Reptiles survived the largest extinction event on the planet and then they grew into the most dominant class of the Mesozoic Era. They quickly evolved into giants on land, sea, and air. In an episode of the PBS Eons series viewers learn...

We live in the Cenozoic Era, and most of the animals we recognize first appeared in this era. However, the animals that existed at the start of the era bear little resemblance to present day. As one part of a larger series, individuals...

What would happen if all of the land on Earth received as much rainfall as the temperate rain forest? The vast desserts would be altered, the animals would adapt or die, and the types of plants available would quickly shift. This is what...

Normally when two species look similar, they are closely related. However, this doesn't seem to apply to the Triassic animals. Learn why these familiar looking animals are not actually related to today's animals. Viewers come to...

When did things start going viral? Travel back through eons of history and learn about the origins of viruses. Part of a larger series, the lesson discusses what scientists already know and how they study viruses. The video also details...

The FDA approved more than 25 drugs to treat HIV—and often people must use them in combination. One of the largest challenges with these medications happens due to patient error. Class members use an interactive to learn about drug...

Filters provide amusing changes to images in applications other than just Instagram! High school pupils apply their knowledge of colored filters to three different interactive sets of puzzles. They identify light colors that pass through...

Objects contain pigments that selectively absorb a wavelength of light, and our eyes only observe a very small range of these wavelengths. Scholars apply these two facts to three different activities. They identify the pigment in an...

The dress color debate of 2015 taught the importance of understanding how we see light. Scholars view a shirt under two different colored lights and then must predict what color the shirt will appear under a third light. They apply color...

Light intensity varies by the strength of the light bulb as well as the distance to the light bulb. Pupils apply these concepts independently at first. They must solve for the light intensity as either the distance or the wattage of the...

Scholars relate each of the colors in the spectrum, except indigo, by comparing their frequencies, wavelengths, and energy levels. Then, they compare each section of the electromagnetic spectrum when considering the same three variables.

Scholars work through three different activities applying their knowledge of total internal reflection (TIR). First, they simply identify which diagrams create TIR and which don't. Next, they match different types of boundary behaviors...

Did the T. Rex have feathers? A video from the Eons series playlist explains the exciting recent findings about dinosaurs and feathers. It details the evidence, the research, and our current understanding. It also considers why dinosaurs...

Can we communicate at a speed faster than light? Part of a video series, this enthralling installment introduces the idea of Einstein's spooky action. Then, it relates and expands the concept of quantum entanglement. The results of new...

The largest body of water in California, the Salton Sea,  was created by accident. An interesting installment of a video series shares the history of the lake, which is now home to the second-most diverse group of birds in America. From...

In 1852, a German physicist, Magnus, talked about an effect first described by Isaac Newton in 1672. Part of a series, an interesting video explains the Magnus effect and previous attempts to apply it to transportation. It also shows a...

Though it consists of only 5 percent of the world population, the US generates 40 percent of the world's waste. Scholars learn about landfills, their safety, and other options for handling solid waste. They use experiments and research...

Consider the riddle of dragon genetics. Young scientists simulate being dragon parents and determining which traits their child will have. Then they learn of a new relative and must determine how they are related using probability and...

Magnifying glasses and cameras often use converging lenses, but how do they alter an image? Pupils discover a lens, axis, and object arrow before identifying four characteristics of the resulting image. They label the location,...

Pupils apply their knowledge of refraction to four different sets of challenges. Each of the first three focus on one variable's impact on the direction of bending. The fourth combines variables for greater challenge.

We see curved mirrors every day in spoons, rear-view mirrors, stores as a safety measure, make-up mirrors, and in novelty stores. Scholars explore the changes to an image based on the curve of the mirror, the location of the image, and...

While only briefly mentioned in most Physics books, plane mirrors and their applications offer the basics necessary for future studies. While working through an interactive, pupils demonstrate knowledge of both reflection and its forms....

Reflection seems simple to understand, but without a complete understanding, pupils struggle with ray diagrams, specular versus diffuse reflection, total internal reflection, and image formation. An engaging interactive provides three...

The Environmental Protection Agency monitors sensors to track air pollution and set clean air standards. Enthusiastic young scientists use similar sensors to gather data in their area and then apply the gas laws and conservation of...