535 search results
Darwin and Evolution
Science, Maths & Technology

Darwin and Evolution

...of artificial breeding of pigeons shed light on evolutionary processes. Dogs and breeding Dogs used to be bred for their ability to help humans. Now selective breeding accentuates physical features at the expense of ability to survive in the wild. Sparrows and breeding How differences in 'badge' sizes between males relates to success at finding food and rearing young....
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Audio 13 mins
Beachbrains
Science, Maths & Technology

Beachbrains

...Intelligence System project of Intelligence Realm Inc. intends to create – at least a small – thinking beach. Based on the Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing (BOINC) – the same technology as the basis of the much better known SETI1 project – the aim of the Artificial Intelligence System is to simulate the human brain, in real time. If their...
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Article 10 mins
The Borders of Astrobiology
Science, Maths & Technology

The Borders of Astrobiology

...intelligent life beyond Earth has that anthropocentric bias – we are essentially looking for extra-terrestrial intelligent life that is like ourselves. However, astrobiology is interested in life more broadly defined. This includes unicellular organisms, microbes, or simply chemical signs (complex molecules, proteins, or other structures that are the building blocks of...
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Article 5 mins
Rules, rights and justice: an introduction to law
Society, Politics & Law

Rules, rights and justice: an introduction to law

...and its shortcomings. Adoption and donor tracing Adoption lawyers and researchers of assisted conception discuss the rights of artificially-conceived and adopted children and their parents. Freedom of speech A current affairs journalist, a human rights lawyer and an academic debate issues around freedom of speech and to what extent the law should intervene to restrict it....
View audio Rules, rights and justice: an introduction to law
Audio 2 hrs 3 mins
The Bletchley Park connection
History & The Arts

The Bletchley Park connection

...intelligence service, MI6, recruited some of the cleverest people they could find. Because so much of the recruitment was through personal connections or Oxford and Cambridge universities, they tended to be more upper class than the population at large. [Bletchley Park] Eventually, more than 10,000 code-breakers worked at Bletchley Park – where the gardens had been...
View article The Bletchley Park connection
Article 5 mins
Pygmalion meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer
History & The Arts

Pygmalion meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer

...artificial perfect girlfriend, just as Pygmalion sculpts an ivory statue to be his partner in Ovid's Metamorphoses. Many interesting parallels demonstrate the way in which universal human anxieties about gender identity, femininity, control and sexuality are continuously being re-examined through myth. This material forms part of The Open University course A330 Myth in...
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Audio 48 mins
Global English
History & The Arts

Global English

...intelligibility. It turns out that native-speaker varieties (including both American and British) are not actually as intelligible as some second language varieties worldwide. Furthermore, strict adherence to a particular standard of usage may not be the most important means of achieving mutual comprehension. Speakers of Global English can happily carry over linguistic...
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Article 10 mins
Soft skills training
Money & Business

Soft skills training

...intelligence. These qualities (also known as ‘core skills’) are increasingly important for success in the workplace – and not just for those in leadership positions. Everyone can benefit from some focused training and development to help them realise their full potential. OpenLearn has a number of courses you can study to enhance your soft skills right now, which...
View article Soft skills training
Article 5 mins