What Are Diminutives - and Why We Like Them
AdultsLanguageSocietyCultureA diminutive is something you stick on the end of a word to make the thing it describes sound smaller. ie. Dog goes to Doggy. Every language has them, but some have more than others. Why are we drawn to diminutives? And why is English particularly resistant to them, compared to Spanish, for example?
How does your body know you're full? - Hilary Coller
AdultsHumanNeuroscienceHealth...Hunger claws at your belly. It tugs at your intestines, which begin to writhe, aching to be fed. Being hungry generates a powerful and often unpleasant physical sensation that's almost impossible to ignore. After you've reacted by gorging on your morning pancakes, you start to experience an opposing force: fullness. But how does your body actually know when you're full? Hilary Coller explains.
How Parents Get In The Way of Career Plans
AdultsEducationFamilyParenting...Most modern parents say that all they want for their kids in the world of work is that they be 'happy'. But it's often a good deal more complicated than that, and parents are frequently hard at work shaping what their kids think of as good and bad careers.
The complicated history of surfing - Scott Laderman
AdultsCultureHistorySportsToday, surfing is a multi-billion-dollar global industry, with tens of millions of enthusiasts worldwide. For some it's a serious sport; for others, just a way to let loose. But despite its casual association with fun and sun, surfing has a richer and deeper history than many realize. Scott Laderman shares the hidden history of surfing.
History vs. Che Guevara - Alex Gendler
AdultsHistoryPoliticsSocietyHis face is recognized all over the world - the young medical student who became a revolutionary icon. But was Che Guevara a heroic champion of the poor, or a ruthless warlord who left a legacy of repression? Alex Gendler puts this controversial figure on trial in History vs. Che Guevara.
I Was Homeless
AdultsFamilyMental HealthPsychologyTony and his two older sisters never got along, not ever, for as long as he can remember, and to this day he doesn't understand why. They bullied and tormented him, did and said horrible things to him whenever they could.
Andy Makes Ultra-Creamy Mashed Potatoes
AdultsCreativityFoodWe're ready to declare these the fluffiest, creamiest, and easiest mashed potatoes ever. Unpeeled potatoes absorb less moisture when boiled, and the ricer will catch the skins-great news for lazy cooks everywhere.
How Emotionally Healthy Are You?
AdultsHealthMental Health"One way to start assessing how badly we have been knocked by our early years - and where we might therefore need to direct most of our repair work and attention - is to identify a range of markers of emotional health and imagine how we fare in relation to them. At least four central ones suggest themselves..."
The myth of Prometheus - Iseult Gillespie
AdultsArtHistorySpiritualityBefore the creation of humanity, the Greek gods won a great battle against a race of giants called the Titans. Most Titans were destroyed or driven to the eternal hell of Tartarus. But the Titan Prometheus, whose name means foresight, persuaded his brother Epimetheus to fight with him on the side of the Gods. Iseult Gillespie shares the myth of Prometheus.
Why do you need to get a flu shot every year? - Melvin Sanicas
AdultsHealthScienceAll year long, researchers at hospitals around the world collect samples from flu patients and send them to top virology experts with one goal: to design the vaccine for the next flu season. But why do we need a new one every year? Vaccines for diseases like mumps and polio offer a lifetime of protection with two shots early in life; what's so special about the flu? Melvin Sanicas explains.
The Nuclear Waste Problem
AdultsGlobal WarmingScienceTechnologyNuclear energy is one of the cleanest, most efficient, and most available sources of power on earth.
What is the tragedy of the commons? - Nicholas Amendolare
AdultsEcologyGlobal WarmingSocietyIs it possible that overfishing, super germs, and global warming are all caused by the same thing? In 1968, a man named Garrett Hardin sat down to write an essay about overpopulation. Within it, he discovered a pattern of human behavior that explains some of history's biggest problems. Nicholas Amendolare describes the tragedy of the commons.
Google Pixel Buds review
AdultsCreativityDesignTechnologyGoogle's Pixel Buds get a few of the basics right when it comes to wireless earbuds. Language translation via the Google Translate app is helpful in a pinch, and the Google Assistant experience is genuinely fast and fun. But these $159 earbuds are fussy, from the way that they fit in your ears to the way that they fit in the case. And not everyone will love the open design, which lets lots of outside noise in. The Pixel Buds are Google's first attempt at making wireless earbuds, and it shows.
Star Wars: Jedi Challenges puts you into an AR lightsaber duel
AdultsGamingTechnologyStar Wars: Jedi Challenges is a recently released augmented reality toy created by Disney and Lenovo, where you can use your phone to fight lightsaber duels and play Holochess.
Elon Musk's Basic Economics
AdultsEconomyTechnologyImagine a $2,000 car... or a $100 laptop... or a $70 iPhone... or imagine any product, ten times cheaper than it was.