Crash Course
Yu the Engineer and Flood Stories from China: Crash Course World Mythology
New ReviewOn this Crash Course in World Mythology, Mike Rugnetta is teaching you about floods and deluges, specifically in China. In Chinese myth, flood stories pretty much all revolve around a guy named Yu the Great, or Yu the Engineer. In the...
Be Smart
The Truth About Butterfly Metamorphosis (It's Very Weird)
New ReviewDoes any other creature on Earth undergo a life transformation as dramatic as the butterfly? I think not. Unfortunately, children's books about very hungry caterpillars skip all the COOL and WEIRD and GROSS stuff that happens along the...
Crash Course
Ma'ui, Oceania's Hero: Crash Course World Mythology
In which Mike Rugnetta teaches you about Ma'ui, prominent hero of many cultures in Oceania, aka the Pacific Island nations. Ma'ui is just the kind of hero we're interested in here at Crash Course. He's a culture hero, he's a an...
MinuteEarth
Who’s Eating All The Spiders?
The average human, in theory, eats 3 spiders a year. If you're not eating them and I'm not eating them, who is?
MinuteEarth
Why Do People Hate Koalas?
On the Internet, koalas get an unnecessary amount of hate, so let's debunk some of the most pervasive koala myths!
PBS
Were These Monsters Inspired by Fossils? (w/ Monstrum!)
People have been discovering the traces and remains of prehistoric creatures for thousands of years. And they’ve also probably been telling stories about fantastic beasts since language became a thing. So, is it possible that the...
Be Smart
7 Scientific Urban Legends Debunked!
It sounds like such an incredible fact. “Our own cells are outnumbered by our microbes 10 to 1!” I don’t remember where I first heard it. But I read it in science papers and articles by journalists, so I believed it without question. I...
SciShow
7 Myths About Movement
Bumblebees fly, lights turn on, and you can ride a bike without falling over. We all know these things to be true, but what you may not know is the real reason behind why they work. Join Olivia to bust seven myths about motion.
PBS
Bestselling author dismantles myths about fatness in latest book
Stigma around weight is pervasive in the United States. But as author and podcaster Aubrey Gordon outlines in her New York Times bestseller book, anti-fat bias is also counterproductive, exacerbating health disparities and interfering...
PBS
In Ta-Nehisi Coates’ new novel, memory is a superpower
To make the case for reparations for the toll of slavery, acclaimed writer Ta-Nehisi Coates has offered forceful advocacy and powerful data-driven argument. With his first novel, "The Water Dancer," he uses fiction to illuminate the...
Crash Course
Witches and Hags: Crash Course World Mythology #39
This week, Mike is teaching you about the most mythic of mythological creatures: Dragons. Cultures across the world (and across Westeros) tell stories of dragons, and their power to destroy, their power to prop up kings, and their power...
Crash Course
Mythical Language and Idiom: Crash Course World Mythology #41
It's the end of the world, everybody. Well, it's the end of our mythology series, anyway. This week, we're talking about how mythological themes have made their way into the English language. We're taking on the Herculean task of...
Crash Course
Freud, Jung, Luke Skywalker, and the Psychology of Myth: Crash Course World Mythology #40
In which Mike Rugnetta teaches you about Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, and how a lot of their work was influenced by myth and mythology. While Freud and Jung aren't quite as revered as they once were, they were undoubtedly a huge...
PBS
Thinking about math in terms of literacy - not levels
Algebra is a core subject for U.S. high school students. But should it be? Author Andrew Hacker believes we should reconsider how math is taught: only 5 percent of the American workforce actually uses math beyond arithmetic, though...
PBS
Reparations and why America’s past still shapes the present
A House subcommittee held hearings Wednesday morning to discuss paying reparations to African Americans for slavery. The idea is shaping up to be an issue with some of the candidates running for the 2020 Democratic presidential...
PBS
New Book ‘Myth America’ Examines Misinformation In U.S. History
In a new book, Kevin Kruse and Julian Zelizer assemble a team of fellow historians to push back on what they see as the biggest myths and rampant misinformation about major issues facing this country and some of its most defining...
Crash Course
American Floods: Crash Course World Mythology
We don't want to deluge you with information on the subject, but this week on Crash Course Mythology, Mike Rugnetta is talking once again about floods. We're looking at ancient flood myths in the Americas, and what they can tell us about...
Crash Course
Floods in the Ancient Near East: Crash Course World Mythology
This week on Crash Course mythology, Mike is talking to you about floods. You may have heard the story of Noah and the Ark from the Bible, but that is not the only deluge story humans tell. It's a common thing across culture. You could...
Crash Course
Yu the Engineer and Flood Stories from China: Crash Course World Mythology
On this Crash Course in World Mythology, Mike Rugnetta is teaching you about floods and deluges, specifically in China. In Chinese myth, flood stories pretty much all revolve around a guy named Yu the Great, or Yu the Engineer. In the...
Crash Course
Archetypes and Male Divinities: Crash Course World Mythology
This week on Crash Course Mythology, Mike is teaching you about the archetypes that are often associated with male divinities. We're going to talk about Fathers & Sons, Kings & Judges, Saviors & Sages, Shamans, Tricksters, and Lords of...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: The scientific origins of the Minotaur - Matt Kaplan
The myth of the Minotaur tells the story of an enraged beast forever wandering the corridors of a damp labyrinth, filled with a rage so intense that its deafening roar shakes the earth. But is this story just fiction, or an attempt of...
SciShow
What Are Those Lines on My Nails?
You’ve probably had some. White lines or spots that appear and grow out with your nails. Why does this happen? There are a few reasons, ranging from bumping your nail to poisoning. Check out his Quick Question to see what might apply to...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: The myth of Jason, Medea, and the Golden Fleece | Iseult Gillespie
In Colchis, the hide of a mystical flying ram hangs from the tallest oak, guarded by a dragon who never sleeps. The only way Jason can pry it from King Aeetes' clutches and win back his promised throne is by facing three perilous tasks—...