TED-Ed
TED-Ed: The rise and fall of the Maya Empire’s most powerful city | Geoffrey E. Braswell
During the 8th century CE, warfare and failing agriculture forced Maya people to move north, to hotter, drier Yucatán. Because of its freshwater access, Chichen Itza became the most powerful Maya city, with nearly 50,000 citizens at its...
SciShow
Holes In Space That Aren't Black | Compilation
We’ve talked a lot about black holes, but there are other kinds of space holes out there that deserve some time in the spotlight!
TED Talks
TED: Why art thrives at Burning Man | Nora Atkinson
Craft curator Nora Atkinson takes us on a trip to Nevada's Black Rock Desert to see the beautifully designed and participatory art of Burning Man, revealing how she discovered there what's often missing from museums: curiosity and...
SciShow
The Real Mayan Apocalypse
There are just six weeks left until the celestial odometer that is the Mayan calendar clicks over to the next b'akt'un, but in the meantime, scientists have been trying to solve the mystery behind the collapse of the Mayan civilization....
SciShow
Buddha's Birthplace, Poop Transplants & 'Cryptic Cats'
Michael Aranda relays the latest in science news, including an archaeological discovery about the earliest days of Buddhism, a new species of Brazilian wildcat, and new insights into the effects of fecal transplants.
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Can you solve the penniless pilgrim riddle? - Daniel Finkel
After months of travel, you've arrived at Duonia, home to the famous temple that's the destination of your pilgrimage. The walk from the welcome center to the temple isn't a long one ... but there's a problem. Can you outsmart the city's...
SciShow
The First Time We Met a Comet, We Blew a Hole in It
In the first mission of its kind, Deep Impact’s goal was to teach us about the interior of comets...by blowing a hole in the side of one!
SciShow
How Ancient Buildings Became Accidental Seismographs
We use seismographs to record the time, location and magnitude of earthquakes as they happen. But in the last three decades, a new field of study has emerged that is learning to track these details about earthquakes of old using the...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: The myth of Zeus' test | Iseult Gillespie
It was dark when two mysterious, shrouded figures appeared in a hillside village. The strangers knocked on every door in town, asking for food and shelter. But, again and again, they were turned away. Soon, there was just one door left:...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: The secrets of Mozart's "Magic Flute" - Joshua Borths
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Die Zauberflote" ("The Magic Flute") is widely regarded as one of the most influential operas in history. And while it may seem like a childish fairytale at first glance, it's actually full of subversive...
TED Talks
TED: How do you build a sacred space? | Siamak Hariri
To design the Baha' Temple of South America, architect Siamak Hariri focused on illumination -- from the temple's form, which captures the movement of the sun throughout the day, to the iridescent, luminous stone and glass used to...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: A day in the life of an ancient Peruvian shaman
The year is 1400 BCE. At the temple of the fisherman, the morning is unusually still and this is just the latest in a series of troubling signs for Quexo, the village shaman. The villagers live off the sea, but this year the winds have...
SciShow
Calendars, Codes & Virgins: 3 Myths About the Maya
Hank talks about the Maya, and helps dispel some myths about their historic civilization, revealing how, ultimately, they were just like us: smart, flawed, and awesome.
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: The Japanese myth of the trickster raccoon | Iseult Gillespie
On the dusty roads of a small village, a traveling salesman was having difficulty selling his wares. As he wandered the outskirts of town in the hopes of finding some new customers, he heard a high-pitched yelp coming from the edge of...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: Everything changed when the fire crystal got stolen - Alex Gendler
Someone has tripped the magical alarms in the Element Temple. When you and the other monks arrive on the scene, you know you have a disaster on your hands. Four young apprentices broke into the temple’s inner chamber to steal the sacred...
TED-Ed
A day in the life of an ancient Babylonian business mogul | Soraya Field Fiorio
It's 1762 BCE. As dawn breaks in the Babylonian city of Sippar, Beltani— a priestess and businesswoman— receives an urgent visit from her brother. He makes a troubling accusation: her tavern keeper has been undermining the business...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: A day in the life of an ancient Greek architect | Mark Robinson
The year is 432 BCE. As dawn breaks over Athens, Pheidias is already late for work. He is the chief builder for the Parthenon — Athens' newest and largest temple— and when he arrives onsite, city officials accuse him of embezzling gold...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: What happened to the lost Kingdom of Kush? | Geoff Emberling
Along the Nile River, in what is now northern Sudan, lay the ancient civilization of Kush. Though they were once conquered by a powerful neighbor, the kings and queens of Kush would go on to successfully challenge two of the most...
Crash Course
Christianity from Judaism to Constantine Crash Course World History
In which John Green teaches you the history of Christianity, from the beginnings of Judaism and the development of monotheism, right up to Paul and how Christianity stormed the Roman Empire in just a few hundred years. Along the way,...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Shunan Teng: The Chinese myth of the white snake and the meddling monk
Xu Xian had just received an invitation to the opening ceremony of a new temple. His wife, Bai Su Zhen, warned him not to attend, but Xu Xian, a devout Buddhist, felt obligated to make an appearance. What they didn't know was that these...
Curated Video
Bangkok: History, Culture, and Attractions
Bangkok, Thailand:"From one iconic city to another, we will arrive at Bangkok, Thailand. We will climb the Skytrain, and travel to one of the most legendary snake farms on the planet ... calm! The extraction of the poison and...
Curated Video
China: From the Great Wall to the Gobi Desert
Gansu Province, China:"Then we will go to the province of Gansu ... there we will find some of the most unique rock formations in the world. These red cliffs, known as Danxia, can only be found here in the People's Republic of China."
Curated Video
The Ancient Landmarks of Sri Lanka
Exploring Spiritual Depths in Sri Lanka:Our journey begins in Southeast Asia, immersing us in many cultures as we find spirituality in a rock temple in Sri Lanka.
Curated Video
The Beauty of Laos: Temples, Rivers, and Waterfalls
Exploring Laos:Find tranquility in Laos, a hidden gem in Southeast Asia steeped in centuries-old traditions. Journey to the mesmerizing Kuang Si Falls, with its cascading tiers of waterfalls, offering the perfect balance of mind and body...