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Fears increase of big earthquake near Tokyo in the foreseeable future

A prominent Japanese seismologist rattled some nerves when he declared there was a 70 percent chance of a major earthquake in or around Tokyo — in the next four years. Government scientists had proclaimed a similar risk, but over a longer timeframe, 30 years.

The secret life of a ‘guitar hero’

Arts, Culture & Media

A new wave in video games

Arts, Culture & Media

Micro-financing for the developed world

Reggae critique of the economic crisis

Arts, Culture & Media
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“Spore” video game creator Will Wright

Arts, Culture & Media

Will Wright, creator of the “Sims,” shows how his new game “Spore” lets players control the evolution of their very own species.

How video gaming could be good for you

Environment

A host of new studies show that video gaming might actually improve visual skills and increase brain capacity.

When East Meets West on the Page: Author Gish Jen Discusses ‘Tiger Writing’

When Chinese American writer Gish Jen read her father's autobiography it sparked her to explore a tension in her own life that she's long written about in her fiction. She calls it her "struggle between Emerson and Confucius."

The World

Return to BioShock

Arts, Culture & Media

While the most visible evolution in video games has been in the realm of graphics, resolution, and processing power, another kind of progress has been taking place on the level of narrative.

Listeners Respond: What Sounds Are Going Extinct?

Today we asked listeners:  What sounds from your childhood are going extinct? Rotary phones? Dial-up connections? Tetris? We compiled the responses into an audio essay. Want to add to the list? Leave your response below or on our Facebook page.

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