Discover Resources
Browse curated homeschool resources from the community
Scientists Are Obsessed with This Lake Nicola Storelli and Daniele Zanzi
In the millions of years since oxygen began saturating Earth’s oceans and atmosphere, most organisms have evolved to rely on this gas. However, there are some places where oxygen-averse microorganisms like those from Earth’s earliest days have re-emerged. And one such place is hidden high in the Swiss Alp’s Piora Valley. Nicola Storelli and Daniele Zanzi dive into the depths of Lake Cadagno.
Ivan Krastev Can Democracy Exist Without Trust
Five great revolutions have shaped political culture over the past 50 years, says theorist Ivan Krastev. He shows how each step forward — from the cultural revolution of the '60s to recent revelations in the field of neuroscience — has also helped erode trust in the tools of democracy. As he says, "What went right is also what went wrong." Can democracy survive?
If You Re an Adult Mayfly You Ll Probably Die Before the End of This Video Luke M Jacobus
For most of the world’s 4,000 mayfly species, adulthood lasts roughly one day. And for some species, it’s only a matter of minutes. This isn’t because they’re all eaten up by predators. Rather, this abridged adulthood is a natural part of their life cycle. So, what role do these bugs play in their ecosystems? Luke M. Jacobus explores the stunningly short life span of the winged insects.
How does your body process medicine? - Céline Valéry
Follow a pill's journey through your body and learn pharmacokinetics.
How to Create Cleaner Coal Emma Bryce
It takes a lot of fuel to heat our homes, preserve our food, and power our gadgets. And for 40 percent of the world, cheap, plentiful coal gets the job done. But coal also releases pollutants into the air, causing environmental damage like acid rain and serious health problems. Can we create a cleaner version of coal? Emma Bryce details the three ways we might strip coal of its foul forces.
How Giant Sea Creatures Eat Tiny Sea Creatures Kelly Benoit Bird
It's a paradox of ocean life: The largest mammals, like dolphins and whales, survive on the tiniest food -- krill, micro-size shrimps and organisms. (Picture trying to make a full meal out of flying kernels of popcorn!) So how do these big animals gather enough food to live? At TEDYouth 2012, Kelly Benoit-Bird discusses new research that shows large sea animals actually herding their tiny food into big, bitable chunks.
Is Political Corruption Inevitable Stephanie Honchell Smith
Corruption is often defined as misuse of a position of power for personal gain. And while corruption in politics is nothing new, it isn’t limited to the political sphere; it can happen in schools, sports, businesses, or religious institutions. So, what exactly is corruption, and what can we do to combat it? Stephanie Honchell Smith explores the importance of transparency in building public trust.
The Genie of Polarisation How Can We Get it Back in the Bottle Kris De Meyer Tedxlondon
We live in an increasingly polarized world — how did we get here? Dr Kris De Meyer explores how people become entrenched in their views and the gridlocked debates these opinions lead to. De Meyer posits a challenge: how can we communicate with those who see reality radically different to us? And what responsibilities do we all have to break the cycle of polarization?
The Most Dangerous Elements on the Periodic Table Shannon Odell
Within the periodic table loom many potential hazardous elements. Some elements are dangerous due to their toxicity. Others are dangerous because of how they respond, react, or even explode in the outside environment. And perhaps the most threatening elements are those that silently emit energy. So, which substances on the periodic table are the most dangerous? Shannon Odell investigates.
How to Make Smart Decisions More Easily
Everything our bodies do— whether physical or mental— uses energy. Studies have found that many individuals seem to have a daily threshold for making decisions, and an extended period of decision-making can lead to cognitive exhaustion. So, what kinds of choices lead us to this state, and what can we do to fight fatigue? Explore the psychology of decision fatigue and ways you can avoid fatigue.
What s Wrong with Our Food System Birke Baehr
11-year-old Birke Baehr presents his take on a major source of our food -- far-away and less-than-picturesque industrial farms. Keeping farms out of sight promotes a rosy, unreal picture of big-box agriculture, he argues, as he outlines the case to green and localize food production. (Filmed atTEDxNextGenerationAshevillen.)
How a Few Scientists Transformed the Way We Think About Disease Tien Nguyen
For several centuries, people though diseases were caused by wandering clouds of poisonous vapor. We now know that this theory is pretty ridiculous, and that diseases are caused by specific bacteria. But how did we get to this new idea of germ theory? Tien Nguyen describes the work of several scientists who discredited a widely accepted theory in a way that was beneficial to human health.
Why Do Some People Snore so Loudly Alayna Vaughan
A leather mask that clamps the mouth shut. A cannonball sewn into a soldier’s uniform. A machine that delivers sudden electrical pulses. These were all treatments for a problem that has haunted humanity for millennia: snoring. It might seem harmless, but snoring can be a sign of something more dangerous. So, what exactly causes snoring? Alayna Vaughan digs into the troublesome sleep disorder.
How Compassion Could Save Your Strained Relationships Betty Hart
When personal relationships and ideological differences collide, the result can lead to strained relations — or even years of silence and distance. Actor Betty Hart offers an alternative to cold shoulders and haughty hellos: compassion, and a chance for growth and change instead of losing important time with loved ones.
Is Life Meaningless and Other Absurd Questions Nina Medvinskaya
Albert Camus grew up surrounded by violence. His homeland of Algeria was mired in conflict. He lost his father in World War I. Seeing World War II's devastation, Camus grew despondent. What was the meaning behind all this endless bloodshed and suffering? And if the world was meaningless, could our individual lives still hold value? Nina Medvinskaya explores Camus’ philosophy of the absurd.
Should You Be Worried About Acid Rain Joseph Goffman
In 1963, scientists studying Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest made a shocking discovery. Their most recent rainfall samples were nearly 100 times more acidic than usual; which could destroy the area’s ecosystems in a matter of decades. What was causing this deadly rainfall? And what could be done to stop it? Joseph Goffman details how scientists transformed this major threat into a minor issue.
Can We Build a Perfect Forest Jean Francois Bastin
Today humanity produces more than 1,400 tons of carbon every minute. To combat climate change, we need to reduce fossil fuel emissions, and draw down excess CO2 to restore the balance of greenhouse gases. Like all plants, trees consume atmospheric carbon through photosynthesis. So what can trees do to help in this fight? Jean-François Bastin digs into the efforts to restore depleted ecosystems.
Teach Girls Bravery Not Perfection Reshma Saujani
Women are underrepresented in areas critical to innovation, including STEM fields, politics, and C-suites. What all these have in common is that success requires risk taking and bravery. How do we socialize our girls and boys differently – and why is it important to encourage girls to embrace imperfection? Reshma Saujani, the founder of Girls Who Code, has taken up the charge to socialize young girls to take risks and learn to program — two skills they need to move society forward.
The Method That Can Prove Almost Anything James a Smith
In 2011, a group of researchers conducted a study designed to find an impossible result. Their study involved real people, truthfully reported data, and commonplace statistical analyses. So how did they do it? The answer lies in a statistical method scientists often use to try to figure out whether their results mean something, or if they’re random noise. James A. Smith explores p-hacking.
The Mystery of Chronic Pain Elliot Krane
We think of pain as a symptom, but there are cases where the nervous system develops feedback loops and pain becomes a terrifying disease in itself. Starting with the story of a girl whose sprained wrist turned into a nightmare, Elliot Krane talks about the complex mystery of chronic pain and reviews the facts we're just learning about how it works and how to treat it.
Everything Changed When the Fire Crystal Got Stolen Alex Gendler
Someone has tripped the magical alarms in the Element Temple. When you and the other monks arrive on the scene, you know you have a disaster on your hands. Four young apprentices broke into the temple’s inner chamber to steal the sacred element crystals. But when the alarm went off they panicked, and each of them swallowed a crystal. Can you determine who ate which crystal? Alex Gendler shows how.
How One Scientist Took on the Chemical Industry Mark Lytle
In 1958, after receiving a letter describing the deaths of songbirds due to the pesticide known as DDT, Rachel Carson began an investigation into the misuse of chemicals and their toll on nature. In 1962, she published her findings in “Silent Spring,” which immediately drew both applause and impassioned dissent. How did this biologist and writer ignite such controversy? Mark Lytle investigates.
What Makes Neon Signs Glow a 360 Animation Michael Lipman
When the Hoover Dam was completed, it created a huge source of hydroelectric power and zapped a sleepy desert town to life: Las Vegas, Nevada. With the power supply from the dam, Las Vegas soon exploded with vibrant displays. The source of these dazzling lights was electrified neon gas. In this special 360° animation, explore the colorful world of neon signs as Lippy shares what makes them glow.
Beatboxing 101 Beat Nyc
There’s no need for instruments to make music; you can use the greatest instrument of all, your own body. Members of BEAT NYC teach the basics of beatboxing (think trumpets, bass drums, and everything in between), all while driving around New York City picking up a few friends.