TED Talks
Dan Pacholke: How prisons can help inmates live meaningful lives
In the United States, the agencies that govern prisons are often called 'Department of Corrections.' And yet, their focus is on containing and controlling inmates. Dan Pacholke, Deputy Secretary for the Washington State Department of...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: Why do we cry? The three types of tears - Alex Gendler
Whether we cry during a sad movie, while chopping onions, or completely involuntarily, our eyes are constantly producing tears. Alex Gendler tracks a particularly watery day in the life of Iris (the iris) as she cycles through basal,...
SciShow
How Mind-Controlling Parasites Teach Us About Brains
Some parasites can hijack the brains of their victims and cause them to behave in strange ways, but how they do it, and do we humans need to be worried?
TED Talks
TED: How early life experience is written into DNA | Moshe Szyf
* Viewer discretion advised. This video includes discussion of mature topics and may be inappropriate for some audiences. Moshe Szyf is a pioneer in the field of epigenetics, the study of how living things reprogram their genome in...
SciShow
Oklo, the Two Billion Year Old Nuclear Reactor
SciShow takes you to a uranium deposit in Africa where, eons ago, a unique set of conditions came together to form the world's only known natural nuclear reactor. Check it out! No radiation suit required!
SciShow
Your Brain on Retail Therapy
After a bad day, you might feel like you deserve a treat and order that pair of shoes you've had your eye on. But psychologists have wondered if that impulse purchase can end up leaving you feeling more unfulfilled than happy.
TED Talks
James B. Glattfelder: Who controls the world?
James Glattfelder studies complexity: how an interconnected system -- say, a swarm of birds -- is more than the sum of its parts. And complexity theory, it turns out, can reveal a lot about how the world economy works. Glattfelder shares...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: The philosophy of Stoicism - Massimo Pigliucci
What is the best life we can live? How can we cope with whatever the universe throws at us and keep thriving nonetheless? The ancient Greco-Roman philosophy of Stoicism explains that while we may not always have control over the events...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: How people rationalize fraud - Kelly Richmond Pope
If you ask people whether they think stealing is wrong, most of them would answer yes. And yet, in 2013, organizations all over the world lost an estimated total of $3.7 trillion to fraud. Kelly Richmond Pope explains how the fraud...
SciShow
The Future of CubeSat Propulsion
CubeSats have a lot of advantages, but they need a way to move and still stay small, and that means new miniaturized propulsion systems that can help us get these tiny spacecraft out into the universe.
SciShow
Why Nutrition Studies Keep Contradicting Each Other
It seems like nutrition studies contradict a lot, and it’s practically impossible to get a straight answer on whether a given food or supplement is good for you. But why?
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: The rise and fall of the Kingdom of Man | Andrew McDonald
On a small island in the Irish Sea, fortresses preside over the rugged shores. This unlikely location was the birthplace of a medieval empire that lasted 200 years. Rulers built coastal fortresses on cliffs, roved the seaways, and threw...
Crash Course
Game Theory and Oligopoly: Crash Course Economics
Would you like to play a game, Dr. Falken? Actually, this episode isn't really about games, or Matthew Broderick, or Thermonuclear War. But enough with the long references to 1983's best movie, War Games. Today Jacob and Adriene are...
TED Talks
Kathryn Bouskill: The unforeseen consequences of a fast-paced world
Why does modern technology promise efficiency, but leave us constantly feeling pressed for time? Anthropologist Kathryn Bouskill explores the paradoxes of living in a fast-paced society and explains why we need to reconsider the...
SciShow
Why Do We Itch?
Learn why we itch and what scientists have discovered that may help chronic itchiness!
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: How one of the most profitable companies in history rose to power | Adam Clulow
During the 17th century, the Dutch East India Company cornered the booming spice market and pioneered trade routes between Asia and Europe. It is widely considered the most profitable corporation ever created. But such success came with...
TED Talks
Jennifer Golbeck: Your social media "likes" expose more than you think
Do you like curly fries? Have you Liked them on Facebook? Watch this talk to find out the surprising things Facebook (and others) can guess about you from your random Likes and Shares. Computer scientist Jennifer Golbeck explains how...
TED Talks
TED: The mood-boosting power of crying | Kathy Mendias
Here's a talk about tears -- and why crying isn't something to be afraid or ashamed of. Exploring the science behind the mood-boosting power of crying, childbirth and lactation educator Kathy Mendias shows how tears can enhance your...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: Debunking the myths of OCD - Natascha M. Santos
There's a common misconception that if you like to meticulously organize your things, keep your hands clean, or plan out your weekend to the last detail, you might be OCD. In fact, OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) is a serious...
TED Talks
Yuval Noah Harari: What explains the rise of humans?
Seventy thousand years ago, our human ancestors were insignificant animals, just minding their own business in a corner of Africa with all the other animals. But now, few would disagree that humans dominate planet Earth; we've spread to...
SciShow
Nitroglycerin: Explosive Heart Medication
Imagine a substance so powerful that it could blow you to bits or save your life depending on how you used it. Well imagine no more: such a substance exists and you've probably heard of it.
SciShow
Why Do We Laugh?
You know what's funny? Why people laugh. Hank talks about the science of laughter: what makes us laugh, what purpose it serves, and even what it can tell us about our mental and physical health. Hilarious!
SciShow Kids
Which Hand Is Stronger? Biology for Kids
Have you ever tried to write or color with both hands at the same time? It seems like it would save a ton of time, right? But for most people, one of their hands is way better at drawing or writing than the other!
TED Talks
TED: The racial politics of time | Brittney Cooper
* Viewer discretion advised. This video includes discussion of mature topics and may be inappropriate for some audiences.
Cultural theorist Brittney Cooper examines racism through the lens of time, showing us how historically it has...