Curated Video
Fungi
Discover the magical world of fungi. Neither plant nor animal, they are a separate classification of living organism. Biology - Ecosystems - Learning Points. Fungi are neither plant nor animal. Most fungi are made up of networks of...
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What Plants Need to Grow
Plants produce oxygen and provide our food, but what do they need to live? Learn why nitrates, phosphates, potassium and magnesium are vital for plant health. Biology - Plants - Learning Points. Understanding how plants grow ensures we...
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Bioaccumulation in Food Chains
Investigating why peregrine falcon populations are threatened by pollution from industry thousands of kilometres away. Biology - Ecosystems - Learning Points. The peregrine falcon lives remotely but is affected by man-made chemicals....
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Invading Plant Species
Ecosystems are finely balanced environments. The introduction of 'invader' plant species can be disastrous for biodiversity. Biology - Ecosystems - Learning Points. Protecting diverse delicate habitats from invading species is difficult....
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Asexual Reproduction in Plants
Some plants don't need both a male and female to reproduce - they can do it alone. Which plants can do this and how do they manage it? Biology - Plants - Learning Points. Plants use a variety of methods to reproduce. Methods include...
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Deforestation
Discover how the destruction of the rainforest impacts ecosystems, and begins a cycle that contributes to global warming. Earth Science - Human Impacts - Learning Points. Forests are home to 70% of Earth's land animals and plants....
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Fossil Evidence
Studying fossil evidence reveals how organisms have changed over time. What are fossils and how are they formed? Biology - Adaptation And Evolution - Learning Points. Fossil hunters are called paleontologists. Paleontologists study...
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Mass Extinction: Dinosaurs
It's been 65 million years since the dinosaurs became extinct. But what wiped them out? Hear arguments from the Gradualists and Catastrophists. Biology - Adaptation And Evolution - Learning Points. 65 million years ago the dinosaurs...
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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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Harmful Drugs: Cannabis
Cannabis is a controversial drug: there are debates around its production, legal status and use. What are the facts behind the use of this drug, and how safe or dangerous is it? Biology - Healthy Living - Cannabis is a mild sedative and...
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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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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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Chernobyl Disaster
In 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded. What caused the explosion and why has Chernobyl become a lasting reminder of the dangers of nuclear power? Earth Science - Earth's Resources - Learning Points. The world's first...
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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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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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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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Plant vs Animal Cells
We compare plant cells and animal cells under a microscope to see how they differ. Cheek cells are dyed with methylene blue to make the observations possible. Biology - Cells And DNA - Learning Points. Almost all cells are invisible to...
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Ecosystem Management: Tropical Rainforests
The Amazon rainforest is being cut down for resources and land at a rapid rate. Learn how alternative farming methods, incentives to cut carbon emissions and protected reserves are helping to conserve the rainforest from further harm....
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Limestone: Uses
From English farmland to Egyptian tombs, Limestone is a distinctive rock with many uses. Learn about the formation of different limestone types and the landscapes these form. Earth Science - Geology - Learning Points. There are three...
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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 -...
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Biofuels
Can biofuels become the sustainable fuels of the future? Or does the energy used for their production, and impact on biodiversity mean they do more harm than good? Earth Science - Earth's Resources - Learning Points. Biofuel is cheap to...
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Plant Mimics
From orchids that mimic the appearance of bees to the carrion flower which smells like rotting meat, discover the devious world of the plant mimic. Biology - Plants - Learning Points. Some plants use mimicry to aid reproduction or...
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Plants and Medicine: Aspirin
Aspirin is our most common painkiller. It has an amazing history, which can be traced back thousands of years to the Egyptians. Where does it come from and what makes it so special? Biology - Plants - Learning Points. Aspirin originates...