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Why can’t blindfolded people walk in a straight line? It’s a scientific mystery
Strange as it might seem, people are incapable of walking or swimming in a straight line when they are blindfolded. Perhaps even stranger, no one seems to quite know why. This short animated video from NPR and Radiolab’s Robert Krulwich dissects one of the more perplexing and enduring mini-mysteries of science.
Producers: Jessica Goldstein, Maggie Starbard
Animator: Benjamin Arthur
video
Cosmology
Tiny, entangled universes that form or fizzle out – a theory of the quantum multiverse
11 minutes
video
Rituals and celebrations
A beginner’s guide to a joyful Persian tradition of spring renewal and rebirth
3 minutes
video
Astronomy
The history of astronomy is a history of conjuring intelligent life where it isn’t
34 minutes
video
Love and friendship
Love looks a bit different for a chain-smoking couple in a small apartment
11 minutes
video
Metaphysics
Simple entities in universal harmony – Leibniz’s evocative perspective on reality
4 minutes
video
Biography and memoir
Passed over as the first Black astronaut, Ed Dwight carved out an impressive second act
13 minutes
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Engineering
A close-up look at electronic paper reveals its exquisite patterns – and limitations
9 minutes
video
Work
A Swedish expat in the Philippines wonders: what’s up with people sleeping at work?
14 minutes
video
Biography and memoir
The unique life philosophy of Abdi, born in Somalia, living in the Netherlands
29 minutes