Podcast: Spider Web Strength – It’s More Than Just the Silk

Technology Podcast 356: Spider silk is as strong as steel. Literally. But some new research shows that a spider web’s power lies in more than just strength. There’s also its stretchiness…

Show Producer’s Blog: Newsroom Hubbub

Susan Cain’s New York Times op-ed “The Rise of the New Groupthink” makes me think a lot about the way we work here at The World. We have an open plan newsroom [...]

Podcast: B-Sides – The Diamond Light Source

New Year, New Podcast. In this B-side episode, we take you inside the UK’s national synchrotron – the Diamond Light Source. Epic.

A Day At The World [Video]

Ever wonder what it’s like to produce The World’s weekday broadcast? Video journalist and freelance producer Marcus Wraight produced this video depicting a day at The World.

Show Producer’s Blog

For a while now I’ve been meaning to start a “show producer’s blog” — a place to jot down thoughts about the news, the program, the production day, the issues that come up in the course of doing what we do, and best of all, I hope, a place to engage with all of you about the stories we do. So here goes [...]

2011: The World in Protests

[Interactive Graphic] The World’s coverage of the protests, demonstrations and revolutions, from the ‘Arab Spring’ to the ‘Occupy’ protests, as they happened.

How Spiritual Gurus Exert Political Influence in India

High-profile spiritual leaders exert broad political influence in India, most recently in driving a widespread anti-corruption protest. The World’s Alex Gallafent reports.

Kids Books for the Holidays

This year’s selection includes new titles that feature stunning artwork, as well as some updated classics.

Podcast: Helping Amputees Fight Phantom-Limb Pain

This week you’ll get to meet Katherine Bomkamp, who at the age of 16 was inspired to find a way to help amputees suffering from phantom limb pain. Now she’s 20, and she tells you about the Pain Free Socket. Also, the changing rules of Cyberwar.

Podcast: Soft Robots Take Cues from Nature

Technology Podcast 348: This week, we hear about a new breed of soft, squishy robots that have been developed by researchers at Harvard. These bots take their cues from starfish and worms, not the Terminator.

Podcast: The Kiira – Uganda’s Electric Car

Stories this week on Uganda’s electric car, Liberia’s new undersea fiber optic cable, and some Nigerians who are recycling plastic bottles into houses. Also, Syrian web monitoring and an app called Instant WILD.

Podcast: Celebrating Everyday Technology Genius

Most tech podcasts spend all of their time talking about the newest, hottest thing to hit the shelves. But sometimes, I like to highlight those everyday bits of tech that people actually use, and find useful. Take bubble wrap, for instance. Did you know that it was originally created in the 1950s to be used as wallpaper? [...]

Yang Ying’s Jazzy Take on Chinese Folk Music

Chinese musician Yang Ying has played the traditional two-stringed erhu for many dignitaries, including American presidents. Later she founded China’s first all-girl rock band.

Tech Podcast: ‘Inspire Japan’

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On this episode of our weekly technology podcast, we revisit the PechaKucha phenomenon. It’s short, regular brainstorming sessions hosted the world over by architects, designers and other creative types. Find out what they’re doing for Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. Download MP3 (35:27)

Niger’s songwriter Bombino

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