How can a piano, left in a public place for anyone to use, bring a community together? Read about this unexpected movement to find out.
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Social Change
Review this collection of TED talks on social change; covering topics like justice, freedom, and the collective good.
What We Learned from 5 Million Books
Face it: we’re so overloaded with information that none of us can digest much of it. However, in this TED talk, Jean-Baptiste Michel and Erez Lieberman Aiden present ideas about what we can do—with the five million books and 500 billion words available online today. What do they reveal about who we were, are, and are becoming? Watch the video; then navigate to the site recommended by the speakers. Discover for yourself what five million books have to say!
Why did Gandhi march 240 miles for salt?
Salt may seem like a small thing to spark a revolution, but it’s crucial to human health. Learn more about why the Indian people rose up against English rule over the regulation of salt.
Macbeth’s curse: study identifies link between sleeplessness and paranoia
Shakespeare’s line, “Macbeth doth murder sleep”—and his guilt-ridden, sleepwalking Lady Macbeth—made a link between psychological distress and troubled sleep. Recent research shows that the Bard was onto something.
Searching the Brain for the Roots of Fear
Do you know the difference between fearing something and worrying about it? How do things that probably won’t do us any harm come to symbolize threats? This commentary from Joseph LeDoux, the director of the Emotional Brain Institute and a professor of neural science, describes the problems that arise when fear turns to anxiety.
Listening Is an Act of Love
Do you know someone whose story should be heard—and remembered? StoryCorps is a spectacular project in which people just like you, your family, and your friends sit down to chat and record stories from their lives. Visit the site to hear some amazing tales and watch a few videos. When you’ve finished, click the “Record Your Story” link to find out how you, too, can see to it that the stories of your family and friends get heard.
150 Years Later, Myths Persist about the Emancipation Proclamation
What did the Emancipation Proclamation really do? Three myths about this document are addressed in this article, which was written for the 150th anniversary of its signing.
The Secret Annex Online
Go back in time to explore the hiding place of Anne Frank on this website. With background information on the people, places, and things that happened, as well as an interactive 3D model of the secret annex, this site provides a truly immersive experience.
You Can Give a Boy a Doll, but You Can’t Make Him Play with It
Why do boys want to play with trucks, while girls prefer dolls? Are these stereotypes that our society forces on children, or are such preferences innate? This article explores those very questions.
Apache Girl’s Rite of Passage
In some cultures, the passage from childhood to adulthood is marked by much more than just another birthday celebration. This short video takes us on a journey with 13-year-old Dachina Cochise as she participates in a traditional Apache ceremony that is meant to symbolize her transition into adulthood.
Why Ambition Could Make You Rich, but Not Happy
What good does ambition do us? One researcher examined the lives of more than 700 people across 70 years to find out the answer to the question. Read to learn what he discovered.
Ida B. Wells
Ida B. Wells was a journalist who spoke out for women’s rights and against lynching, amongst numerous other issues. Watch a mini-biography, and learn more about Wells at this site.
What Frightens America’s Youth?
Back in 2005, the Gallup organization took a poll to discover what frightened American teens. Check out that poll’s results and compare them to the fears of teens today. What fears do today’s teens share with teens in 2005? What fears differ? Take a poll among your friends and classmates to find out.
How Guide Dogs Work
Learn about what guide dogs do, both on the job and “after hours”; where they come from; and how they are raised and trained.
An Interview with Poet Patricia Smith
Patricia Smith harnesses the power of words in her work. In this interview, read about why Smith feels that poetry—especially when spoken aloud—has the power to change not only attitudes but also people’s lives.
DeepSea Challenge
On March 26, 2012, James Cameron made a solo 6.83-mile journey to the Challenger Deep, the deepest known point in the ocean. Cameron completed the dangerous trek in a single-seat submersible named the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER. What risks did Cameron encounter on his journey, and what did he hope to discover? Learn more about the mission at this official site.
Why I’m rowing across the Pacific
Roz Savage was the first woman to row solo across three oceans. Here, she talks about how her first voyage; how it came about that she gave up her normal life to row solo across the Atlantic, the obstacles that she faced, and how she overcame them.
Dirty Little Secret
Did you know that many American slaves fought for England during the Revolutionary War? They were promised their freedom if they did, and many took the offer. Read this article to learn more about slaves’ participation in the Revolutionary War.
Mars Curiosity Rover
Follow the Mars Curiosity Rover mission in real-time by checking the updates and images on this site.