PBS
The Evolution of the Heart (A Love Story)
Not all hearts are the same, but their functions are similar. An instructor discusses the origin of the first organisms with a heart in a video lesson from the PBS Eons series. The lesson includes discussion of the evolution of the...
PBS
The Island of Shrinking Mammoths
We've heard about pygmy pigs—why not pygmy mammoths? Fossil evidence proves their existence, but the dilemma is figuring out where they lived. A video describes different theories on their evolution and migration.
PBS
The Humans That Lived Before Us
You may struggle to find similarities between humans and many of our ancestors. Fossil evidence finds more and more signs of similarities between humans and many other species. A lesson outlines the fossil evidence and the questions...
American Chemical Society
Why Tardigrades Are Some of the Most Hardcore Critters on the Planet
Small but fierce! The tardigrades are less than a millimeter long but can survive extreme cold, extreme heat, and even being in a vacuum. A video presentation explains the unique protein these organisms use to withstand extreme situations.
American Chemical Society
How Do You Catch Fruit Flies?
You can catch more fruit flies with vinegar than honey! Yes, that's right—they prefer vinegar over honey, and a video lesson explains why. It describes the chemical components of the food fruit flies prefer, and the results may surprise...
American Chemical Society
Do Astronauts Need Sunscreen?
Why don't astronauts all come home with sunburns? It turns out that there are many different sources of radiation exposure for astronauts. A video outlines the radioactive dangers and protective measures astronauts must take.
American Chemical Society
How Is Leather Made?
Leather tanning is a chemical production! Scholars watch as a video outlines the chemistry behind processing leather. The instructor describes the chemical makeup of the leather itself and the structure of the chemicals that preserve the...
American Chemical Society
Why Does Humidity Feel Gross?
Where does sweat go when the relative humidity is 100 percent? Well, there is no place for it to go—that's the point! A lesson on humidity, dew point, and heat index describes how to interpret a local weather report. A video explains the...
American Chemical Society
Can Plastic Be Composted?
Some plastics market as green, but are they really? Turns out, the question is a complicated one. A video lesson describes how these new plastics may have some decomposing properties but need a little boost from industry. The lesson...
American Chemical Society
Fact or Fiction: Uncooked Rice Is Bad for Birds
Rice is made of starches that absorb moisture, but is it enough to be harmful to birds? In true myth-buster form, a video lesson explains the science that disproves the thought that rice is bad for birds. The episode compares the...
American Chemical Society
How to Survive the Snow and Ice
Can you tell the difference between artificial snow and the real thing? An informative video explains the structure of a snowflake crystal, both real and artificial. It finishes with a discussion of the chemistry related to salting...
American Chemical Society
How Does Low-Dose Aspirin Work?
Baby aspirin is a life saver for many adults! A video lesson discusses the effect aspirin has on blood even in low doses. Learners discover how aspirin changes blood clots—a key to preventing medical conditions such as heart attacks and...
American Chemical Society
Why Flamingos Are Pink and Hardcore
They're not just pretty faces! Flamingos may look delicate, but they have adaptations that allow them to survive in areas most other organisms cannot. A video lesson in a larger ACS Reactions series describes how flamingos survive in...
American Chemical Society
How Plastic Recycling Actually Works
Those recycled plastic bottles end up as some pretty interesting things in their second lives. A lesson explains the process of recycling plastic. Scholars learn about the different products of recycled plastic—including t-shirts!
American Chemical Society
What Are Isotopes? Chemistry Basics
Use animations to explain the concept of an isotope. Young scholars view a lesson from the Reaction series dedicated to isotopes. They learn what an isotope is and why they are important to complete a great back-to-basics lesson.
American Chemical Society
Yellowstone Steaming Acid Pools of Death
Although beautiful, Yellowstone Park has some inherent dangers. An episode of a larger Reactions series explains how the volcanic hot springs in the park affect the pH of the water as well as its temperature. Learners make connections to...
American Chemical Society
How Air Conditioning Works
In mid-July, most are thankful for the chemistry of air conditioning. Learn how those chemical processes create the cool air that makes those hot summer months more manageable! A lesson installment describes how an air conditioner uses...
Veritasium
The Best Test of General Relativity (by 2 Misplaced Satellites)
An analysis of launched objects helps scholars understand general relativity in greater detail. These aren't just any launched objects, though! A video presentation describes the gravitation potential energy of satellites in orbit and...
SciShow
Meet Icarus: The Farthest Star We've Ever Seen
Baby stars on the outside of the galaxy allow the Milky Way to grow. One installment of a larger SciShow Space series shares the details of the growth and the rate of change in the galaxy. It also explains how scientists found the...
SciShow
3 Unique Rovers for Extreme Worlds
How do you design a rover to explore an environment we know nothing about? Scientists create unique vehicles for exploring underwater, extremely hot, windy, and other extreme environments. An installment from the SciShow Space series...
SciShow
There Are Planet-Sized 'Tornadoes' on the Sun?!
Scientists use a telescope larger than Earth to study distant galaxies. Learn how they build and operate such a large telescope as well as some of the cool discoveries with a short video from the SciShow Space series. It also explains...
SciShow
What We Learned by Putting Cars on the Moon
Space transportation usually means rockets, but cars play a huge role in exploring the moon. A useful video from the SciShow Space series explains the reason for lunar rovers and many of the discoveries made thanks to these cars. Reid...
SciShow
What's It like at the Edge of the Solar System?
What changes when you leave the solar system and enter interstellar space? First, scientists needed to define the end of the solar system. Using an interesting video, an installment from the SciShow Space series explains how the...
SciShow
A New Origin Story for Mars's Moons
The brightest and densest protocluster ever observed by scientists makes that area the most active region of space. Learn about the area and the formation of galaxies before our eyes as part of the SciShow Space series. Hank Green also...