The rise and fall of the Berlin Wall - Konrad H. Jarausch
AdultsCitiesHistorySociety...On August 13, 1961, construction workers began tearing up streets and erecting barriers in Berlin. This night marked the beginning of one of history's most infamous dividing lines: the Berlin Wall. Construction continued for a decade as the wall cut through neighborhoods, separated families, and divided not just Germany, but the world. Konrad H. Jarausch details the history of the Berlin Wall.
How does the Nobel Peace Prize work? - Adeline Cuvelier and Toril Rokseth
AdultsHistorySocietyPoliticsAmong the top prestigious awards in the world, the Nobel Peace Prize has honored some of the most celebrated and revered international figures and organizations in history. But how does the nomination process work? And who exactly is eligible? Adeline Cuvelier and Toril Rokseth detail the specifics of the Nobel Peace Prize.
100 Years of Family Dinners ? Mode.com
AdultsCreativityFoodHistory...Foodie fans, this one's for you! Whether you lean toward 1915-style roast beef and franconia potatoes, or if 2015's kale craze suits your taste, this look at food over the past century will satiate your palate.
100 Years of Male Pop Stars | Vanity Fair
AdultsHistoryMasculinityMusic...How have music icons changed over the last century? We look at how the styles of male icons have evolved over the years, from Duke Ellington and Bing Crosby to Michael Jackson and Prince.
Why Socrates Hated Democracy
AdultsHistoryPoliticsPhilosophyWe're used to thinking hugely well of democracy. But interestingly, one of the wisest people who ever lived, Socrates, had deep suspicions of it.
6 things in tech today that Bill Gates accurately predicted back in 1999
AdultsHistoryTechnologyBusinessThe Microsoft co-founder imagined much of the tech we use today before it even existed. He shared his thoughts in a 1999 book called "Business @ the Speed of Thought." Here's a quick look at 6 of his predictions that eventually came true, including a device you are probably holding in your hands right now.
Why people never smiled in old photos
AdultsHistoryPhotographyCultureEarly portraits looked pretty grim. A lot of old photos from the 19th and early 20th century are fraught with doom and gloom-and on the occasion the literal dead face. That led to the popular belief that people just did not smile in old photographs. The common explanation is due to the limited technology at the time to capture a smile. Exposure times were long and the thinking was it's easier to hold a serious expression over a long period. Another theory included early photography being heavily influenced by painting (which meant no smiling).
Vincent van Gogh's long, miserable road to fame
AdultsArtCreativityHistory...Van Gogh's travels informed the works we revere today.
LITERATURE - George Orwell
AdultsBooksCreativityHistoryGeorge Orwell is the most famous English language writer of the 20th century, the author of Animal Farm and 1984. What was he trying to tell us and what is his genius?
How ancient Romans made stronger concrete than today
AdultsCitiesConstructionHistory...Many structures built by ancient Romans around 2,000 years ago are still standing, and some are still in excellent condition. Over the last decade, researchers have come discover the Romans' secret concrete recipe that has maintained so many of its now-ancient buildings.
How the Pyramids Were Built (Pyramid Science Part 1!)
AdultsConstructionHistoryEngineeringWho built the pyramids? The colossal geometric monuments found at Giza and elsewhere in Egypt are some of Earth's most impressive constructions. Pyramids are truly wonders of the ancient and modern world.
Where did English come from? - Claire Bowern
AdultsHistoryLanguageWhen we talk about 'English', we often think of it as a single language. But what do the dialects spoken in dozens of countries around the world have in common with each other, or with the writings of Chaucer? Claire Bowern traces the language from the present day back to its ancient roots, showing how English has evolved through generations of speakers.
How to use rhetoric to get what you want - Camille A. Langston
AdultsHistoryPhilosophyLanguageHow do you get what you want, using just your words? Aristotle set out to answer exactly that question over two thousand years ago with a treatise on rhetoric. Camille A. Langston describes the fundamentals of deliberative rhetoric and shares some tips for appealing to an audience's ethos, logos, and pathos in your next speech.
LITERATURE - Voltaire
AdultsCreativityHistoryPhilosophy...Voltaire was one of the wisest, funniest and cleverest people of the 18th century. He continues to have lots to teach us about toleration, modesty and kindness.