Hurricanes are just made up of clouds and wind moving in a certain pattern…so could we use a nuclear weapon to disrupt that wind enough to stop them?

When presented with the problem of hoards of illiterate commoners, English clergymen in the 11th century created plays to spread word about the Bible. Eventually, the plays moved out of the church and into the streets. Mindy Ploeckelmann...

If you've ever seen a group of starlings in flight, you've appreciated one of nature's most hypnotic sights -- the lava-lamp-like flow of a murmuration. SciShow explains the biology and mathematics behind this beautiful phenomenon.

The legal system can seem like a complicated tangle of arcane rules and loopholes, and it can sometimes seem like it is designed to confuse. But it is possible, with the right application, for the legal system to rectify injustices....

"The computer is an incredibly powerful means of creative expression," says designer and TED Fellow James Patten. But right now, we interact with computers, mainly, by typing and tapping. In this nifty talk and demo, Patten imagines a...

Over the course of history, we've discovered hundreds of thousands of asteroids. But how do astronomers discover these bits of rock and metal? How many have they found? And how do they tell asteroids apart? Carrie Nugent shares the story...

Learn about the robots inspired by animals with Hank!

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Today we continue our tour through the major fields of engineering with a look at mechanical engineering, beginning with the steam engine. We’ll discuss aircraft, the development of aerospace engineering, and take a look into the future...

A mini-lesson on cause and effect.

The debate over foreign aid often pits those who mistrust "charity" against those who mistrust reliance on the markets. Jacqueline Novogratz proposes a middle way she calls patient capital, with promising examples of entrepreneurial...

ctopuses have the ability to solve puzzles, learn through observation, and even use tools - just like humans. But what makes octopus intelligence so amazing is that it comes from a biological structure completely different from ours....

Between 1840 and 1914, an estimated 40 million people left Europe. This is one of the most significant migrations in human history. So, who was leaving Europe? And why? Crash Course is on Patreon! You can support us directly by signing...

In this video Paul Andersen explains how Le Chatelier's Principle can be used to predict the effect of disturbances to equilibrium. When a reversible reaction is at equilibrium disturbances (in concentration, temperature, pressure,...

Considering how massive our universe is, we know the distances to cosmic objects surprisingly well. What tools and clues do scientists use to measure distances that are so enormous they sound like made-up numbers?

Philosopher Dan Dennett calls for religion -- all religion -- to be taught in schools, so we can understand its nature as a natural phenomenon. Then he takes on The Purpose-Driven Life, disputing its claim that, to be moral, one must...

* Viewer discretion advised. This video includes discussion of mature topics and may be inappropriate for some audiences. Pleo the robot dinosaur acts like a living pet -- exploring, cuddling, playing, reacting and learning. Inventor and...

In 1997, Brazilian football player Roberto Carlos set up for a 35 meter free kick with no direct line to the goal. Carlos's shot sent the ball flying wide of the players, but just before going out of bounds it hooked to the left and...

Paul Andersen answers the following question: How do organisms grow and develop?

What if the government ran more like Silicon Valley? Engineer Matt Cutts shares why he decided to leave Google (where he worked for nearly 17 years) for a career in the US government -- and makes the case that if you really want to make...

Curare, known as "flying death," was used for centuries to make poisoned arrows. Scientists discovered how to use it to create life saving medical treatments that we still use today.

You’re a bank robber trying to escape from jail. Can you solve the riddle to get past the fence to freedom? -- Your timing made you and your partner infamous bank robbers. Now, you need to use that timing to break out of jail. Your...

For the people of Kiribati, climate change isn't something to be debated, denied or legislated against -- it's an everyday reality. The low-lying Pacific island nation may soon be underwater, thanks to rising sea levels. In a personal...

They're probably the most successful birds in the history of birds. But what do you really know about pigeons? Hank shares three weird facts about the birds, from their amazing chick-raising trick to their history of heroism in wartime.

Paul Andersen reflects on the 2013 AP Biology Exam.