PBS
When Giant Amphibians Reigned
Temnospondyls were a huge group of amphibians that existed for 210 million years. And calling them 'diverse' would be putting it mildly. Yet in the end, two major threats would push them to extinction: the always-changing climate and the...
PBS
From Sherlock Holmes to 50 Shades of Grey
You've probably heard of the risque novel "50 Shades of Grey," now the best selling paperback of all time. But you may not know that it's actually fan fiction! It seems shocking that a fan fiction novel has become so popular, but 50...
PBS
Can You Solve the Poison Wine Challenge?
You're about to throw a party with a thousand bottles of wine, but you just discovered that one bottle is poisoned! Can you determine exactly which one it is?
PBS
Are Olympic Competitors Geniuses?
Everyone is obsessed with the Olympics right now, watching these geniuses push the boundaries of their field. Wait, did we say GENIUSES? Yes! We normally associate the word "genius" with intellectual accomplishments, but athletes are...
PBS
When Sharks Swam the Great Plains
If you've ever been to, or lived in, or even flown over the central swath of North America, then you've seen the remnants of what was a uniquely fascinating environment. Scientists call it the Western Interior Seaway, and at its greatest...
PBS
Solving the Impossible in Quantum Field Theory
The equations of quantum field theory allow us to calculate the behaviour of subatomic particles by expressing them as vibrations in quantum fields. But even the most elegant and complete formulations of quantum physics - like the Dirac...
PBS
The Two People We're All Related To
Due to an odd quirk of genetics and some unique evolutionary circumstances, two humans who lived at different times in the distant past managed to pass on a very small fraction of their genomes to you. And to me. To all of us.
PBS
The Real Meaning of E=mc Squared
You've probably known OF E=mc_ since you were born, and were also probably told that it meant that it proved Mass equaled Energy, or something along those lines. BUT WAIT. Was E=mc_ explained to you properly? Mass equalling energy is...
PBS
Do Events Inside Black Holes Happen?
Black holes! From Stephen Hawking to Interstellar, black holes are mammoths in the world of science AND sci-fi. But what exactly IS a black hole? Do events happen inside black holes? Are black holes really a hole? Are black holes really...
PBS
The Retro Awesomeness of Adventure Time
Adventure Time is an animated kids show on the Cartoon Network that is super popular, not just with the kids, but with full grown adults too! Why would a bunch of serious adults, including Mike's Mom, watch Adventure Time? We think its...
PBS
How to Detect Extra Dimensions
On this Space Time Journal Club we look at how gravitational waves can be used to search for extra dimensions of space!
PBS
The Secrets of Feynman Diagrams
Unlock the secrets of Feynman Diagrams. Part 5 in our Quantum Field Theory series.
PBS
The Biggest Thing That Ever Flew
Today, we're familiar with two types of flying vertebrates -- birds and bats. But over 66 million years ago, there was a giraffe-sized reptile that soared through the sky.
PBS
Are We Alone? Galactic Civilization Challenge
The Drake Equation tells us the likelihood that there are other advanced technological civilizations waiting for us among the stars. In this episode of Space Time we challenge you to use the Drake Equation to help us determine how near...
PBS
Do Knock-Offs Prove the Value of a Brand?
We're willing to pay hundreds or thousands more for a specific brand name item, but sometimes it can be tempting to go the way of the knock-off for a fraction of the price. The counterfeit industry is huge and isn't going anywhere, and...
PBS
Supervoids vs Colliding Universes!
If you study a map of the Cosmic Microwave Background, or CMB, you may notice a large, deep blue splotch on the lower right. This area, creatively named the Cold Spot. Is this feature a statistical fluke, the signature of vast...
PBS
White Holes
Lurking in the depths of the mathematics of Einstein's general relativity is an object even stranger than the mysterious black hole. In fact it's the black hole's mirror twin, the white hole. Some even think that these could be the...
PBS
Will We Ever Find Alien Life?
The silence of the galaxy and the resulting Fermi Paradox has perplexed us for nearly 50 years. But our most recent surveys of the Milky Way finally allow us to draw scientific conclusions about the depressingly persistent absence of...
PBS
What Colors Were Dinosaurs?
We know a lot about dinosaurs but there's one question that has plagued paleontologists for decades: what color were they?
PBS
Can We Hear Shapes?
Mathematician Mark Kac asked the question "Can we hear the shape of a drum?" It was a question that took over 20 years to answer. Sine waves, fundamental frequencies, eigenvalues, this episode has got it all!
PBS
How are Justin Bieber, Franz Liszt and Jerusalem Connected?
At first glance, Pop Wunderkind Justin Bieber and revolutionary 19th Century pianist and composer Franz Liszt don't seem to have anything in common. And while they might not have any musical or biographical similarities, they both have...
PBS
The Race to a Habitable Exoplanet - Time Warp Challenge
You've discovered a habitable exoplanet, but so has an an evil interplanetary mining corporation. Can you get to the planet before they strip it bare and leave it unsuitable for life? You're going to need a ship, the Lorentz...
PBS
What Makes a Pop Star Authentic?
Miku Hatsune is a computer generated pop star from Japan who has performed to sell out crowds. Lana Del Rey is a rising singer-performer who has encountered controversy over her alleged authenticity as an artist. IDEA channel raises the...