Read about how daredevil Nik Wallenda broke two records tightrope walking on a steel wire more than 50 stories above the Chicago river.
Tag Archives: Current Events
Rwanda: Has reconciliation by legal means worked?
In 1994, a genocide in Rwanda left hundreds of thousands of people dead. Twenty years later, the effectiveness of the courts meant to bring the perpetrators to justice is being called into question.
South Sudan
Having gained independence in 2011, South Sudan is the world’s youngest nation. Learn about who the South Sudanese people are, how they achieved independence, and what struggles they still face in this BBC News profile.
Students Take Hijab Challenge
Recently, students at one university in California attempted to find common ground by wearing a Muslim headscarf, called a hijab, for one day. Read about their eye-opening experiences.
Wisconsin family’s fallout shelter becomes historical exhibit
During the Cold War era, some families built underground fallout shelters in case of a nuclear bomb attack. Homeowners recently discovered one in their back yard, still stocked with food and other disaster survival supplies from the 1960s.
Malala Yousafzai wins Nobel Peace Prize 2014
Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenage education campaigner shot on a school bus in 2012 by a Taliban gunman, has jointly won the 2014 Nobel peace prize. At 17, Malala is the youngest winner ever of the prestigious prize for her work as an advocate for children’s education.
The World’s 50 Greatest Leaders
Holding a position of power doesn’t have to equate with ruthlessness. These profiles of 50 modern leaders reveal the positive aspects of power.
Kent State Incident
Learn about the deadly response to a college protest against the Vietnam War.
In northern Mali, music silenced as Islamists drive out artists
The west African nation of Mali stretches from arid desert to lush tropics and is home to rich cultural traditions in music, architecture, and ancient scholarship. Recently, though, its renowned musicians have faced threats that have sent them into hiding or across the globe in search of freedom.
How do you fix a polarized D.C.? Here are three ways.
The members of the United States Congress are elected to represent the interests of their districts or states while working together for the good of the nation as a whole. Why, then, do average Americans find it so much easier to work together than their members of Congress do?
‘Beyond Bollywood’: Inside the Smithsonian’s exhibition on Indian Americans
The new Smithsonian exhibition, “Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation,” is meant to show the imprint Indian Americans have made in United States culture throughout the centuries. Take a look inside the exhibition.
Do uniforms make schools better?
The debate surrounding required uniforms in American schools has been around long enough to have seen trends in fashion come and go and come back around yet again. Why are we further than ever from finding common ground on the uniform issue?
Fukushima nuclear crisis continues to unfold
An earthquake and tsunami in 2011 caused heavy damage to the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. Three reactors melted down, and radiation escaped into the air and water. Watch a report about how workers are still trying to contain the damage.
The Girl Who Swims With Sharks
20-year-old Madison Stewart is on a quest to save sharks. Though they might not look like they need protecting, many species of sharks are in danger because of humans engaging in controversial practices and markets. Stewart hopes to change peoples’ minds in time to save these magnificent fish.
Letter from Ethiopia’s Gulag
Ethiopian journalist Eskinder Nega has been held in prison for over seven years because of his reporting on his country’s corrupt government. In this 2013 letter, he makes his case for freedom and asks the United States to take steps toward a more democratic Ethiopia.
Are you Ukrainian or Russian? It’s complicated . . .
What determines a person’s cultural identity? For many people, it’s made up of a combination of factors such as language, loyalty, and heritage. For those from the former Soviet Union, the question is even more complicated. Read and listen to Ukrainian-born Alina Simone discuss her path to defining her cultural identity.
Mars One
In April 2013, Mars One launched its Astronaut Selection Program, taking the foundation one step closer to its eventual goal of establishing a human settlement on Mars. Explore the official Mars One site to learn more about the organization, its mission, and the risks and challenges involved in such a historic undertaking.
How It Works: Putting Humans in Suspended Animation
Though it may sound like science fiction, the use of “suspended animation” (emergency preservation and resuscitation) to help save human lives will begin in trial form in the very near future. Read the article and watch the short video that follows, in which Dr. Sam Tisherman answers frequently asked questions about the procedure.
On Bridges in Paris, Clanking with Love
“Love locks” bearing names and messages can be found on bridges and other landmarks in cities across the world. But as this seemingly harmless trend has increased in popularity, it’s become a much bigger issue in cities such as Paris, where the structural integrity of bridges is being threatened by the weight of love.
Movie Monsters, Monster Movies And Why ‘Godzilla’ Endures
There’s no question about the appeal of a good monster movie. But what is it about certain movie monsters that makes them such enduring stars? Listen to this story about Godzilla to learn more about one of cinema’s most legendary monsters.