The Nature ConÂserÂvanÂcy asked its staff and leadÂing enviÂronÂment blogÂgers how you can make “perÂsonÂal, sciÂence-based choicÂes to help save the planÂet.” Here are their 14 sugÂgesÂtions.
How Evolution Happens (in 5 Minutes, 48 Seconds)
This video was apparÂentÂly develÂoped with scenes takÂen from the BBC series WalkÂing with MonÂsters. (But don’t comÂpleteÂly quote me on that.)
For more smart videos, see our YouTube Playlist.
Is Morality Hardwired in Us?
Is moralÂiÂty a sixth sense that’s in all of us, and is it perÂhaps a prodÂuct of our bioÂlogÂiÂcal evoÂluÂtion? WritÂing recentÂly in The New York Times MagÂaÂzine, HarÂvard psyÂcholÂoÂgy proÂfesÂsor Steven Pinker sugÂgests that moralÂiÂty may well be hardÂwired. And he points to fasÂciÂnatÂing new research that backs up this belief. Pinker’s artiÂcle covÂers pretÂty much the same ground as does this engagÂing Radio Lab podÂcast (MP3 — iTunes — Feed — Web Site). TakÂing an hour-long look at the “sciÂence of moralÂiÂty,” the proÂgram gets into some fasÂciÂnatÂing stuff. It gets into the great TrolÂley moral dilemÂma, into what brain scans (MRI’s) reveal when human brains grapÂple with moral quesÂtions, and into how sciÂenÂtists think that we inherÂitÂed moral instincts from our priÂmate ancesÂtors. You’ll learn all about how moralÂiÂty is our “inner chimp.” If this is not enough, you can also lisÂten to Pinker’s interÂview yesÂterÂday on NPR’s Talk of the Nation. Get it here.
See our colÂlecÂtion of SciÂence PodÂcasts and SubÂscribe to Our Feed
Turn Your iPod into a Travel Guide: 20 Travel Podcasts
Over the past year, we’ve seen a steady supÂply of new travÂel podÂcasts comÂing online. Some are proÂduced by the pubÂlishÂers of major travÂel guides; othÂers by pasÂsionÂate indiÂvidÂual travÂelÂers. Many are in video, some even in HD. These podÂcasts will genÂerÂalÂly help you travÂel much more knowlÂedgeÂably. And, in most casÂes, they’ll say someÂthing about a travÂel desÂtiÂnaÂtion that a traÂdiÂtionÂal guide nevÂer could. This colÂlecÂtion will grow over time. You can find it housed perÂmaÂnentÂly in our PodÂcast Library locatÂed on the top right of each page. (There you can also find our colÂlecÂtion of Free LanÂguage Lessons, which will be handy, too, for your travÂels.)
- A Year in Europe iTunes Feed Web Site
- A well reviewed podÂcast. “Scott and Sheryl quit their jobs and sold their home. Now they’re on a year-long excurÂsion through Europe where they’re explorÂing the places they’ve read about and dreamed of visÂitÂing. FolÂlow them on their jourÂney as they expeÂriÂence the culÂtures, art and hisÂtoÂry they find fasÂciÂnatÂing.”
- AmaÂteur TravÂel PodÂcast — Video iTunes Feed Web Site
- FocusÂes on travÂel stoÂries with a dash of travÂel news, travÂel tips and travÂel resources. And, yes, as the title sugÂgests, it’s in video.
- AnthoÂny BourÂdain — No ReserÂvaÂtions iTunes Web Site
- ProÂduced by the TravÂel ChanÂnel, this video podÂcast comÂbines travÂel with the love of food.
- BeauÂtiÂful Places (iPod/iTunes) iTunes DownÂload Web Site
- This video podÂcast focusÂes on the great outÂdoors. DesÂtiÂnaÂtions explored here include Big Sur, Yosemite, Rocky MounÂtain NationÂal Park, etc. You can find an HD verÂsion of the podÂcast here.
- Big in TaiÂwan HD iTunes Feed Web Site
- These videos highÂlight the peoÂple, culÂture, sights & sounds of TaiÂwan.
- CopenÂhagen PodÂwalks iTunes Web Site
- PodÂcasts that will get you around DenÂmark’s capÂiÂtal.
- DisÂcovÂer France with Sebastien iTunes Feed Web Site
- Gives you a good look at French towns. In video.
- FindÂing AmerÂiÂca iTunes Feed Web Site
- See the real AmerÂiÂca in video. TravÂel every major road in the USA and see the counÂtry from someÂthing othÂer than a glossy, manÂuÂfacÂtured perÂspecÂtive.
- FromÂmer’s PodÂcast iTunes Feed Web Site
- TravÂel info from KelÂly Regan, ediÂtoÂrÂiÂal direcÂtor of FromÂmer’s TravÂel Guides, and David Lytle, ediÂtoÂrÂiÂal direcÂtor of Frommers.com. So far audio only. (It’s curiÂous that the big pubÂlishÂers are proÂducÂing less dynamÂic podÂcasts than the small guys are.)
- Inside Grand Canyon iTunes Feed Web Site
- Learn about Grand Canyon NationÂal Park with a park ranger as your guide. This is a video podÂcast.
- iPod TravÂelÂer iTunes Feed Web Site
- Two LonÂdonÂers give you their perÂsonÂal look at Europe. This audio podÂcast was disÂconÂtinÂued in 2007, but the extenÂsive archive remains.
- Italy From the Inside iTunes Web Site
- A native ItalÂian tells first-time travÂelÂers how to make the most of Italy. Some in audio; some in video.
- Italy TravÂel Guide: Rome, Venice & FloÂrence iTunes Feed Web Site (Also HD movies here)
- A close look at Italy’s great cities.
- Let’s TravÂel Radio iTunes Feed Web Site
- An interÂnet travÂel radio show that takes you to the four corÂners of the world. FeaÂtures talks with gloÂbeÂtrotÂters, artists, chefs and musiÂcians.
- LoneÂly PlanÂet TravÂelÂcasts iTunes Feed Web Site
- ProÂduced by one of the leadÂing travÂel guide pubÂlishÂers, these podÂcasts are very interÂnaÂtionÂal in scope. Audio only.
- SamanÂtha Brown: PassÂport to Latin AmerÂiÂca iTunes Web Site
- ProÂduced by the TravÂel ChanÂnel, this well-reviewed video podÂcast often focusÂes on CenÂtral and South AmerÂiÂca, which is someÂthing that’s hard to find .… at least so far.
- TravÂel in 10 iTunes Feed Web Site
- A 10 minute travÂel podÂcast that takes lisÂtenÂers to desÂtiÂnaÂtions around the globe to present soundÂscapes and audioÂtours from hip hotels, great restauÂrants, conÂcerts, fesÂtiÂvals and events.
- TravÂel with Rick Steves iTunes Feed Web Site
- ProÂduced by one of the bigÂger names in the travÂel indusÂtry, these audio podÂcasts give you good globÂal covÂerÂage. I should menÂtion that Steves has some othÂer focused podÂcasts includÂing: Rick Steves’ Europe in Video; Rick Steves’ Italy Audio Tours; and Rick Steves’ France Audio Tours.
- UnabellavÂista: How to Tour Italy iTunes Feed Web Site
- Learn about Italy’s art, hisÂtoÂry, archiÂtecÂture, food, and lanÂguage. In audio.
- Walks of a LifeÂtime iTunes Feed Web Site
- ProÂduced by NationÂal GeoÂgraphÂic TravÂelÂer. “Stroll across the world, from crowdÂed city cenÂters to rusÂtic counÂtry routes, with travÂel expert Rudy Maxa in NationÂal GeoÂgraphÂic TravÂelÂer magÂaÂzine’s selecÂtion of the world’s greatÂest walkÂing tours.” In audio.
Stay in Bed & Grow Your Hair: John Lennon and Yoko Ono Protesting the Vietnam War
This looks like it’s the real deal — Yoko Ono’s tribÂute to John Lennon on YouTube. Among the video clips housed in the colÂlecÂtion, you’ll find footage that recapÂtures the “bed-ins” that John and Yoko famousÂly staged in MonÂtreÂal and AmsÂterÂdam in 1969 to protest the VietÂnam War. As Lennon puts it, there’s no betÂter way to protest the war than to “stay in bed and grow your hair.” That’s a form of protest that the lost slackÂer in me can appreÂciÂate.
The footage is accomÂpaÂnied by the song, “Give Peace a Chance,” which was writÂten durÂing the bed-in. It was folÂlowed latÂer that year by “War is Over! If You Want It — HapÂpy ChristÂmas From John and Yoko.” The heartÂbreakÂing YouTube video set to this song has over one milÂlion views.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
- The BeaÂtÂles: PodÂcasts From YesÂterÂday
- What New YorkÂers Heard on the Radio the Night John Lennon was Shot
- The Grey Video: MixÂing The BeaÂtÂles with Jay‑Z
- The ComÂplete BeaÂtÂles in One Hour (and The SopraÂnos in SevÂen MinÂutes)
SubÂscribe to Our Feed and Sign up for our YouTube Playlist
Earthrise & Earthset in HD
In NovemÂber, Japan’s Kaguya spaceÂcraft orbitÂed the moon with a high-def camÂera onboard. You can see the first HD footage of an “earthÂrise” and “earthÂset” by checkÂing out these still images (EarthÂrise and EarthÂset) or watchÂing the video footage below, which has also been added to our YouTube playlist.
Obama Speaks at Martin Luther King’s Church
The celÂeÂbraÂtion of MarÂtin Luther King’s birthÂday was a litÂtle difÂferÂent this year. It had a politÂiÂcal edge to it, and unavoidÂably so. Dr. King’s work made posÂsiÂble what we’re finalÂly seeÂing today — a black canÂdiÂdate makÂing a seriÂous run at the AmerÂiÂcan presÂiÂdenÂcy. So it seemed entireÂly approÂpriÂate that Barack ObaÂma spoke SunÂday before the conÂgreÂgaÂtion at EbenezÂer BapÂtist Church in Atlanta, where MLK preached long ago. In this 34-minute speech, you get a perÂfect reminder of King’s legaÂcy and also a stump speech delivÂered in an oraÂtorÂiÂcal style that King would appreÂciÂate. The video clip below has been viewed close to 450,000 times on YouTube. It’s also been added to our YouTube playlist.
A Slew of New Audiobooks (for Free)
LibÂrivox is on a roll lateÂly. Since DecemÂber, the provider of free, pubÂlic domain audioÂbooks has released a numÂber of clasÂsic works on audio. Below, we’ve listÂed some of the highÂlights, which we’ve also includÂed in our AudioÂBook PodÂcast ColÂlecÂtion. (Here, you’ll also find free audioÂbooks by othÂer providers.) For LibÂrivox’s comÂplete catÂaÂlogue, click here.
2 B R 0 2 B, Kurt VonÂnegut (MP3 File)
A Child’s HisÂtoÂry of EngÂland, Charles DickÂens (Full Zip — IndiÂvidÂual MP3s)
A Short HisÂtoÂry of the UnitÂed States by Edward ChanÂning (Full Zip — IndiÂvidÂual MP3 Files)
Hans Brinker by Mary Mapes Dodge, (Full Zip — IndiÂvidÂual MP3 Files)
HisÂtoÂry of the UnitÂed States, Vol. IV, Charles Beard (Full Zip — IndiÂvidÂual MP3 Files)
MedÂiÂtaÂtions on First PhiÂlosÂoÂphy, Rene Descartes (Full Zip - IndiÂvidÂual MP3 Files)
The HisÂtoÂry of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Vol. II, Edward GibÂbon (The Full Zip — IndiÂvidÂual MP3s)
The Life of CharleÂmagne, EinÂhard (Full Zip — IndiÂvidÂual Files)
The MasÂter of the World, Jules Verne (Full Zip — IndiÂvidÂual Files)
The ProbÂlems of PhiÂlosÂoÂphy, Bertrand RusÂsell (Full Zip — IndiÂvidÂual MP3 Files)
The Three MusÂkeÂteers, AlexanÂdre Dumas (Full Zip — IndiÂvidÂual MP3 Files)
The Works of TacÂiÂtus (Full Zip — IndiÂvidÂual Files)
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