Debunked
Why Don't Airlines Give Passengers Parachutes
The understanding is if the plane’s going down, you should be able to jump out with your parachute and float to safety. We DEBUNK the myths & misconceptions, explain the problems and show you what would really happen.
Curated Video
Santorini: Looking for Atlantis
Could Atlantis, the mythical city which sank beneath the sea, be based in historical fact? The story of how a volcanic eruption on Crete may have inspired this enduring myth. Earth Science - Geology - Learning Points. In 1630BC, the...
Wonderscape
Pirate Myths and Legends: Separating Fact from Fiction
This video uncovers the truth behind common pirate myths, from the reality of walking the plank to the origins of the pirate accent. Discover the surprising customs, superstitions, and legends that real pirates believed, and how modern...
Wonderscape
Thomas Edison and the Light Bulb: Beyond the Myth
Unravel the true history behind the invention of the light bulb, a journey that goes far beyond Thomas Edison. Discover the early experiments with electricity by Ebenezer Kinnersley and Alessandro Volta's creation of an early battery....
Wonderscape
Thomas Edison: Myths and Reality
Discover the true story of Thomas Edison, beyond the myths of the lone genius. Learn about Edison's brief formal education, his self-driven learning, and the crucial role of his mother, a teacher. Examine the myth of his minimal sleep...
PBS
The Crazed Hunt for the Himalayan Yeti
Dr. Zarka examines the yeti’s origins, from Tibetan folklore and religion to the Westernized abominable snowman version. She explains how Buddhist beliefs, a series of intrepid 20th-century explorers, and a creatively translated word...
Wonderscape
The Wedge: Splitting More Than Just Logs
Explore the wedge, one of the oldest and most versatile simple machines used by humans. From George Washington's mythical cherry tree to modern doorstops, learn how wedges use force and friction to perform tasks like splitting wood and...
Curated Video
The CISO Masterclass - Know Your Role
In this video, delve into the key aspects of understanding and defining your role as a CISO within your organization.
Curated Video
Mythology: Pandora
Mr. Griot provides information about the characteristics of mythological stories as he shares the myth "Pandora."
Curated Video
4 Things You Were Taught Wrong in Chemistry
If you have taken a chemistry class, chances are you were taught at least 1 of these 4 things wrong: atoms are solid spheres, all solutions are liquids, chemical equation, magnetic metals. Check out this video to see if you were taught...
Curated Video
Were These Mythical Warriors Real?
Ancient tales of this tribe of warrior women who fought epic battles and established great cities continue to inspire storytellers in modern times. The legend challenges traditional gender roles and inspires narratives of female...
Curated Video
The Fates: Greek Mythology's Most Powerful Deities
In this episode, we examine the Fates - three shadowy figures who seem to have a near omnipresent influence in the goings-on throughout the Greek mythical universe - and who show up in stories and religions from cultures whose time and...
PBS
Kasogonagá: Sky Deity and Absolute Cutie
A sky deity falling from the sky sounds bad, right? Not if it’s the Kasogonagá! From the mythology of the Toba peoples of South America, this god of lightning, thunder, and rain appears as a small, hairy anteater-like creature and needs...
PBS
Mapinguari: Fearsome Beast and Protector of the Amazon
Deep within the Amazon rainforest lurks a mysterious creature called the Mapinguari. Notoriously elusive, this cave-dwelling giant leaves a trail of broken trees and trampled ferns in its wake. Massive, hairy, and pungent, this beast...
PBS
El Silbón: The Deadly Whistler of the South American Grasslands
The “Terror of the Plain,” this emaciated, whistling devil is cursed to wander the South American countryside carrying the bones of his victims. Intimately tied to the cattle ranching history of Latin America, the myth of El Silbón...
PBS
Taotie: The Mystery of Chinese Mythology’s Famous Glutton
This influential ancient monster from Chinese mythology predates the written word. Inspired by ancient bronze and jade iconography detailing the face of a bulging-eyed, gapping-mouthed beast, the Taotie creature is both mysterious and...
PBS
The Fatal Song of the Sirens
This episode explains how sirens appeared in ancient history, from literature to art, and looks at how the half human half bird creatures became more commonly associated with mermaids. From Ancient Greek legends to Medieval bestiaries,...
PBS
Bunyip: Australia’s Mysterious Amphibian Monster
Originating in the stories and beliefs of the southeastern Indigenous peoples of Australia, accounts of the bunyip are widely varied. This episode uses Aboriginal stories, historical records, and fossils to explore the bunyip legend, and...
PBS
The Legend of La Llorona
The legend of La Llorona, the “weeping woman,” has terrified generations. This female ghost wanders in the darkness, crying as she searches for her children--the children she murdered. Some even say that she will capture other kids in...
PBS
Draugr: The Undead Nordic Zombie
What do the Sagas of the Icelanders and Game of Thrones have in common? Dr. Zarka answers this question and explores how the draugr, Nordic undead monsters, bear a striking resemblance to the White Walkers—and more importantly, how these...
Curated Video
It’s Just a Myth of the Seasons
Mr. Griot defines a myth and discusses the characteristics of and elements contained in a fictional story, specifically how it relates to the myth, Myth of the Seasons.
Great Big Story
The Mysterious Origins of Maiden’s Castle
Discover the enchanting Kizkalesi, also known as the Maiden's Castle, floating on the Mediterranean Sea just off the southern coast of Turkey. Built in the early 12th century, this castle has guarded an ancient port city for centuries....
Curated Video
A Midsummer Night's Dream 5.1.197 Discussion: Helen of Troy
Helen of Troy, famed as the most beautiful woman on Earth, was married to King Menelaus of Sparta before being abducted (or, according to some versions, eloping willingly) with Paris, a prince from Troy. This act led to the Greek kings...
Great Big Story
Polybius Behind the Urban Legend
Delve into the mysterious tale of Polybius, the legendary arcade game that captivated the imaginations of gamers and conspiracy theorists alike. Follow the journey from the murky origins of Project MKUltra to the emergence of Polybius in...