[ ♪ music ♪ ] >>> hey, guys, welcome back to "techknow".es nature is so good at what it does that we try to create something that can mimic it. now, humming birds are a marvel fly. >> yes, hummingbirds a my favourite birds. incred marvels of flights. >> today we don't have technology that gets close to their agility, nimbleness. >> it doesn't mean scientists are not trying, ross shimabuku went to stamford university where researchers are watching hummingbirds, and trying to it. >> reporter: it's 8am. we are on the hunt for hummingbirds in the cactus garden at stanford university. they flit around quickly, but with a high speed camera you can capture the micromovements. >> it's amazing how you can take the camera out. and using the aerial manoeuvres, and slow speeds. for the naked eye you can tell what is happening. you can see them flipping around, in the middle of the air. you can see. >> this is a mechanical engineering grad student focussing on the study of humming birds. >> most birds have their wings down. humming birds flap and flap b

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if you want more be sure to tune in to "techknow." >> go behind the scenes at aljazeera.com/techknow.google plus and more. on tech know, >> i landed head first at 120 mph >> a shocking new way to treat brain injuries >> transcranial direct stimulation... don't try this at home... >> but some people are... >> it's not too much that we'ed fry any important brain parts... >> before you flip the switch, get the facts... >> to say that passing a low level of current is automatically safe, is not true >> every saturday, go where technology meets humanity... >> sharks like affection >> tech know, only on al jazeera america ♪ ♪ ♪

if you want more be sure to tune in to "techknow." >> go behind the scenes at aljazeera.com/techknow.google plus and more. >> here is the thing about a place like kansas - things can hide in these wide open spaces - hopes, lie, secrets. the sky is like a huge lid, trapping everything inside. my name is steve and i was born in kansas. i was adopted by don and mary-jane lik teague who raised

>> announcer: this is techknow, a show about innovations that can change lives. this is a show about science by scientists. let's check out the team. dr shini somara is a mechanical engineer. onight "techknow" on the road in greenland. >> we are on our way to the air base. i'm nervous. >> we are on board for n.a.s.a.'s operation icebridge - flying over some of the largest ice sheets on the planet. >> i managed to get into the cockpit, which, for a mechanical engineer, is a dream come true. >> of the the view is amazing, but something a wrong. >> this gigantic, ancient ice sheet is melting. >> we explore what is happening in greenland and how soon it will effect us. >> marita davison socializes in evolution, cara santa maria is a scientist journalist and educato in microbiology, and i'm phil torres, i'm an ento meteorologists. that's the team, let's -- entomologist. that's the team - now let's do some science. 7 music ♪ ] >>> hey, whim to "techknow." i'm phil torres, joined by shini somara, marita davison, and cara santa maria. we are in for a treat. shini - you j

techknow had an inside look at the c.s.i. forensic lab. >> reporter: the world's animal kingdom is under siege. since 1970 animal populations declined on average by half, according to estimates by the world wildlife fund. a big driver is wildlife trafficking. illegal trade in wildlife is a big global business, worth at least $19 billion a year. that makes it the fourth largest criminal industry in the world. right behind drugs, counterfeiting and human trafficking. it's been connected to organised qaeda. >> the rhinoceros, one of the world's iconic creatures is devastated by the black market trade. less than 30,000 remain in the wild, down from ago. >> rhinos are on the cusp of extinction. >> joseph is from the u.s. attorney general's office. >> the fact is with wildlife, if you get caught you see a slap on the wrist or a small crime. if you traffic cocaine and are caught, you do to prison for a long time. >> reporter: in 2012 he prosecuted jimmy and felix, a los angeles father and son team, suspected of smuggling millions of

onight "techknow" on the road in greenland. >> we are on our way to the air base. i'm nervous. >> we are on board for n.a.s.a.'s operation icebridge - flying over some of the largest ice sheets on the planet. >> i managed to get into the cockpit, which, for a mechanical engineer, is a dream come true.

♪ >> on techknow >> we should not be having earthquakes in texas >> the true cost of energy hits home. >> my yard is gone... >> are we destroying our way of life? >> contaminated water from the fracking activities come here >> they stick it to the core of the earth >> but this cutting edge technology could be the answer >> the future of fracking is about the water >> protecting the planet saving lives... >> how do you convince a big oil company to use this? techknow only on al jazeera america >> sunday night. >> 140 world leaders will take the podium. >> get the full story. >> there is real disunity in the security council. >> about issues that impact your world. >> infectious diseases are a major threat to health. >> "the week ahead". sunday 8:30 eastern. only on al jazeera america.

this is techknow, a show about innovations that can save lives. we are going to explore the intersection of hardware and humanity and we are doing it through unique ways. this is a show about science by scientists. let's check out our team of hardcore nerds. i am phil torres, an entymologist. from base can camp, we are on the scene after raging wildfire. the scientists who go directly in the path of a firestorm. their kairmz camera's actually consumed by flames. what they are learning could save lives. then dr. shimmy somara is a mechanical engineer. her undersea interview with david grandfather. >> marina davidson is a biologist specializing in e coming and evolution. >> that's our team. now, let's do some science. welcome to techknow. guys, i've got some stats for you. california is currently having the driest year in 90 years. over 60% of the west is in a drought. now, when it's that dry, there is one danger that really comes to mind. >> that's: wildfires. as common as these are, it has not with been until recent years that scientists understoo

download it now >> on techknow >> we should not be having earthquakes in texas >> the true cost of energy hits home... >> my yard is gone... >> are we destroying our way of life? >> contaminated water from the fracking activities come here >> they stick it to the core of the earth >> but this cutting edge technology could be the answer >> the future of fracking is about the water >> protecting the planet saving lives... >> how do you convince a big oil company to use this? techknow only on al jazeera america real reporting that brings you the world. >> this is a pretty dangerous trip. >> security in beirut is tight. >> more reporters. >> they don't have the resources to take the fight to al shabaab. >> more bureaus, more stories. >> this is where the typhoon came ashore. giving you a real global perspective like no other can. >> al jazeera, nairobi. >> on the turkey-syria border. >> venezuela. >> beijing. >> kabul. >> hong kong. >> ukraine. >> the artic. real reporting from around the world. this is what we do. al jazeera america. >>> millions of vietnamese have been affected by wartime p

techknow only on al jazeera america real reporting that brings you the world. >> this is a pretty dangerousrip. >> security in beirut is tight. >> more reporters. >> they don't have the resources to take the fight to al shabaab. >> more bureaus, more stories. >> this is where the typhoon came ashore. giving you a real global perspective like no other can. >> al jazeera, nairobi. >> on the turkey-syria border. >> venezuela. >> beijing. >> kabul. >> hong kong. >> ukraine. >> the artic. real reporting from around the world. this is what we do. al jazeera america. >> announcer: this is al jazeera. ♪ >>> welcome to the news hour. i'm in doha our top stories, palestinian leaders consider their next step after a motion demanding the end of israel's occupation fails at the u.n. >>> more than 30 people are killed in a suicide back in the yemeni city of ibb. >>> and more than a thousand migrants are res -- rescued by the italian

techknow only on al jazeera america >> we are in the middle of a lot of stores. economic crisis the whole european economic crisis and the media crisis. >> translation: we have gone through a difficult situations where many very experienced journalists lost their jobs as a result of the austerity measures, these are the times we had to live through. we didn't choose them. >> every time someone is replaced because of political or economic interests, the ethics of journalism deteriorates. what we can expect from el-mondayo is a loss of journalistic quality. >> we not survive in the middle of all these storms. >> last year the spanish newspaper el mundo broke a huge story about politicians, payments from a slush fund text message that implicated the prime minister and had him fending off coups for his resignation. it was not the prime minister who resigned. it was el-mondayo's founder. he said the reason for the firing was political. he is not the onlied tore in chief to -- only editor-in-chief to be shown the door. all in the space of three months there were two mo

. >> on techknow >> we should not be having earthquakes in texas >> the true cost of energy hits home... >> my yard is gone... >> are we destroying our way of life? >> contaminated water from the fracking activities come here >> they stick it to the core of the earth >> but this cutting edge technology could be the answer >> the future of fracking is about the water >> protecting the planet saving lives... >> how do you convince a big oil company to use this? techknow only on al jazeera america >>> the man in charge of indonesia's search for missing airasia plane says it's probably at the bottom of the sea >>> hello, from al jazeera's headquarters in doha - free aj staff. they have been gaoled in egypt for a year. journalists around the world show their solidarity >>> a rescue operation is continuing 24 hours after a ferry caught fire off the coast of italy. more than

techknow only on al jazeera america >> sunday night. >> 140 world leaders will take the podium. >> getull story. >> there is real disunity in the security council. >> about issues that impact your world. >> infectious diseases are a major threat to health. >> "the week ahead". sunday 8:30 eastern. only on al jazeera america. ♪ >>> welcome back. you are watching al jazeera. our top story this hour. russian opposition leader aleksei navalny has been arrested after breaking house arrest to join an opposition protest. the called on people to join the demonstration in central mass cow after he was handed a suspended sentence for fraud. his brother is facing three and a half years in a labor camp. these are live pictures coming from the russian capitol. there is certainly an armed presence of security forces in moscow saying they were ready to deal with any kind of protest, and this one does not have permission, but nevertheless aleksei navalny calling on his supporters to rally together. after he was given that sentence of being guilty of fraud. he has managed to avoid prison a different st

. >> on techknow >> we should not be having earthquakes in texas >> the true cost of energy hits home... >> my yard is gone... >> are we destroying our way of life? >> contaminated water from the fracking activities come here >> they stick it to the core of the earth >> but this cutting edge technology could be the answer >> the future of fracking is about the water >> protecting the planet saving lives... >> how do you convince a big oil company to use this? techknow only on al jazeera america you're watching, al jazeera america presents: killing the messenger. >> there have been 20 journalists murdered in russia since 2000 when uh. president putin came first to office. and in none of those cases, have those who commissioned the crimes been uh. punished. journalists are targeted for their work, when in the process of reporting, they come to cross uh. powerful interests. >> [speaking russian]. >> the murders of journalists have become less frequent in russia. attackers have favored severely injuring and even maiming journalists on the job. one prominent example of this new and frightf

but check out techknow. have an agreed weekend. "real money" with ali velshi is next. eric guarder case in new york and pictures and looking at new york city and midtown and 57th street and keeping an eye on this throughout the hour and other news for you, a startling number of jobs added to the economy last month and workers out there are left saying show me the money and secretary of defense will face some old fiscal challenges and break down military spending and look if your money is being swell spent and the we are up a

our thoughts are with her >> on techknow >> we should not be having earthquakes in texas >> the true energy hits home... >> my yard is gone... >> are we destroying our way of life? >> contaminated water from the fracking activities come here >> they stick it to the core of the earth >> but this cutting edge technology could be the answer >> the future of fracking is about the water >> protecting the planet saving lives... >> how do you convince a big oil company to use this? techknow only on al jazeera america >>> afghan soldiers were killed today, during a fierce battle with the taliban. this comes one day after the u.s. and nato formally ended their cam bat mission in the country, and moved into a training and support role. jamie a large number of u.s. troops will be staying behind in afghanistan. what does this mean? >> what it means is the u.s. wants to learn one of the lessons from iraq which is don't leave without leaving support troops behind. but the obama administration is really pinning its hopes on the afghan forces, even as the taliban itself is claiming victory. 13 years

. >> on techknow >> we should not be having earthquakes in texas >> the true cost of energy hits home.. >> my yard is gone... >> are we destroying our way of life? >> contaminated water from the fracking activities come here >> they stick it to the core of the earth >> but this cutting edge technology could be the answer >> the future of fracking is about the water >> protecting the planet saving lives... >> how do you convince a big oil company to use this? techknow only on al jazeera america pass [ ♪ music ♪ ] >>> hello, i'm richard gizbert, and you are watching a year-ending special, the second-annual producer's special, we asked staff members to pick the most interesting peace they produced and we

techknow only on al jazeera america >> welcome back to al jazeera america. here are the top stories we're following now. the search for the air passenger jet continues in southeast asia but the head of the airasia flight 81 vanished while flying from dpleesh indonesia to singapore. >>> nato has officially ended its campaign in afghanistan 13 years later. a training and support mission will begin on january 1st. u.s. led forces launched eight air strikes against i.s.i.l. forces near kobani on saturday. trying to drive away i.s.i.l. fighters for more than three months. >>> time for our regular sunday segment the week lady. tonight we're looking back at 2014, and updating you on some of the many topics we've covered. let's begin on march 9th where we looked at a crisis in ukraine. ing leading to a resignation of viktor yanukovych. started with backing pro-russian separatists in eastern ukraine. robert cap lal kaplan, the chief strategy and why america was responding the way it was. >> russia comprises half the land mass, and yet has less population than banglad

. >> on techknow >> we should not be having earthquakes in texas >> the true cost of energy hits home... >> my yard is gone... >> are we destroying our way of life? >> contaminated water from the fracking activities come here >> they stick it to the core of the earth >> but this cutting edge technology could be the answer >> the future of fracking is about the water >> protecting the planet saving lives... >> how do you convince a big oil company to use this? techknow only on al jazeera america >> start with one issue education... gun control... the gap between rich and poor... job creation... climate change... tax policy... the economy... iran... healthcare... ad guests on all sides of the debate. >> this is a right we should all have... >> it's just the way it is... >> there's something seriously wrong... >> there's been acrimony... >> the conservative ideal... >> it's an urgent need... and a host willing to ask the tough questions >> how do you explain it to yourself? and you'll get... the inside story ray suarez hosts inside story weekdays at 5 eastern only on al jazeera america r

"techknow's" phil torres is in the pacific association on board alvin, the same sub that once dove to where the titanic sank in the atlantic. phil is part of a research mission. earlier i spoke with phil on an one-way radio call. it's a bit like what you see in the movies. you're going to hear the word "over" a lot. i asked phil what part of the ocean he's studying. >> we are 2,990 meters below. and it is pretty amazing down here. we're next to a place where the pressures outside of the sub are literally crushing. we're at depths where humans can go, over. >> whoa, tell me more about what it is like down there, and what do you see, over? >> it is absolutely amazing, but it is also cold. we are seeing some incredible landscape. it looks like a world i've never seen. there are octopus everywhere. there are amazing coral. there is water where it gets warmer. over. >> my understanding, phil, you are down there as part of a science mission. can you explain what that mission is all about? over. >> yes, we are. it is beautiful down here, but there is a lot of science to be done. the research

. ♪ >> on techknow >> we should not be having earthquakes in texas >> the true cost of energy hits homeyard is gone... >> are we destroying our way of life? >> contaminated water from the fracking activities come here >> they stick it to the core of the earth >> but this cutting edge technology could be the answer >> the future of fracking is about the water >> protecting the planet saving lives... >> how do you convince a big oil company to use this? techknow only on al jazeera america >>> comes up at 11:00 pm eastern, making the school daye longer why boston will make its students spending 40 more minutes in the classroom every day. these stories and more at 11:00 eastern. finally today's freeze frame. these are post-it messages in singapore left for the passengers of the downed flight. i'm david shuster in new york. "america tonight" is next. ♪ >> >>> on "america tonight" - losing track of airliners. as the wreckage of airasia comes to surface - we ask why has a safety recommendation been delayed for years. could a simple piece of technology have saved lives. >>> also - shot and kill

per cent >> on techknow >> we should not be having earthquakes in texas >> the true cost of energy hits home... >> my yard is gone... >> are we destroying our way of life? >> contaminated water from the fracking activities come here >> they stick it to the core of the earth >> but this cutting edge technology could be the answer >> the future of fracking is about the water >> protecting the planet saving lives... >> how do you convince a big oil company to use this? techknow only on al jazeera america >>> it's been a full year since al jazeera journalists were detained in gipt. peter greste, mohamed fadel fahmy and baher mohamed from given a 7 year sentence and badr an extra three. al jazeera relates the charges and demands they be released. as reported, the sentence to imprison is seen as an attack on press freedom. >> reporter: there are things an objective journalist takes personally. unjust prisonment of colleagues in egypt is a case in point. some argue that they are casualties in seismic change but no rational analysis discounts the fact they state in gaol for doing their jobs. th

. >> on techknow >> we should not be having earthquakes in texas >> the true cost of energy hits homerd is gone... >> are we destroying our way of life? >> contaminated water from the fracking activities come here >> they stick it to the core of the earth >> but this cutting edge technology could be the answer >> the future of fracking is about the water >> protecting the planet saving lives... >> how do you convince a big oil company to use this? techknow only on al jazeera america ♪ >> home prices in the united states continue to rise last month though at a slightly slower pace according to latest figures from the nation's leading real estate index. according to the folk at standard & poor's case schiller home index, prices rose 4.5% in december, compared to the same month of 2013. that's the slowest pace of growth in two years. and that means while home prices are going up, they are not overheating. for the nation's 41 million households that rent instead of owning their homes, the year-end news isn't quite as rosy. americans collectively paid 4.9% more rent in 2014 compared to the

techknow only on al jazeera america >>> it's a stunner. it's not often that a pope gives bureaucratic staff a hard kick in the robes. pope francis did that during a christmas speech. he told high-ranking vatican leaders they are suffering from 15 illnesses, illnesses that need curing. they include what he called spiritual alzhiemer's. hunger for power, exhibition gossip. >> maybe the world is not ready for all the things he wants to do right away. >> is it a good thing he's shaking up the institution. >> yes. that's what confession is about. >> "america tonight" sits with cardinal theodore - well respected archbishop, in a conversation about challenges facing pope francis. in the christmas message pope francis critical of the upper leadership, saying that they are basically power hungry. is that true? >> you know what, i think you have a large group of people, angelical. >> worried about their own rise in the church. >> we are living in a world where people say you have to get a promotion, you have to do better. no one wants to be a lieute

techknow only on al jazeera america police in russia have retains a well known critic.xi violated his house arrest to protest today's guilty verdict against him and his brother. about 130 people were detained at the demonstration. wile his brother got jail time protestors have been posting pictures on social media, inesse is here. >> tony, one of the most retweeted pictures related to the protest is his selfie. he was on his way to the square, and then demonstrators captured pictures of him they also held signs that said navali in russian, protestors also chanted during the protest and at 1 point you will see here, that officers on hand are seen moving in locked arms. they eventually cut into the crowd and push them out of the square, into the subway station. also one protestor posting this picture. >> russians are ready to enchew up the corruption in their country, they are dressed as witches cleaning out the square, now today's gathering. a much smaller gathering than the number of people who said they were going over 18,000 people. here is what you need to know. the

>> on techknow >> we should not be having earthquakes in texas >> the true cost of energy hits home... >> my yard is gone... >> are we destroying our way of life? >> contaminated water from the fracking activities come here >> they stick it to the core of the earth >> but this cutting edge technology could be the answer >> the future of fracking is about the water >> protecting the planet saving lives... >> how do you convince a big oil company to use this? techknow only on al jazeera america >>> as people around the world prepare for new year's eve, today we look at the holiday traditions starting with a puzzling song ♪ should auld acquaintance be forgot ♪ ♪ and never brought to mind ♪ ♪ somehow auld acquaintance be forgot ♪ ♪ and days o lang syne ♪ >> testing the meaning has been a tradition. >> movie reel: what does this song mean, what does it mean. should auld acquaintance be forgot. does they mean we should forget them, or if we remember them, it's not possible because we have forgot. remember... >> reporter: meg ryan's character is almost right, a phrase from scots that loosely

. ♪ >> on techknow >> we should not be having earthquakes in texas >> the true cost of energy hits home is gone... >> are we destroying our way of life? >> contaminated water from the fracking activities come here >> they stick it to the core of the earth >> but this cutting edge technology could be the answer >> the future of fracking is about the water >> protecting the planet saving lives... >> how do you convince a big oil company to use this? techknow only on al jazeera america >>> hello i'm antonio mora welcome to a special edition of "consider this," freedom under fire. attacks on human rights and freedom around the world have lead to growing humanitarian crises around the world. some 50 million people displayed by conflicts. nobody is suffering more than children, and despite heroic efforts, relief organizations are overwhelmed. women face

. >> dive deep into these stories at aljazeera.com/techknow. follow us on twitter, facebook, google plus and more. >> saturday on tech know. a brutal killing. a thorough investigation. >> we're pushing the envelope. >> but this is no ordinary c.s.i. >> what went on right before that animal died? >> hunting the hunter. >> we're gonna take down the bad guys. >> solving the crime. >> we can save species. >> tech know's team of experts show you how the miracles of science. >> this is my selfie, what can you tell me about my future? >> can affect and surprise us. >> don't try this at home. >> tech know, where technology meets humanity. saturday at 7:30 eastern. only on al jazeera america. >> you couldn't even compare this with ferguson or the garner day case in new york. >> we'll talk with the mayor of berkeley cho says that the two isn'ts do not compare. >>> a warplane goes down in syria. the pilot is now being held hostage. >> you want to go dill ki kill

. >> dive deep into these stories at aljazeera.com/techknow. follow us on twitter, facebook, google plus and more. >> >>> this is al jazeera america. i'm thomas drayton in new york. let's get you caught up on the top stories this hour. [ chanting ] >>> thousands of protesters march across the country calling for justice for all. >>> japanese voters head to polls in parliamentary elections, and the prime minister hopes it brings momentum to ambitious economic and political retomorrows. form forms. --

. >> dive deep into these stories at aljazeera.com/techknow. follow us on twitter, facebook, google plus and more. >> if we don't have a verdict by one o'clock it's gonna be another day. >> well it's either gonna be before noon, or they get to come back at one thirty. >> the waiting is what will knock you for a loop. if she goes to jail again i think she'll come out in a body bag. >> are they out? we are sitting right there in my office on pins and needles. >> the fact that they have been out this long affirms our

techknow only on al jazeera america pass [ ♪ music ♪ ] >>> hello, i'm richard gizbert, and you are watchingear-ending special, the second-annual producer's special, we asked staff members to pick the most interesting peace they produced and we folded them into a programme for a medley of media related stories. 2014 will be remembered as the year hong kong erupted with pro-democracy contest. we have the story on hong kong and political clashes in beijing. three of spain's biggest papers had new editors. we have that story >>> we explore a noisy place in the world of journalism, the online comments sections, known as the home of the trolls. and we examine the output of the news media in japan, since the disaster of the fukushima nuclear plant >>> and starting with nick muirhead from tunis with a look at tunisia's most revolutionary news media. expectations were eye. tunisia was where the arab spring got its start. the question is have the expectations been met since the fall of president ben ali. >>> ask tunisians what are the biggest changes since the fall of president ben ali, and they'll t

. >> dive deep into these stories at aljazeera.com/techknow. follow us on twitter, facebook, google plus and more. >> tuesday, the landmark series concludes. >> i'm on a mission that i have to keep this business going. >> an intimate look at middle class families. >> i panicked because, how we gonna pay that? >> the issues we face. >> there's no way to pay for it. >> fighting to survive. >> she's like my role model... as in perseverance. >> building a better future. >> it's coming together little by little. >> real life solutions you can't afford to miss. >> we're making it the best that we can. >> "america's middle class - rebuilding the dream". >> tuesday. >> 7:00 eastern. >> only on al jazeera america. >> [ no audio ]

. >> dive deep into these stories at aljazeera.com/techknow. follow us on twitter, facebook, google plus and more. >> next on al jazeera america presents... >> the catholic church of the 21st century is a global financial power. the pope might just be one of the biggest landloards in the world. the church is now spending heavily on political lobbyists. >> 21% of the dioceses told us that they never audit their parishes. we found that 85% of the dioceses had experienced an embezzlement in recent years, many more than one. >> priests rape boys, thats what

. >> dive deep into these stories at aljazeera.com/techknow. follow us on twitter, facebook, google plus and more. >>> i can't man heads on the polls. it's a re referendum on his economic policies he says. ♪ ♪ >>> hello and welcome to al jazerra live if our headquarters in doha. also ahead. [ chanting i can't breathe ] >> it's a rally cry being heard across the u.s., thousands take to the streets to protest police killings. >>> we are in bangladesh where people are using their bare hands to clean up after a huge oil spill. and building on the

techknow only on al jazeera america >>> the man in charge of indonesia's search for missing airasia plane says it's probably at the bottom of the sea >>> hello, from al jazeera's headquarters in doha - free aj staff. they have been gaoled in egypt for a year. journalists around the world show their solidarity >>> a rescue operation is continuing 24 hours after a ferry caught fire off the coast of italy. more than 100 are trapped >>> bad for business - tough times for a border town in china >>> well search area for the missing airasia flight has been widened as hor countries join the -- more countries join the international effort to find the weapon flight qz8501 disappeared after flying to singapore. search teams are scouring the java sea looking for signs of the plane over the islands belitung island, banka and singkep. the head of the indonesian search operation says it's likely the plane is at the bottom of the sea. scott heidler is in the indonesian city of surabaya from where the plane departed. scott, we know indonesia accepted offers of help from the neighbours. what can you tell u

welcome to techknow. guys, i've got some stats for you.alifornia is currently having the driest year in 90 years. over 60% of the west is in a drought. now, when it's that dry, there is one danger that really comes to mind. >> that's: wildfires. as common as these are, it has not with been until recent years that scientists understood how they move and how to save fight them. . >> california's governor declared a state of emergency wildfire. >> i want to make sure that the researchers are deployed. >> summer, 2014, in america's west is under fire. making national t.v. headlines for both the size and ferocity of the burns. >> fire world emerging from the parched hillside. >> the end of fire season is nowhere in sight. >> we are seeing near unprecedented drought. so what that means is we have seen the beginning of fire season much earlier. some even say that last fire season truly never ended. and we are going to probably see this fire season extend much longer than normal. >> this is the first day that we are on the scene. the crews are six

more later >>> berlin is famous for the electronic music of the techknow scene.is also drawing young classical emissions around. >> reporter: a mozart aria sung by rachel finland. she had some success back home but moved to berlin in summer which is where you go now. there's 10 different classical conferences. so as a performer, the education side of that the learning that i get from seeing the amazing performances every night is huge. >> this is the symphony orchestra in berlin one of seven in the german capital. there's three full-time operas. if they caught up as a global music capitalist. [ ♪ music ♪ ] public subsidies keep the classical scene in berlin and the rest flourishing. when many slashed spending in the name of austerity. there's a quirk of history. berlin was a divided city - east and west in the cold war, with east and west germany outspending the other. when germany was unified in 1990, the city was unified. there was basically two or sometimes three, if you look at the opera houses of everything. >> this woman's company promotes the career of the

techknow only on al jazeera america >>> thanks for being with us this is al jazeera america. i'm thomas drayton in new york. let's get you caught up on the top stories this hour. >> our hearts are aching today. we feel it physically. feel it deeply >>> police officers turn their backs to new york city mayor as thousands honour officer rafael ramos >>> one of al-shabab's wanted men surrender in somali >>> more than 100,000 are displaced in the worst floods it hit malaysia in over a decade. in "a deeper look", we investigate what a higher minimum wage would mean for america's economy. >>> we begin this hour with breaking news. reports that an air asia has gone missing. air asia qz 8501 was travelling from indonesian city of surabaya to singapore. we understand air traffic control lost contact with the aircraft around 7:25am local time it went missing over four hours ago, more than 150 people including passengers and crew are on board. it's reported that the plane lost contact near belaton island. an air asia has gone missing. qz8501 near belatong island. we'll update you with m

>> dive deep into these stories at aljazeera.com/techknow. follow us on twitter, facebook, google plus and more. >> >>> this is al jazeera america. i'm thomas drayton in new york. let's get you caught up on the top stories this hour. [ chanting ] >>> thousands of protesters march across the country calling for justice for all. >>> japanese voters head to polls in parliamentary elections, and the prime minister hopes it brings momentum to ambitious economic and political retomorrows. form forms. -- reforms. >> we join iraq's army on the front line as they try to stop i.s.i.l.'s advance. >>> a debating deadlock at the climate change summit in peru. . >> if they don't see in and make a change, i don't know what we got to do >>> relatives of black men killed by police join thousands of protesters making their way down pennsylvania av u calling attention to what they -- avenue calling attention to what they say is police brutality towards black men. [ chanting ] >>> a similar scene in new york, crowds blocked traffic and shut the brooklyn bridge i

techknow only on al jazeera america >>> hello i'm antonio mora welcome to a special edition of "consider this," freedom under fire. attacks on human rights and freedom around the world have lead to growing humanitarian crises around the world. some 50 million people displayed by conflicts. nobody is suffering more than children, and despite heroic efforts, relief organizations are overwhelmed. women face discrimination and abuse. religious freedom is under assault. and attacks on the people who tell those stories, journalists are happening around the globe, including here at home. ♪ >>> we begin with a staggering number of refugees worldwide as the list of armed conflicts around the world has grown, the number of people forced to flee their homes now exceeds 50 million. in iraq the united nations high commissioner for refugees launched a operation to bring aid to more than half a million people driven from their homes islamic state fighters. >> most of the displaced are still living in schools, mosques, churches unfinished buildings and where else. >> reporter: some 9 million people have

techknow only on al jazeera america >> this is al jazeera america. i'm tony harris. new year's eve in some areas 2015 just started. we'll have celebration from around the world coming up, and here is what else we're working on. >> the first remains of the victim of airasia crash return home while families pray for help in finding the rest. >>> a provocative move in the middle east as the palestinian leadership sign onto the international criminal court. >>> five men who spent more than a decade locked up in gitmo without being charged are set free. >> i think their drive is pretty much the same that they know that that's going to be a lot more dangerous for them. >> and we return to the texas county where hundreds of migrants have died in the desert trying to find a better life in the united states. >> and we begin in indonesia where authorities believe they have found the airasia plane that crashed on sunday. they have recovered seven bodies and some debris but bad weather is hampering search and recovery efforts. the first bodies discovered yesterday were returned

aljazeera.com/techknow. follow our contributors on > >>> announcer: this is al jazeera. >>> good to have you along. i'm david foster, you're watching the al jazeera newshour. this is some of what we have coming up in the next 60 minutes. five hostages managed to escape a siege in a cafe in australia. >>> an armed man in sydney continues to keep an unconfirmed number of hostages trapped inside. >>> libya - 16 die after violence near the border with tunisia >>> a report from south sudan - a year on from a city coming back to life after a conflict that left thousands dead >>> from chuck out to check out - the supermarket putting food on the plates for some of u.k.'s poorest. >>> start of the newshour in australia where an arm man is still holding an unknown number of people hostage inside a central sydney cafe. martin place is where it is. this is the scene outside. we see security forces there behind a lamp post on the right of your screen. others are positioned elsewhere. it's an area which has been locked do

this is techknow, a show about innovations that can save lives. we are going to explore the intersection of hardware and humanity and we are doing it through unique ways. this is a show about science by scientists. let's check out our team of hardcore nerds. i am phil torres, an entymologist. from base can camp, we are on the scene after raging wildfire. the scientists who go directly in the path of a firestorm. their kairmz camera's actually consumed by flames. what they are learning could save lives.

but check out techknow. have an agreed weekend. "real money" with ali velshi is next. eric guarder case in new york and pictures and looking at new york city and midtown and 57th street and keeping an eye on this throughout the hour and other news for you, a startling number of jobs added to the economy last month and workers out there are left saying show me the money and secretary of defense will face some old fiscal challenges and break down military spending and look if your money is being swell spent and the we are up and running and we will speak to the ceo of the risks in space tourism and i'm ali velshi and this is "real money." ♪ as i told you we will keep an eye on those protests continuing across america tonight but let me tell you about news that happened today. one month ago voters sent democrats packing in congress in part because of discontent over the economy but november turned out to be a gang buster month for job creation and we learned 321,000 net new jobs were added to the economy, that is nearly 100,000 more than most economists had forecast. and

. >> berlin is famous for the electronic music of the techknow scope. it is drawing in young classical musicians from around the world. day to day life is relatively cheap and the city's special history means there's big opportunities if there's the talent and you work hard enough. nick spicer has more. >> she says she has this some success back home but moved to berlin, it's where you go now to make it big in opera. there's a choice of 10 different classical concerts to see. as a performer, the education side of that the learning that i get from seeing these amazing performances is huge. this is the symphony orchestra, one of seven in the german capital, there are three full-time operas. if they have caught up to new york and london largely because of money. public subsidies is doing the music scene in berlin when many countries in europe slashed spending in the name of austerity. >> there's lass a quirk of history. berlin was a decided city east and west. general academy outspending the others. >> when germany was unified and all of a sudden there was

and that drought that rob mentioned, it is a subject of our technology show tonight - "techkno "techknow" takes a look at how scientists are using technology this that state to save the record drought >>> the senate is meeting in a rare saturday session. lawmakers are working on the $1.1 trillion spending bill and are expected to approve a stopgap measure temporarily extending funding through wednesday to avoid a shut down. there's a sticking point, a provision easing banking restrictions. president obama said the bill is imperfect but necessary. senators approved a defense measure on friday. the bill is headed to the president's deck, and it funds basic military operations and raises pay for troops by 1%. that bill authorises funding for training and equipment for moderate syrian rebels and iraqi forces. >>> as oil and gas prices slide - so does wall street. next - a look at what is causing the drop and how it reaches every single corner of the globe >>> and providing healthcare to pregnant women in some of the rural parts of bangladesh. how modern technology is helping them make life o