What is El Nino? Why can't we predict the weather? Just a few slight changes in global climate patterns can drastically shift the weather. Thanks to chaos theory, even our smartest meteorologists can't predict weather correctly.

With modern technology, a global exchange of goods and ideas can happen at the click of a button. But what about 2,000 years ago? Shannon Harris Castelo unfolds the history of the 5,000-mile Silk Road, a network of multiple routes that...

The tale of a major global cultural phenomenon: Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle describes the spectacular arrival of fast-paced 20-20 cricket as it parallels the rise of modern India. He traces the game from its sleepy English roots to...

Some satellites orbit in the same direction the planet rotates, which means they get a boost for their launch, but most have orbits where that isn’t ideal, and that creates some challenges for engineers.

TOP 10 REASONS Why We Know the Earth is Round

The equator is a clear and accurate line around Earth that makes measuring latitude a precise science, but when it came to figuring out how to do that with longitude, British sailors were at a loss. Until they devised a competition.

Have you ever wondered why your shadow is longer sometimes and shorter others? It turns out it all has to do with that marvelous big ball of light in the sky; The Sun! This first series is based on 5th grade science. We're super excited...

In which John Green teaches you about the massive immigration to the United States during the late 19th and early 20th century. Immigrants flocked to the US from all over the world in this time period. Millions of Europeans moved to the...

In 1910, 90% of Black Americans lived in the South. By 1940, around 1.5 million Black Americans had left their homes, and 77% lived in the South. By 1970, 52% of Black Americans remained in the South. People moved away for many reasons,...

As the Roman Empire fell, so did the theater. If there's anyone who hates theater and actors more than Romans, it's early Christians. As Christianity ascended in the west, theater declined. But, fear not. This isn't the end of the...

When last we saw Theater, it was just making its way back in the West, by sneaking a little drama into the Easter mass. In today's episode, we're talking about Hrotsvitha, the cool 10th century nun from Lower Saxony who was maybe the...

Along the Nile River, in what is now northern Sudan, lay the ancient civilization of Kush. Though they were once conquered by a powerful neighbor, the kings and queens of Kush would go on to successfully challenge two of the most...

In which John Green teaches you about the Cold War, which was occasionally hot, but on average, it was just cool. In the sense of its temperature. It was by no means cool, man. After World War II, there were basically two big...

It was the western hemisphere's largest empire ever, with a population of nearly 10 million subjects. Yet within 100 years of its rise in the fifteenth century, the Inca Empire would be no more. What happened? Gordon McEwan details the...

The world owes much of its cultural legacy to Constantinople's walls. When Constantinople was under seige by neighboring enemies, the Roman city's elaborate system of moats, outer walls, and inner walls stood tall. Surviving numerous...

New ReviewIn an era long before phones, radios, telegraphs, or even writing systems, the people of Sub-Saharan Africa had already mastered one of history's quickest and most effective long distance communication systems.

What were the Knights Templar ACTUALLY doing? #history

Most schoolchildren can find Italy on a map—it’s the “boot” that’s kicking an island into the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. The island is, of course, Sicily, and the boot is Italy’s mainland. Without a doubt, Italy’s complex natural...

Lying south of mainland Southeast Asia and north of the continent of Australia, Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world. While it’s a vast country, only about 40 percent is land—the rest is sea. Strategically located between...

India’s dramatic changes over the past decade and a half have created opportunities and growth never before imagined by the country’s billion plus people. These changes have brought new ideas, attitudes, values, and hope into the...

While businesses in Hong Kong follow a typical work schedule, professionals often work longer hours than in other countries—depending on the industry—in an effort to save face and appear hardworking to colleagues and management. Want to...

Chinese culture has been heavily influenced by the teachings of Confucius (Kongzi), a Chinese philosopher from ancient times. Confucianism emphasizes unity, circularity, harmony, and reciprocity. You’ll see these four concepts reflected...

The Chinese have a saying that “food is the first necessity of the people.” Reflecting this vital role, great thought and care go into its preparation. The Chinese use a blend of ingredients—with contrasting flavors, colors, and...

The process of creating a unified Germany is on track but far from complete. After the initial euphoria wore off, the enormity of the task ahead set in. Improving the poor state of industry and the infrastructure in the former East...