TED-Ed
TED-Ed: M Jackson: How to grow your own glacier
In the 13th century, Genghis Khan embarked on a mission to take over Eurasia, swiftly conquering countries and drawing them into his empire. But, legend has it that there was one obstacle that even he couldn't overcome: a towering wall...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: The true story of 'true' - Gina Cooke
The older the word, the longer (and more fascinating) the story. With roots in Old English, 'true' shares etymological ancestors with words like betroth and truce...but also with the word tree. In fact, trees have been metaphors for...
SciShow
How Far Will People Go to Fit In?
Have you ever gone along with a group even though you had your doubts? You're not alone: Research shows unanimous decisions aren't always actually unanimous.
TED-Ed
TED-ED: The history of marriage - Alex Gendler
A white, puffy dress. Eternal love. A joint tax return. Marriage means something different to everyone and has changed over time and across cultures. Alex Gendler traces the history of getting hitched, providing insights on polygamy,...
TED Talks
TED: Are you a giver or a taker? | Adam Grant
In every workplace, there are three basic kinds of people: givers, takers and matchers. Organizational psychologist Adam Grant breaks down these personalities and offers simple strategies to promote a culture of generosity and keep...
SciShow
Firehawks: Nature's Arsonists
We all know that birds are incredibly smart, but some birds in Australia take things to the next level — they can intentionally start fires!
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Are there universal expressions of emotion? | Sophie Zadeh
The 40 or so muscles in the human face can be activated in different combinations to create thousands of expressions. But do these expressions look the same and communicate the same meaning around the world regardless of culture? Is one...
SciShow
The Real Paleo Diet
The paleo diet is becoming more popular, but research suggests its claims aren't all that scientific.
Crash Course
Zora Neale Hurston: Crash Course Black American History
The Harlem Renaissance produced many remarkable artists, writers, and thinkers. Today we'll talk about one of the most interesting minds of the time, Zora Neale Hurston. Hurston was an anthropologist by training, and spent much of her...
TED Talks
France Villarta: The gender-fluid history of the Philippines
In much of the world, gender is viewed as binary: man or woman, each assigned characteristics and traits designated by biological sex. But that's not the case everywhere, says France Villarta. In a talk that's part cultural love letter,...
MinuteEarth
The Place Where Time Flows Backwards
People all around the world tend to represent time via space, but there’s no consensus on which way time goes.
TED Talks
TED: What the people of the Amazon know that you don't | Mark Plotkin
The greatest and most endangered species in the Amazon rainforest is not the jaguar or the harpy eagle, says Mark Plotkin, "It's the isolated and uncontacted tribes." In an energetic and sobering talk, the ethnobotanist brings us into...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: What is a gift economy? - Alex Gendler
What if, this holiday season, instead of saying "thank you" to your aunt for her gift of a knitted sweater, the polite response expected from you was to show up at her house in a week with a better gift? Or to vote for her in the town...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Who was the world's first author? - Soraya Field Fiorio
4,300 years ago in ancient Sumer, the most powerful person in the city of Ur was banished to wander the vast desert. Her name was Enheduanna, and by the time of her exile, she had written forty-two hymns and three epic poems— and Sumer...
Crash Course
Race, Ethnicity, and the Cultural Landscape: Crash Course Geography
Sometimes culture can seem invisible like when we're surrounded by signals that tell us we're with others who are like us, but if we live or travel somewhere where the traits that define social norms are not our traits, culture can...
SciShow
Why Baby Talk Is Good for Babies
You may have heard that using baby talk is bad for children’s language development, but research seems to show the exact opposite.
TED Talks
TED: How to build a resilient future using ancient wisdom | Julia Watson
In her global exploration of Indigenous design systems, architect Julia Watson researches enduring innovations that could help us counter the challenges of climate change. From floating villages to living root bridges that strengthen...
SciShow
Pickles, Probiotics, and Why Rotten Food Is Good For You
Probiotics eat our food for us and help us digest. Gross? Or amazing?? Hank explains why we need bacteria and how cool it is.
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: What makes tattoos permanent? - Claudia Aguirre
The earliest recorded tattoo was found on a Peruvian mummy in 6,000 BC. That's some old ink! And considering humans lose roughly 40,000 skin cells per hour, how do these markings last? Claudia Aguirre details the different methods,...
SciShow
Is Urine Really Sterile
Despite what you might've seen on some wilderness-survival show, there's increasing evidence that your pee isn't sterile. So don't do anything crazy with it. Sci Show explains!
TED Talks
Wade Davis: Dreams from endangered cultures
With stunning photos and stories, National Geographic Explorer Wade Davis celebrates the extraordinary diversity of the world's indigenous cultures, which are disappearing from the planet at an alarming rate.
Crash Course
Cultures, Subcultures, and Countercultures: Crash Course Sociology
What is culture? How do we define it and how does it change? We’ll explore different categories of culture, like low culture, high culture, and sub-cultures. We'll also revisit our founding theories to consider both a structural...
SciShow
The Hidden Biases in WEIRD Psychology Research
Psychology studies can be really skewed by the WEIRD population (western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic). Why does this hidden bias exist?
Be Smart
The Delicious Science of CHEESE!
I am an absolute freak for cheese. Next to bread, it might be our oldest biotechnology! Here's some of the science about how it's made and where it comes from. Special thanks to Kara Chadbourne from Antonelli's Cheese in Austin, TX!!!...