In this video Paul Andersen explains how ecosystems function. He begins with a description of how life on the planet is ordered from large to small in biomes, ecosystems, communities, population, and individuals. He describes the major...

In this video Paul Andersen talks about the impacts of human growth on the environment and on themselves. The population, affluence, and destructive technology of a population impact the environment according to the IPAT equation. An...

In this video Paul Andersen explains how society influences the natural world through increasing science, engineering and technology. As the world population increases it will require more natural resources and it will impact the global...

Population statistics are like crystal balls -- when examined closely, they can help predict a country's future (and give important clues about the past). Kim Preshoff explains how using a visual tool called a population pyramid helps...

Paul Andersen explains how ecosystems interact with biotic and abiotic factors. He explains and gives examples of food chains and food webs. He shows how limiting factors eventually leads to logistic growth. Real data from Yellowstone...

New ReviewMichelle Williams reflects on her career in public health and the motivation behind her book The Cure for Everything, written during the COVID-19 pandemic to address widespread misunderstanding and underinvestment in the field. She...

New ReviewTracy Slater, a Jewish American writer in a mixed Jewish–Japanese family, tells the true story behind her book Together in Manzanar. It follows Elaine Buchman Yoneda, a Jewish American mother in 1942 who must decide whether to let the...

We've been talking a lot about meat consumption and its effect on our health. New studies indicate that meat may not be as bad for us as we've been told. But this is controversial. So, how do we talk about new findings that contradict...

American healthcare spending is still WAY higher than pretty much all other industrialized countries. But not that long ago, things were different. The US didn't spend nearly as much in this realm. What changed? Demographics? More...

In this video we ask what was the agricultural revolution, what made it possible and what were its effects.

Night owls and early birds are like the yin and yang of the sleep world. Night owls, or "night hawks" as they're sometimes called, tend to be more creative and have better reaction times at night, but they might struggle with that early...

The Fiji iguana is an endangered species so any baby that is born is a win.

Omer Bartov is a professor of history at Brown University, where he holds the chair in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. A historian for more than four decades, he began his career by challenging the postwar German myth of a “clean”...

A killer flu outbreak isn’t just a developing-world nightmare. The influenza virus is so adaptable that the West is as vulnerable as anywhere else. This program outlines the history of influenza and explores current research into what...

Did you know that China's fascinating history began with the Age of Five Rulers roughly five thousand years ago? Today, more than a fifth of the entire world’s population lives in China—that’s over 1.35 billion people! As a result, the...

Italy is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. While parts of Italy are highly urbanized, it might surprise you to learn that the interior of the country is underpopulated; in fact, this part of the country continues...

Unlike her European counterparts, the Netherlands invested very little in education within its colonies. While the Dutch introduced a system of formal education for the local population of Indonesia, it was restricted to certain...

Indonesia is the world’s fourth-largest nation when it comes to population. Only China, India, and the US are larger. The country is a young nation currently experiencing a “demographic bonus,” meaning that 50 percent of its people are...

China is the world’s second-biggest economy, prompting concerns about China overtaking the United States or EU sooner than previously thought. But if you look at the long term picture and apply a more Asian perspective—China’s...

The French believe strongly in the separation of church and state, and the constitution notes the secular foundation of the country’s principles. French secular attitudes permeate many aspects of daily life. In fact, in an effort to...

Curious about France’s demographics? The country has a population of more than 60 million, with 15 percent concentrated in the Paris metropolitan area—although many city-dwellers still identify with and appreciate their rural roots. The...

Germany is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe. In fact, in the Rhine-Ruhr Valley, there are no obvious boundaries between cities. It’s just a mass of urban sprawl. Explore commonalities among German cities, which tend...

South Africa’s diverse ethnic makeup is a defining feature of the country. Though more than three-quarters of the population are of African descent, this group is extremely varied culturally and linguistically. Zulus make up the largest...

Officially designated a middle-income country, South Africa ranks alongside Argentina, Brazil, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, and Turkey in average per capita income. While the country is by far the richest in Africa, the economic statistics...