutes
[ Business ]
The Cutting Edge Cafe of 1995
What did using the web in public look like 20 years ago? Here’s the story of the hippest internet cafe of 1995! It’s an amazing look at how far we’ve come.
4 minutes
Celebrating The World’s First Programmer!
Are you celebrating Ada Lovelace Day? If you’ve ever used a computer of any kind, you should be. Here’s the story of a thought leader working far beyond her time that we should all thank today!
32 minutes
[ Happiness & Hope ]
Space: the Future, the Frontier
Explore the story of a remarkable movement to colonize space spurred on by a spirit of possibility and innovation! Here’s a piece of fascinating history that shouldn’t be forgotten.
5 minutes
[ Art ]
500 Years of Women in Art
By Dr. Lynda
What’s the take away message from this great digital artist’s project on the portraiture of women throughout the ages?
7 minutes
[ Animals ]
Continental Collision Course
Not many of us stop to think about what the world looked like before our continents separated and then re-connected in a new way many years ago. Why does it still matter? Fascinating food for thought here today! Take a look…
17 minutes
[ Culture ]
Haenyeo: Korea’s Aging Mermaids
Meet the Haenyeo, Korea’s sea women. These women, many of whom are grandmothers, take to the sea everyday freediving for their livelihood.
10 minutes
[ Animals ]
The Tale of the Flapper and the Panda
Where did our love for pandas begin? Arguably with a flapper and a panda named Su Lin. Here’s their remarkable story and a little look at how pandas have come to influence our conservation efforts!
6 minutes
[ Business ]
Labor Day is More Than Just a Day at the Beach…
By Dr. Lynda
I’ve rushed around on Labor Day weekend for years without giving a thought to the essence of this holiday. How about you? Knowing a little about its history made it even more special! Take a look…
26 minutes
[ Culture ]
Can You Hear Me Now? From Operator to iPad
Have you ever wondered what life was like before smartphones (or have you forgotten)? Here’s a reminder that will have you appreciating modern communication!
11 minutes
What Will We Know in 100 Years?
Explore some of the discoveries of the past century! From penicillin, to our origins, to general relativity, we have learned a lot over the past 100 years! What will we learn in the next?
10 minutes
[ Culture ]
Exploring Life in a Bronze Age Settlement: England’s Pompeii
Ever wondered what life was like in a Bronze Age Settlement? Join us as we explore England’s Pompeii, a remarkable site that preserves life as it was millennia ago…
6 minutes
[ Culture ]
The Egyptian Pharaoh Who Refused to be Forgotten
Have you ever heard of Hatsheput? Here’s a story dedicated to a pharaoh almost forgotten to time and thousands of years ahead of her time. (Yes, this pharaoh was a woman!)
15 minutes
[ Culture ]
The Strange and Wonderful History of Pizza
Have you ever thought about what pizza can teach us about humanity? A brief history of pizza may leave you with more respect for this beloved meal!
13 minutes
[ Animals ]
Celebrating the Little Wonders!
What if we took more time to celebrate the quirky wonders in our own backyard? Olney, Illinois is home to a beloved population of albino squirrels, and their passion for this piece of local heritage reminds us to reflect on what makes our culture unique!
12 minutes
[ Art ]
Endangered Alphabets
By Dr. Lynda
Have you ever considered what might happen if the alphabet you use became extinct? It’s happening slowly, but here is one person using his unique talents to change that!
17 minutes
Why Spend Public Funds on “Curiosity-Driven Science”?
By Dr. Lynda
In tough economic times, have you ever heard someone rant about how worthless some science research can be? Here’s what I’m going to add to that conversation next time! Take a look…
25 minutes
[ Art ]
The Ghost Army of World War II
Have you ever heard of the Ghost Army? This small team of artists, designers, and sound engineers brought to life an invisible army of 60,000 and helped change the course of history!
7 minutes
[ Culture ]
Do You Know Petra?
By Dr. Lynda
Her crumbling features take nothing away from her beauty and remarkable origins. While the efforts to create her defy explanation, the mystery adds to the wonder of Petra.
7 minutes
[ Art ]
Harvard’s Incredible Glass Flowers
What you may not know about Harvard University, is that they possess a flower collection like no other. These remarkably beautifully preserved specimens are not made up of cells but of glass!
12 minutes
[ Culture ]
To Chase a Cheese
The Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling Festival might be one of the strangest annual events in the world. This is what happens when thousands of people cram onto a hillside to watch brave souls chase a wheel of cheese down an almost vertical incline…
4 minutes
[ Culture ]
You May be Here Because of the Potato…
By Sam Burns
The humble potato may seem like a mundane part of life, but it could actually be the reason you are standing here today! Here’s the history of the world through a potato’s eyes…
