SciShow
Tardigrades: Adorable Extremophiles
Tardigrades are microscopic organisms (0.5 mm long) with segmented bodies and four pairs of legs, each with four to eight claws. The narrator of this video explores tardigrades, organisms that can survive the most extreme environments...
Crash Course
Natural Selection
The peppered moth is featured in a video about natural selection. The narrator tells the story of Darwin's theory and then moves on to the principles behind natural selection and the different ways it works. Concepts covered include...
MinutePhysics
How to Turn Sound Into Light: Sonoluminescence
The conversion of sound into light is a fascinating phenomenon that is a side effect of pistol and mantis shrimp stunning their prey. It is known as sonoluminescence, and it is thoroughly delineated in this fascinating little video. Add...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
The Making of the Fittest: The Birth and Death of Genes
After watching an engaging 13-minute video about the colorless blood of icefish, future ichthyologists examine icefish blood and non-icefish blood (blood samples are simulated with Karo syrup mixtures) to determine advantages of...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection in Humans
Sickle cell disease only occurs when both parents contribute the trait, and mostly in those of African descent. Where did it come from? How did it evolve? Tony Allison, a molecular biologist, noticed a connection between sickle cell and...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection and Adaptation
The pocket mouse can be light brown like the sands of the desert, or dark brown like the volcanic lava flows that are interspersed throughout New Mexico's Valley of Fire. It seems that predators have weeded out light colored mice in this...
TED-Ed
Poison vs. Venom: What's the Difference?
Did you know that poison and venom are not the same? Both are toxic, but poison must be inhaled, ingested, or absorbed, while venom must be injected into a wound. The narrator explains that some toxic compounds may be used for good, as...
TED-Ed
Pruney Fingers: A Gripping Story
If you can't put your finger on it, you can at least learn from this video about the channels that form our our water-soaked fingertips. What is their purpose? This little clip is an amusing and educational addition to a lesson on...
SciShow
Onions, Emotions, and Why We Cry
Cheer up! Here is a fascinating featurette about why people cry. Hank explains different types of tears, what causes them, their purposes, and even their particular chemical components. This would make a nice addition to your human body...
TED-Ed
The Brilliance of Bioluminescence
Illuminate the darkest corners of your marine biology or life science class with this feature about bioluminescence. Viewers see that luciferase and luciferin combine in a cool, light-producing reaction. This adaptation helps glowing...
Scholastic
Study Jams! Animal Adaptations
Physical and behavioral adaptations are discussed by two teen girls as monarch butterflies flutter by. They also describe the process of natural selection. With colorful animation and relatable teen language, learners are sure to adapt...
Curated OER
Biomes : Tropical Rainforest
Did you know that 50% of the world's species are found in the rainforest, yet rain forests cover just 2% of the earth's surface? Introduce your class to the enchanting world of the rain forest by using this informative, image-rich video....
Curated OER
How African Elephants Beat the Heat in the Desert
How many days can a desert elephant go without water? I think the answer may surprise you! Take a brief journey to an African desert to learn more about the elephant, its crucial role in desert life, and its innate ability to find water...
Curated OER
Evolution Primer #2: Who Was Charles Darwin?
Introduce your young scientists to Charles Darwin, his observations, and how those observations became the basis of the theory of evolution. Use this clip to build an understanding of scientific observation, data collection, and the...
Curated OER
Evolution Clarification
The extent to which "Fittest" can describe social success versus reproductive success is explored. Evolution may not always lead to a more desirable trait, just the one which best suits the current environment. The idea of intelligent...
TED-Ed
Claws vs. Nails
Nail down the differences between claws and fingernails with an informative video that details the evolutionary changes that led some animals to develop nails while other creatures retained their sharp claws.
Be Smart
Why Are so Many People Allergic to Food?
Why do some people have allergies, and why are they on the rise? Scientists are working on the answer. An informative video lesson describes body processes when having an allergic reaction as well as therapies and treatments. The...
Be Smart
1 Million Species Could Go Extinct… Here’s Why
The human carbon footprint may be larger than anyone thought. It is estimated that one million species are at risk of going extinct due to human impact on the environment. An installment from the large It's Okay to be Smart series...
TED-Ed
How Turtle Shells Evolved... Twice
How do turtle shells form? Scholars explore the evolution of turtle shells and learn about how they form from many different bones before relating the process to cell differentiation in an organism. Pupils also look at different turtle...
PBS
When Ichthyosaurs Led a Revolution in the Seas
During The Great Dying, 90 percent of life in the ocean died. A video lesson from the PBS Eon series describes how the oceans recovered. Viewers learn how some species adapted and thrived while others became extinct.
PBS
The Croc That Ran on Hooves
A crocodile with hooves and razor-sharp teeth was really a thing—and there is proof. A video lesson from the PBS Eons series presents the fossil evidence and explores the reasons for the adaptations of the unique reptile. Scholars see a...
PBS
How Evolution Works (And How We Figured It Out)
The concept of evolution changed the way scientists view the world. Part of the PBS Ions series, a thorough video lesson explains the process of evolution by exploring the work of scientists like Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel. The...
PBS
The Ghostly Origins of the Big Cats
A lack of fossil records forces scientists to piece together the evolution of the big cats. The PBS Eons video lesson describes the processes scientists use to infer evolutionary details and predict possible species. Scholars get an...
PBS
The Mystery behind the Biggest Bears of All Time
Bears come in many different shapes and sizes. Follow the evolution of the prehistoric bear through time in an episode from the PBS Eon series. The narrator discusses the evolution of the bear by examining adaptations and their...