From the microbes in our stomachs to the ones on our teeth, we are homes to millions of unique and diverse communities which help our bodies function. Jessica Green and Karen Guillemin emphasize the importance of understanding the many...

A little bit of explanation for the cycle of carbon and oxygen

All cooking is science: we use chemistry and physics to steam, fry, bake, or microwave almost all of our meals. However, there are some cooking methods that delve into even deeper and stranger scientific territory.

Oxygen is so essential for animals that every multicellular species we’ve ever studied has the ability to use oxygen to create energy... except one.

With sandwiches and toast, sourdough bread always adds an extra accented flavor to your meals. But where does the signature tartness come from?

In this video Paul Andersen describes the lipids (of the fats). He explains how they are an important source of energy but are also required to cell membranes. He explains how the hydrocarbon tails in triglycerides contain energy...

The things we eat and drink on a daily basis can impact our health in big ways. Too many carbohydrates, for instance, can lead to insulin resistance, which is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease and Type 2 Diabetes. But what...

Learn how trees are able to communicate with each other through a vast root system and symbiotic fungi, called mycorrhizae. -- Most of the forest lives in the shadow of the giants that make up the highest canopy. These are the oldest...

Paul Andersen begins by explaining the structure and purpose of carbohydrates. He describes and gives examples of monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharide and polysaccharides. He explains how they grow through dehydration...

Nobody knows exactly when humans began to create fermented beverages. The earliest known evidence comes from 7,000 BCE in China, where residue in clay pots has revealed that people were making an alcoholic beverage from fermented rice,...

Alcohol has been an important part of human culture for a very long time, and from the basic process, we've figured out how to create a wide variety of alcohol beverages!

Paul Andersen describes the four major biological molecules found in living things. He begins with a brief discussion of polymerization. Dehydration synthesis is used to connect monomers into polymers and hydrolysis breaks them down...

Probiotics eat our food for us and help us digest. Gross? Or amazing?? Hank explains why we need bacteria and how cool it is.

Forget lab rats — meet the Chinese or striped-back hamster, an unassuming little rodent whose role in research over the years has led to breakthroughs in genetics, pharmaceutics and more!

Blood banks need a constant supply of donors to maintain their supply, but some enzymes that are already in our bodies might be able to help!

Your body produces more than a liter of mucus every day, and when you're sick, it can be hard to miss. But what exactly is mucus? And what does it do, besides making you miserable? Katharina Ribbeck reveals the mysteries of this...

Having bacteria in your food doesn't really sound great, but you couldn't have yogurt without it! Learn why in this week's QQ!

Paul Andersen explains how nutrients and water are transported in plants. He begins with a brief discussion of what nutrients are required by plants and where they get them. He shows you dermal, vascular and ground tissue in monocot...

Howcast - Learn if sugar causes cancer from nutrition expert Alex Jamieson in this Howcast video.

Howcast - Learn the difference between malt whiskey and grain whiskey from the experts at NYC's Rye House in this Howcast video.

Howcast - Learn how weight loss surgery can affect diabetes in this Howcast video.

Howcast - Learn why being obese increases your risk of developing diabetes in this Howcast video.

Howcast -Learn how to lose weight on the Sugar Busters Diet from Carolyn Dean, M.D. in this Howcast video.

Howcast - Learn if sugar is bad for a child with autism from pediatrician and child development expert Asma J. Sadiq, M.D. in this Howcast video.