Are Elvish, Klingon, Dothraki and Na'vi real languages?
Adults Books Film LanguageWhat do Game of Thrones' Dothraki, Avatar's Na'vi, Star Trek's Klingon and LOTR's Elvish have in common? They are all fantasy constructed languages, or conlangs. Conlangs have all the delicious complexities of real languages: a high volume of words, grammar rules, and room for messiness and evolution. John McWhorter explains why these invented languages captivate fans long past the rolling credits.
Traditional Japanese Wood Joinery Is An Act Of Art
Adults Art ConstructionInteresting way of connecting wood beams.
The hidden meanings of yin and yang
Adults History SpiritualityThe ubiquitous yin-yang symbol holds its roots in Taoism/Daoism, a Chinese religion and philosophy. The yin, the dark swirl, is associated with shadows, femininity, and the trough of a wave; the yang, the light swirl, represents brightness, passion and growth. John Bellaimey explains why we all contain the spirit of yin and of yang -- and how we can achieve a balance of both in our lives.
How a wound heals itself
Adults Biology Health HumanOur skin is the largest organ in our bodies, with a surface area of about 20 square feet in adults. When we are cut or wounded, our skin begins to repair itself through a complex, well-coordinated process. Sarthak Sinha takes us past the epidermis and into the dermis to investigate this regenerative response.
Hydrogen cars: Ready for the roads?
Adults Technology Transportation AutomotiveThe technology for vehicles powered by fuel cells is established, and is set for market. However, the biggest challenge will be to make sure the fuel is available when the cars are available.
Special PVC Instrument
Adults Creativity Gadgets MusicMe performing a medley of recognizable songs on my PVC Pipe Instrument (2.0) inspired by the Blue Man Group at the Del Rey South Talent Show at LMU.
Why do competitors open their stores next to one another?
Adults Business WorkWhy are all the gas stations, cafes and restaurants in one crowded spot? As two competitive cousins vie for ice-cream-selling domination on one small beach, discover how game theory and the Nash Equilibrium inform these retail hotspots.
"Slap her": children's reactions
Adults Masculinity Society WomenWhat happens when you put a boy in front of a girl and ask him to slap her? Here is how children react to the subject of violence against women.
Would You Take This Bet?
Adults Life PhilosophyPsychological literature shows that we are more sensitive to small losses and than small gains, with most people valuing a loss around 1.5-2.5 times as much as a gain. This means that we often turn down reasonable opportunities for fear of the loss. However over the course of our lives we will be exposed to many risks and opportunities and this invariably means that taking every small reasonable bet will leave us better off than saying no to all of them.
How big is the ocean?
Adults Ecology NatureWhile the Earth's oceans are known as five separate entities, there is really only one ocean. So, how big is it? As of 2013, it takes up 71% of the Earth, houses 99% of the biosphere, and contains some of Earth's grandest geological features. Scott Gass reminds us of the influence humans have on the ocean and the influence it has on us.