Please give a warm welcome to the stage, Natasha Pearl Hansen. When my wedding was called off three weeks before the big day, >> I did what any reasonable person would do. I filmed a comedy special at the venue on what would have been my wedding day with all my invited guests in attendance. [Applause] What can I say? It was a smart move. Everybody already had save the dates. So, and I sent that ticket link out. I knew everyone was available. No excuses not to come. Plus, tickets were cheaper than a wedding ...

[Music] [Music] For centuries, there was no such thing as a black swan. It was a fact. All swans were white. In fact, it was so true that by Shakespeare's time, it became a common expression in Latin. Here it is. Rada avis in terrace negro simile lima signal. When a fact becomes so widely accepted that people repeat it in Latin, that's a sign of it not just being true but extra true. Then all of that changed in 1697 when Dutch sailors spotted a black swan off the coast of Australia. Suddenly what everyone w ...

The universe is expanding. And we know that because when astronomers look out at the galaxies around us, they see every galaxy moving away from us at a speed that increases in proportion to the distance. It doesn't mean that there's anything wrong about us, that everybody's moving away from us or that we're at the center of the universe.any other hypothetical observer in any other galaxy would observe exactly the same phenomenon. It's a remarkable fact of our universe. It is expanding.Now that um amazing ph ...

You're standing by the ocean and you look down into the water, but it's murky, cloudy, and a little bit sour on the nose. The schools of fish you used to see darting past look sickly, weak, and they're riddled with parasites. The coral reefs are overgrown with algae, suffocating.The seaggrass meadows, one of the planet's most powerful carbon sinks, are stripped bare. And the ocean warms. It feels different on your skin, no longer refreshing.Would you want to swim in this ocean, eat fish from this ocean, or ...

When I was a child, I created carelessly. I had no hesitations, no limitations. But um after the teen my teenage years and beginning to um think about professionalizing my life, I wondered why is it so hard to create something of meaning that feels authentic and eventually makes living.But I wondered why my overthinking hindered me so much when creating and that's why I created the creative odyssey podcast. But one topic that is inevitable right now is the upcoming of AI. Whether I talked to software develo ...

Biodiversity & Conservation - The presentation emphasizes the undiscovered biodiversity in local environments, particularly freshwater ecosystems, urging a closer look beneath the surface [1] - Freshwater available for aquatic life constitutes only 03% of the world's total water [1] - The Tennessee Valley is highlighted as a global hotspot for freshwater fish biodiversity, ranking fourth in the world [1] - The presentation advocates for clean water initiatives, emphasizing the importance of preserving aquatic ecosystems and preventing pollution [3] Animal Behavior & Ecology - Certain fish species, like suckers, undertake migrations for spawning, exhibiting unique behaviors and color changes during this period [2] - Some fish species display dramatic color changes during spawning season as a form of communication [2] - Certain fish, like the chub, actively modify their environment by building nests that benefit other species [3] Environmental Awareness & Responsibility - The presentation encourages a sense of wonder and curiosity towards the natural world, promoting a deeper connection with the environment [3][4][5] - It suggests that how we treat the environment reflects how we treat ourselves and others, advocating for responsible stewardship [3]

Core Message - The speech emphasizes the importance of creation, connection, and community engagement, urging individuals to embrace their creative potential and contribute to the world around them [4][11][24] - It highlights the cyclical nature of growth and creativity, emphasizing the significance of the "in-between" phases of rest, reflection, and preparation [14][18][19] - The speech encourages individuals to find where they are needed and to lend their skills and talents in service to others, emphasizing the art of belonging through collaboration and contribution [12][13] Creative Process - The creative process begins in stillness, with a spark or impulse responding to the world [2] - Art is born from reaction, whether it be light, sound, pain, or joy, and it serves as a reminder of our aliveness [5][6] - Real creativity is born in the unseen, before the bloom, and it requires daily discipline, tending, weeding, watering, pruning, and learning from failure [14][15] Community & Environment - Individuals are part of a vast living root system, their communities, and must plant themselves in the heart of those communities to foster growth and stability [12] - The world needs care, and planting oneself in risky soil might be where one is needed most [22][23] - Growth feeds others, roots stabilize the soil, shade gives rest, and oxygen gives life, highlighting the interconnectedness of individuals and their environment [21]

All right, I want everyone to just take a moment. Um, take a moment and look down at your feet. I want you to picture what's below your feet and below that and below that and below that.And please stop before you come out on the other side of the world. What did you see. Dirt, roots, rocks, lava.Did anyone see a neatode. This horrifyingly adorable creature played a great part in the reason we are all alive right now. And I bet that most of you didn't know it existed and have been walking all over it your en ...

Far from city lights, out on my farm, the night sky shimmers with stars. The universe is made of stories, not atoms, wrote the poet Muriel Rukasa. I love stories. As a writer and environmental scientist living on a farm in the outback, I love creating worlds through words. One fascinating ancient story that is told around the globe is that of the seven stars in the Pelades constellation, often describing seven sisters fleeing from hunters. Yet, if we look to the night skies today, only six stars shine. That ...

Key Findings on Thunderstorm Asthma - Thunderstorm asthma is a real and potentially deadly phenomenon, particularly in Melbourne, Australia [4] - Melbourne accounts for 25% of all worldwide thunderstorm asthma events [9] - Australia accounts for 40% of all recorded thunderstorm asthma events globally [9] Risk Factors - Hay fever is a bigger risk factor for thunderstorm asthma than asthma itself, with 99% of hospitalizations in the 2016 event being patients sensitized to pollen [12] - One in four people in Australia suffer from hay fever symptoms [12] - One in nine Australians suffer from asthma [11] Impact of Climate Change - Climate change is expected to worsen thunderstorm asthma due to longer pollen seasons, increased pollen production (up to 200% increases), and more extreme weather events, including thunderstorms [14][15][16][17] Mitigation Strategies - Reducing exposure to pollen is crucial, including limiting time spent outside, wearing surgical face masks, and closing doors and windows [18] - Individuals with asthma should ensure they have their medication and an asthma action plan [19] - Over-the-counter options like antihistamines, nasal sprays, and eye drops can help manage hay fever symptoms [20] The 2016 Melbourne Event - On November 21, 2016, Melbourne experienced a catastrophic thunderstorm asthma event, impacting close to 10,000 people [6] - Hospitals saw an almost 1,000% increase in patients, leading to emergency code brown declarations and ambulance delays [6][7] - The event resulted in 10 deaths, half of which occurred before reaching the hospital [7]