PBS
The Origins of Mummy Mythology
Mummies, particularly Egyptian mummies, became iconic in popular culture due to their association with ancient rituals and the afterlife. The process of mummification was initially a sacred practice tied to Egyptian religious beliefs,...
PBS
How American Culture Changed the Zombie
After the Haitian Revolution, Vodou evolved in the United States, blending West African, indigenous, and European traditions, which French slave owners brought over. By the 20th century, Vodou and zombies became intertwined with American...
PBS
Origins of the Zombie: Vodou, Enslavement, and the Loss of Free Will
The origins of the zombie are deeply rooted in the spiritual practice of Vodou, distinct from the popularized Voodoo. Vodou's zombie concept emerged as a representation of a body without free will, manipulated by spiritual forces, often...
PBS
Are Werewolves Transitioning From Monster to Metaphor?
As we continue to evolve in our understanding of nature and humanity, modern werewolf stories are exploring more sensitive and introspective themes, shifting away from the violent, tortured archetype of the past. The future of werewolf...
PBS
Renaissance of the Werewolf in 1990s and Early 2000s Pop Culture
The 1990s saw a resurgence in werewolf popularity, particularly in video games, movies, and television. Games like Altered Beast and films such as Ginger Snaps revived and modernized werewolf lore, connecting transformations to themes...
PBS
Werewolves of War: From Nazi Propaganda to Post-War Pop Culture
After World War I, some German soldiers who refused to disband formed a group called "Werewolf," which later became an elite recruiting source for the Nazi regime during World War II. Werewolves were integrated into Nazi propaganda,...
PBS
The Evolution of Werewolves in Film
The dawn of the film industry influenced the depiction of werewolves in popular culture. Beginning with early 20th-century movies that incorporated werewolf lore often included a demonization of non-white populations. Later, the werewolf...
PBS
How Industrialization and Urbanization Changed Werewolf Legends
In the 19th century, the werewolf shifted from a feared monster to a symbol of literary fantasy, fueled by industrialization, urbanization, and the rise of science. Stories about werewolves became popular in Gothic literature, penny...
PBS
The Enduring Myth and Medical Mysteries of Werewolves
Throughout history, the concept of werewolves has been closely intertwined with both supernatural and medical explanations. Initially, lycanthropy referred to both literal shape-shifting into wolves through magic and a form of mental...
PBS
Evolution of Werewolf Legends During the Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, werewolf legends evolved, becoming more widespread and demonized by the church. Changes in farming, particularly the rise of sheep farming, positioned wolves as a threat to livelihood, which reinforced their...
PBS
Cultural Variations and Christian Influence on Werewolf Legends
Influenced by Germanic and Nordic traditions, werewolf legends spread throughout Europe. This resulted in a variety of werewolf stories across different cultures. From transformations caused by drinking from a wolf's footprint to legends...
PBS
Myth, Symbolism, and Cultural Origins of the Werewolf
Wolves have played a unique role throughout human history, being both feared predators and admired creatures. This video explores the origins and evolution of the werewolf myth across various cultures, emphasizing three main types of...
Curated Video
Understand Feelings
Theo is on a television game show that tests his knowledge on different feelings. Will Theo win?
Curated Video
Be Safe Online
Theo is playing online games on his tablet and encounters problems. Wendy helps him to stay safe online.
Curated Video
Think Positively
Theo has entered a talent show, but his anxiety stops him from going onstage. Wendy shows Theo a game that helps him to think positively.
Curated Video
Create A Good Bedtime Routine
Theo isn’t getting enough sleep, so Wendy hires a mad Professor to help him create a bedtime routine.
Curated Video
Talk About Your Worries
Wendy shows Theo a game that will help him talk about his worries and who his trusted adults should be. Will he play sensibly?
Curated Video
Big Ideas - Episode 15 - Space Shuttle
The Big Idea of a reusable craft for space travel became a reality in the 1980 s. After two decades of successful missions, the first space shuttle commissioned for reuse was launched in 1981, to great fanfare. Since then, NASA engineers...
Curated Video
Big Ideas - Episode 16 - Land Speed Records
In 1964 at the Butterfield Salt Flats in Utah, 27 year old speed king Craig Breedlove became the first to move across the earth s surface at more than five hundred miles per hour. In the process of setting his third world land speed...
Curated Video
Big Ideas - Episode 20 - GPS Technology
The Big Idea of track-armored vehicles, or Tanks , became a reality during WW1, in an effort to break the deadlock of trench warfare. The tank proved the ideal vehicle to cross over unstable or dangerous terrain, such as barbed wire, to...
Curated Video
Big Ideas - Episode 2 - Edison
Every phone line, traffic light or piece of office equipment owes a lot to the Big Idea of a man who lived in the 19th Century. During his lifetime Thomas Edison had more than one thousand big ideas, and was credited with more U.S...
Curated Video
Big Ideas - Episode 23 - Hubble Space Telescope
The Big Idea is called Maglev, which stands for Magnetic Levitation. A wheel-less vehicle on a magnetic track is powered by electrical linear motors. This method has the potential to be faster and quieter than most conventional trains,...
Curated Video
Big Ideas -Episode 4 - John Logie Baird
In the early years of the 20th century, one man had a Big Idea. Scottish inventor John Logie Baird combined cinematography with the transmission of electric power to create a new medium, one that would change the world forever. That...
Curated Video
Big Ideas - Episode 17 - DARPA Grand Challenge / Driverless Cars
It had long been the idea of road safety experts to have vehicles that were not controlled by drivers, but rather by computers. Automated driving systems that cruise at a set distance from the car in front, park your car for you or steer...