Discover Resources
Browse curated homeschool resources from the community
What Would Happen If Everyone Stopped Eating Meat Tomorrow Carolyn Beans
Imagine if a wizard of meatless dining suddenly appeared on Earth and with one wave of a wand wiped away all meat from our shelves— along with any desire to eat it. Farm animals destined for food vanish, whisked away to another planet. What happens in the following days, years, and even millennia? Carolyn Beans explores what a vegetarian world could look like.
A Dangerous Development in Political Polarization Wyatt Huang Tedxsmicschool
Political polarization has become an increasingly common and prevalent development in the modern world. As a teenager passionate about social change and political reform, Wyatt Huang discusses the core issue in the modern political environment and its potential harms.
Why is it so Dangerous to Step on a Rusty Nail Louise Thwaites
In the 5th century, a ship master was suffering from a nasty infection that caused his jaws to press together, his teeth to lock up, and the muscles in his neck and spine to spasm. Today we know this account to be one the first recorded cases of tetanus. So, what causes this peculiar infection? Louise Thwaites explores how tetanus affects our bodies, and how we can prevent it.
Why Doctors Used to Bleed Their Patients Stephanie Honchell Smith
Bloodletting was a pervasive medical practice that dates as far back as ancient Greece and continued well into the 19th century. Physicians like Hippocrates believed bad health could be attributed to a fluid imbalance, and recommended bloodletting to help reset the body's balance. So, why did bloodletting stick around so long? Stephanie Honchell Smith digs into its popularity and shortcomings.
Would You Eat This Painfully Hot Pepper to Win a Prize Dan Kwartler
Welcome to Risky Business, the game where we find out how far people will go to win a prize! Today’s contestants are a 21 year-old, a 16 year-old, and a 12 year-old. They'll compete in a series of three challenges: eating ghost pepper cookies, swimming in honey, and crossing a balance beam over poison ivy. Who will win? Dan Kwartler takes a look at how people at different ages make decisions.
Should We Create Superintelligent Ai Ada Ep 4
This is episode 4 of the animated series, “Ada.” This 5-episode narrative follows the young library assistant Ada as she juggles two worlds: her daily mundane reality and the future she vividly imagines for all humanity. Traveling through her visions of potential futures, Ada grapples with the ethical and social implications of new technologies and how they could shape the world.
How to Enter Flow State
Flow is more than just concentrating or paying attention; it's a unique mental state of effortless engagement. And those who more frequently experience flow report higher levels of positive emotions, creativity, and feelings of accomplishment. But what exactly is flow? And how can we find it in our daily lives? Explore steps you can take to increase your chances of finding flow.
One of the Worlds Most Expensive Foods Carolyn Beans
Truffles are one of the world’s most expensive foods— in part because global demand often outstrips supply. And truffles are becoming even more rare and more expensive as deforestation and climate change shrink their suitable terrain. But why are these fungi so rare? And why don’t we just farm more of them? Carolyn Beans digs into the truffle’s unique and somewhat mysterious biology.
Food Expiration Dates Don T Mean What You Think Carolyn Beans
Countries around the world waste huge amounts of food every year: roughly a fifth of food items in the US are tossed because consumers aren’t sure how to interpret expiration labels. But most groceries are still perfectly safe to eat past their expiration dates. If the dates on our food don’t tell us that something’s gone bad, what do they tell us? Carolyn Beans shares how to prevent food waste.
What Actually Causes High Cholesterol Hei Man Chan
In 1968, the American Heart Association made an announcement that would influence people’s diets for decades: they recommended that people avoid eating more than three eggs a week. Their reasoning was that the cholesterol packed into egg yolks could increase cardiovascular disease risk. So, what exactly is cholesterol? And is it actually bad for you? Hei Man Chan digs into this complex molecule.
What Happens to Your Body When You Use an Inhaler Anna Rothschild
Inhalers are mainly used to treat two conditions: asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. And there are two main types: preventative inhalers and rescue inhalers. Preventative inhalers can be used every day to control symptoms, while rescue inhalers are great in an emergency. So, how do they work? Anna Rothschild explains the science behind these simple yet powerful devices.
Can You Reattach a Severed Limb Jason Hoellwarth
In order to reattach a severed limb after an accident, a number of things need to go right— and quickly. A clean cut, properly preserving the limb, and getting it to a skilled surgeon in time are just a few of these challenges. And unfortunately, there are countless complications that come up with most accidental amputations. So, when is limb reattachment possible? Jason Hoellwarth investigates.
Why Daylight is the Secret to Great Sleep Christine Blume
Does the type and amount of light you’re exposed to during the day change how well you sleep at night? Diving into the effects of daylight on your internal biological clock, sleep scientist Christine Blume shares practical tips for making natural light part of your daily routine — and shows why stepping outside might be the simplest, most impactful change you can make to get better rest.
The Secret Behind How Chinese Characters Work Gina Marie Elia
According to legend, in the 27th century BCE, the Yellow Emperor of China charged his historian, Cangjie, to develop a system of writing. Sitting alongside a riverbank, Cangjie noted the imagery that surrounded him. From this, he created the first Chinese characters. So, how has Chinese evolved in the last 3,000 years? Gina Marie Elia explores the history of one of the earliest written languages.
How to Make Learning as Addictive as Social Media Duolingos Luis Von Ahn
When technologist Luis von Ahn was building the language-learning platform Duolingo, he faced a big problem: could an app designed to teach you something ever compete with addictive platforms like Instagram and TikTok? He explains how Duolingo harnesses the psychological techniques of social media and games to get you excited to learn — all while spreading access to education across the world.
How Playing Sports Benefits Your Body and Your Brain Leah Lagos and Jaspal Ricky Singh
The victory of the underdog. The last minute penalty shot that wins the tournament. The training montage. Many people love to glorify victory on the field, cheer for teams, and play sports. But should we be obsessed with sports? Are sports as good for us as we make them out to be, or are they just a fun and entertaining pastime? Leah Lagos and Jaspal Ricky Singh show what science has to say on the matter.
What Causes Opioid Addiction and Why is it so Tough to Combat Mike Davis
In the 1980s and 90s, pharmaceutical companies began to market opioid painkillers aggressively, while actively downplaying their addictive potential. The number of prescriptions skyrocketed, and so did cases of addiction, beginning a crisis that continues today. What makes opioids so addictive? Mike Davis explains what we can do to reverse the skyrocketing rates of addiction and overdose.
Why I Attempt the Worlds Most Dangerous Stunts Michelle Khare
Daredevil Michelle Khare has trained with Olympians, run seven marathons on seven continents in a single week, and even escaped Harry Houdini's deadliest stunt. She shares how embracing fear, failure and an "amateur’s mindset" transformed her from a cautious child into someone who proves that daredevils aren't born — they're developed.
Why Good Ideas Get Trapped in the Valley of Death and How to Rescue Them
All new products must pass through the "valley of death" before they reach the market. Many never make it out, and sometimes that’s ok— if they don’t work, don’t fill a need, or for any number of reasons. One of the fields where this problem is most pressing is zero-carbon technologies. Why is it vulnerable to this trap, and can we change it? Explore how to break the cycle of the funding gap.
The Ethical Dilemma of Deathbed Wishes Sarah Stroud and Michael Vazquez
For decades, Yvonne and Zaina have been happily married and co-leading a non-profit. One day the couple is involved in a car accident, and on her deathbed, Yvonne asks Zaina to promise her two things. First, to continue financially supporting their non-profit. And second, to never remarry. Should Zaina be beholden to these promises? Sarah Stroud and Michael Vazquez explore this ethical dilemma.
Can You Prevent Alzheimer s Disease Krishna Sudhir
Around the world, millions of people have Alzheimer’s disease, a debilitating brain disorder that gradually destroys a person’s memory and other cognitive abilities. While doctors have studied Alzheimer’s for decades, conducting hundreds of clinical trials, there is still no effective preventive treatment or cure. So, why is Alzheimer’s disease so difficult to treat? Krishna Sudhir investigates.
What Was Life Like for a Court Jester Beatrice K Otto
Contrary to common belief, jesters weren’t just a medieval European phenomenon but flourished in other times and cultures. The first reliably recorded jester is thought to be You Shi, of 7th century BCE China. Jesters had unique relationships to power: they could be viewed as objects of mockery or as entertainers and trusted companions. Beatrice K. Otto digs into history's most infamous jokers.
What is Hysteria and Why Were so Many Women Diagnosed with it Mark s Micale
Do you ever feel tired? Overwhelmed? Depressed? Do you have headaches, dizziness, cramps, difficulty breathing? From 300 BCE to the 1900s, if you answered yes to any of these questions and you had a uterus, a doctor would likely diagnose you with hysteria. So, where did this medical diagnosis come from? And why did it persist for so long? Mark S. Micale traces the history of the catch-all term.
How the Water You Flush Becomes the Water You Drink Francis De Los Reyes
In 2003, Singapore’s national water agency launched an unprecedented program to provide more than 50% of their nation’s water supply by recycling wastewater. The program had been planned for decades to ensure the island nation never ran out of clean water. But is it really safe to reuse anything we flush down the toilet? Francis de los Reyes explains the science of wastewater treatment.