Be Smart
Is Height All in Our Genes?
Humans on average are shorter than they were centuries ago. Young scholars analyze the factors that affect the height of individuals including historical trends in a video lesson. The presentation analyzes both genetic and...
Be Smart
What Do Raindrops Really Look Like?
Raindrops are more like pancakes than teardrops. Scholars learn the physics behind the shape of a falling raindrop in a video lesson presentation. An episode explains the forces acting on the droplet and how those forces change as it...
Be Smart
Will You Still Eat Raw Fish after Watching This Video?
Yikes, parasite eggs have been found in mummy remains! Scientists now know where they come from, but that doesn't always stop them. Learners explore the battle between parasites and hosts and how they strive to stay one step ahead of...
Be Smart
Where Do Teeth Come From?
Surprisingly, dinosaur teeth and human teeth have a lot in common. Scholars discover how teeth form during embryonic development. They then compare fossil evidence of the similarities of teeth of ancient species.
Be Smart
The Largest River on Earth Is in the Sky
Water vapor released by trees in the Amazon creates a floating river. In fact, it's the largest river on Earth! A video presentation examines the science behind the water vapor and explains how rains seeds form to create clouds.
Be Smart
Can We Get Older Without Aging?
There are reasons elderly people are more susceptible to diseases. A video lesson instructor discusses the changes cells endure over someone's lifespan and how that affects the likelihood of contracting a disease.
Be Smart
What Is Farthest Away?
It's difficult to believe in what you cannot see. A video presentation outlines evidence to convince scholars of the idea that there is no end to the universe. A video takes viewers on a trip through history to show learners how our...
Be Smart
The Dinosaur on Your Dinner Table
Believe it or not, birds are dinosaurs! Scholars view evidence that connects birds to dinosaurs in a video lesson. The narrator outlines factors that prove birds are descendants of dinosaurs.
Be Smart
The Deadliest Flu Season in History?
Is it possible for another flu outbreak like the Spanish Flu in 1918? A video lesson explains the factors that affect the spread of a virus and its effect on a population. The narrator describes the structure of the different virus...
Be Smart
The Raisin Bran Effect
Everyone knows the smallest chips settle to the bottom of the bag, but why? An episode from a series of science videos describes the percolation effect using both demonstrations and animation. Scholars watch as smaller particles fill...
Be Smart
Do Fish Pee?
Freshwater fish pee almost constantly, while saltwater fish pee very little. Scholars investigate the concept of homeostasis with a video lesson comparing fresh and saltwater fish. An episode describes how some fish absorb water, while...
Be Smart
Does Someone Else Have Your Face?
Our brains may misrepresent features that make some faces look more alike than they actually are. Learners watch a video lesson that breaks down how the brain reads facial features and how those features themselves are not as important...
PBS
The Evolution of the Heart (A Love Story)
Not all hearts are the same, but their functions are similar. An instructor discusses the origin of the first organisms with a heart in a video lesson from the PBS Eons series. The lesson includes discussion of the evolution of the...
PBS
The Island of Shrinking Mammoths
We've heard about pygmy pigs—why not pygmy mammoths? Fossil evidence proves their existence, but the dilemma is figuring out where they lived. A video describes different theories on their evolution and migration.
PBS
The Humans That Lived Before Us
You may struggle to find similarities between humans and many of our ancestors. Fossil evidence finds more and more signs of similarities between humans and many other species. A lesson outlines the fossil evidence and the questions...
American Chemical Society
Why Tardigrades Are Some of the Most Hardcore Critters on the Planet
Small but fierce! The tardigrades are less than a millimeter long but can survive extreme cold, extreme heat, and even being in a vacuum. A video presentation explains the unique protein these organisms use to withstand extreme situations.
American Chemical Society
How Do You Catch Fruit Flies?
You can catch more fruit flies with vinegar than honey! Yes, that's right—they prefer vinegar over honey, and a video lesson explains why. It describes the chemical components of the food fruit flies prefer, and the results may surprise...
American Chemical Society
Do Astronauts Need Sunscreen?
Why don't astronauts all come home with sunburns? It turns out that there are many different sources of radiation exposure for astronauts. A video outlines the radioactive dangers and protective measures astronauts must take.
American Chemical Society
How Is Leather Made?
Leather tanning is a chemical production! Scholars watch as a video outlines the chemistry behind processing leather. The instructor describes the chemical makeup of the leather itself and the structure of the chemicals that preserve the...
American Chemical Society
Why Does Humidity Feel Gross?
Where does sweat go when the relative humidity is 100 percent? Well, there is no place for it to go—that's the point! A lesson on humidity, dew point, and heat index describes how to interpret a local weather report. A video explains the...
American Chemical Society
Can Plastic Be Composted?
Some plastics market as green, but are they really? Turns out, the question is a complicated one. A video lesson describes how these new plastics may have some decomposing properties but need a little boost from industry. The lesson...
American Chemical Society
Fact or Fiction: Uncooked Rice Is Bad for Birds
Rice is made of starches that absorb moisture, but is it enough to be harmful to birds? In true myth-buster form, a video lesson explains the science that disproves the thought that rice is bad for birds. The episode compares the...
American Chemical Society
How to Survive the Snow and Ice
Can you tell the difference between artificial snow and the real thing? An informative video explains the structure of a snowflake crystal, both real and artificial. It finishes with a discussion of the chemistry related to salting...
American Chemical Society
How Does Low-Dose Aspirin Work?
Baby aspirin is a life saver for many adults! A video lesson discusses the effect aspirin has on blood even in low doses. Learners discover how aspirin changes blood clots—a key to preventing medical conditions such as heart attacks and...