National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Green Revolution: Smart Grid
Explore how a smart grid will connect renewable energy resources to our existing power grid for more efficient energy sharing. These researchers are developing control systems that regulate electricity flow, and a device that regulates...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Profiles of Scientists and Engineers: Civil Engineer
Meet Ken Maschke, a civil engineer at Thornton Tomasetti in Chicago. He shows us some of the challenges he faces, such as the wind force on top of tall buildings and the importance of green energy, and talks about some of the projects he...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Profiles of Scientists and Engineers: Marine Biologist
Meet Ayana Johnson, a marine biologist who studies coral reefs. She shows us what she does, why it is important work, the benefits of this type of occupation, and what she does for relaxation. [7:57]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Profiles of Scientists and Engineers: Mechanical Engineer
Meet Nate Ball, a mechanical engineer who designs and builds devices that solve problems and even save lives, for example, vaccination devices for remote or disaster areas. He discusses what it's like to be an engineer, a robot project...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Profiles of Scientists and Engineers: Environmental Engineer
Meet Tamar Losleben, an environmental engineer who works on public health issues. She specializes in water treatment, storage, and sewage treatment. She discusses what it's like to be an environmental engineer, nonprofit projects she...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Profiles of Scientists & Engineers: Systems & Industrial Engineers
Meet Tom Rust, a systems engineer, and Ashley Benedict, an industrial engineer, who work together on developing and improving hospital workflow efficiency. They discuss what they enjoy about their jobs, and what they do in their free...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science Behind the News: Tomato Decoded
Scientists from fourteen countries work together to decode the genetic make-up of the tomato. They want to learn which genes control which characteristics, such as flavour, shape, colour, nutritional values, etc. The video looks at the...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science Behind the News: Influenza & Flu Vaccines
The biology of a flu virus, how it is spread, how it manifests itself in the human body, and how to protect oneself through vaccination and preventative practices are explained. [4:02]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science Behind the News: Predictive Policing
A grip of mathematicians at UCLA developed a computer program that helps Los Angeles Police practice what they call "predictive policing" where they make educated predictions about where crimes might occur. This allows them to distribute...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Sustainability: Water Baltimore's Urban Streams
A scientist discusses her work studying the travel times of pollutants in waterways around Baltimore's Chesapeake Bay, which is on the brink of an environmental crisis. Her research team is trying to understand how this urban water cycle...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science Behind the News: Tornadoes
An atmospheric scientist explains how tornadoes develop in a supercell thunderstorm. The United States is particularly prone to tornadoes. [4:08]
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National Science Foundation: Science Behind the News: Bio Inspired Materials
The peacock mantis shrimp, which is actually a crustacean and not a shrimp, fascinates scientists due to the power of its small club appendage. It can hit with a force of 200 pounds although this animal is only four inches long....
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National Science Foundation: Science Behind the News: Allergies
A plant biologist explains what causes seasonal allergies to be worse some years than others, and how allergens cause a reaction in the human body. Factors that affect susceptibility to allergies are described, as well as the potential...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science Behind the News: Quantum Computing
John Preskill, a theoretical physicist, explains what quantum computing is, and how it may revolutionize the future of computers. These computers are microscopic, yet millions of times faster than what is possible today. He describes the...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of Nhl Hockey: Vectors
Explains why passing the puck in ice hockey is such an important skill. The puck is an example of a velocity vector and vectors can be added to determine the direction and speed of the puck. [4:28]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science Behind the News: Extrasolar Planets
Astronomers are able to map distant extrasolar planets that orbit stars other than the Sun. They mainly use two methods - the Doppler and the Transit methods. [4:35]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science Behind the News: Drug Resistant Bacteria
With antibiotic drugs becoming less and less effective, scientists are looking for new sources of disease-fighting medicines, and they are looking towards nature for them. [4:46]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science Behind the News: Impacts on Jupiter
Looks at research astronomers are doing in order to understand what happens when comets hit Jupiter, so we can learn what might happen on Earth if something similar occurred. [4:52]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science Behind the News: Crowdsourcing
A computer scientist explains how crowdsourcing works and how it is being used to tackle massive projects, such as digitizing books, translating websites, and determining the structure of a protein. Crowdsourcing is favoured over...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of Innovation: 3 D Printing
Printing in three dimensions allows people to create prototypes of ideas they create on a computer. The applications of this technology are widespread, from science and medicine, to architecture, to the home enthusiast, etc. [5:06]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of Nhl Hockey: Work, Energy & Power
In order to generate a 100 mile-per-hour (160 kph) slapper, NHL players depend on three important physics concepts: work, energy and power. [5:15]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of Innovation: Biometrics
In the field of biometrics, the vein patterns in the eye whites are mapped for human identification purposes. The method could be used for driving licenses, passports, or other applications. [5:19]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of Innovation: Fuel Cell Efficiency
Scientists are working on trying to make fuel cells as efficient as possible using nanotechnology. The explanations are accompanied by helpful diagrams. [5:20]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of Innovation: Biofuels
Scientists are investigating how to use a marine bacterium called Saccharophagus degradans in biofuels. [5:22]