Machu Picchu 101 | National Geographic
AdultsNatureTravelWorld...Machu Picchu is a testament to the power and ingenuity of the Inca empire. Built without the use of mortar, metal tools, or the wheel, Machu Picchu stands as an archaeological wonder of the ancient world. But why was it built—and deserted?
What makes a poem … a poem? - Melissa Kovacs
AdultsHistoryHumanSelf...What exactly makes a poem … a poem? Poets themselves have struggled with this question, often using metaphors to approximate a definition. Is a poem a little machine? A firework? An echo? A dream? Melissa Kovacs shares three recognizable characteristics of most poetry.
The Most Extreme Explosion in the Universe
AdultsLifeScienceSpaceSupernovae are the most powerful explosions in the universe, unleashing enough energy to outshine galaxies. We have no real metaphor for their power – if the sun were to magically go supernova it would feel like you were being hit by the energy of a nuclear explosion, every second. For weeks.
The Future of Machines That Move like Animals | Robert Katzschmann | TED
AdultsExperimentsLifeTechnology...Imagine a boat that propels by moving its "tail" from side to side, just like a fish. That's the kind of machine that TED Fellow Robert Katzschmann's lab builds: soft-bodied robots that imitate natural movements with artificial, silent muscles.
Veritasium's Derek Muller Answers the Web's Most Searched Questions | WIRED
AdultsEducationFilmScience...Veritasium's Derek Muller answers the web's most searched questions about himself. Where did the name 'Veritasium' come from? Is Veritasium a real element? Where does Derek live? Is he married? What was Veritasium's first video? Derek answers all these questions and much more!
4 Plants that Hunt Underground
AdultsEnvironmentLifeNature...Carnivorous plants tend to live in environments where the soil can’t provide enough of the nutrients they need to survive, so they have developed all sorts of methods to trap and consume the critters of the area, including hunting underground!
You Don’t Actually Know What Your Future Self Wants | Shankar Vedantam | TED
AdultsEducationHumanPsychology..."You are constantly becoming a new person," says journalist Shankar Vendantam. In a talk full of beautiful storytelling, he explains the profound impact of something he calls the "illusion of continuity" -- the belief that our future selves will share the same views, perspectives and hopes as our current selves -- and shows how we can more proactively craft the people we are to become.
How Entomologists Use Insects to Solve Crimes | WIRED
AdultsAnimalsIndustryLife..."Insects never lie. Insects are tiny witnesses," says forensic entomologist Dr. Paola Magni. On a crime scene, insects like maggots play a key role in determining time of death. Dr. Magni uses the learnings from these insects to give justice to victims.