Be Smart
The Essentials of Energy
The world of energy is a confusing place. What's better, nuclear or solar? What's the difference between fluorescent bulbs and LEDs? What's the difference between energy and power? And what the heck is a kilowatt-hour?!
SciShow
Why Haven't We Built a Better Battery?
Improving batteries is a tough problem, but it’s also an important one because in many ways the future of our planet also depends on the future of batteries. Luckily, scientists are on the case, figuring out ways to give this essential...
TED Talks
TED: A faster way to get to a clean energy future | Ramez Naam
When it comes to cost, clean energy is bound to beat out fossil fuels, says technologist Ramez Naam. But the hesitancy to build amid the prevalence of "not in my backyard" campaigns is preventing the creation of our sustainable future....
TED-Ed
How do wind turbines work? | Rebecca J. Barthelmie and Sara C. Pryor
Every 24 hours, wind generates enough kinetic energy to produce roughly 35 times more electricity than humanity uses each day. And unlike coal or oil, this resource is totally renewed each day. So how can we harness this incredible...
TED-Ed
How much land does it take to power the world? | TED-Ed
No matter how we make electricity, it takes up space. Coal requires mines, and plants to convert it into electricity. Nuclear power takes uranium mines, facilities to refine it, a reactor, and a place to store the spent fuel safely....
TED-Ed
Why good ideas get trapped in the valley of death -- and how to rescue them | TED-Ed
All new products must pass through the "valley of death" before they reach the market. Many never make it out, and sometimes that's OK -- if they don't work, don't fill a need or for any number of reasons. One of the fields where this...
SciShow
Why Wouldn’t You Put Your Wind Farm In the Windiest Place?
Wind is an ever increasing source of power worldwide, which means wind farms continue to be constructed. And choosing where to place those farms seems straightforward, but it might not actually be best to place the in the windiest places!
SciShow
Is the Power Grid Ready for Green Energy?
Despite the rise of renewable energy, the backbone of the power grid is fossil fuels. Adapting the grid to green energy sources is more complicated than flipping a switch.
TED Talks
TED: How India could pull off the world's most ambitious energy transition | Varun Sivaram
India has a historic opportunity to power its industrialization with clean energy -- and its energy choices will make or break the world's fight against climate change, says clean energy executive, physicist and author Varun Sivaram....
Bozeman Science
Renewable Energy
In this video Paul Andersen discusses the technology, advantages and disadvantages of six sources of renewable energy; biomass, hydroelectric, solar, geothermal wind, and hydrogen. He also explains how changes in the storage and flow of...
SciShow
Why Haven't We Built a Better Battery?
Improving batteries is a tough problem, but it’s also an important one because in many ways the future of our planet also depends on the future of batteries. Luckily, scientists are on the case, figuring out ways to give this essential...
Crash Course
The Engineering Challenges of Renewable Energy: Crash Course Engineering #30
This week we are looking at renewable energy sources and why we need them. We’ll explore hydropower, wind, geothermal, and solar power, as well as some of the challenges, and how engineers are working to make their use more widespread.
SciShow
"Alternative" Alternative Energies
Humans have an almost insatiable energy demand, so scientists and engineers are always on the lookout for sustainable ways to provide the energy we need. And some of these ideas go way beyond solar panels and wind turbines! Chapters View...
Curated Video
Wind Power
Wind power is a clean and renewable energy source. But problems associated with this form of energy mean wind power currently only generates a tiny percentage of our electricity. Earth Science - Earth's Resources - Learning Points. Wind...
Curated Video
The Wind Power Debate
Despite being a clean, renewable source of energy, wind farms attract dissent. Discover the downside to the construction of wind farms and why some people are upset about their use. Earth Science - Earth's Resources - Learning Points....
Curated Video
Solar wind
A stream of charged particles, mainly electrons and protons, emitted from the Sun's outer atmosphere at up to 900 kilometres per second. A Twig Science Glossary Film. Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using stunning images...
Curated Video
Energy sources – Pixelate
What is it? ... It's a wind turbine! People and places -Future of energy - Energy sources A Twig Tidbit Film - Pixelate. A pixelated image unscrambles. The children have to guess what it is.
Curated Video
Renewable and non-renewable energy sources – Odd one out
Four energy sources are shown on screen, but which is the odd one out and is not a renewable energy source? People and places -Future of energy - Renewable and non-renewable energy sources Learning Points Solar power, hydropower and wind...
Curated Video
Wind Turbines - Wind Energy
Find out how wind turbines transform kinetic energy into electricity. People and places - Future of energy - The energy debate Learning Points Wind power is a renewable energy source. A Twig Context Film. Reinforce and extend the...
Curated Video
What is air?
You may not think about it much, but air is everywhere and it is essential to life. Material processes - Solids, liquids and gases - Characteristics of air Learning Points Air is a mixture of gases including nitrogen and oxygen. Air...
Curated Video
Energy sources
Discover the new technologies being developed to provide energy across the globe. People and places -Future of energy - Energy sources Learning Points Most energy comes from burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuels will eventually run out....
Curated Video
Where does wind come from?
Wind can be a powerful force, but what exactly is wind? Material processes - Solids, liquids and gases - Characteristics of air Learning Points Wind is air moving from an area of high pressure, to an area of low pressure. Humans use the...
Bedtime History
Alternative Energy & Renewable Energy for Kids | Bedtime History
Learn about the different innovations in alternative energy and renewable energy such as solar power, wind power, geothermal power, and hydroelectric power, and how they are changing the world today.
Wonderscape
Leif Erikson and the Viking Journey to North America
Learn about Leif Erikson, the Viking explorer who led a daring expedition across the Northern Atlantic, possibly making him the first European to reach North America. Discover how Viking ships, like the Knarr, enabled their exploration...