Galapagos Creationists

The Galapagos Islands may have inspired Charles Darwin to develop his theory of evolution, but today they are inhabited largely by creationists.

A Yeast Voyage and the Birth of Lager

Scientists have identified a yeast that led to the discovery of lager.

South America’s booming economies

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For the Geo Quiz, we’re looking for a South American country that’s enjoying an economic boom. It’s South America’s second largest country, after Brazil. But as Richard Reynolds reports, it may be premature to compare the booming economies of South America to China. Download MP3
Americans eye opportunities in Brazil’s booming economy

A place called ‘Hell’

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For today’s Geo Quiz, we’re looking for ‘Hell’ on earth. Actually, it’s the Spanish word for hell, Infierno. It’s a community in South America. Some say it got that name because of the swarms of mosquitoes that descended on early rubber traders passing by on the Tambopata River. We want you to name the country this place called ‘Hell’ is in. Download MP3

South America’s Ayoreo people

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For the Geo Quiz, we’re heading for a remote jungle region of South America. We’re looking for a region of lowland jungle east of the Andes that overlaps Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay. Most of it is sparsely populated but among the indigenous tribes that do live there are the Ayoreo. Download MP3

World Books Review: A Welcome ‘Return’ to Form

What’s impressive about the thirteen stories in this volume is the coherence of Roberto Bolaño’s vision. Though the tales take place in different countries and different time periods, though some are straight fiction, some are vaguely autobiographical, and some even drift towards magical realism, each new yarn feels like a chapter in a continuous narrative.

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• Bill Marx’s Arts Fuse magazine

Colombia’s 32 departments

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Today’s Geo Quiz takes us to Colombia in South America. That nation is divided into 32 departments. We’re looking for the name of just one. It’s the ONLY one that has coastlines on both the Pacific and Caribbean sides. Most of this department faces the Pacific, though… Download MP3 (Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/donsabas)

Train ride to the lost city of the Incas

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For today’s Geo Quiz, we’re headed to the lost city of the Incas. Now, we’re not asking you to name that ancient city in Peru. That’d be too easy. It’s Machu Picchu, one of the world’s best known archaeological sites. What we want to know is who discovered Machu Picchu. This American explorer was a Yale professor at the time of the discovery — in 1911. Today, in Peru, you can find a train that bears his name. We’ll take a ride on that train… And reveal the name of this man who some say was a real-life model for the fictional Indiana Jones. Download MP3 (Photo: David Baron)

• Audio slideshow: Train ride to Machu Picchu
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Talking Travel: Floods threaten to cut off Machu Picchu in Peru

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In this episode of Talking Travel, we talk about the heavy rains and flooding that have threatened the lives and livelihoods of those living in the shadow of Machu Picchu in Peru. Lonely Planet’s Robert Reid and Tom Hall assess the short-term and long-term damage to Peru’s tourism industry, and offer listeners some alternate spots to take in South America’s ancient ruins. Hosted by The World’s Clark Boyd. Photo: Martin St-Amant – Wikipedia

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Marriage and Río de la Plata

The Rio de la Plata leads you right up to the doorstep of today’s Geo Quiz. The Río de la Plata or River Plate is located on the south-eastern coast of South America….

Home of the potato

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On Thanksgiving Day, we want you to ponder the origins of the potatoes in your holiday meal. No, we’re not interested in where Aunt Gladys or Cousin Mike picked up those potatoes to mash and bring over to your feast. For today’s Geo Quiz we want to know where the potato was first grown for food. Download MP3

• Audio slideshow: Saving native potatoes
• Photo gallery: Andean potato varieties
• Geo Quiz archive

Sofia Rei Koutsovitis

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Argentine singer Sofia Rei Koutsovitis performs for us in The World studios. Koutsovitis and members of her band play and chat with anchor Jeb Sharp. Download MP3

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Mercedes Sosa

Argentinians lined the streets of Buenos Aires today to honor a national hero. A hearse carried the body of folk singer Mercedes Sosa through the streets of the capital.

Zizek DJ

A few months ago we told you about a club night in Buenos Aires. For those in the know, that night goes simply by the moniker “Zizek.” Zizek is the name of the collective of DJs, producers and remixers from around the globe who now make their home in the Argentina. Cumbia — the traditional [...]

Global Hit: Zizek DJ

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Anchor Marco Werman revisits the sounds of the Zizek Deejay collective from Buenos Aires. The collective’s just released a new album. Zizek co-founder Grant Dull spins a few tracks for us.