A unique combination of sunspots, solar flares and magnetic fields combine to create a visual spectacle on Earth. But what are the forces at work? Physics - Our Solar System - Learning Points. Natural light displays known as Aurora...

The ingenious system to measure the distance to the Moon involving Apollo astronauts, lasers and a unique mirror system planted on the lunar surface. Physics - Our Solar System - Learning Points. In 1969, the Apollo 11 astronauts left an...

Concentrated light can be incredibly powerful and useful. Learn how laser beams are produced by controlling how atoms emit photons of light. Physics - Waves - Learning Points. Lasers are photons of the same frequency going in the same...

Lasers are usually associated with heat. But scientists have instead used them to reach the coldest temperature ever recorded. Could they reach absolute zero? Physics - Energy And Radioactivity - Learning Points. Absolute zero is...

MRI machines are now commonly used in hospitals to build amazing images of inside our bodies. Discover how magnets allow them to do this. Physics - Electricity And Circuits - Learning Points. MRI machines use magnets to take images of...

High energy electromagnetic radiation, with extremely short wavelengths, often smaller than an atom. A Twig Science Glossary Film. Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using stunning images and concise textual definitions....

Electromagnetic radiation present between ultraviolet and gamma rays on the electromagnetic spectrum, with wavelengths from about 0.01 to 10 nanometres. A Twig Science Glossary Film. Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using...

This video delves into Albert Einstein's "miracle year" of 1905, when he published revolutionary papers that changed our understanding of light, atoms, and the universe. Learn about his theories on photons and quantum theory, his proof...

This video is explaining how X-rays work for kids.

This video is explaining how solar panels work for kids.

Plants can grow in artificial light, but artificial light isn’t as intense as sunlight and has less red and blue light than sunlight. LED lights used in special indoor growth chambers reduce the difference between artificial light...

SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) astronomer Jill Tarter describes how we use technology as a proxy for potential alien intelligence, and how our search involves looking for signals that nature doesn't make on her own.

Solar physicist Jenny Nelson, Imperial College, describes how we know that there is a basic limitation of efficiency of energy conversion of a solar cell that follows from our understanding of the panchromatic nature of the sun.

Theoretical physicist and Nobel Laureate Roger Penrose (Oxford) describes how the sun's entropy is harnessed by all manner of life on earth.

Nobel Laureate David Politzer describes Galileo’s vital lesson of obtaining knowledge by working with related similar but knowingly inappropriate models that can point towards a deeper understanding.

Nobel Laureate Anthony Leggett (Illinois) shares his excitement about the field of topological quantum computing.

Harnessing entangled photons to image fragile samples, such as living cells



With support from the National Science Foundation, this University of Michigan team has built a new laser-based instrument called a quantum...

In episode 54, Jordan and Charlie explore a new nuclear reaction imaging technique designed to detect the presence of “special nuclear materials” concealed in cargo containers. This method relies on a combination of neutrons and...

Quantum coin flipping is the fairest way to flip a coin over the phone. How does it work?!

Analytical Instrumentation (AI) deals with the instrumentation systems designed to perform quantitative and qualitative analysis of a sample. These instruments play a vital part in laboratories, quality control centres, research labs to...

With recent high-profile security decryption cases, encryption is more important than ever. Much of your browser usage and your smartphone data is encrypted. But what does that process actually entail? And when computers get smarter and...

What if you could power a ship using sunlight instead of wind? Well in space, you can! Solar sails or light sails are pushed with light from the sun. Photons provide a kick when they reflect off the sail pushing the sail like an air...

In this video, we use the following equations to interconvert between and do calculations with Frequency (λ), Wavelength (𝝂), & Energy: 1) E=h𝝂 2) 𝝂=c/λ 3) E=hc/λ

This version of the film is missing a shot.

In its first year of operations, NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has mapped the entire sky with unprecedented resolution and sensitivity in gamma-rays, the highest-energy form of...