TED Talks
Vilayanur Ramachandran: The neurons that shaped civilization
Neuroscientist Vilayanur Ramachandran outlines the fascinating functions of mirror neurons. Only recently discovered, these neurons allow us to learn complex social behaviors, some of which formed the foundations of human civilization as...
Be Smart
Why Do Men Have Nipples? - 12 Days of Evolution #7
Some of the biggest evolution questions finally answered.
SciShow
The Strange Blind Fish of the Lower Congo River
The lower Congo River is treacherous, turbulent, and very deep. While that might seem like an inhospitable habitat, hundreds of species of fish thrive there, including some that are really bizarre!SciShow is supported by Brilliant.org.
SciShow
How Earth's Rotation Affects Our Oxygen | SciShow News
Oxygen is crucial for life as we know it, but before it could build up in our atmosphere, earth had to slow down.
Be Smart
Amazing Animal Superpowers
Evolution has come up with some pretty amazing ways to get things done when it comes to animals, plants and microbes. From radiation-resistant bacteria (like Dr. Manhattan) to geckos who climb glass using atomic adhesion (like Spider...
TED Talks
Jonathan Haidt: Religion, evolution, and the ecstasy of self-transcendence
Psychologist Jonathan Haidt asks a simple, but difficult question: why do we search for self-transcendence? Why do we attempt to lose ourselves? In a tour through the science of evolution by group selection, he proposes a provocative...
TED Talks
Harvey Fineberg: Are we ready for neo-evolution?
Medical ethicist Harvey Fineberg shows us three paths forward for the ever-evolving human species: to stop evolving completely, to evolve naturally -- or to control the next steps of human evolution, using genetic modification, to make...
TED Talks
TED: The radical potential of self-evolving robots | Emma Hart
What if robots could build and optimize themselves -- with little to no help from humans? Computer scientist Emma Hart is working on a new technology that could make "artificial evolution" possible. She explains how the three ingredients...
SciShow
Bivalves Could Be the New Lab Rats
Bivalves—animals like mussels, clams and oysters—might be a more familiar sight in a restaurant than a lab. But it turns out that studying them might help us learn more about our own health.
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Is this the most successful animal ever? | Nigel Hughes
Prevailing for around 270 million years and encompassing more than 20,000 distinct species, trilobites are some of the most successful lifeforms in Earth's history. When they sprung into existence, they were among the most diverse and...
TED Talks
TED: Solving medical mysteries | Joe DeRisi
Biochemist Joe DeRisi talks about amazing new ways to diagnose viruses (and treat the illnesses they cause) using DNA. His work may help us understand malaria, SARS, avian flu -- and the 60 percent of everyday viral infections that go...
SciShow
Slowly Solving the Mystery of Turtle Origins
The origin story of turtles is a mystery that has perplexed many for centuries, but thanks to more recent studies, we might be one step closer to figuring out their lineage.
SciShow
Ecstasy in Rivers and The World's First Geological Map
SciShow News shares new research into how music festivals can lead to high levels of drugs in your drinking water, and celebrates the man who created the world’s first geological map.
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Claire Simeone: The lovable (and lethal) sea lion
Sunning themselves on rocks or waddling awkwardly across the beach, it's easy to think of sea lions more as sea house cats. But don't be fooled by their beachside behavior. Under the waves, sea lions are incredible endurance hunters,...
TED Talks
TED: We can reprogram life. How to do it wisely | Juan enriquez
For four billion years, what lived and died on earth depended on two principles: natural selection and random mutation. Then humans came along and changed everything - hybridizing plants, breeding animals, altering the environment and...
Be Smart
Does Evolution Have a Point? 12 Days of Evolution #12
Some of the biggest evolution questions finally answered.
SciShow
Pink Lake Mystery Solved!
Remember that episode we did on Australia’s Pink Lake? Well, we have a follow-up! Hank explains in this episode of SciShow News.
SciShow
Why Do I Have to Brush My Teeth?
There are a few reasons that modern humans have to brush our teeth to stay healthy, even though our primate cousins don’t. Grab your floss and find the answers inside!
SciShow
The Science of Sweetness
Sugar, honey, listen up. Humans love the sweet taste of sweetness, but have you ever wondered why? What's the evolutionary purpose behind our love for sweets? Why can we taste sweet anyway? What are those sugar substitutes really made...
Be Smart
Evolution: The Book Of Life
My friend Eric Schulze, awesome science guy and leader of Thirst DC helps me understand how genes and DNA write the book of life, and how reading that book has helped us learn that everything on Earth is descended from a common ancestor....
Bozeman Science
Behavior and Natural Selection
Paul Andersen explains how the behavior of various organisms is shaped by natural selection. The action of phototropism and the timing of photoperiodism have both been shaped by the relative availability of light. Courtship in the...
SciShow
Origins of Intolerance
Hank's news this week informs us on a couple of crazy science experiments, updates us on some earlier topics (dangerous asteroids and ancient phallic rock art), and briefs us on a new study that seeks to find the evolutionary origins of...
PBS
What Colors Were Dinosaurs?
We know a lot about dinosaurs but there's one question that has plagued paleontologists for decades: what color were they?
TED Talks
Daniel Wolpert: The real reason for brains
Neuroscientist Daniel Wolpert starts from a surprising premise: the brain evolved, not to think or feel, but to control movement. In this entertaining, data-rich talk he gives us a glimpse into how the brain creates the grace and agility...