In 2003, a blackout crippled areas of the U.S. and Canada, leaving some 50 million people in the dark. Years later, we are still grappling with concerns over the vulnerability of our power grid.
Technology
Posted inVideo
Memes, the New Political Cartoon, Are Transforming Social Commentary
Political memes are being deployed to share opinions, similar to how editorial cartoons were used in the past – but with one important difference.
Posted inEnglish Language Arts
Can Driverless Cars Predict How Pedestrians Will Behave?
As self-driving cars move closer to becoming a reality on streets and highways, can engineers create software able to predict human behavior and keep pedestrians safe? Researchers at the University of Michigan are working on a solution that may one day revolutionize how passengers get from point A to point B. They’re teaching algorithms that run self-driving cars to analyze pedestrian behavior to predict where a person will move next. Being able to accurately predict a person’s whole trajectory remains a challenge.
Posted inLesson Plan
Lesson Plan: Biotechnology – Gene Therapy and Gene Editing
Students will learn about the tremendous potential of gene therapy and gene editing, including CRISPR Cas-9, to cure and mitigate disease, as well as the scientific and ethical challenges surrounding these approaches.
Posted inU.S. History
Lesson Plan: The Space Race — the Challenger Tragedy
Students will learn about the development of the nation’s space program, including a seminal event during Ronald Reagan’s presidency: the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger and its lasting aftermath.
Posted inLesson Plan
Lesson Plan: Updating ‘GMO Food Fears and the First Test Tube Tomato’ (QFT)
Students will learn how the rise of genetically modified food sparked controversy and transformed modern agriculture. They will also consider how the video could be updated to reflect more recent developments.
Posted inLesson Plan
Lesson Plan: Future of Money
Students will learn about the ancient stones on a tiny Pacific island and what they can teach us about Bitcoin, blockchains and the future of money.
