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The agricultural revolution that began around 10,000 years ago marks a turning point in human history: the dawn of civilisation. Farming enabled us to build communities and expand, but it also sowed the seeds of modern inequality and wreaked havoc on the environment through the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife. Today, farming faces the distinct challenge of feeding a growing global population while working with the environment, and not against it. Practices in countries from Costa Rica to Zambia point to new conservation-oriented approaches to farming that optimise food production; preserve biodiversity and forests; and cut down on harmful emissions. In this TED-Ed animation, colourful graphics paint a picture of what these future farms might look like, showcasing the potential for new technologies to help deliver food security while preserving – and even feeding – the ecosystem.
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Earth science and climate
The only man permitted in Bhutan’s sacred mountains chronicles humanity’s impact
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Cosmology
The Indian astronomer whose innovative work on black holes was mocked at Cambridge
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Art
‘If you’re creative, why can’t you create a solution?’ One artist’s imaginative activism
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The ancient world
An ancient Roman’s hilarious (and perhaps relatable) response to a social snub
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Death
A hunter’s lyrical reflection on the humbling business of being mortal
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Astronomy
Seven years later, what can we make of our first confirmed interstellar visitor?
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Physics
Is it possible to design a shape to roll along any fixed path?
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Art
More than breathtaking, ‘The Birth of Venus’ signalled an aesthetic revolution
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Biotechnology
The two women behind a world-changing scientific discovery
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