There are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world -- and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures. But do they shape the way we think? Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky shares examples of language -- from an...

This video description is brought to you by language. But how long have humans been able to use our gift of gab? The answer is a lot more complicated than you might think. From studying fossil brains and ear bones to DNA migration...

Human language is an incredible thing: a combination of mouth sounds that we combine into words, sentences, poems, and constitutions. They carry meaning, emotion, and power. But underneath it all, language is really just physics. In this...

X is everywhere and it’s probably thanks to math. But why is x the symbol for the unknown?

Correction: This episode has some mistakes in our on-screen credits. The Writer is Tom Rivlin, the script Script Editor is JD Voyek, and the Fact Checker is Angela Reed.



Have you ever listened to someone speaking a foreign...

The Voynich manuscript is a subject of fascination with its mysterious drawings of plants, people, and stars, as well as its indecipherable text. But rather than hiding ancient secrets, this book might be a medieval fraud, created by...

We've all heard of the Rosetta Stone, either the language-learning software or the stone itself. But how much do you really know about it? Let's get into the full history of this icon of ancient Egypt, what we learned from...

The Inca Empire used bundles of knotted string called khipu to store and convey information. But how do you read a bunch of strings? And was this a unique form of writing... or knot?<b<br/>r/>

Hosted by: Stefan Chin

Chocolate being one of the world's most delicious foods, you'd think we would know everything about it. /Somebody/ domesticated wild cacao. It's just… nobody really knows who, or when… or where. But if we want chocolate for the long...

Saying “I love you” often feels more meaningful in your first language than in any other language you learn later in life, explains linguist and polyglot Magdalena Hoeller. Unpacking the hidden challenges of intercultural relationships —...

Lots of languages and species are going extinct, but because others keep getting found or described, the official counts of languages and species are still increasing.

Yet another party of adventurers has broken into your lair to slay your minions and steal your treasures. Judging by the trail of destruction, you’re up against a fighter, a rogue, and a cleric. The first two won’t be a problem for a...

Have you ever wondered where "Ye Olde" spelling comes from? Today we unravel this thorny linguistic issue.

Prove Pi R2 using only beads and a ruler!

President and founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media Ian Bremmer highlights the increasing polarization of the American media landscape, noting how media outlets like MSNBC and Fox offer divergent narratives that contribute to social...

Spelling reformers have been advocating for changes to make English spelling more intuitive and less irregular. One example of its messiness: take the “g-h” sound from “enough,” the “o” sound from “women” and the “t-i” sound from...

In an ode to the Persian language, author Leili Anvar unfurls the work of 13th-century mystic poet Rumi and reflects on how poetry gives meaning to our lives.

Rhymes might seem frivolous, but there's scientific evidence for why we like them so much.

Reading. You’re doing it right now. I bet you don’t even have to think about it. But have you ever wondered what’s happening in your brain to turn all these weird symbols into meaning? This video will teach you how to read all over...

If you hear birds chirping in the trees, you might not think much of the different sounds you're hearing. But as it turns out, those tweets and chirps have a lot more in common with some of our complicated rules of grammar than you might...

Your dog might seem like a bit of a goof, but they might be capable of more tricks than you think. A new study from researchers in Hungary investigated whether dogs can distinguish between new and familiar languages.

William Faulkner is considered one of America's most remarkable and perplexing writers. He confused his audience intentionally, using complex sentences, unreliable narrators, and outlandish imagery. His body of work is shocking,...

English is a confusing language for many reasons. But the irregular verbs might be the most confusing part. Why is "told" the past tense of "tell" but "smold" isn't the past tense of "smell"? It turns out that the study of irregular...

Many ancient sites had some truly amazing effects on sound waves, suggesting that early cultures may have built spaces to evoke certain sensation. And by studying the acoustics of these structures, we can learn new things...