Curated Video
How to Avoid Running Out of Water
Fresh water issues are getting harder to ignore. In the next five years, half the world’s population will live in a water-stressed area. Drought-stricken cities like San Francisco have started requiring large commercial building to...
PBS
How Advances in Science Changed the Zombie Narrative
Films like 28 Weeks Later (2007), [REC] (2007), Quarantine (2008), and Deadgirl (2008) depict the zombie plague as a result of scientific misjudgment, reflecting society's growing anxieties around technology and experimentation. At the...
PBS
21st Century Zombies: Evolving Fears and Cultural Reflections
In the 21st century, zombie narratives have evolved, reflecting new societal anxieties such as terrorism, bioengineering, pandemics, and environmental crises. With iconic video games like Resident Evil and films like 28 Days Later,...
PBS
Trolls in the 20th Century
At the turn of the 20th century, trolls transitioned from fairy tales into novels, most notably in science fiction and fantasy. J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series brought trolls into the mainstream, where they...
PBS
The Return of Trolls in Folklore and Literature
As science and formal education spread, belief in trolls began to fade until a resurgence of folklore interest in the 19th century. Danish author Hans Christian Andersen included trolls in his fairy tales, and Norwegian illustrators like...
PBS
The Significance of Trolls in Medieval and Scandanavian History
Since the publication of troll sagas in the Middle Ages, these mythical creatures have continued to captivate popular imagination, particularly in Scandinavian countries. Medieval Norwegian law even recognized the existence of trolls,...
PBS
Trolls: From Folklore to Social Media
Modern trolls, lurking on social media, harass and antagonize others while concealing their identities are much like their ancient counterparts who hid in dark, isolated spaces. Rooted in Scandinavian folklore, trolls originally...
PBS
Bioengineered Terrors: Killer Plants in Modern Fiction
In the 1970s and 80s, advances in bioengineering fueled narratives about dangerous plants, reflecting anxieties about genetic experimentation. Stories like Super Mario’s piranha plants and Godzilla, popularized the theme of killer flora....
PBS
Monstrous Flora: From Science to Fiction in the 20th Century
At the turn of the 20th century, plants in both science and horror fiction were increasingly viewed with curiosity and fear. The 1920s and 30s saw a surge in monstrous plant narratives, with fears of nuclear mutation, extraterrestrial...
PBS
Exotic Dangers: The Rise of Killer Plant Myths in the 19th Century
In the 19th century, advancements in trade and greenhouse technology enabled the global transport of plants, sparking fascination with exotic and sometimes dangerous flora. This led to a rise in fictional tales of carnivorous plants,...
PBS
Why Are Alien Stories So Popular?
The 1990s saw a boom in alien abductions in popular culture, fueled by shows like The X-Files and Hollywood blockbusters such as Independence Day. UFO enthusiasts, ranging from skeptics to believers, grew in number, driven by both...
PBS
The Rise of UFO Encounters and Pop Culture Influence
There was a surge in UFO sightings from the 1940s through the 1980s, with the "flying saucer era" beginning in 1946. Significant events like the Roswell incident in 1947 and the first widely publicized alien abduction case of Barney and...
PBS
Consumerism and Social Critique in Romero's Dawn of the Dead
In 1978, George Romero released Dawn of the Dead, moving the zombie apocalypse to a shopping mall, symbolizing the growing influence of American consumerism and suburban life. This film continued his critique of society, with zombies...
PBS
The Origins and Evolution of Deadly Plant Myths
For millennia, humans have used plants for healing and protection, but myths have also depicted plants as conscious killers. Stories of poisonous plants, such as the deadly Javanese upas tree, have been sensationalized throughout...
PBS
The Evolution of Extraterrestrial Encounters
There are many common depictions of extraterrestrials, but the "gray aliens," which are known for their humanoid forms, large black eyes, and gray skin are among the most common. This video traces the origins of extraterrestrial...
PBS
The Cultural Significance of the Romero Zombie
Slavery's influence on the creation of the zombie can be traced back to its roots in Haitian folklore, where zombification was linked to slavery and control. Romero's reimagining of the zombie, however, took on new political and cultural...
Curated Video
Our Understanding of Floods is ALL Wrong
Flooding is getting worse, and not just from hurricanes or rising tides, but from increased heavy rainfall. In this episode, we dive into the changing landscape of flood hazards. First, we journey to New York, to visit Hoboken, New...
Curated Video
What If Our Clothes Could Disrupt Surveillance Cameras?
What do you get when you combine mass surveillance with A.I.? It’s a dystopia that’s already a reality in places across the world. Fashion designers are pushing back, crafting clothing and accessories that trick facial recognition...
Curated Video
How to Stop Aging (and Should We?)
What is the future of aging? People aren’t dying as early or as easily as they used to. Innovations in medicine, health, and hygiene have helped us extend our lives by decades, but what comes next? Would you rather live to be a hearty...
Curated Video
Cool Us or Kill Us? Did Geoengineering Cause a Huge Famine?
This episode of Weathered explores the controversial world of solar geoengineering by injecting sulfate aerosols into the stratosphere, looking at both the controversial promises and profound risks associated with manipulating the...
Curated Video
Is This the Real Reason More Homes Are Burning in Wildfires?
For decades, conventional wisdom has told us that fuels reduction is key to protecting communities. However, the latest research shows that weather actually plays a big role as well. In fact, the vast majority of structures are destroyed...
Curated Video
From Counting Cans to Feeding Families: The Math of a Food Pantry
Join us on an exciting trip to People In Need food pantry in Delaware County, Ohio! We'll go behind the scenes to see how they use math every day to help families in their community. From counting items to ensure families receive the...
PBS
How the Mummy Became Modern Horror Icon
The rise of the film industry solidified the Egyptian mummy as a foreign antagonist, beginning with its first screen appearance in 1899. Universal Pictures' 1932 film The Mummy further popularized the mummy as a horror icon, inspired by...
PBS
The Origins of Mummy Mythology
Mummies, particularly Egyptian mummies, became iconic in popular culture due to their association with ancient rituals and the afterlife. The process of mummification was initially a sacred practice tied to Egyptian religious beliefs,...