We've established that the basic unit of life is the cell, and that the simplest forms of life are just one cell. The earliest unicellular organisms were prokaryotic, and there are many prokaryotic organisms still around today, including...

In 2016, the first synthetic organism of original design was created. When you hear this statement, what does it make you think of? The word synthetic does imply that something was built by man. But if you're imagining artificial...

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in a galaxy 12 billion light-years away: complex organic molecules, the basic building blocks of life. This finding, glimpsing into the universe's infancy, suggests that the fundamental...

How did the very first cells evolve? Most of the basic building blocks can be produced in simple experiments under early Earth-like conditions. However, certain complex cellular behaviours, like movement, have always seemed far-beyond...

In this Friday Evening Discourse at the Royal Institution, Professor Jim Al-Khalili explores how the mysteries of quantum theory might be observable at the biological level. Although many examples can be found in the scientific...

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Sulfur is the 16th element of the periodic table, and is a non-metal. In its elemental form it is a bright yellow crystalline solid at room temperature. In this video we are going to look at the basic physical and chemical properties of...

Learn the basics about allotropes of metalloids and metals, as a part of the overall properties of matter topic. An allotrope is basically a different form of the same element, each with distinct physical and chemical properties. For...

Learn the basics about the uses of polymers, as a part of organic chemistry. Learn about PVC and PTFE. Different polymers have their specific uses and also problems associated with polymers. Polymers are long chain organic molecules made...

Now that we've learned about molecules and cells and the simplest forms of life, we are ready to understand how all of life on earth evolved from a single common ancestor. Given our newfound knowledge about the chromosomal theory of...

Explore how substances travel in diffusion with the Amoeba Sisters! This video uses a real life example and mentions concentration gradients, passive transport, facilitated diffusion, and explains why diffusion is critical for all...

Jakob Magolan is here to change your perception of organic chemistry. In an accessible talk packed with striking graphics, he teaches us the basics while breaking the stereotype that organic chemistry is something to be afraid of.

When life emerged on Earth about 4 billion years ago, the earliest microbes had a set of basic genes that succeeded in keeping them alive. In the age of humans and other large organisms, there are a lot more genes to go around. Where did...

Your body has all sorts of complicated processes going on, and a lot of them are carried out by incredibly powerful molecules. We’re not talking nutrients -- we’re talking about 5 of the molecules that keep you ticking! Hosted by:...

Preserving the environment and developing agricultural products that do not harm unintended targets are top priorities for many scientists and farmers, as well as environmentalists. It's a new era of crop management known as precision...

Learn the basics about climate change and how burning fossil fuels adds extra carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, and how this then leads to climate change. Fossil fuels, like oil, coal and natural gas, are the remains of living things...

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