PBS
The Humans That Lived Before Us
As more and more fossil ancestors have been found, our genus has become more and more inclusive, incorporating more members that look less like us, Homo sapiens. By getting to know these other hominins--the ones who came before us--we...
PBS
When We Took Over the World
From our deepest origins in Africa all the way to the Americas, by looking at the fossils and archaeological materials we have been able to trace the path our ancestors took during the short window of time when we took over the world.
PBS
When We Tamed Fire
The ability to make and use fire has fundamentally changed the arc of our evolution. The bodies we have today were, in many ways, shaped by that time when we first tamed fire.
PBS
When Hobbits Were Real
Its discoverers named it Homo floresiensis, but it’s often called “the hobbit” for its short stature and oddly proportioned feet. And it’s been at the center of a major controversy in the field ever since. Was it its own species? Or was...
PBS
The Missing Link That Wasn’t
The myth of the Missing Link--the idea that there must be a specimen that partly resembles an ape but also partly resembles a modern human--is persistent. But the reality is that there is no missing link in our lineage, because that’s...
PBS
How We Figured Out Fermentation
Thanks to a recent adaptation, instead of getting sick from the boozy, fermented fruits, one of our primate ancestors could digest them safely, and get more calories at the same time. This new superpower would open up a whole new...
PBS
How Humans Lost Their Fur
We’re the only primate without a coat of thick fur. It turns out that this small change in our appearance has had huge consequences for our ability to regulate our body temperature, and ultimately, it helped shape the evolution of our...
PBS
The Neanderthals That Taught Us About Humanity
Throughout the first half of the 20th century, Neandertals were thought to have been…primitive. Unintelligent, hunched-over cavemen, for lack of a better word. But the discoveries made in that Iraqi cave provided some of the earliest...
PBS
How a Supervolcano Ignited an Evolutionary Debate
The Toba supervolcano was the biggest explosive eruption of the last 2.5 million years. And humans were around to see it, or at least feel its effects! But what were those effects?
Be Smart
Humans Are Smart. Why Are Babies So Dumb?
The first thing a baby giraffe experiences after being born is a 2 meter fall straight down to the ground. But within an hour, it’s standing, walking, and nursing on its own. And a blue whale calf, after nearly a year growing inside mom,...
Be Smart
Why Is Our Skeleton On the Inside?
Having bones is pretty cool. They make our blood, let us hear, and keep us from being just a squishy puddle on the floor. But for every species with bones, there are at least 20 species on Earth with exoskeletons instead. And those...
Be Smart
What is Impossible in Evolution?
Could humans ever evolve to have wings? Why don’t fish have propellers? Why don’t tigers have wheels? Why don’t zebras have laser turrets? These might all seem like stupid questions (and maybe they are!) but they can teach us a lot about...
SciShow
5 Times Evolution Did Its Best
Usually when you think of evolution or natural selection, you think of survival of the fittest. But sometimes, the resulting traits of evolution aren’t the most efficient solutions to the problems at hand. With the bar set to “good...
SciShow
Why are We So Much Chubbier than Other Apes?
Chimpanzees and bonobos may be very close to us humans on the tree of life, but one of our differences is the way we store fat. That difference comes down to types of fat cells and our DNA. Hosted by: Hank Green
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Why are some people left-handed? - Daniel M. Abrams
Today, about one-tenth of the world's population are southpaws. Why are such a small proportion of people left-handed -- and why does the trait exist in the first place? Daniel M. Abrams investigates how the uneven ratio of lefties and...
SciShow
This is NOT What Evolution Looks Like
Hank explains where that over-simplified image of evolution comes from and what it is actually supposed to mean.
SciShow
3 Great Discoveries of 2013
Hank lays out three of the most awesome discoveries in science in 2013, from the fields of physics, space science and anthropology.
SciShow
SciShow Quiz Show: Weird Facts About Humans
Hank squares off against the host of SciShow Kids, Jessi Knudsen Castaneda, to match wits about chemistry, evolution, and how babies are weird!
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Why do humans have a third eyelid? | Dorsa Amir
You know that little pink thing nestled in the corner of your eye? It's actually the remnant of a third eyelid. In humans, it's vestigial, meaning it no longer serves its original purpose. There are several other vestigial structures in...
Crash Course
2001 - A Space Odyssey: Crash Course Film Criticism
Well, here we are. It's the final episode of Crash Course Film Criticism and we're going to chat about one of the more polarizing films ever made: Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. On the surface, 2001 tells the story of human...
SciShow
Humanity's New Cousin & An Ancient Giant Virus
SciShow News shares two amazing things from the deep past that have been discovered: a new ancient human relative, and a 30,000-year-old giant virus.
SciShow
Why are We So Much Chubbier than Other Apes?
Chimpanzees and bonobos may be very close to us humans on the tree of life, but one of our differences is the way we store fat. That difference comes down to types of fat cells and our DNA.
SciShow
The Evolution of Getting Punched in the Face
SciShow delivers the latest in science news, including how fist-fighting fueled the evolution of the human face, new insights into the origin of schizophrenic "voices," and new research into the bird flu.
SciShow
SciShow Quiz Show: With the Brain Scoop's Emily Graslie!
Hank goes head-to-head with the Brain Scoop’s Emily Graslie to match wits about springs, hoaxes, and human evolution!