Instructional Video2:07
MinuteEarth

Five Crazy Bridges for Animals

6th - 12th Standards
How did the chicken cross the road? The video addresses the multiple solutions we created to help animal populations cross roads, power lines, and dams. It explains the reason human-made obstacles hurt animal populations and why it...
Instructional Video3:04
MinuteEarth

Why do Bats Transmit so many Diseases like Ebola?

6th - 12th Standards
In many different areas of the world, bats spread diseases that kill humans. Understanding how this happens may be the key to our survival. The video explains the diseases carried by bats, how they spread to other species, and the reason...
Instructional Video2:11
MinuteEarth

Why Don't Scavengers Get Sick?

6th - 12th Standards
Scavengers eat diseased animals, yet don't get sick. The video explores this topic through examples of vultures and beetles. One method sprays the decaying meat prior to eating. The other method relies on strong stomach acid to break...
Instructional Video2:47
MinuteEarth

How Many Mass Extinctions Have There Been?

6th - 12th Standards
Everyone knows about the extinction of the dinosaurs, but what other mass extinctions have happened? The video explains how scientists define mass extinctions. It offers insight into the debate about the number of mass extinctions as well.
Instructional Video2:34
MinuteEarth

This Is Not a Pine Tree

6th - 12th Standards
Many people refer to all coniferous trees as pine trees and the video addresses that misconception. It details the differences in pines, spruces, firs, and other related trees. Then it shares the family of trees and their branches.
Instructional Video2:41
MinuteEarth

How Your Dog Can Protect You Before You're Born

6th - 12th Standards
Are there things mothers can do to prevent their unborn children from having asthma? It turns out the answer is related to the household pets. The video explains how dogs and cats seem to protect the health of babies and children. It...
Instructional Video2:30
MinuteEarth

Why We Sucked at Counting Fish (Until Now)

6th - 12th Standards
Are there more fish in the ocean or stars in the galaxy? The video begins with explaining the old method for estimating the number of fish in the ocean. Then it details the new method using SONAR. The differences in estimates lead...
Instructional Video4:04
MinuteEarth

Can Math Explain How Animals Get Their Patterns?

6th - 12th Standards
Most people think of a mathematical pattern as a series of numbers. A video discusses how math might explain the patterns of spots, stripes, and other shapes found on animals. It begins with the observation of various patterns, then...
Instructional Video3:20
MinuteEarth

How to Date A Planet

6th - 12th Standards
The earth is literally older than dirt, but how can we prove it? The video explains the methods used to find the age of the moon and the earth. It offers a quick overview of the rock cycle, geologic processes, and the impact of...
Instructional Video3:08
MinuteEarth

The Mystery of Asparagus Pee

6th - 12th Standards
Why does asparagus change the smell of urine? The video discusses this from multiple perspectives. It considers the olfactory senses, the sulfur compounds digested, the perception, and other factors that contribute to this concept. It...
Instructional Video2:11
MinuteEarth

Why Most Rain Never Reaches The Ground

6th - 12th Standards
More than half of the rain that falls on Earth never reaches the ground. The video discusses the location of rain, the amount that evaporates in the process, and the amount that lands on top of trees all as factors in this...
Instructional Video2:50
MinuteEarth

How These Sea Shells Know the Weather in Greenland

6th - 12th Standards
Does a single-celled organism know more about the history of our planet than we do? A video explains how single-celled organisms manage to build a house and hold the secrets to the weather. They contain the information about the changes...
Instructional Video2:01
MinuteEarth

Our Atmosphere is Escaping!

6th - 12th Standards
Our atmosphere keeps us from the extreme temperatures experienced on the moon. The video explains that our atmosphere actually leaks. It describes exactly which molecules escape and the multiple factors that contribute.
Instructional Video2:27
MinuteEarth

How to Survive a Lightning Strike

6th - 12th Standards
What should you do if you are in the middle of a field when a lightning storm approaches? The video considers the best options for clothing, body position, and more. It highlights how cars and homes protect you from lightning and what...
Instructional Video2:47
MinuteEarth

This Is Your Brain on Extreme Weather

6th - 12th Standards
We track weather and measure it objectively, yet our own beliefs often conflict with the facts. The video discusses how our source of weather reporting and our personal experiences shape our beliefs. It also covers the concepts of...
Instructional Video3:09
MinuteEarth

How Do Greenhouse Gases Actually Work?

6th - 12th Standards
Why does the temperature on the moon get so much hotter and colder than the temperature on the earth? The video answers this question and many more. It incorporates a discussion of the importance of atmosphere and how greenhouse gases...
Instructional Video1:14
MinuteEarth

How Mushrooms Make It Rain

6th - 12th Standards
More than 14,000 species of mushrooms exist on our planet. The short video explains the relationship between the reproductive cycle of fungi and rain. Without the mushrooms, the amount of rain in many parts of the world would decrease...
Instructional Video2:56
MinuteEarth

The Faint Young Sun Paradox!

6th - 12th Standards
Does the sun have a life cycle? The video explains the confusion of what scientists expect and what the history of the earth proves. Then it offers multiple theories about the discrepancy and details the most accepted theory.
Instructional Video3:14
MinuteEarth

Why Are There Clouds?

6th - 12th Standards
Why do cumulus clouds have a flat line on the bottom and a big and fluffy part on top? The video explains how the earth forms clouds. It describes what is needed for a cloud, how the ingredients get high into the air, and what determines...
Instructional Video2:53
Physics Girl

Five Physics Experiments for the Holidays!

6th - 12th Standards
Some times of the year seem too busy for physics experiments. Fear not; a video explains five fast experiments using household materials. From creating CO2 to messing with static electricity, scholars enjoy playing with science....
Instructional Video4:00
Physics Girl

How to Make a Cloud in Your Mouth

6th - 12th Standards
Could you make a cloud with only what you have on you right now? The video explains how to use only your mouth to create a cloud, no matter the temperature outside. It also discusses the physics principles allowing this to occur, various...
Instructional Video2:39
MinuteEarth

Why Do Rivers Curve?

6th - 12th Standards
Rivers flow downhill, but why are there so many curves? The video explains how a straight river with only a tiny change begins to curve. It introduces the patterns all curving rivers follow all over the planet and other planets. 
Instructional Video2:18
MinuteEarth

Why Is All Sand the Same?

6th - 12th Standards
We find sand on beaches, sand dunes, timers, and in hydraulic fracturing, but what exactly is it? The video discusses the mineral that composes the majority of sand on the planet. It also explains how it forms and why it ends up near...
Instructional Video3:53
MinuteEarth

Invasion of the Yellow Crazy Ants!

6th - 12th Standards
How much does an invasive species really matter? The video focuses on examples of accidental species spread as well as intentional introductions. It highlights the problems caused by spreading new plants and animals to areas with no...