Jan Bill: What was so special about Viking ships?
As the Roman Empire flourished, Scandinavians had small settlements and no central government. Yet by the 11th century, they had spread far from Scandinavia, gaining control of trade routes throughout Europe, conquering kingdoms as far as Africa, and building outposts in North America. What was the secret to their success? Jan Bill dives into th...
Dan Bell: Inside America's dead shopping malls
Billie Jean King: This tennis icon paved the way for women in sports
Ron Shaneyfelt: Is space trying to kill us?
How likely is it that a massive asteroid will do major damage to Earth and its inhabitants? What about the sun -- is it dying out anytime soon? And the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way -- should we be worried about that? Ron Shaneyfelt assesses the dangers of space. [Directed by Retchy, narrated by Ron Shaneyfelt].
Alex Laskey: How behavioral science can lower your energy bill
Kenny Coogan: This weird trick will help you summon an army of worms
In the middle of Florida's Apalachicola National Forest, a bizarre, almost magical scene is unraveling. Sliding a metal strip over a wooden stake, a master summoner is sending deep croaking noises reverberating throughout the area. And, as if in a trance, hundreds of earthworms begin emerging from the soil. What's going on? Kenny Coogan explores...
Tessa Khan: How can we escape soaring energy bills? Stop using fossil fuels
As oil and gas companies continue to make record profits off of the same forces driving climate chaos, war and soaring energy bills, it's become clear that boom times for the fossil fuel industry are bad times for the rest of us, says climate change lawyer Tessa Khan. She asks us to consider the true cost of our reliance on fossil fuels, outlini...
Nita Farahany: When technology can read minds, how will we protect our privacy?
Tech that can decode your brain activity and reveal what you're thinking and feeling is on the horizon, says legal scholar and ethicist Nita Farahany. What will it mean for our already violated sense of privacy? In a cautionary talk, Farahany warns of a society where people are arrested for merely thinking about committing a crime (like in "Mino...
Iseult Gillespie: Why should you read Sylvia Plath?
Under her shrewd eye and pen, Sylvia Plath turned everyday objects into haunting images: a "new statue in a drafty museum," a shadow in a mirror, a slab of soap. Her breathtaking perspectives and unflinching language made her a touchstone for readers seeking to break the silence around issues of trauma, frustration and sexuality. Iseult Gillespi...
Doug MacKay: You can only save one— who do you choose?
You are the captain of an interstellar cargo transport headed to port when you receive two distress calls. The first is from a labor ship, whose passengers are running out of oxygen. The other from a luxury space cruiser which has lost a thruster, sending them careening into danger. With only enough time to save one ship, which should you choose...
Jenn Buell: You Have a Piece of Paper That Can Change the World
Raising children as a single parent is exhausting—mentally, emotionally, physically. Statistics are both sad and scary on children raised in a single-parent home. If it truly takes a village to raise a child, what can the you do as part of the that village to help? You’ll be surprised that the answer is unexpectedly simple yet incredibly impactful.
John Bly: Merge Your Culture, Aquire Your Success
John Bally: How science has driven our technology and economy
For the last half millennium, scientific curiosity has driven a series of technological revolutions that powers today’s economy and dominates our way of life. About 500 years ago, studies of the motions of the planets and Moon led to mechanics. Mechanics led to the Industrial Revolution. Investigation of electricity, magnetism, and atoms led ...
John Bell: How Shakespeare has made me a Humanist
John Bell is one of Australia’s most illustrious theatre personalities. Award-winning actor, acclaimed director, risk-taking impresario, torch-bearing educationalist and speaker on leadership; John has been a key figure in shaping the nation’s theatrical identity as we know it. John Bell has walked side-by-side with Shakespeare for the past 60 ...
Gini Ballou: Was I Your Mother? Finding Love in Alzheimer's
Juanah Ballay: Creating pathways for prosperity through Agriculture.
In this talk, Juanah reflects on Sierra Leone's agricultural productive potential and proffers solutions on how the country can attain food sufficiency / security. He shares his idea by giving an overview on agriculture and development related stats about Sierra Leone, which includes the good and the (mostly) bad.
Joan Margarit, Biel Juste: El futuro del emprendimiento es la Generación Z