Everything in nature is regulated, from the numbers of vital molecules in our bloodstream to the number of lions on an African savanna. Biologist and author Sean B. Carroll discusses the impact of the work of the pioneering scientists whose investigations uncovered the rules and logic of the human body—known as the Serengeti Rules—and the interconnectedness of the regulation of all of life's elements on the planet.
Washington's reputation as a hub for vibrant arts and culture is well-deserved, with more than 80 professional companies poised to launch their 2024–2025 seasons. How can audiences pick the must-see productions, determine which ones offer the best value, and identify those that might not meet their expectations? As part of the annual Theatre Week celebration, president and CEO of Theatre Washington Amy Austin, freelance dramatrug Lauren Halvorsen, and a panel of experts explore the exciting lineup of productions awaiting audiences on stages both large and small and how to make the most of your theater-going experience.
During an era of widespread secular and religious reform initiatives from the late-18th through the early-20th centuries, the Shakers sought to embody a purity of life, re-make human relations, and fulfill a utopian vision of a “New Heaven and a New Earth.” William Dinges, professor emeritus of religious studies at The Catholic University of America, examines the origins of the movement; its theological worldview; and the social, cultural, and historical factors that both contributed to the Shakers’ longevity and led to their demise.
Explore the heart of Italy during the first millennium B.C.E. through a journey into the enigmatic world of the Etruscans. Using three masterworks of painting, sculpture, and metalwork excavated from tombs in central Italy, art historian Laura Morelli offers a glimpse into how members of this lesser-known culture adorned the places where they planned to spend eternity and the incredible luxury objects they took with them. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
The millions who watch Al Roker daily on “The Today Show” know that he’s a home chef who regularly posts his latest meals on social media and that his daughter, Courtney Roker Laga, is a chef by training. Together, they’ve gathered family recipes in Al Roker’s Recipes to Live By. In conversation with NBC News4 anchor Eun Yang, dad and daughter as they discuss the food they enjoy as a family and what it was like to collaborate on a cookbook.
For almost 100 years, a masterpiece by one of the few female members of the prestigious Paris Salon was missing. Happily, Anne Vallayer-Coster’s Still Life with Flowers in an Alabaster Vase and Fruit reappeared in 2022 and now hangs at the National Gallery of Art. Aaron Wile, the associate curator of French painting, explores this work’s fascinating story and Vallayer-Coster’s life. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Step behind the scenes and into the heart of “The West Wing,” where President Jed Bartlet's world was brought to life by an ensemble of actors like no other. Join cast members Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack as they explore the essence of what made the show a cultural phenomenon and share on-set and off-camera anecdotes that even the most devoted “West Wing” aficionados have never heard.
