50 Fascinating Lectures on the Future of the Planet

As an online student, you're already on the cutting edge of education and technology. Continue to push the envelope by watching these lectures about how science and technology will determine the future of our planet, from climate change to disease research to robotics to space exploration.

Global Warming, Energy and Environment

These lecturers offer up solutions for climate change and the energy crisis.

1. Atmospheric Cloud Wave: Learn about the atmospheric cloud wave phenomenon here.
2. The Energy Problem and the Interplay Between Basic and Applied Research: Watch Steven Chu's lecture to understand why he believes there's still "reason for hope" regarding the energy problem.
3. Leading an Environmentally Sustainable Enterprise: Martin Madaus offers up suggestions for business owners to become more environmentally conscious.
4. Time-lapse proof of extreme ice loss: James Balog leads a presentation with image sequences to prove extreme ice loss on the world's glaciers.
5. Energy and Entrepreneurship Innovation: This panel discussion revolves around how innovation, technology and entrepreneurship will help deal with the energy crisis.
6. Next Generation Solar Cells: Tonio Buonassisi's groundbreaking lecture introduces a new system of capturing solar power.
7. Global and Regional Climate Change: Underlying Science and Emerging Riddles: This lecture from Veerbhadran Ramanathan summarizes where we are in terms of climate change and explains the confusing process of finding a solution.
8. Kamal Meattle on how to grow fresh air: Learn how to grow your own fresh air with common houseplants.
9. Al Gore on averting climate crisis: Al Gore offers up 15 suggestions for easy ways to save the environment.
10. Forging a Clean Energy Future: This lecture addresses the massive challenge of switching to non-emitting energy sources.
11. How Would Climate Change Influence Society in the 21st Century?: Rajendra K. Pachauri believes we only have seven years to minimize our mean global temperature increase by stabilizing CO2 levels.
12. Climate Change: The Economics of and Prospects for a Global Deal: Just how would our planet change if a combined global effort to end the energy crisis took hold?
13. Vegetation Dynamics and the Earth System: Martin Claussen helps us understand the future of climate change by studying past changes in the atmosphere and shifts in vegetation.
14. Climate and Energy: Uncertainties in Forecasts and the Problems of Scale: Ron Prinn presents a method of forecasting climate change in this lecture.
15. Solar Energy as a Major Replacement for Fossil Fuel: Roger Angel is working on the climate change crisis and proposes ideas to make solar power a more effective, usable resource.
16. Earth's physical resources: renewable energy: This lecture from The Open University questions whether or not sustainable energy practices can actually support growing economies.
17. Earth in crisis: an environmental policy in international context: This 8-part lecture series considers the impact of science and the policy makers involved in solving the climate crisis.

Geology and Earth Systems

Study concepts like the Earth's oxygen cycle and water cycles here.

18. Marine Chemistry: Listen to MIT lectures about atmospheric-ocean interaction, gas exchange, marine carbonate chemistry and more.
19. Electrons, Life and the Evolution of the Oxygen Cycle on Earth: Consider the evolution of the Earth's oxygen cycle after watching this lecture.
20. Planet Water: Complexity and Organization in Earth Systems: Rafael Bras, who is practically the inventor of hydrology, talks about the significance of Earth's water cycles.

Space Exploration

By exploring other planets, we can better understand life on our own planet. These astronomy and space exploration lectures serve to teach us about the future of Earth and its place in the universe.

21. The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence: Carl Sagan's lecture addresses different methods of reaching and communicating with extraterrestrial life.
22. Transitioning from the Space Shuttle to the Constellation System: This lecture from a 30-year NASA vet covers space shuttle engineering, troubleshooting and development.
23. A New Age of Exploration: From Earth to Mars: Here you'll learn about programs and systems that prepare astronauts for space.
24. Space Shuttle Discovery Mission to the International Space Station (STS-121): Stephanie Wilson presents her reality video from space, which includes footage of her using a robotic arm, going on space walks, and more.
25. Mars Science Laboratory: Learn about the latest trip to Mars in this lecture.
26. Developing the Hardware for Future Human Space Exploration: Michael Griffin's talk supports continued space exploration and particularly on the moon.
27. Frontiers and Controversies in Astrophysics: Learn about Hubble's law, supermassive black holes, relativity, planetary transits and more as you consider the future of space exploration.
28. What's New in the Universe: Here you'll study what's next in Mars exploration and beyond.

Biology and Health

Review these lectures to find out how our relationships with animals and our own bodies will impact the future of the planet and our society.

29. The Second Law and Biophysics: Kenneth Dill studies entropy to create a new language for biology.
30. Animal Behavior: These audio lectures from MIT help explain adaptive behavior among geese and other animals.
31. Jane Goodall helps humans and animals live together: Jane Goodall offers ideas for how African villages can live alongside nests of apes.
32. Alzheimer's Disease: Current State and Hope for the Future: Let Li-Huei Tsai brief you on the current state of Alzheimer's disease and how it can be treated in the future.
33. Peter Ward on Earth's mass extinctions: Listen to Peter Ward's talk about his idea that most of Earth's mass distinctions were caused by hydrogen sulfide, and how this hypothesis pertains to medical research.
34. Nalini Nadkarni on conserving the canopy: Discover why it's important to conserve the ecosystems of the rainforest.

Culture

This collection of lectures addresses issues relating to the human impact on our planet, including urban development.

35. John Francis walks the Earth: Listen to John Francis' experiences from walking the Earth for 17 years to learn how to become a more eco-conscious and responsible individual.
36. Stewart Brand proclaims 4 environmental heresies: Let Stewart Brand educate you on cities, nuclear power, genetic modification and geo-engineering as he addresses the U.S. State Department.
37. Wade Davis on endangered cultures: Wade Davis talks about the world's indigenous culture and why they're disappearing.
38. Engineering and Earth Systems: Can We Educate a New Breed of Engineers?: What will it take to convince engineers to use sustainable, responsible materials for building and designing structures?
39. Alex Steffen sees a sustainable future: In this lecture, you'll learn why it's so important for humans to reduce their carbon footprint.
40. Institutions, Geography and Growth: Consider how geography affects a country's economic development and how disadvantaged countries can hope to grow in the future.

Technology

Technology is arguably one of the most important factors that will determine the future of our planet. Here, you'll learn just how advances in technology will lead to changes in the environment and beyond.

41. The Future of Science and Technology in Europe: Jose Mariano Gago discusses how "the EU tends to become the most advanced knowledge-based economy in the world," edging out the U.S. in terms of technological advancement and scientific research.
42. The World is Flat 3.0: Tom Friedman explains how digital interconnectivity has flattened the Earth.
43. Building Responsive Cities: Technology, Design and Development: In this lecture, you'll learn about the future of responsible, effective urban design and development.
44. The City Car: William Mitchell and Ryan Chin propose a cutting edge, energy efficient vehicle for urban populations.
45. The Future of Computing: Anant Agarwal discusses the future of personal computers.
46. Building the Next Generation Company: Innovation, Talent, Excellence: Find out what it will take to survive in the future marketplace when you listen to this lecture.
47. Personal Robots: Can you imagine a world full or personal robots? Listen to this lecture to discover how artificial intelligence is developing.
48. Providing Chips and Technology for a World with Four Billion Cellular Subscribers: Irwin Mark Jacobs outlines the future of mobile technology.
49. Imperative of Science and Technology in Acclerating African and Rwandan Development: Find out why and how technology will transform developing nations in the future.
50. A New Kind of Science: Stephen Wolfram wonders about a future program that could reproduce everything that happens in the universe.