TED-Ed
The Accident that Changed the World
Penicillin transformed medicine; however, its discovery was totally serendipitous! Find out how an open window, a sight breeze, and a forgotten petri dish changed the world.
TED-Ed
How Bones Make Blood
Bones are blood cell factories. Viewers learn all about bone marrow and how blood cells produced in the marrow of a donor can be grafted into a cancer patient to fight the disease.
TED-Ed
How One Women Put Man on the Moon
Margaret Hamilton did not walk on the moon with the Apollo 11 crew, but those who did would not have been able to without her computer software.
American Museum of Natural History
Ask a Scientist About Mummies
Many are aware of the mummies found in the tombs of Egypt. But in addition to the mummified bodies of the ancient pharaohs like King Tut, archaeologists also found cat mummies, dog mummies, and alligator mummies. In a video interview,...
American Museum of Natural History
Meet the OLogist David Hurst Thomas
David Hurst Thomas loves the children's book The Cat in the Hat and Rocky Road ice cream. He's also loves being an archaeologist. Thomas shares his passion for studying old things in a short video where he answers questions posed by...
American Museum of Natural History
Poison For Good...Poison For Evil
The myths of Hercules and the Hydra and Jason and Medea open a resource about how poisons can be used as weapons of destruction or for beneficial purposes. After watching animated videos of the myths, users take a short quiz that tests...
TED-Ed
Why Do Humans Have a Third Eyelid?
That little pink bud in the inside corner of your eye is actually a vestigial eyelid! Find out more about the plica semilunaris, in a short video that explains why vestigial structures hang around.
TED-Ed
What Causes Heartburn?
Burp! Avoid the burn, heartburn that is! Believe it or not, heartburn takes place in the esophagus near the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), not the heart or the stomach. Find out everything you need to know about what causes...
TED-Ed
The Tale of the Doctor Who Defied Death
Here's a grim tale. Find out what happens to a doctor when he attempts to cheat death because he's greedy.
TED-Ed
The Imaginary King Who Changed the Real World
Lead by a letter circulating through Europe, early Portuguese explorers searched for the Fountain of Youth and the Tower of Babel in an area in Ethiopia ruled by an emperor called Prester John. Viewers learn more about the Portuguese...
TED-Ed
The Murder of Ancient Alexandria's Greatest Scholar
Hypatia, teacher, and advisor to the governor of Alexandria, was a Neoplatonist, believing that arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music were the sacred language of the universe. Find out why this brilliant scholar was brutally...
TED-Ed
The Greek Myth of Talos, the First Robot
A short video introduces viewers to the Greek myth of Talos, the first robot. The story also connects Talos to the myth of Jason, Medea, and the argonauts.
TED-Ed
The Dangers of Mixing Drugs
Drug interactions can be dangerous. Viewers of a short video learn about some well-known and some not-so-well-known interactions that can lead to serious consequences.
TED-Ed
History's "Worst" Nun
It wasn't easy being a woman, a nun, a poet, and an activist for women's rights in the mid-17th century, especially in Mexico. Juana Ramirez de Asbaje was all the above. Learn more about this amazing woman in a short video that details...
TED-Ed
The Egyptian Myth of Isis and the Seven Scorpions
You don't step on Superman's cape, and you don't slam the door in the face of an old woman flanked by seven giant scorpions! Find out why in a short retelling of an Egyptian myth about Isis.
TED-Ed
The Rise and Fall of the Mongol Empire
Temujin, aka Chinggis Khan, united the many Mongol tribes to create the largest contiguous empire in history. A short video details Temujin's many accomplishments and the impact his traders had on the rest of Europe and Asia.
TED-Ed
A Day in the Life of a Cossack Warrior
A day in the life of a Zaporozhian Cossack would challenge even the toughest soldier. Find out more about these independent-minded warriors in a short video.
TED-Ed
How Does Chemotherapy Work?
Who would imagine that the use of mustard gas during World War I would lead to the discovery of chemotherapy? Learn more about how an investigation into this terrible weapon of war leads to the development of this modern cancer treatment.
TED-Ed
Why Doesn’t the Leaning Tower of Pisa Fall Over?
The famous Leaning Tower of Pisa doesn't lean as much as it used to. Why it did, and why it doesn't as much as it used to, is the focus of a short film that reveals the engineering behind the construction and the various efforts over the...
TED-Ed
The Legend of Annapurna, Hindu Goddess of Nourishment
The legend of Annapurna, Hindu Goddess of Nourishment, is a complex tale that incorporates some of Hinduism's basic beliefs. In this version of the tale, Parvati, wife of Shiva, represents energy, growth, and transformation and brings...
TED-Ed
Hacking Bacteria to Fight Cancer
The research being done in the field of synthetic biology holds tremendous possibilities for cancer patients. Here is a short video that details how synthetic biologists are learning how to program bacteria to attack tumors.
TED-Ed
Is Marijuana Bad for Your Brain?
With many states legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, more research can be done into how the body responds to and processes the drug. Find out what is now known about how marijuana affects the brain through a short video.
TED-Ed
"For Estefani, Third Grade, Who Made Me A Card" by Aracelis Girmay
Aracelis Girmay's poem "For Estefani, Third Grade, Who Made Me A Card" comes alive in a short animated film narrated by the poet. The illustrations make the images concrete.
TED-Ed
Could a Breathalyzer Detect Cancer?
Wouldn't it be lovely if cancer detection could be as easy as blowing into a tube? Alas, the process is very complicated. Follow along as the narrator explains some of the problems in using a device like a breathalyzer to detect cancer....