SciShow
How Do We Know What the Milky Way Looks Like?
Imagine describing what something looks like when you've only seen it from the inside. That's the task astronomers tackle when describing the shape and characteristics of the Milky Way. Using a combination of physics and mathematics,...
SciShow
A Tribute to John Glenn
Don't miss an out-of-this-world tribute to the life of John Glenn, the first astronaut to orbit Earth. The mission itself was not smooth sailing. An interesting video shows viewers how Glenn had to think on his feet to ensure the success...
SciShow
The Apollo Program's Loneliest Astronauts
Supporting roles may not be as recognized—but they are no less important! Watch as an installment of the SciShow Space series explains the supporting roles on the Apollo missions. Without these role players, the Apollo missions...
SciShow
New Clues to the Structure of the Universe
Evidence suggests that Pluto has undergone polar wander. A video instructor explains how Pluto's axis of rotation may have changed and how this is possible. The lesson focuses on the science behind the discovery and what it tells...
PBS
Why Megalodon (Definitely) Went Extinct
From the top of the food chain to extinction, follow the life of the megalodon! An episode in the PBS Eon series describes the evolution of the ancient species and its eventual extinction. The narrator discusses the fossil evidence and...
PBS
When Sharks Swam the Great Plains
Would you believe the Midwest region of the United States was once the Western Interior Seaway? An interesting presentation from the PBS Eons series describes the geography of the ancient seaway and the species that lived there. The...
PBS
How Sloths Went from the Seas to the Trees
Discover the versatility of the sloth species—at least what it once was! Scholars examine the history of the evolution of the sloth in a segment of the PBS Eons series. They learn that the current-day view of the sloth is one of a...
PBS
Your Place in the Primate Family Tree
Your family get-togethers are about to become more interesting! A video lesson in the PBS Eons series describes the primate family tree that leads to the one and only—homo sapiens. Discover the fossil evidence that leads scientists to...
PBS
When Giant Amphibians Reigned
Take an evolutionary journey as an ancient amphibian. A lesson from a PBS series describes the features and evolutionary sequence of a large amphibian group, the Temnospondyls. Although extinct over 210 million years ago, many...
PBS
Can We Get DNA from Fossils?
Just how long can a fossil preserve DNA? It seems that DNA becomes unreadable after about 6.8 million years. Learn about the science that helped make this conclusion and the mistakes made along the way in a lesson from a PBS Eons video...
Crash Course
Marie Curie and Spooky Rays: Crash Course History of Science #31
Marie Curie overcame limitations to become the first person to win two Nobel Prizes. A video presentation outlines her work and discoveries in radioactivity. The narrator gives a timeline of her achievements as she sacrificed her...
Veritasium
Epic Slow-Mo Drum Implosions!
Slow motion effects add a dramatic influence to a lesson on atmospheric pressure. A video presentation explores characteristics of atmospheric pressure through experimentation. A large imploding drum demonstrates the effects of air...
Veritasium
How Long Will You Live?
Cells only divide a specific number of times before they die at the end of the division cycle. This molecular clock is the culprit of aging. A video explores the concept with a trip to New York to discuss the phenomenon with a leading...
SciShow
The Milky Way May Have a Disk of Black Holes
With better technology comes better information. An interesting video presentation discusses the evidence that makes scientists believe black holes exist in our galaxy. The narrator explains what a black hole is and how one forms.
Veritasium
The Kg Is Dead, Long Live the Kg
Precision is imperative in science! Learn how science defines units of measure and how that changed for several units in 2018. A video lesson describes the history behind the definition of the kilogram, and the narrator then...
Veritasium
Five Firsts for Mars InSight
Scientists have been studying the surface of Mars for many years ... it's time to know a little something about its interior, too. The Mars Insight launched in November 2018 on a mission to study the happenings inside the most studied...
SciShow
Why Does Venus Spin Backwards?
Our planetary neighbor has some explaining to do! Scientists are mystified by the fact that Venus spins in the reverse direction of all other planets. A thoughtful video lesson explains different hypotheses as well as the science leading...
SciShow
How Can the Universe Be Flat?
Flat, positively curved, or negatively curved ... what is the true shape of the universe? Scientists use many indirect measurements to base their theories on the shape of the universe. Using an installment from the SciShow Space series,...
SciShow
How the US Launched Its First Satellite
Start to finish, the first satellite was an 84-day project. Follow the process in a video lesson presentation from the SciShow Space series. The narrator explains the decision-making process and structure of the satellite as well as the...
SciShow
How Many Galaxies Are There?
Could there really be over 200 billion galaxies? It turns out the number may be closer to two trillion galaxies! A video presentation discusses the existence of galaxies in the universe. The narrator explains how scientists make...
SciShow
The Oldest Planet Ever Discovered
The oldest known planet is more than 12 billion years old! A video lesson explains how unique the planet is and why it intrigues scientists. The instructor describes the recent discovery of the planet and the actual data collected that...
TED-Ed
Why Can't Some Birds Fly?
Back in the day, all birds had the ability to fly. Why would evolutionary adaptations take that away from some species? A video presentation discusses the cost of having the ability to fly and why that feature may not be ideal for...
TED-Ed
What’s the Smallest Thing in the Universe?
Quarks have some interesting features—including their names! Young scholars learn about up, down, strange, charming, bottom, and top quarks in an engaging video presentation. The narrator begins with an overview of molecules and atoms,...
TED-Ed
Why Is Meningitis so Dangerous?
Meningitis is scary and life-threatening—but preventable. Learn the science behind the disease and how to prevent contraction in a three-part lesson. Scholars first view a video describing the characteristics of meningitis and how people...