logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2021
24m 23s

Losing Alaska

Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
About this episode
As floods, wildfires, and heatwaves hit many parts of the world, signs of climate change seem to be all around us. Scientists have been warning us for years about the looming threat of a warming planet. And yet it’s really hard for many of us to wrap our minds around this existential challenge. Why is that? This week, we bring you a favorite episode about wh ... Show More
Up next
Aug 3
Making the Most of Your Mistakes
When you're learning, or trying new things, you're going to make mistakes. The trick is to try to fail in a way that gives you useful information. This week, we revisit a favorite conversation with researcher Amy Edmondson. She explains the difference between constructive failure ... Show More
1h 25m
Jul 27
You Are Not Ordinary
Stories about unlikely heroes have captivated people for thousands of years. This week, social scientist Ben Rogers explores why the "hero's journey" resonates so deeply, and how the stories we tell about our own lives can shape our sense of purpose. He explains why seeing oursel ... Show More
1h 35m
Jul 20
How to Combat Pain
Pain feels like a simple message from the body. If your elbow hurts, there must be something wrong with your elbow. If your back is painfully stiff, you need some work done on your back. But psychologist Rachel Zoffness says our minds play a much larger role in our experience of ... Show More
50m 24s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
Earth's climate defences failing
Scientists have found problems with the Earth's natural defences against climate change. SUBTITLES Find full subtitles for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/learning-english-from-the-news_2024 ... Show More
8m 4s
Feb 2024
O Aquecimento Global
Global warming presents pressing concerns for humanity. 
2m 8s
Jul 2022
Bonus Episode: Why We Must Defeat Climate Change and How to Do It
The earth is getting warmer and the consequences of that have already begun to impact us all. Today, 6 out of 10 Americans describe themselves as “alarmed” or “concerned” about climate change, according to one recent study. Climate change is a huge global problem and there is lik ... Show More
31m 4s
Sep 2021
To a Lesser Degree: Trailer
Rising global temperatures have already increased the frequency of floods, wildfires, droughts, and heatwaves around the world. If humanity does not change course rapidly, the effects of climate change will become more extreme.What can be done to avoid this outcome?Vijay Vaithees ... Show More
1m 31s
Apr 2021
Global Warming Pt. 1
Over the last century, the fossil fuel industry has exploded. Carbon emissions are at an all time high. Wildfires and hurricanes are on the rise. Our planet's temperature is heating up at an exponential rate. But is global warming a misunderstood phenomena — and is it too late to ... Show More
45m 27s
Nov 2023
Climate emergency
Category 5 hurricane Otis, which devastated Acapulco, was supercharged by global warming; hurricane expert Kerry Emanual tells Science in Action. Also, Brazilian ecologist Erika Berenguer has witnessed the destruction caused by the prolonged drought in Amazonia, where the rivers ... Show More
26m 28s
Dec 2021
Why do we find it so hard to take action on climate change?
<p>For decades scientists have warned us about the risks of climate change. Yet humans are badly psychologically designed to face up to the challenge of changing our behaviour. Research shows that constant threats of impending doom make us hit the snooze button rather than waking ... Show More
27m 23s