TED-Ed
TED-ED: Do we really need pesticides? - Fernan Perez-Galvez
Annually, we shower over 5 billion pounds of pesticides across the Earth to control insects, unwanted weeds, funguses, rodents, and bacteria that may threaten our food supply. But is it worth it, knowing what we do about the associated...
SciShow
Why are GMOs Bad?
Why are GMOs bad? They aren't. They just aren't, not intrinsically, and certainly not for your health. We've been eating them for decades with no ill effects, which makes sense, because a genetically modified organism is simply an...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Are we running out of clean water? - Balsher Singh Sidhu
Despite water covering 71% of the planet’s surface, more than half the world’s population endures extreme water scarcity for at least one month a year. Current estimates predict that by 2040, up to 20 more countries could be experiencing...
Bozeman Science
Loss of Biodiversity
In this video Paul Andersen explains how biodiversity measures the variety of genes, species, and ecosystems on the planet. Biodiversity provides resources and ecosystem services for humans on the planet. He also explains how...
Crash Course Kids
Water Fight!
So, what happens when there's not enough water? Well... not good things. Do we let homes have more water for showering and cooking? Or do we let farms have the water for growing crops? There aren't any easy solutions, but today Sabrina...
Crash Course Kids
Water Fix!
How can we fix water shortages? Well, we know that shortages are a problem and can cause fighting because water is a resource. When you limit a resource, things get scary. But, in this episode of Crash Course Kids, Sabrina talks about...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: The myth of Hades and Persephone | Iseult Gillespie
One day, Persephone was frolicking in a meadow with the nymph, Cyane. As they admired a flower, they noticed it tremble in the ground. Suddenly, the earth split, and a terrifying figure arose. It was Hades, god of the underworld. He...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: The chemical reaction that feeds the world - Daniel D. Dulek
How do we grow crops quickly enough to feed the Earth's billions? It's called the Haber process, which turns the nitrogen in the air into ammonia, easily converted in soil to the nitrate plants need to survive. Though it has increased...
Crash Course
What is Soil (and Why is it Important)?: Crash Course Geography
Soil brings together all four spheres of physical geography, and understanding soil composition is kind of like baking! So in today's episode, we're going to show you how to create the perfect soil cake, examine its different soil...
Crash Course
Price Controls, Subsidies, and the Risks of Good Intentions: Crash Course Economics
So, during times of inflation or deflation, why doesn't the government just set prices? It sounds reasonable, but price ceilings or floors just don't work. Adriene and Jacob explain why. Subsidies, however, are a little different, and...
Crash Course
Controlling the Environment: Crash Course History of Science
Well, it wouldn't be too long after we started developing Ecology that we would try to control the environment. In some ways this was helpful and likely prevented a lot of people from starving. But, there have been a few downsides.
MinuteEarth
The Bird Poop That Changed The World
Thanks to my grandmother for inspiring this story, and to my mother for helping make it. Bird poop was the gateway fertilizer that turned humanity onto the imported-chemical-based farming system of modern agriculture....
SciShow
What's Happening to Honey Bees
You've probably heard about the sudden and mysterious drop in honey bee populations throughout the U.S.A. and Europe. Beekeepers used to report average losses in their worker bees of about 5-10% a year, but starting around 2006, that...
Bozeman Science
Soil and Soil Dynamics
In this video Paul Andersen explains how soils are formed and classified. Weathering of rock creates particles which are mixed with water, air, and organic material. Soils are classified according to particle size, chemical makeup, and...
MinuteEarth
Why Our Favorite Crops Live Fast and Die Young
We mostly grow annual plants because they reliably produce energy-rich seeds, which we like to eat. ___________________________________________ To learn more, start your googling with these keywords: Annual: a plant that typically lives...
Curated Video
What was the Secret Weapon of the Carthaginian Empire?
What was the Secret Weapon of the Carthaginian Empire?
Food Farmer Earth
Advancements in Wheat Harvesting: A Farmer's Perspective
This video provides an insightful look into modern wheat harvesting techniques from a farmer's viewpoint. It discusses the challenges and innovations in wheat farming, including the use of advanced machinery like the John Deere 9750...
Curated Video
The Worst Drought in 1200 Years
The Colorado Basin provides water to over 40 million people in 7 US states and it is currently experiencing its worst drought in 1200 years! But unlike other droughts, our actions may have real impacts on the outcome and it’s very likely...
Curated Video
How to Avoid Running Out of Water
Fresh water issues are getting harder to ignore. In the next five years, half the world’s population will live in a water-stressed area. Drought-stricken cities like San Francisco have started requiring large commercial building to...
Curated Video
Genetically Modified Crops Face Setback in UK Trials
The video discusses the latest trials of genetically modified crops in the UK, which have dealt a significant blow to the GM industry. The crops are engineered to be resistant to weed killers, but these herbicides also kill off all other...
Curated Video
Clone
A genetically identical copy of a piece of DNA, or an entire organism. A Twig Science Glossary Film. Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using stunning images and concise textual definitions. Twig Science Glossary Films...
Curated Video
Floodplain
Flat land around a river or stream that is prone to occasional or frequent flooding. A Twig Science Glossary Film. Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using stunning images and concise textual definitions. Twig Science...
Curated Video
Eco-Transport
The transport industry is one of the leading polluters in the world today. What technologies are being developed to create cleaner transportation and what are their advantages and disadvantages? Earth Science - Earth's Resources -...
Curated Video
Genetic Modification
Genetic Modification allows scientists to manipulate the genetic information of cells, even swapping characteristics between different species. But it is a process which has caused a lot of controversy. Biology - Cells And DNA - Learning...