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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

Nature often offers the best inspiration. Scholars learn about biomimicry and how humans often copy nature to create new products. They explore real-world examples such as including solar panels that mimic leaves, the texture of shark...

Bigger and faster is not always better! Explore the characteristics of the ancestors of the current scorpions with an intriguing video. Scholars learn the connections of these changes to the environment of the different time periods.

What lives in the ocean, has ears, walks on all fours, and can reach a top speed of 18 miles an hour? Why, the sea lion, of course! A cute, animated video introduces viewers to the majestic aquatic mammal.

Relive the birth of ecology and its different branches. The narrator of the 37th video lesson in a History of Sciences series explains the systems nature of ecology. He then explores the major advances of ecology from a historical...

Are you afraid of holes? Believe it or not, some people are! An interesting video explores the science behind trypophobia, or the fear of small holes. Viewers learn about the scientific difference between fear and disgust and identify...

The California condor is the largest flying bird in North America and has been for a very long time. While perfectly equipped to survive in their time period, today there are fewer and fewer in existence. An episode of a larger series...

From cute little birds to giant aviary specimens—all animals evolve! Learn how natural selection on an isolated island in the Mediterranean encouraged animals species to increase in size. The narrator discusses fossil evidence that...

Just what exactly is sickle cell disease? A short, animated video explains how the cell adaption works, how inheriting the sickle cell trait can be an advantage in malaria-prone areas, and how sickle cell disease can be deadly.

A plant engaged in sexual deception? Strange but true. Believe it or not, orchids have developed a range of sexual adaptations that permit them to attract pollinators. The narrator of a short video describes a variety of strategies used...

Canis lupus familiaris. Sound familiar? A short video traces the evolution of canines from wolves to the variety of domesticated dog breeds we find today.

Some fish not only survive but thrive in Antarctic waters. Learn their secret in a lesson in an informative video about the freezing point of the salty sea water as well as the antifreeze proteins in the species' circulatory system.

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...