Greece’s highest court is considering a case about Athenians’ visual access to the landmark Acropolis. Its decision could set a precedent about preserving historic skylines -- and potentially ban construction of high-rise buildings. The...

According to Census data, fewer than three-quarters of eligible Americans are registered to vote. Since 2019, a nonprofit called Vot-ER has taken voter registration efforts into medical exam rooms across the country. Tionya Lawrence, a...

The deadliest severe weather phenomenon is something you might not realize: extreme heat. Eleni Myrivili, chief heat officer of the city of Athens, Greece, explains that extreme heat and heat waves are often overlooked because they're...

Hank explores the science behind the topics of the day, including a look at the current "pandemic" of concussions in professional sports and new insights into what really caused the worst plagues in human history, and what it portends...

Aristophanes, often referred to as the Father of Comedy, wrote the world's earliest surviving comic dramas. They're stuffed full of parodies, songs, sexual jokes and surreal fantasy -- and they've shaped how comedy's been written and...

About 2500 years ago, the writing of history as we understand it didn't really exist. Then, a man called Herodotus witnessed the Persian invasions of Greece and decided to find out why they happened. Mark Robinson investigates how the...

It's 427 BCE and the worst internal conflict ever to occur in the ancient Greek world is in its fourth year. Athens is facing a big decision: what to do with the people of Mytilene, a city on the island of Lesbos where a revolt against...

Get ready for hilarity, because this week, we're diving head first into Greek Comedy. Actually, though, maybe don't get TOO ready for hilarity. Taste in humor has changed a little over the last couple of thousand years. You already know...

Democracy needs an update -- one that respects and engages citizens by involving them in everyday political decisions, says writer and researcher Max Rashbrooke. He outlines three global success stories that could help move democratic...

Plato and Aristotle: Crash Course History of Science #3

So maybe we can't outrun cheetahs or antelope, but humans are uniquely adapted for long distance running. What does science have to say about marathon running? To find out, (and because I was feeling a little crazy) I decided to run one!...

In which John compares and contrasts Greek civilization and the Persian Empire. Of course we're glad that Greek civilization spawned modern western civilization, right? Maybe not. From Socrates and Plato to Darius and Xerxes, John...

The year is 432 BCE. As dawn breaks over Athens, Pheidias is already late for work. He is the chief builder for the Parthenon — Athens' newest and largest temple— and when he arrives onsite, city officials accuse him of embezzling gold...

In mythological ancient Greece, Icarus flew above Crete on wings made from wax and feathers, defying the laws of man and nature. To witnesses on the ground, he looked like a god, and he felt like one too. But, in his society, the line...

Today we are talking about death, looking at philosophical approaches from Socrates, Epicurus, and Zhuangzi. We will consider whether it’s logical to fear your own death, or the deaths of your loved ones. Hank also discusses Thomas...

While we might consider elections to be the cornerstone of democracy, the Athenians who coined the term actually employed a lottery system to choose most of their politicians. Melissa Schwartzberg describes the ins and outs of the...

In which John compares and contrasts Greek civilization and the Persian Empire. Of course we're glad that Greek civilization spawned modern western civilization, right? Maybe not. From Socrates and Plato to Darius and Xerxes, John...

Throughout the history of mankind, the subject of identity has sent poets to the blank page, philosophers to the agora and seekers to the oracles. These murky waters of abstract thinking are tricky to navigate, so it's probably fitting...

The Birth of Democracy #documentary

This World Cultures video discusses the rise of Alexander the Great.

In this episode of Travel Smart, our Independent travel experts share how to master the art of the city break, from the diverse appeals of must-visit destinations, and how these shift across the seasons.From Malaga’s thriving art and...

This video highlights the top 10 countries that do the best job of preventing extreme wealth from collecting at the top. Countries like Hungary, Belgium, and Japan use government programs, fair wages, and smart tax policies to keep...

Get ready for battle with the Spartan army! In this episode, we’ll learn about the tough warriors from the ancient Greek city of Sparta. Spartan boys began training for war at a young age and lived a life of discipline and strength....

Discover the story of the Peloponnesian War, a fierce conflict between Athens and Sparta that changed ancient Greek history. This video explains why the war started, how it was fought, and what it meant for the Greek city-states. Learn...