From Klingon to Dothraki: How sci-fi languages shape worlds
Sci-fi and fantasy creators often use constructed languages (or conlangs) to help us believe that the characters come from ancient times or distant galaxies. But what happens when a fictional language...
2 Des 202026min
Space Audity: The challenges of space communication
We've all heard the iconic recordings from the Apollo missions. But how exactly does NASA manage to run live audio between Earth and the moon? And how might we chat with astronauts on Mars and beyond?...
18 Nov 202021min
Sonic Utopia: Can we build a better sounding world?
Technology has the power to transform the way our world sounds. It could even give us entirely new ways to experience our surroundings. In this episode, we explore the sounds of the future, and how we...
11 Nov 202025min
The Cyborg, The Scientist, and the Death of Silence
Sound surrounds us, even in the quietest moments. But depending on how we hear, the world can be a different auditory experience for each of us. This episode features four stories from the TED Radio H...
28 Okt 202048min
Dies Irae: The death melody haunting Hollywood
For hundreds of years, composers have been using a specific four-note melody to evoke death. It's appeared in dozens of famous movies, and you probably never even realized it. But once you hear it, yo...
21 Okt 202026min
Perfect Pitch: Unlocking Jacob Collier’s musical brilliance
People with perfect or "absolute" pitch hear every single sound as precise musical notes. Is this extraordinary talent a blessing or a curse? In this episode, we dive into the neuroscience, pluses and...
14 Okt 202027min
Tyrannosaurus FX: What dinosaurs really sounded like
When you imagine the sound of a dinosaur, you probably think of a scene from the Jurassic Park movies. How do sound designers make these extinct creatures sound so believably alive? And what does mode...
7 Okt 202023min
Napster: How free music broke the industry
In less than two years, Napster became a global sensation... and then record labels and multi-platinum artists brought it crashing down. But in its short lifespan, Napster transformed our ideas about ...
30 Sep 202036min
