"Examines the field of biomass energy, including the underlying scientific concepts, its potential for replacing fossil fuels, examples of how it is used today, and prospective future developments"--
Discusses the way nanotechnology is transforming the field of medicine, including detecting influenza and other viral infections, delivering medicine in new and innovative ways, and rebuilding bodily
Examines the issue of the use of performance enhancing drugs by athletes, asking if the practice should be acceptable, to what extent they actually work, whether testing deters their use, and whether
Discusses the ways virtual reality is transforming the field of medicine, including helping surgeons plan complex operations, medical students learn anatomy, and patients cope with long-term hospital
Examines the issues raised by the widespread use of cell phones, asking if they harm or enhance relationships, intelligence, and health, and whether they increase or impede efficiency.
Examines the issue of abortion, asking if fetuses should be considered persons, if the procedure endangers women, if it harms society, and whether state laws should be made more or less restrictive.
Offers a brief history of World War I and discusses the assassination that started the war, the Russian Revolution, and why the United States entered the war.
Offers a brief history of the Korean War and discusses the desegregation of the United States military, how the war changed American foreign policy, and the war's lasting legacy on the two Koreas.
Discusses how engineers are finding ways to provide access to clean water throughout the world, including making water palatable and potable, transforming seawater to freshwater, and recycling waste w
Examines the issue of animal rights, asking if animals should have similar rights to humans, if it is moral to eat meat, if animals should be used in entertainment, and if it ethical to experiment on
Presents an overview of the rise and fall of the Mayan civilization, discussing the influence of religion on its art and science, the effect that trade had on its unity, and the role of environmental
Presents an overview of the rise and fall of the Aztec civilization, discussing the influence of religion on its art and architecture, the effect that warfare had on its identity, and the role of Span
Introduces the importance of science to sustainable agriculture and discusses its role in promoting biodiversity, dealing with pests, raising healthy livestock without adding to pollution, and coping
Introduces the importance of science to sustainable building and discusses its history and its role in energy efficiency, the development and adoption of sustainable materials, indoor air quality, and
Introduces the importance of science to maintaining sustainable habitats for wildlife and discusses the conflict between providing food and protecting wild habitats, development issues, and the effect
Examines the need to harness efficient and affordable solar power, covering its history, current status, challenges, and the innovative ways scientists are working to bring solar energy to people arou
Examines the world of virtual reality and computer simulation, covering their history, current status, challenges to their usefulness, and the innovative ways scientists are working to make them more
Examines the use of police powers, including questioning if police abuse their power, if police are biased against racial minorities, and if technology can help police officers perform their jobs bett
Discusses how engineers are finding ways to improve cybersecurity around the world, including strengthening personal identification systems, developing biometric scanners, and improving network securi
Discusses the origins of the movement in the uneasy relationships that often exist between African Americans and law enforcement, the events that triggered its formation, reactions, efforts to hold po
Discusses self-image and its relationship to self-confidence, including development, the connection between high and low levels of one and high and low levels of the other, body image, and the possibi
Offers a brief history of ancient Egypt and discusses the earliest civilization that developed across the Nile River Valley, the building of the pyramids, religious beliefs, and Cleopatra's role in it
Introduces ancient Mesopotamian civilization, describing the introduction of agriculture, the rise of of urban culture, the development of writing, and a brief history of the successive kingdoms that
Introduces the civilization of ancient Rome, describing the rise of the republic, the civil war that led to the Empire, the influence of Christianity, and the external threats that led to its decline.
Discusses the strategies scientists use to minimize the threat of nuclear weapons falling into the wrong hands, including securing nuclear stockpiles and detecting the movement of unsecured radioactiv
Provides a brief history of ancient China and discusses the importance of the Great Wall in the development of ancient Chinese civilization, the effect of Confucianism on Chinese culture, and the sign
Discusses psychological aspects of human relationships, including families, friendship, love, relationship problems, and the effects of psychological disorders on relationships.
Discusses motivation, including various theories that may explain it, internal and external sources, the question of rewards, how to become and remain motivated, and other aspects.
Discusses personality, including how it develops, different styles, the value of personality tests, personality disorders, and whether personality change is possible.
Discusses the civiliziation of ancient India, including what part India's early cultures played in the birth of Hinduism and how one Indian ruler helped make Buddhism a world religion.
