S2018 E102 • How to manage your time more effectively (according to machines) - Brian Christian

Human beings and computers alike share the challenge of how to get as much done as possible in a limited time. Over the last fifty or so years, computer scientists have learned a lot of good strategies for managing time effectively — and they have a lot of experience with what can go wrong. Brian Christian shares how we can use some of these insights to help make the most of our own lives. Lesson by Brian Christian, animation by Adriatic Animation

Première diffusion : 2 janvier 2018

S2018 E122 • Can you solve the dark coin riddle? - Lisa Winer

You heard the travelers’ tales, you followed the maps, and now, you’ve finally located the dungeon containing a stash of ancient coins. The good news: the wizard who owns the castle has generously agreed to let you have the coins. The bad news: he’s not quite as generous about letting you leave the dungeon ... unless you solve his puzzle. Can you solve it and get out alive? Lisa Winer shows how. Lesson by Lisa Winer, animation by Artrake Studio

Première diffusion : 22 janvier 2018

S2018 E212 • The rise and fall of the Inca empire - Gordon McEwan

Première diffusion : 12 février 2018

S2018 E226 • Can you solve the seven planets riddle - Edwin F Meyer

Première diffusion : 26 février 2018

S2018 E322 • Can you solve the buried treasure riddle - Daniel Griller

Première diffusion : 22 mars 2018

S2018 E329 • A day in the life of a Roman soldier - Robert Garland

Première diffusion : 29 mars 2018

S2018 E403 • A simple way to tell insects apart - Anika Hazra

Première diffusion : 3 avril 2018

S2018 E508 • Can you solve the false positive riddle - Alex Gendler

Première diffusion : 8 mai 2018

S2018 E522 • Can you solve the wizard standoff riddle - Dan Finkel

Première diffusion : 22 mai 2018

S2018 E614 • What causes insomnia? - Dan Kwartler

What keeps you up at night? Pondering deep questions? Excitement about a big trip? Stress about unfinished work? What if the very thing keeping you awake was stress about losing sleep? This seemingly unsolvable loop is at the heart of insomnia, the world’s most common sleep disorder. So what is insomnia? And is there any way to break the cycle? Dan Kwartler details the science of insomnia. Lesson by Dan Kwartler, animation by Sharon Colman.

Première diffusion : 14 juin 2018

S2018 E618 • Did the Amazons really exist? - Adrienne Mayor

It was long assumed that Amazons, the fierce and fearsome women warriors of Greece, were imaginary. But curiously enough, stories from ancient Egypt, Persia, the Middle East, Central Asia, India and China also featured Amazon-like warrior women. And Amazons were described in ancient historical accounts, not just myths. Who were the real women warriors known as Amazons? Adrienne Mayor investigates. Lesson by Adrienne Mayor, animation by Silvia Prietov

Première diffusion : 18 juin 2018

S2018 E625 • The psychology of post-traumatic stress disorder - Joelle Rabow Maletis

Many of us will experience some kind of trauma during our lifetime. Sometimes, we escape with no long-term effects. But for millions of people, those experiences linger, causing symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and negative thoughts that interfere with everyday life. Joelle Rabow Maletis details the science behind post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Lesson by Joelle Rabow Maletis, directed by Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat.

Première diffusion : 25 juin 2018

S2018 E628 • Can you solve the Mondrian squares riddle? - Gordon Hamilton

Dutch artist Piet Mondrian’s abstract, rectangular paintings inspired mathematicians to create a two-fold challenge. Can you solve the puzzle and get to the lowest score possible? Gordon Hamilton shows how. Lesson by Gordon Hamilton, directed by Anton Trofimov

Première diffusion : 28 juin 2018

S2018 E703 • Are there universal expressions of emotion? - Sophie Zadeh

The 40 or so muscles in the human face can be activated in different combinations to create thousands of expressions. But do these expressions look the same and communicate the same meaning around the world regardless of culture? Is one person’s smile another’s grimace? Sophie Zadeh investigates. Lesson by Sophie Zadeh, animated by Estúdio Bacuri

Première diffusion : 3 juillet 2018

S2018 E726 • How can you change someone's mind? (hint: facts aren't always enough) - Hugo Mercier

Why do arguments change people’s minds in some cases and backfire in others? Hugo Mercier explains how arguments are more convincing when they rest on a good knowledge of the audience, taking into account what the audience believes, who they trust, and what they value. Lesson by Hugo Mercier, animation by TED-Ed

Première diffusion : 26 juillet 2018

S2018 E807 • Can you solve the rogue AI riddle? - Dan Finkel

A hostile artificial intelligence called NIM has taken over the world’s computers. You’re the only person skilled enough to shut it down, and you’ll only have one chance. Can you survive and shut off the artificial intelligence? Dan Finkel shows how. Lesson by Dan Finkel, directed by Artrake Studio.

Première diffusion : 7 août 2018

S2018 E809 • How the Normans changed the history of Europe - Mark Robinson

In the year 1066, 7,000 Norman infantry and knights sailed in warships across the English Channel. Their target: England, home to more than a million people. Around the same period of time, other groups of Normans were setting forth all across Europe. Who were these warriors, and how did they leave their mark so far and wide? Mark Robinson shares a brief history of the Normans. Lesson by Mark Robinson, directed by Echo Bridge.

Première diffusion : 9 août 2018

S2018 E814 • What really happened to the Library of Alexandria? - Elizabeth Cox

2,300 years ago, the rulers of Alexandria set out to fulfill a very audacious goal: to collect all the knowledge in the world under one roof. In its prime, the Library of Alexandria housed an unprecedented number of scrolls and attracted some of the Greek world’s greatest minds. But by the end of the 5th century CE, it had vanished. Elizabeth Cox details the rise and fall of this great building. Lesson by Elizabeth Cox, directed by Inna Phillimore

Première diffusion : 14 août 2018

S2018 E816 • Zen kōans: unsolvable enigmas designed to break your brain - Puqun Li

How do we explain the unexplainable? This question has inspired numerous myths, religious practices and scientific inquiries. But Zen Buddhists practicing throughout China from the 9th to 13th century asked a different question – why do we need an explanation? Puqun Li details the bewildering and ambiguous philosophical thought experiments these Buddhists called Zen kōans. Lesson by Puqun Li, directed by Cabong Studios

Première diffusion : 16 août 2018

S2018 E823 • Can you solve the Leonardo da Vinci riddle? - Tanya Khovanova

You’ve found Leonardo da Vinci’s secret vault, secured by a series of combination locks. Fortunately, your treasure map has three codes: 1210, 3211000, and… hmm. The last one appears to be missing. Can you figure out the last number and open the vault? Tanya Khovanova shows how. Lesson by Tanya Khovanova, directed by Artrake Studio

Première diffusion : 23 août 2018

S2018 E904 • The surprising link between stress and memory - Elizabeth Cox

You spend weeks studying for an important test. On the big day, you wait nervously as your teacher hands it out. You’re working your way through, when you’re asked to define "ataraxia." You know you’ve seen the word before, but your mind goes blank. What just happened? Elizabeth Cox details the complex relationship between stress and memory. Lesson by Elizabeth Cox, directed by Artrake Studio

Première diffusion : 4 septembre 2018

S2018 E910 • Can you solve the rebel supplies riddle? - Alex Gendler

You’re overseeing the delivery of supplies to a rebel base in the heart of enemy territory. To get past customs, all packages must follow this rule: if a box is marked with an even number on the bottom, it must be sealed with a red top. One of the four boxes was sealed incorrectly, but they lost track of which one. Can you figure out which box it is and save the day? Alex Gendler shows how. Lesson by Alex Gendler, directed by Artrake Studio

Première diffusion : 10 septembre 2018

S2018 E917 • What would happen if every human suddenly disappeared? - Dan Kwartler

Human beings are everywhere. With settlements on every continent, we can be found in the most isolated corners of Earth’s jungles, oceans and tundras. Our impact is so profound, most scientists believe humanity has left a permanent mark on Earth’s geological record. So what would happen if suddenly, every human on Earth disappeared? Dan Kwartler investigates. Lesson by Dan Kwartler, directed by Globizco Studios

Première diffusion : 17 septembre 2018

S2018 E924 • Can you solve the alien probe riddle? - Dan Finkel

Your team has developed a probe to study an alien monolith. It needs protective coatings — in red, purple or green — to cope with the environments it passes through. Can you figure out how to apply the colors so the probe survives the trip? Dan Finkel shows how. Lesson by Dan Finkel, directed by Anton Trofimov.

Première diffusion : 24 septembre 2018

S2018 E927 • The "End of History" Illusion - Bence Nanay

Time and time again, we’ve failed to predict that the technologies of the present will change the future. Recently, a similar pattern was discovered in our individual lives: we’re unable to predict change in ourselves. But is there anything wrong with assuming that who we are now is who we will continue to be? Bence Nanay details the consequences of seeing ourselves as finished products. Lesson by Bence Nanay, directed by Stretch Films Inc.

Première diffusion : 27 septembre 2018

S2018 E1009 • Can you solve the killer robo-ants riddle? - Dan Finkel

The good news is that your experimental robo-ants are a success. The bad news is that you accidentally gave them the ability to shoot deadly lasers … and you can’t turn it off. Can you stop them from escaping their habitat before the lasers are activated? Dan Finkel shows how. Lesson by Dan Finkel, directed by Artrake Studio.

Première diffusion : 9 octobre 2018

S2018 E1011 • History through the eyes of a chicken - Chris A. Kniesly

The Ancient Egyptian king Thutmose III described the chicken as a marvelous foreign bird that “gives birth daily.” Romans brought them on their military campaigns to foretell the success of future battles. Today, this bird occupies a much less honorable position – on dinner plates. Chris Kniesly explains the evolving role of chickens throughout history. Lesson by Chris A. Kniesly, directed by Mark Phillips.

Première diffusion : 11 octobre 2018

S2018 E1105 • Is fire a solid, a liquid, or a gas? - Elizabeth Cox

Sitting around a campfire, you can feel its heat, smell the woody smoke, and hear it crackle. If you get too close, it burns your eyes and stings your nostrils. You could stare at the bright flames forever as they twist and flicker in endless incarnations… But what exactly are you looking at? Elizabeth Cox illuminates the science behind fire. Lesson by Elizabeth Cox, directed by Héloïse Dorsan Rachet.

Première diffusion : 5 novembre 2018

S2018 E1108 • Can you solve the secret werewolf riddle? - Dan Finkel

You’re on the trail of a werewolf that’s been terrorizing your town. After months of detective work, you’ve narrowed your suspects to one of five people. You’ve invited them to dinner with a simple plan: to slip a square of a rare antidote into each of their dinners. Unfortunately, you only have one square left. Can you divide it into perfect fifths and cure the werewolf? Dan Finkel shows how. Lesson by Dan Finkel, directed by Artrake Studio.

Première diffusion : 8 novembre 2018

S2018 E1115 • What’s the smallest thing in the universe? - Jonathan Butterworth

If you were to take a coffee cup, and break it in half, then in half again, and keep carrying on, where would you end up? Could you keep on going forever? Or would you eventually find a set of indivisible building blocks out of which everything is made? Jonathan Butterworth explains the Standard Model theory and how it helps us understand the world we live in. Lesson by Jon Butterworth, directed by Nick Hilditch

Première diffusion : 15 novembre 2018

S2018 E1127 • Can you solve the giant iron riddle? - Alex Gendler

The family of giants you work for is throwing a fancy dinner party, but there’s a problem — the elder giant’s favorite shirt is wrinkled! To fix it, you’ll need to power up the giant iron. It needs two batteries to work, but the baby giant mixed the working battery pile with the dead pile. Can you test the batteries so that you get a working pair in seven tries or less? Alex Gendler shows how. Lesson by Alex Gendler, directed by Artrake Studio

Première diffusion : 27 novembre 2018

S2018 E1204 • Can you solve the time travel riddle? - Dan Finkel

Your professor has accidentally stepped through a time portal in his physics lab. You’ve got just a minute to jump through before it closes and leaves him stranded in history. Your only way back is to grab enough colored nodules to create a new portal to open a doorway through time. Can you take the right amount of nodules to get back to the present before the portal closes? Dan Finkel shows how. Lesson by Dan Finkel, directed by Artrake Studio

Première diffusion : 4 décembre 2018

S2018 E1206 • Are we running out of clean water? - Balsher Singh Sidhu

Despite water covering 71% of the planet’s surface, more than half the world’s population endures extreme water scarcity for at least one month a year. Current estimates predict that by 2040, up to 20 more countries could be experiencing water shortages. These statistics raise a startling question: is the Earth running out of clean water? Balsher Singh Sidhu takes a closer look at water consumption. Lesson by Balsher Singh Sidhu, directed by Kozmonot Animation Studio

Première diffusion : 6 décembre 2018

S2018 E1210 • The dangerous race for the South Pole - Elizabeth Leane

By the early 1900’s, nearly every region of the globe had been visited and mapped, with only two key locations left: the North and South Poles. After two Americans staked claim to reaching the North Pole, a Norwegian explorer and a British naval officer each set out for the last unmapped region in what newspapers called a “Race to the Pole.” Elizabeth Leane sets the scene for their journeys south. Lesson by Elizabeth Leane, directed by WOW-HOW Studio

Première diffusion : 10 décembre 2018

S2018 E1213 • A brie(f) history of cheese - Paul Kindstedt

Before empires and royalty, before pottery and writing, before metal tools and weapons – there was cheese. As early as 8000 BCE, Neolithic farmers began a legacy of cheesemaking almost as old as civilization. Today, the world produces roughly 22 billion kilograms of cheese a year, shipped and consumed around the globe. Paul Kindstedt shares the history of one of our oldest and most beloved foods. Lesson by Paul S. Kindstedt, directed by Charlotte Cambon

Première diffusion : 13 décembre 2018

S2018 E1217 • From slave to rebel gladiator: The life of Spartacus - Fiona Radford

Spartacus was a slave -- one of millions taken from territories conquered by Rome to work the mines, till the fields or fight for a crowd’s entertainment. Imprisoned for deserting the Roman Army, he and other slaves fought their way free and started a rebellion. How did a slave become synonymous with freedom and courage? Fiona Radford delves into the life and legend of Spartacus. Lesson by Fiona Radford, directed by Kozmonot Animation Studio

Première diffusion : 17 décembre 2018

S2018 E1218 • Can animals be deceptive? - Eldridge Adams

A male firefly emits a series of enticing flashes. He hopes a female will respond and mate with him. A female from a different species mimics his patterns: by tricking the male, she lures him in -- and turns him into a meal. Where else do we see this kind of trickery in the animal kingdom? Eldridge Adams details the surprising complexity of how animals manipulate predators, prey and their rivals. Lesson by Eldridge Adams, directed by The Duke and the Duck

Première diffusion : 18 décembre 2018

S2018 E1220 • Can you solve the troll’s paradox riddle? - Dan Finkel

You and your brother have discovered another realm and set off exploring the new wonderful world. Along the way, you see a troll catching creatures in an enormous net. The troll agrees to release the creatures if you can come up with a statement that is both truth and false. Can you come up with the correct sentence and force the troll to release them? Dan Finkel shows how. Lesson by Dan Finkel, directed by Artrake Studio

Première diffusion : 20 décembre 2018