TED Talks
Doris Kim Sung: Metal that breathes
Modern buildings with floor-to-ceiling windows give spectacular views, but they require a lot of energy to cool. Doris Kim Sung works with thermo-bimetals, smart materials that act more like human skin, dynamically and responsively, and...
Crash Course
Sustainable Cities: Crash Course Geography
From towering skyscrapers covered in trees to zero carbon smart cities, there are so many ways to imagine what a sustainable city of the future might look like. But what does it really mean to be sustainable anyway? Today, we’re going to...
TED Talks
TED: How we could make carbon-negative concrete | Tom Schuler
Concrete is all around us: we use it to build our roads, buildings, bridges and much more. Yet over the last 2,000 years, the art of mixing cement and using it to bind concrete hasn't changed very much -- and it remains one of the...
TED Talks
TED: Can we call it a "world map" if it's missing a billion people? | Rebecca Firth
Want to help map the world? Community builder Rebecca Firth explains how the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) is using open-source software powered by volunteers to put one billion people on the map in the next five years. (This...
TED Talks
TED: How we can design timeless cities for our collective future | Vishaan Chakrabarti
There's a creeping sameness in many of our newest urban buildings and streetscapes, says architect Vishaan Chakrabarti. And this physical homogeneity -- the result of regulations, mass production, safety issues and cost considerations,...
SciShow
How Living on Mars Would Make Life Better on Earth
If we ever want to live, sleep, eat, and breathe on Mars, we are going to need some the best tech humans can dream up - and as a bonus that tech might actually help tackle challenges right here on Earth!
MinuteEarth
The Problem With Concrete
Concrete is responsible for 8% of humanity’s carbon emissions because making its key ingredient - cement - chemically releases CO2, and because we burn fossil fuels to make it happen. ___________________________________________ To learn...
TED Talks
TED: The rise of boring architecture -- and the case for radically human buildings | Thomas Heatherwick
Where did all the lumps and bumps on buildings go? When did city architecture become so ... dull? Here to talk about why cities need inspiring architecture, designer Thomas Heatherwick offers a path out of the doldrums of urban monotony...
TED Talks
TED: The genius behind some of the world's most famous buildings | Renzo Piano
Legendary architect Renzo Piano -- the mind behind such indelible buildings as The Shard in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the new Whitney Museum of Art in New York City -- takes us on a stunning tour through his life's work....
SciShow Kids
Solving Mysteries with Archaeologists!
Learn all about archaeologists: the scientists who solve the great mysteries of human history!
SciShow
The Future of Earthquake-Proof Buildings
Earthquakes are almost impossible to predict. Luckily, engineers have come up with some amazing ways to protect people the next time one might strike.
MinuteEarth
The Cruel Irony Of Air Conditioning
The technology we use to keep cool is heating the world in a vicious feedback cycle, so we need to improve it and use it less.
TED Talks
David Macaulay: An illustrated journey through Rome
David Macaulay relives the winding and sometimes surreal journey toward the completion of Rome Antics, his illustrated homage to the historic city.
SciShow
Will We Ever be Able to Predict Earthquakes?
Here on SciShow, we’ve talked quite a bit about how difficult it is to predict earthquakes, and how we prepare for them. So today, let’s take a tour of earthquake science!
SciShow
The Real Story of Asbestos
It seemed like a miracle stone, and eventually, the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians all started using it, too.
PBS
Above Manhattan's bustle, a reshaped public space - Highline
In the mid-20th century, it was a railroad; now it's a public park. Built in the 1930s, 30 feet above the streets of Manhattan, the High Line was crucial for transporting cargo. But with the decline of rail transportation, it closed in...
Curated Video
Brazil Security Tips
New ReviewReview key tips on managing personal security in Brazil. Although Brazil has its share of violent crimes, thefts are far more common than rapes or murders. Public places, such as buses and ATMs, are popular locations for assaults. Women...
Bedtime History
The Pantheon: Rome’s Ancient Temple
New ReviewStep into the Pantheon, one of the most amazing buildings from ancient Rome! Built nearly 2,000 years ago, the Pantheon was a temple for Roman gods and is now a famous church and tourist site. Its giant dome is still one of the largest...
Bedtime History
The Story of St. Paul’s Cathedral
New ReviewSt. Paul’s Cathedral is one of London’s most iconic landmarks, known for its massive dome, elegant architecture, and powerful place in British history. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666, the...
Curated Video
What's So Special About Machu Picchu?
New ReviewThis location wasn't chosen by accident. The Incas sought to be closer to their gods, and the site's spiritual significance is palpable. Waking up to the sun burning off the mist to reveal the ruins is an experience unlike any other.
Curated Video
The Worst Possible US Disaster Just Got Even Worse? (Cascadia Megaquake)
New ReviewThe Big One is coming and it could be far worse than anyone imagined. The Cascadia Subduction Zone, just off the Pacific Northwest coast, is building toward a massive earthquake and tsunami. But new research reveals an even more...
Professor Dave Explains
Ancient India Part 1: The Indus Valley Civilization (3500 – 2000 BCE)
So far we've been focused predominately on Mesopotamia and the Near East. But the Indian subcontinent is also home to one of the earliest civilizations in human history, the Indus Valley civilization. When did this begin? Where were...
Curated Video
How to Make a City Pop-Up Card
Howcast - Learn how to make a city pop-up card in this Howcast video with expert Jessica Tice-Gilbert.
Curated Video
How to Do a Graffiti Background
Howcast - Learn how to do a graffiti background in this Howcast video.