While we might consider elections to be the cornerstone of democracy, the …
While we might consider elections to be the cornerstone of democracy, the Athenians who coined the term actually employed a lottery system to choose most of their politicians. Melissa Schwartzberg describes the ins and outs of the Athenian democracy, and addresses some ways in which a lottery system might benefit us today. [4:51]
In the United States today, juries decide less than 4% of criminal …
In the United States today, juries decide less than 4% of criminal cases and less than 1% of civil cases filed in court. At the same time, jury systems in other countries are growing. So what happened in the US? And could the disappearance of juries be a good thing? Suja A. Thomas explores both sides of this dilemma. [4:12]
If every action has an equal and opposite reaction, what kind of …
If every action has an equal and opposite reaction, what kind of physical action would it take for the earth to notice us? Check out Vsauce's video on what would happen if everyone on Earth got together and jumped. [7:13]
What motivates us to work? It seems that most of us thrive …
What motivates us to work? It seems that most of us thrive by making constant progress and feeling a sense of purpose. Behavioral economist Dan Ariely presents two eye-opening experiments that reveal our unexpected and nuanced attitudes toward meaning in our work. [20:26]
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko returned to Earth from a …
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko returned to Earth from a record breaking 340 days aboard the International Space Station. Ever wonder what happens to someone's body when they are in space? Listen on and find out. [2:00]
Stem cells found in the bone marrow are crucial for our health …
Stem cells found in the bone marrow are crucial for our health because they are needed to become new blood cells that sustain and protect our bodies. But when the transformation goes wrong, harmful mutations can cause the cells to start replicating without control -- a type of cancer known as leukemia. The following video and guide explains how this happens and how certain treatments provide hope for those suffering from the disease. [4:33]
In the 1950s, as part of a campaign to expose suspected Communists, …
In the 1950s, as part of a campaign to expose suspected Communists, thousands of individuals were aggressively investigated and questioned before government panels. Named after its most notorious practitioner, the phenomenon known as McCarthyism destroyed lives and careers. But how did this episode of political repression take off? Ellen Schrecker traces the history of McCarthyism. [5:42]
Steel and plastic are essential to much of our infrastructure and technology. …
Steel and plastic are essential to much of our infrastructure and technology. Steel is strong and hard, but difficult to shape intricately. Plastic can take on just about any form, but it's weak and soft. Wouldn't it be nice if there were one material as strong as the strongest steel and as shapeable as plastic? Ashwini Bharathula discusses the future of metallic glass. [4:33]
The elephant is a creature of epic proportions- and yet, it owes …
The elephant is a creature of epic proportions- and yet, it owes its enormity to more than 1,000 trillion microscopic cells. And on the epically small end of things, there are likely millions of unicellular species, yet there are very few we can see with the naked eye. Why is that? Why don't we get unicellular elephants? Or blue whales? Or brown bears? Murry Gans explains. [4:06]
An algorithm is a method of solving problems both big and small. …
An algorithm is a method of solving problems both big and small. Though computers run algorithms constantly, humans can also solve problems with algorithms. David J. Malan explains how algorithms can be used in seemingly simple situations and also complex ones. [4:57]
When we measure things, most people are only worried about how accurate, …
When we measure things, most people are only worried about how accurate, or how close to the actual value, they are. Looking at the process of measurement more carefully, you will see that there is another important consideration: precision. Matt Anticole explains what exactly precision is and how can help us to measure things better. [4:52]
What is the difference between a theory and a law, and is …
What is the difference between a theory and a law, and is one better? Matt Anticole shows why science needs both laws and theories to understand the whole picture. [5:12]
You work at the college library. You're in the middle of a …
You work at the college library. You're in the middle of a quiet afternoon when suddenly, a shipment of 1,280 books arrives. The books are in a straight line, but they're all out of order, and the automatic sorting system is broken. How can you sort the books quickly? Chand John shows how, shedding light on how algorithms help librarians and search engines speedily sort information. [4:37]
Me, myself, and I. You may be tempted to use these words …
Me, myself, and I. You may be tempted to use these words interchangeably because they all refer to the same thing. But in fact, each one has a specific role in a sentence: 'I' is a subject pronoun, 'me' is an object pronoun, and 'myself' is a reflexive or intensive pronoun. Emma Bryce explains what each role reveals about where each word belongs. [2:57]
When life emerged on Earth about 4 billion years ago, the earliest …
When life emerged on Earth about 4 billion years ago, the earliest microbes had a set of basic genes that succeeded in keeping them alive. In the age of humans and other large organisms, there are a lot more genes to go around. Where did all of those new genes come from? Carl Zimmer examines the mutation and multiplication of genes. [4:24]
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