11 December

When Is a New Tech ‘Ahead of Its Time’

You see this question raised lately in the debate over “Web3” — the idea that the existing Internet is too monopolized, and a new one should be built using decentralized blockchains. But the question is perennial. All throughout history, people have debated whether nascent technologies will ever be viable enough to take off.

13 March

Humans Are Making Oceans Too Noisy

Human activity is changing the surface and temperature of the planet. But new research shows it is also changing the sound of the Earth’s oceans and
seas.
Scientists say the changes in the sounds of our oceans, seas, and other waterways affect many marine animals — from very small shrimp to huge.

06 March

Time is One of the Great Mysteries

If you can read a clock, you can know the time of day. But no one knows what time itself is. We cannot see it. We cannot touch it. We cannot hear it. We know it only by the way we mark its passing.

27 February

Episode 4: Belgrade

Nick and Wendy talk about the Serbian capital, Belgrade. They discuss the history and location of the city and talk about how proud Serbian people are of their culture and their capital. The episode comes with a worksheet containing a transcript of the conversation, analysis of the best vocabulary, and discussion questions to help you go even further.

20 February

Rio de Janeiro

Nick’s English friend Luke has lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the past three years with his wife and young son. Luke talks about why he likes living in Rio and the experiences he has had there. The episode comes with a worksheet containing a transcript of the conversation, analysis of the best vocabulary, and discussion questions to help you go even further.

13 February

Geneva

Nick and Wendy talk about the city they currently live in: Geneva, Switzerland. They discuss the size of the city, how they get around, the things they like about living in Geneva and what they do on weekends. The episode comes with a worksheet containing a transcript of the conversation, analysis of the best vocabulary, and discussion questions to help you go even further.