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...
Bite Sci-zed
Biomimicry
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...
TED-Ed
The Lovable (and Lethal) Sea Lion
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.
TED-Ed
A Brief History of Dogs
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.
American Chemical Society
Why Don’t Antarctic Fish Freeze to Death?
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.
PBS
The Island of Shrinking Mammoths
We've heard about pygmy pigs—why not pygmy mammoths? Fossil evidence proves their existence, but the dilemma is figuring out where they lived. A video describes different theories on their evolution and migration.
American Chemical Society
Why Flamingos Are Pink and Hardcore
They're not just pretty faces! Flamingos may look delicate, but they have adaptations that allow them to survive in areas most other organisms cannot. A video lesson in a larger ACS Reactions series describes how flamingos survive in...
PBS
When Humans Were Prey
A quarry worker in southern Africa discovered the first fossil evidence that the human species originated on the continent less than 100 years ago! Evidence from the specimen indicates the first humans were not the hunters—but the prey....
Nature League
Why Are Animals Getting Smaller? - From A to B
Many believe dinosaurs were much larger than animals of today, but even the biggest dinosaur was only half the size of the average adult blue whale. Understanding why animals appear to be getting smaller starts with a discussion of...
Nature League
Adaptations at Animal Wonders - Field Trip
The word camouflage was first found use in English in the 1917 edition of Popular Science magazine. Camouflage, along with many other variations, star in the second video in a four-part series about adaptations. Join the virtual...
Nature League
Increasing Night Life of Mammals - De-Natured
How do animals avoid predators, including humans, if they can't move to a new habitat? The third video in a four-part series explains a recently published article on the topic of adaptations. Many mammals shift their schedules to a more...
The Great War
Companions In The Trenches - Animals of World War 1
People had to suffer in the trenches, but do scholars know they had four-legged companions to help them during World War I? Many horses and dogs were extremely helpful to soldiers during the time period. Discover how horses and dogs not...
Nature League
Sex Safari - Field Trip
A field trip to study reproductive behavior of big game is a great set up for big-time learning! Part two of a four-part Reproduction video series takes viewers up close and personal with the animal residents of a wildlife preserve in...
PBS
Ultimate Animal
How do we define the ultimate animal? Is it brain power, athleticism, population size, longest surviving, or something entirely different? Observe many animals at the top of the evolutionary ladder, or more accurately, ladders with a...
PBS
Cnidarians: Anemones Fight
Sea anemones grow to up to six feet in diameter. Viewers observe an intense battle between two of these predatory species. With battles lasting hours, or even days, the slow motion aggression surprises many viewers.
PBS
Molluscs: Nautilus Regulates Its Buoyancy
Scientists discovered the key to nautilus buoyancy when they X-rayed the shell of living mollusks. An educational video shares these X-rays and explains how the process works. It connects evolutionary changes, a unique circulatory...
Deep Look
Praying Mantis Love is Waaay Weirder Than You Think
Some praying mantises find themselves decapitated and yet still find a way to actively mate. Learn more about these savage insects and why they behave this way. Viewers observe high detail, graphic videos of various mating scenarios...
Deep Look
A Baby Dragonfly's Mouth Will Give You Nightmares
Dragonflies have existed for more than 320 million years and used to have a wingspan of more than two feet. An informative video helps viewers understand the adaptations of this insect to survive longer than the dinosaurs, and their...
Deep Look
These Whispering, Walking Bats Are Onto Something
Over millions of years, bats developed flight and echolocation, so why are some bats now walking to look for food? An interesting video explains the changes in predator and prey relationships due to adaptation. Which adaptation is the...
Deep Look
Daddy Longlegs Risk Life ... and Especially Limb ... to Survive
Daddy Longlegs have eight appendages, but only six of them are actually legs. Learn about these fascinating arachnids and why they only need just over half of their legs to survive, and observe the benefits and risks of having long legs...
PBS
Seasonal Science: Hibernation
Without access to water, humans survive only a few days yet animals that hibernate seem to survive without water for months. Learn how animals survive hibernation in a video that is part of the Seasonal Science series. It addresses many...
Be Smart
20 Million Year Old Spider! Unweaving Spider Silk
Talk about a sticky situation! What is spider silk, anyway? Scholars scope out the science behind one of the world's strongest substances through a video from an intriguing science series. A leading spider scientist discusses the types...
Be Smart
Why Is Blue so Rare in Nature?
Why so blue? As it turns out, very few things in nature only reflect blue light! A short video from a comprehensive science playlist highlights the beautiful blues of butterflies, birds, and human eyes. The narrator shows how adaptations...