It was just over two centuries ago that the global population was 1 billion — in 1804. But better medicine and improved agriculture resulted in higher life expectancy for children, dramatically increasing the world population, especially in the West. As higher standards of living and better health care are reaching more parts of the world, the rates of fertility — and population growth — have started to slow down, though the population will continue to grow for the foreseeable future. UN forecasts suggest the world population could hit a peak of 10.1 billion by 2100 before beginning to decline. But exact numbers are hard to come by — just small variations in fertility rates could mean a population of 15 billion by the end of the century. Produced by Adam Cole Cinematography by Maggie Starbard

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With all due respect to its terrific albums and kinetic, frenetic live shows, if The Avett Brothers could put on a three-song acoustic concert at every workplace in America, the band would be a world-beating colossus. For proof, listen to this performance in the NPR Music offices. Find more at www.npr.org

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Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros can't exactly slip into an office building unnoticed: Clad in the same clothes they'd worn at a concert the night before, the LA band's 10 ragtag misfits would have fit in far more seamlessly at, say, Burning Man. Seeming to exist in a blissed-out alternate universe — during the wonderful "Home," singer Jade Castrinos exclaims, "Good morning, everybody!" as the clock behind her reads 2:10 pm — this is a band whose performances beg to be seen as well as heard, not to mention shot through a wide-angle lens. The biggest band to play a Tiny Desk Concert - the 10 members of The Magnetic Zeroes played three songs from their debut album (Up From Below). The set included: - Janglin - Home - 40 Day Daydream

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The genre-bending cellist Yo-Yo Ma heads a dream team of string players -- Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile, Stuart Duncan -- who borrow from bluegrass. The quartet, plus singer Aoife O'Donovan perform three songs from their album The Goat Rodeo Sessions at the NPR Music offices. Set List: "Quarter Chicken Dark" "Attaboy" "Here And Heaven" For more videos and to subscribe to the Tiny Desk Concerts podcast, visit NPR.org/tinydeskconcerts.

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A few years ago, Noah and the Whale would have seemed like the last band to bring a drum machine to a Tiny Desk Concert. But here, the London band plugs in -- and sweet simplicity still reigns. Set List: "LIFEGOESON" "Blue Skies" "Waiting For My Chance To Come" For more videos and to subscribe to the Tiny Desk Concerts Podcast, visit npr.org/tinydeskconcerts

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Beirut arrived at the NPR Music offices dusty and exhausted following a weekend at Bonnaroo in Tennessee. But after some much-needed showers, the band brought infectious joy to its short set behind the Tiny Desk. Set List: "East Harlem" "Sante Fe" "Serbian Cocek" For more videos and to subscribe to the Tiny Desk Concerts podcast, visit npr.org/tinydeskconcerts.

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NPR Interview: Cookie Monster, with Elizabeth Blair "In Character"

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This video is a part of the YouTube Reporters' Center. See more videos on how to report the news -- and share your ideas -- at www.youtube.com Find more videos from NPR's Weekend Edition on our blog, www.npr.org/soapbox, and on the NPR YouTube Channel, www.youtube.com/npr.

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Senior Executives at NPR meet with Muslim Brotherhood Front Group to solicit $5mm and discuss their federal funding, Fanatical Christians, Zionists in the media, Tea Partiers, Republicans, Uneducated Americans and Juan Williams. Featuring: Ron Schiller, President NPR Foundation. Betsy Liley, Senior Director, NPR Institutional Giving. Reporters: Shaughn Adeleye as Amir Malik Simon Templar as Ibrahmim Kasaam. Produced by James O'Keefe TheProjectVeritas.com Promoting Modern-Day Muckrakers. Song Licensed by FriendlyMusic.com

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Swedish native, Kristian Matsson, aka The Tallest Man on Earth, plays a few tracks from his debut album "Shallow Grave."

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When you get the flu, viruses turn your cells into tiny factories that help spread the disease. In this animation, NPR's Robert Krulwich and medical animator David Bolinsky explain how a flu virus can trick a single cell into making a million more viruses. See and hear the rest of the story on NPR.org: www.npr.org Credit: Robert Krulwich, David Bolinsky, Jason Orfanon

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This video was produced to introduce NPR President & CEO Vivian Schiller at the All Things D conference, June 2010.

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Armed with acoustic guitars, tiny amps, a desktop percussion unit and a ton of grace, Wilco plays three new songs from The Whole Love and an old favorite in a stripped-down but powerful set at the NPR Music offices. Set List: "Dawned On Me" "Whole Love" "Born Alone" "War On War" For more videos and to subscribe to the Tiny Desk Concerts podcast, visit npr.org/tinydeskconcerts.

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The Oklahoma band's droning minor-key hymns were seemingly made for wide-open spaces and big skies. The group brings that spirit to the Tiny Desk for a spacious but intimate performance at the NPR Music offices. Set List: "For 12" "Old Statues" "Dust Bowl III" For more videos and to subscribe to the Tiny Desk Concerts podcast, visit npr.org/tinydeskconcerts

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A stunning film from Will Hoffman and Daniel Mercadante to accompany Radiolab's Words episode. With an original score by Keith Kenniff. Radiolab's Words episode: blogs.wnyc.org Everynone: everynone.com Keith Kenniff: www.unseen-music.com

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Let's establish one thing right out of the gate: We love the band Sigur Ros. Their music is beautiful and moving, so much so that it doesn't matter that they're singing in a totally made-up language. Sigur Ros is four lads from Iceland, and recently, they were in New York to screen a new concert film Heima at the New Yorker Festival. Their PR folks called and asked if we wanted them on the show, to which we quickly replied, "hells yeah". Anyway, last Friday the band showed up promptly at 11am (EDT) and commenced to give what is possibly the worst interview in the history of electronic media. Seriously. It was that bad. We're not sure if they were tired, or if it was a language thing, or what... but wow. Whereas most shows would just bury an interview like that, we've decided to actually show it to you. It certainly made us laugh. We hope you'll enjoy it too. And to repeat, we love this band. We are going to be the first people to buy their new album "Hvarf / Heima" when it comes out this November. And the concert documentary is beautiful -- please go see it if it comes to your town. Just never invite them on your radio show.

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Raphael Saadiq was nominated for his 2008 solo album The Way I See It. The album featured an eclectic group of collaborators, such as Joss Stone, Stevie Wonder and Jay-Z. For his Tiny Desk Concert, Saadiq brought a remarkable accompanist in guitarist Rob Bacon. The two had just gotten off a plane, but in their impeccably tailored suits and their grand smiles, they looked fresh and played an inspired acoustic performance. As you watch, keep an eye on Saadiq's guitar work: You'll see how his years as a bassist influences many of his licks on his Taylor acoustic. Saadiq played: "Love That Girl" "100 Yard Dash" "Sure Hope You Mean It"

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From cspan.org March 17, 2011

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See and hear the band's epic, wrenching rock in a full concert, recorded live from the Black Cat in Washington, DC, on March 11. Find the entire NPR Music recording of the concert at www.npr.org

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Listening to a piece by Hauschka can be deceiving: What sounds like an ensemble of musicians and instruments is just one man, performing at one piano. His real name is Volker Bertelmann, and he hails from Dusseldorf, Germany, where he works with his "prepared piano." He wrests disruptive sounds from the instrument's 88 keys by outfitting the strings or mallets with objects such as ping-pong balls, aluminum foil and leather. His new album is titled Foreign Landscapes, and he recently visited NPR's studios to demonstrate his craft. For more, visit NPR.ORG/MUSIC

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Here's a surprise: Wild crows can recognize individual people ... especially those they don't like. They can pick a person out of crowd, follow them, and remember them for years. Here, NPR Science Correspondent Robert Krulwich and illustrator Neil Wagner look at how these brainy birds do it. Hear the rest of the story, and play an interactive game that tests your ability to pick a crow out of a line-up at: www.npr.org Credit: Robert Krulwich, Neil Wagner, Jason Orfanon

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Salman Khan interview with NPR's All Things Considered on 12/28/2009

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LaFarge writes and performs original, sometimes traditional music steeped in American blues, country and Western swing from the days when 78s ruled the record player. Watch him perform a short set at the NPR Music offices, with the help of his band The South City Three. Set List: "La La Blues" "Pack It Up" "Head To Toe" For more videos, visit npr.org/tinydeskconcerts

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Thile and Daves play the traditional bluegrass music of icons Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs with a New York City intensity. Watch the dexterous duo perform songs from their album Sleep With One Eye Open at the NPR Music offices. Set List: "Sleep With One Eye Open" "Rabbit In The Log" "Bury Me Beneath The Willow" "Billy In The Lowground" "It Takes One To Know One" "Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms" For more videos and to subscribe to the Tiny Desk Concert podcast, visit npr.org/tinydeskconcerts

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Dr. Dog isn't an obvious choice for one of NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concerts. For one thing, it's a pretty big group, at least for the small space behind Bob Boilen's desk. The band's music can be pretty chaotic — loud and rumbling, with multiple instruments fighting to be heard. And singer Toby Leaman likes to belt out his vocals in a window-rattling, raspy growl. Read More: www.npr.org See More Tiny Desk Concerts: www.npr.org

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Jazz pianist Eric Lewis has been wowing audiences since he was barely able to walk. During a recent performance in NPR's Studio 4A, Lewis spoke with host Michele Norris. Now 36, he's still the same dynamic performer, channeling the intensity of his music with energetic physicality. But as he's embraced popular music, he's also created a new musical identity: ELEW. Watch him here and hear the entire interview at www.npr.org

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Before iPods (or even CDs) there were boomboxes. It's been 20 years since they disappeared from the streets, but the nostalgia they evoke is about more than stereo equipment. We've changed the way we listen to music — and to each other. Watch a video about the history of the boombox. Learn more about the boombox at www.npr.org

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Thao Nguyen makes captivating music. Her songs are raw and infectious, her voice has a distinctive swagger, and she's a remarkably nimble guitarist. The singer-songwriter stopped by NPR's offices recently to give an intimate performance at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen. Read More: www.npr.org See More Tiny Desk Concerts: www.npr.org

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When he turned up at the NPR Music offices to perform three songs from 'The King Is Dead,' Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy wasn't expecting to be staring into dozens, if not hundreds, of rapt faces. Set List: "Down By The Water" "Rox In The Box" "June Hymn" For more videos and to subscribe to the Tiny Desk Concert podcast, visit npr.org/tinydeskconcerts

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For those who fell in love with Sam Beam's spare solo work, he plays his new full-band material as a solo performer here. Watch Beam show a fresh side of his new songs at the NPR Music offices, and top them off with his devastating 2004 gem "Naked As We Came." Set List: "Half Moon" "Big Burned Hand" "Tree By The River" "Naked As We Came" You can download the video by subscribing to the All Songs Considered Tiny Desk Concert Podcast at npr.org/tinydeskconcerts

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In a stripped-down three-song set at the NPR Music offices, the Grammy-winning UK pop star showcases her brilliant voice and seemingly effortless charisma. Watch Adele perform two new songs to go with her ubiquitous hit "Chasing Pavements." Set List: "Someone Like You" "Chasing Pavements" "Rolling In The Deep" For more videos, visit npr.org/tinydeskconcerts

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Ron Paul August 31 2011. Visit RonPaulFlix.com for more videos like this.

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In the few years that Mount Kimbie has been creating music, the London-based dubstep duo has crossed over to find fans in the US Venturing into the pair's groundbreaking yet accessible soundscapes in this first-ever electronic Tiny Desk Concert, it's easy to see why. Set List: "Maybes" "Ode To Bear" "Field" For more videos, visit npr.org/tinydeskconcerts

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The classical guitarist has a huge appetite for diverse music, and plays with a clear, lyrical technique. His diverse set at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen mixes the baroque, Argentine dance, West African rhythms and a classic from Spain. Find more information at www.npr.org

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In preparation for South by Southwest 2010, we each listened to some 1300 songs. Among the favorites was "Easy to Love" by Ivan and Alyosha. Watch the band showcase its Beatles-esque pop harmonies and sweet melodies from the NPR Music offices. Set List: "Beautiful Lie" "Easy To Love" "I Was Born To Love Her" For more, visit npr.org/tinydeskconcerts

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For some acts, stripping a sound down to essentials is easy: Strap on the acoustic guitar and maybe use a snare drum instead of a full kit. It was different for YACHT; it's not a simple guitar-bass-drums band. Watch the electro-pop group's striking performance at the NPR Music offices. Set List: "Dystopia (The Earth Is On Fire)" "Psychic City (Voodoo City)" "Shangri-La" For more videos and to subscribe to the Tiny Desk Concert podcast, visit npr.org/tinydeskconcerts

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I can't think of a better way to describe the music of Rodrigo y Gabriela than with three words: "heavy metal flamenco." And yet the duo doesn't play heavy metal — its members perform instrumentals on nylon-string guitars — nor does it play Spanish dance music. But the term fits because the pair's fierce guitar riffs feel powerfully electric, and because Rodrigo y Gabriela's rhythmic style showcases a frenetic strum that conjures the energy of flamenco. The duo have just released a new album titled, 11:11, which pays tribute to the pair's heroes — Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Astor Piazzolla and Pantera's Dimebag Darrell. They recently performed a few tracks for the NPR Music Tiny Desk series including "Hanuman" and "Buster Voodoo."

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Cenk Uygur breaks down the right wing effort to smear and defund NPR that started with conservative pranksters (led by the infamous James O'Keefe of Acorn fame) going undercover pretending to represent the Muslim Brotherhood offering money. NPR turned down the money but NPR chief fundraiser Ron Schiller made negative remarks about the tea party and racism as well some comments regarding an Israel bias. Facebook Page: www.facebook.com Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com TYT Mobile: bit.ly Subscribe: bit.ly www.theyoungturks.com Read Ana's blog and subscribe at: www.examiner.com Read Cenk's Blog: www.huffingtonpost.com

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After playing a pair of songs from Reservoir, the band closed with a cover of Low's 1999 song "Just Like Christmas." Fanfarlo's members had practiced it all the way from Baltimore to DC, not exactly a trek across continents, but the result was, well, perfect.

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Laura Burhenn says she'd long imagined a band that sounded like Neil Young playing Motown. A veteran of the pop group Georgie James, she formed The Mynabirds to capture a grittier and more soulful sound. Burhenn recently brought The Mynabirds to the NPR Music offices to perform songs from What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood.

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Witty singer-songwriter Nellie McKay had three days to write and record a song. The end result is an intricate three-part tune named after a London hotel. Read more: www.npr.org

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Edmar Castaneda is the sort of musician who isn't afraid to challenge the established order. He's carving out a place for himself in Latin jazz on an instrument you don't often hear in his chosen genre: the Colombian harp. He's adapted intricate traditional fingerpicking techniques to play jazz melodies along with the Afro-Cuban tumbao (bass line). As you can see and hear for yourself in this Tiny Desk Concert, he can switch between rural Colombian dance music and jazz with a twist of his wrist. Literally. His musical vision is so invigorating that he's gaining fans like NEA Jazz Master Paquito D'Rivera, with whom Castaneda has performed. His Web site shows him constantly on the road as a guest artist with other forward thinkers, or with his latest touring trio, which consists of Castaneda, a drummer and a trombonist. Castaneda recently parked himself behind Bob Boilen's desk and crafted a transporting mix of tradition and improvisation. Chances are, you've never heard anything like it.

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Though his appearance at the NPR Music office qualifies as the first-ever hip-hop Tiny Desk Concert, Somali-born rapper K'naan isn't one to adhere to a single genre. Given that he released a song called "If Rap Gets Jealous" earlier this year, it's no surprise that this show found him infusing his music with the sounds of soul, pop and reggae. With the help of a crack backing band, his three-song set — all drawing from this spring's marvelous Troubadour, proves what we've been saying for months, K'naan has the makings of a global superstar who's as inspiring as his songs are infectious. Setlist: "Fatima," "Wavin' Flag," and "Take a Minute."

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The Montreal-based musician performs "Beijing," "Big Bird In A Small World" and "Wooden Arms" at the WNYC studios in New York City. Watson's stunning, romantic voice soars above the guitars and highly orchestrated melodies amid a driving pulse of precise piano work. Meanwhile, Kuster's clattering percussion is crisply performed on snare drums, marimbas and household pots turned upside-down. It's an inspired sound from a great young artist. Find more at www.npr.org

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There have only been a handful of Tiny Desk Concerts where NPR employees have overflowed our modest office space, stepping away from looming deadlines to hear some music. Jakob Dylan and his touring companions, Neko Case, Kelly Hogan and Paul Rigby, joined those ranks when they stopped by to perform a mesmerizing, stripped-down set of songs from his latest record, Women and Country.

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