Name: Science Unlocked — learning navigation skills
Uploaded: 2025-11-12T10:32:36.045Z
Duration: 4 min 30 s
Description: Would you find your way without a watch or compass? In the episode of Science Unlocked Edith Kimani learns how the sun and signs in our natural environment can help us find our way and tell the time.

Would you find your way without a watch or compass? In the episode of Science Unlocked Edith Kimani learns how the sun and signs in our natural environment can help us find our way and tell the time.

Kajiado

A presenter in Kajiado, Kenya, demonstrates how to navigate and tell time without relying on modern devices, using simple tools and the sun's position. With guidance from Katampo of the Maasai community, the presenter learns traditional methods such as using shadows, tree bark coloration, and animal behavior to determine direction and time.

The segment highlights the effectiveness of indigenous knowledge in navigation and notes the impact of environmental changes like deforestation on these practices. The presenter successfully applies these techniques, gaining practical skills and a deeper appreciation for local wisdom.

Science Unlocked — learning navigation skills

So guys, the other day I got lost. I mean literally lost in the middle of nowhere. I didn't have my phone, it died. I didn't have my watch and I was panicking. So this is what I want us to do today. First, can I find my bearings without my phone? I also want to know, can I tell the time without my watch? And because we want to do this the old school way, I want to see if I can pick up some more indigenous knowledge. So, learn. Right, so we're gonna need some sticks. These will do, they're from a broom. We'll also need the face of a clock and a pencil. That's literally all you need and of course the sun. Okay, and we outside. We found somewhere nice and flat outside to see if I can actually find my directions just using the sun. Luckily, we live on the equator, it's already so hot. So essentially we're able to determine where we are because this is the west. So what we've essentially created is the west east line. Pretty simple, huh? But I want to confirm how true this is. So I'm pulling up my compass app on my phone. Let's see what it says. We're off by about 20 degrees, but I think that's fine. So I would say that this experiment is a success. Now that we know where the cardinal points are, I do wonder if there's another way or another technique of doing this. And so I've invited someone special here with us. Katampo is here, he's from the Ma community. You can already hear him, he's jingling because of your jewelry, looking so nice. Thank you, thank you. Yeah, so being part of the Maasai community, obviously as herders and pastoralists, you're used to being out in the open. Yes, yes. But I'm guessing this is not what your forefathers used to do to determine their way back home. No, this is not what they used to do, but I think they always find their way home. So we have maybe let's say two or three ways of telling direction. First and foremost is that sun will always rise from the east and set in the west. When you're at the east, your shadow goes to the west farthest. When the sun is the middle, your shadow is shortest. The next thing I want you to teach me is how to tell the time. Yes. Okay, let's get our equipment. I'm gonna put you to work a little bit. Okay. Okay, this one is basically just manila paper and we have a pencil or something straight and we've got the sun. So the idea is that if we place this against our cardinal direction, so assuming that's north, that's west and that's east. Simply by putting the pencil in here, we should be able to tell the time. What time does that say it is? How many minutes to three? It's actually 3.36. 3.36. So we're not so far off, but another thing to note is that because we're on the equator, so the sun is very, very close to us, which means it affects how the shadows are falling. So give or take half an hour, I'd say that's pretty good. Pretty good. But Ketempoye, you did say that there are other things we can learn in the forest. Yes. Right? Shall we go there now? Let's do that. This way? No, this way. This way. So here in the forest, we look at such trees. If you look at this side of this tree, there's a bit of yellowish. If you look on this side, it's a bit darker. And harder. And harder. And the reason why, this side is the dark side. This side is the light side. So this means east, where your sun is coming from. Oh, because it has... It has more time shining. But I understand it's not just the trees that have sort of like, that can reveal things, that even rocks and birds and animals. True. The pigeons, they wake you up in the morning. The rooster is one of them also. Cows in the morning, they mow a lot because either they need to be milked, it's time for them to go and feed. So those are some of the animals that tell you also time. So we're all sort of operating on a natural circadian rhythm. Completely. Daytime, nighttime, midday. But now we are seeing people cutting down. This used to be a very dense forest. I had three tasks today. Yes. I know for a fact that I could find my way without my phone. Do you think I can accurately tell the time without my watch? Do I score an A on that? Maybe a B plus. I'll take a B plus. I think I've learned some local knowledge, some indigenous knowledge. Have you? Yeah. Good. I think I've done pretty well today. Well done. Thank you so much. But now it's time to go. The cows are about to come back home. This way or that way? This way.

Three astronauts remain stuck in space after their return capsule was damaged by orbital debris—delaying their journey home.

Beijing

Three Chinese astronauts stranded in space after capsule damage

The former first lady of Gabon and her son were being tried in absentia on various corruption charges.

Libreville

Gabon: Sylvia Bongo sentenced to 20 years in jail for embezzlement

Online platforms will ping Australian teenagers through over a million accounts in coming days offering a choice: download data, freeze profiles or lose the lot when a world-first ban on kids using social media starts on December 10. TikTok, Snapchat, Meta, Instagram and Threads are poised to deactivate accounts registered by users under 16, according to insiders.

Council of the City of Sydney

Big Tech starts complying with Australia's teen social media ban

Protesters stormed the COP30 climate conference in Brazil, clashing with security and overshadowing discussions earlier in the day California Gov. Gavin Newsom slamming America’s current stance on climate change.

Belém

Protesters storm into COP30 climate conference in Brazil

ByHeart is recalling all batches of its baby formula products after at least 15 infants were sickened. Dr. Steven Abrams, professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas at Austin, joins CBS News to discuss how parents can keep their children safe.

New York

ByHeart recalls baby formula amid growing botulism outbreak

Israel’s parliament has passed the first reading of a bill that would introduce the death penalty for “terrorism”.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israel parliament passes first reading of death penalty for ‘terrorism’ law

The super typhoon has left devastation in the Philippines just days after another typhoon killed 232 people.

Cebu City

Typhoon Fung-wong leaves Philippines with ten dead, millions displaced

A Turkish C-130 military cargo plane with at least 20 personnel on board crashed in Georgia after taking off from Azerbaijan. Authorities reported an unspecified number of casualties and said rescue workers were headed to the site.

Sighnaghi Municipality

Turkish military plane crashes in Georgia

A car bomb rocked Islamabad, Pakistan resulting in 12 deaths and 27 injuries, just one day after a car exploded in New Delhi, India. Authorities in both countries are investigating the incidents as possible terrorist attacks.

Islamabad

Bomb rocks Pakistan's capital one day after car explosion in India

Drone strikes were reported in several Ukrainian cities, as fighting rages on the frontline with Russian forces closing in on the key city of Pokrovsk.

Odesa

Ukraine Invasion

Russian drones hit energy sites in Ukraine's Odesa

Local television channels report that at least 20 people have been wounded in blast near the Lal Quila underground metro station.

New Delhi

Indian police invoke ‘terrorism’ law after Delhi blast kills nine

The Senate passed a bill on Monday night to end the government shutdown, bringing Congress one step closer to ending the impasse. CBS News political reporter Hunter Woodall has the latest.

Washington

Senate passes bill to end shutdown, sending it to house

The COP30 climate conference kicked off in Belém, Brazil, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pushing back against climate deniers even though a discussion of reduced reliance on fossil fuels isn’t on the agenda.

Brazil’s president pushes back against climate deniers to start COP30

President Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa at the White House as ties between the U.S. and Syria appear to strengthen. CBS News' Imtiaz Tyab reports.

Syria will join coalition against ISIS following meeting with Trump

A deadly car explosion in Delhi, India, killed at least eight people and injured at least 19 others on Monday, police said. Devina Gupta of the BBC, a CBS News partner, has more.

Deadly car explosion rocks India's New Delhi, eight killed

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to be released from prison after serving 3 weeks of a 5-year sentence for criminal conspiracy.

Paris

Ex-French President Sarkozy released from prison

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is set to meet with President Trump at the White House after leading a surprise attack that toppled the Assad regime. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio reports.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meeting Trump at White House

Super Typhoon Fung-wong slammed into the Philippines, bringing dangerous conditions to the country for the second time in a matter of days. CBS News' Anna Coren reports.

Manila

Super Typhoon Fung-wong batters the Philippines

Senate Republicans and some Democrats appear to have a plan to end the government shutdown. CBS News' Natalie Brand reports.

Democrats, Republicans reach deal that may end government shutdown

The director-general of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has resigned after a row over the editing of a speech made by U.S. President Donald Trump on the day of the 2021 attack on the United States Capitol.

London

BBC boss Tim Davie resigns after criticism over Trump speech edit

A Collaborative Combat Aircraft, the AI-powered fighter YFQ-44A has begun flight testing, as General Atomics takes to the sky as well.

California

Anduril's unmanned AI-powered fighter jet 'Fury' makes first flight

The U.S. Senate is voting on a bill to fund and reopen the government. Earlier Sunday, the Trump administration ordered states to "undo" SNAP benefits payments amid the funding halt.

Trump admin orders states to 'undo' SNAP payments ahead of Senate vote

Israeli settlers attacked a group of Palestinian villagers, activists and journalists on Saturday (November 8) who had gathered during an attempt to harvest olives near a settler outpost in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, witnesses said. Two Reuters employees were among those injured in the attack by the men who wielded sticks and clubs, and hurled large rocks at them.

Israeli settlers attack Palestinians, journalists in West Bank

Ukrainian energy companies reported a complete power outage after two thermal power plants supplying the Kyiv and Kharkiv were struck overnight by Russia. Officials in Kyiv also shared that their forces carried out strikes targeting the Kremlin's energy sector, which it says funds the invasion.

Kyiv

Ukraine and Russia trade overnight strikes on energy facilities

A tragic Saturday in Tenerife left three people dead and at least 15 injured as exceptionally high waves gripped the Canary archipelago. Officials are reporting waves that can reach as high as four metres.

Tenerife

Three dead as giant waves lash Tenerife

COP30 has kicked off in Belem, Brazil, drawing 50,000 participants to the gateway to the Amazon rain forest. One key topic of the summit is adapting to a warmer world, as well as who will bear the costs for that.

Brazil welcomes world leaders to Amazon for COP30

Nearly a million people have been evacuated from their homes in the Philippines, as Super Typhoon Fung-wong approaches the country. It’s the most powerful storm to threaten the country this year and is due to make landfall just days after an earlier typhoon killed more than 200 people.

State of emergency declared as Super Typhoon approaches Philippines

This time last year, Ahmed al-Sharaa was wanted by the U.S. with a 10-million-dollar bounty on his head. Today, he's preparing to hold talks with Donald Trump in the White House as the president of Syria. Sharaa arrived in Washington a day after the U.S. removed him from a blacklist.

Damascus

Global sanctions on Syria eased as leader visits U.S.

At least 6 people are dead and 750 people injured after a tornado tore through a town in southern Brazil. Rescuers are still searching for survivors from under the remains of homes and businesses hit by the powerful storm.

Rio Bonito do Iguaçu

Brazil cleans up after deadly tornado

The U.S. government shutdown is now at 40 days—the longest in American history—with no sign of it ending soon. That’s led to chaos at airports but also knock-on effects across industries.

Breakdown