Explorations

Tornadoes have been observed in many parts of the world. However, they are most frequently found in the United States. Tornado season has now begun in the United States. More than sixty tornadoes were reported in the south-east of the country during the last weekend in April. One tornado measuring over a kilometre wide hit … Read more

Today, we present the second part of our series on the history of the English language. Last week, we explored how the language evolved following several invasions of Britain. The first of these was by three tribes: the Angles, the Jutes and the Saxons. A mixture of these languages produced a language known as Anglo-Saxon … Read more

Today, we present the first of two programmes about the history of the English language. English is the language that more people are trying to learn than any other in the world. It is the language of political negotiations and international business. It has also become the international language of science and medicine. International treaties … Read more

Today, we are visiting a small museum in Maryland, USA. It is called the National Cryptologic Museum. There, you will find information that was once classified. The museum is located on Fort George G. Meade, a military base near Washington, D.C. The museum tells the story of cryptology and the men and women who have … Read more

Today, we follow plastic bottles and other plastic items as they are taken to one of the largest recycling centres in the United States. We also report on the impact of the tax on plastic bags in the nation’s capital. Remember: reduce, reuse, recycle. Recycling has become part of American life. It is also an … Read more

We explore one of the most iconic objects in science fiction: the laser. It is a prime example of how technology can evolve from the science of the future to become part of our everyday lives in a relatively short period of time. Faith Lapidus and Steve Ember will tell us about its history and … Read more

Today, we are visiting one of the most unusual national parks in the United States. It is called Dry Tortugas National Park. It comprises seven tiny islands located around two hundred kilometres southwest of southern Florida. One of these islands was once used as a prison. Let’s begin our visit by imagining we’re travelling back … Read more

Today, we will be talking about a large national park that was established to protect the culture of the ancient Native Americans. It is called Mesa Verde. It was a cold day in southwestern Colorado in 1888. Richard Wetherill and his brother-in-law were trying to find some missing cattle. They were up on Mesa Verde. … Read more

Today, we will talk about how people discovered an important piece of information that was necessary for sailing safely on the oceans. It is called longitude. One foggy night in October 1707, four English navy ships hit rocks in the Atlantic Ocean and sank. Two thousand men drowned. The ships had been sailing in thick … Read more

Today, we are visiting the Indiana Dunes. These sand dunes are located near Chicago, Illinois. They rise from the shores of Lake Michigan, one of the five Great Lakes of America. More than two million people visit the dunes in the Midwestern state of Indiana each year. The winds along Lake Michigan created some of … Read more