Curated Video
What is a Food Chain?
How energy is passed through living things can be described as a food chain. Journey through a food chain, from primary producers at the bottom to tertiary consumers at the top. Biology - Ecosystems - Learning Points. A 'food chain'...
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Photosynthesis: How Plants Convert Sunlight into Energy
Journey into the chloroplast, where photosynthesis takes place, to learn how plants convert sunlight into usable chemical energy - one of the most vital processes on Earth. Biology - Plants - Learning Points. Leaves are small...
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The Taiga Forest
The Taiga forest is the largest land ecosystem on Earth, stretching from Alaska to Japan. Explore the Taiga and discover the plant and animal life that survives these freezing conditions. Biology - Ecosystems - Learning Points. The Taiga...
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Plant and Animal Mutualism
In the natural world it can be hard to survive alone. From Nepal to Africa, explore some of the surprising relationships forged between plants and animals. Biology - Plants - Learning Points. Mutualism is when animals and plants work...
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Root Hairs
Find out how remarkable adaptations allow the spinifex plant to thrive in the desert. Biology - Plants - Learning Points. Root hairs are specially adapted to suit their role. Root hairs increase the surface area of the roots for...
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Genetic Modification
Genetic Modification allows scientists to manipulate the genetic information of cells, even swapping characteristics between different species. But it is a process which has caused a lot of controversy. Biology - Cells And DNA - Learning...
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Parts of the Plant: Flowers
How do plants reproduce? How is pollen dispersed and how does it develop into a seed? Discover the vital role flowers play in plant reproduction. Biology - Plants - Learning Points. Flowers are the reproductive part of most plants. The...
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Pollution: Water
How does water get polluted? Discover what water pollution means for the environment and how it affects humans. Earth Science - Human Impacts - Learning Points. Industry, agriculture and sewage all contribute to water pollution....
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What is an Ecosystem?
Discover how climate, water, soil, plants and animals function as one and depend on each other in distinct ecosystems, which can range from a pond to an ocean, a tree to a vast forest. Biology - Ecosystems - Learning Points. An ecosystem...
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Algae: Diverse and Vital Organisms of Our Ecosystems
Discover the amazingly diverse world of algae. These species come in all shapes and sizes, and are one of the most important groups of organisms on our planet. Biology - Ecosystems - Learning Points. Algae produce more oxygen than all...
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Oceans: Coral Seas
Coral seas are the most colourful and diverse habitats on Earth, built from a unique symbiotic relationship between coral larvae and algae. Biology - Ecosystems - Learning Points. Coral reefs are found in warm, tropical oceans and are...
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Early Man and Agriculture
Why was the development of early agricultural techniques a crucial evolutionary step? Discover how early farming techniques transformed Neanderthal Man. Biology - Adaptation And Evolution - Learning Points. The last ice age ended 12,000...
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Plants and Medicine
Discover how artichokes, garlic and poppies play important roles in medicine, pain management and the treatment of disease. Biology - Plants - Learning Points. The medicinal properties of plants have saved countless lives. Over half of...
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What is a Cell? - Life’s Building Blocks
Every living thing on our planet, from plants to animals, is made up of cells. Cells are the building blocks of life, but what are they and how do they work? Biology - Cells And DNA - Learning Points. All cells have vital genetic...
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Tropisms and Hormones
Discover the hormones that dictate whether a plant grows downwards with gravity, towards water and nutrients, or upwards towards light. Biology - Plants - Learning Points. Tropisms allow plants to seek out the best conditions for...
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The Carbon Cycle
Through organic matter, rocks and the oceans, the element central to all life on Earth is constantly on the move. Earth Science - Earth's Resources - Learning Points. The carbon cycle is a transfer of carbon between living matter and the...
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Tundra
Find out what animals and plants do to survive in Earth's coldest biome. Biology - Ecosystems - Learning Points. The tundra is Earth's coldest biome. The Arctic tundra is found near the North Pole. The alpine tundra is found around the...
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Tropical Rainforests
Tropical rainforests are competitive environments where plants must compete for space and resources. But other dangers threaten the balance and future of these important habitats. Biology - Ecosystems - Learning Points. Tropical...
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Photosynthesis and Starch
We put three different plants under different conditions to demonstrate that both light and carbon dioxide are needed for photosynthesis to occur. A leaf from each plant is taken and heated in ethanol to remove the pigment. These are...
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Water Uptake in Plants
We place two privet hedge shoots under different conditions to see how the amount of water they draw up will change. They are both placed in measuring cylinders with the same amount of water and a layer of oil is added to the top to...
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Leaf Chromatography
We separate the different pigments in a beech leaf using chromatography. The leaf is broken up and ground with sand and propanone before being transferred to some chromatography paper. This is then lowered into pigment solvent and we can...
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Capillary Action
Water is added to dry and bent matchsticks to let us see capillary action at work. The wood absorbs the water causing the matchsticks to straighten. Biology - Plants - Learning Points. Water is a polar molecule because the electrons are...
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Sexual Reproduction in Plants
Discover the parts of plants necessary for reproduction, and the methods by which pollen is carried between flowers. Biology - Plants - Learning Points. Plants reproduce in various ways. Sexual reproduction occurs using male and female...
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Symbiosis: Mutualism
In nature, some animals depend on another species for survival. The special relationship between sea anemones and clown fish demonstrates how creatures in the same habitat can rely on each other for defence. Biology - Ecosystems -...