Crash Course
Economic Systems and Macroeconomics
What works better: a planned economy or a market economy? Join the global debate with a Crash Course video about macroeconomics and the differences between economic systems. With quotes from Adam Smith and Karl Marx guiding instruction,...
Be Smart
How Much Plastic is in the Ocean?
Plastics in our oceans not only create unsightly litter, but they also threaten habitats. A video episode maps the location of the majority of the plastic debris and explains the impact the debris has on our world. The lesson also...
Crash Course
Wait for It...The Mongols!
While many may imagine the Mongols stereotypically as a barbarian and brutal people, Mr. Green invites his audiences to consider the complexity and impact of this once great empire. This episode covers the benefits, consequences, and...
Crash Course
Buddha and Ashoka
For such a complex and lengthy topic, Mr. Green does a great job of introducing and/or quickly summarizing the major tenets of Indian cultural and religious history, as well as the origins of Buddhism. Topics covered in this episode...
California Academy of Science
Therapy for Color Blindness
Could a virus be the key to reversing color blindness in humans? Some researchers believe so, and have even tested it out on monkeys. Learn more about the experiment and its effects in a short video that could accompany a lesson on gene...
Be Smart
Asteroid Mining: Our Ticket To Living Off Earth?
It turns out asteroids could be a gold mine—literally! An It's Ok To Be Smart video lesson describes the untapped resources orbiting our solar system. The presenter considers the possibilities of space colonies using these resources as...
California Academy of Science
Pacific Leatherback Protection
Turtles are more than just cute, docile sea creatures; many of them are endangered, some critically. The leading threat to Pacific leatherback turtles is human activity. From commercial fishing and boating in the leatherbacks' migratory...
California Academy of Science
Fast Neutrinos
According to Einstein's theory of special relativity, nothing can go faster than the speed of light, but Einstein didn't know about neutrinos. In fact, physicists are just beginning to be able to study these tiny particles that zip...
Crash Course
The Roman Empire. Or Republic. Or... Which Was It?
Who and what exactly constituted the Roman republic? Mr. Green begins this history presentation by detailing Julius Caesar's rise to power and his impact on the republic. He reviews government structure and leadership roles, achievements...
Crash Course
Alexander the Great and the Situation... the Great?
What made Alexander the Great so great? John Green reviews three possible definitions of the term great that we ascribe to historical figures, while offering a fairly comprehensive overview of the accomplishments and legacy of Alexander...
Physics Girl
Special Relativity and the Twin Paradox
Everyone knows that one twin is always older in a pair. But, could a twin be years older? A video from an extensive physics playlist explains Einstein's theory of special relativity. Topics include the speed of light, special versus...
TED-Ed
The Train Heist | Think Like A Coder, Ep 4
Robots come in handy when planning a train heist. The hero and her robot continue their quest to find artifacts to save the world. They must locate and steal the Node of Power on a specific car of a train by writing computer code for the...
California Academy of Science
Octopus Tool-Use
There is a wealth of evidence to suggest that octopi are the smartest of all invertebrates; observe why as you see an octopus walk across the ocean floor carrying a coconut shell to use as shelter. The video alone is short and does not...
California Academy of Science
The LCROSS Mission
True or false: Earth is the only body in our solar system with water. If you said true, perhaps you didn't hear about the LCROSS mission in which NASA crashed a probe into Earth's moon looking for water. Learn about the mission and its...
California Academy of Science
Understanding Viruses
Evolution occurs on large and small scales, in both living organisms and viruses. By learning the pathway taken by pathogens such as the virus that causes dengue fever, scientists can get one step closer to understanding how to stop...
California Academy of Science
Earthquake Engineering
Protecting buildings, bridges, and roadways from damage during an earthquake is an important task for engineers. Discover how one lab goes about testing the safety of existing and yet-to-be-built structures with a short video. See some...