Discover Resources
Browse curated homeschool resources from the community
How the Bendy Straw Was Invented Moments of Vision 12 Jessica Oreck
Today, Americans use an estimated 500 million drinking straws every day. But where did the idea for this beloved utensil come from? In the twelfth installment of our ‘Moments of Vision’ series, Jessica Oreck shares the origins of the bendy straw.
Why Don T Perpetual Motion Machines Ever Work Netta Schramm
Perpetual motion machines — devices that can do work indefinitely without any external energy source — have captured many inventors’ imaginations because they could totally transform our relationship with energy. There’s just one problem: they don’t work. Why not? Netta Schramm describes the pitfalls of perpetual motion machines.
The Chaotic Brilliance of Artist Jean Michel Basquiat Jordana Moore Saggese
Like Beat writers who composed their work by shredding and reassembling scraps of writing, artist Jean-Michel Basquiat used similar techniques to remix his materials. Pulling in splintered anatomy, reimagined historical scenes and skulls, he repurposed present day experiences and art history into an inventive visual language. Jordana Moore Saggese explores the chaotic and prolific art of Basquiat.
Harvey Milk s Radical Vision of Equality Lillian Faderman
By 1973, Harvey Milk had already been many things: naval officer, high school teacher, bit-part actor and wandering hippie. Starting fresh in San Francisco, his belief in a more personal approach to local government led him to run for office in the heart of American gay culture, the Castro. Lillian Faderman details the tenacity and courage of California's first openly gay public official.
The Sexual Deception of Orchids Anne Gaskett
Nearly 28,000 species of orchid grow all around the world, bearing every imaginable color, shape and pattern. There’s a cunning purpose behind these elaborate displays: many orchids trick insects into pollinating, sometimes even into having sex with them. How do they deploy these deceptive tactics? Anne Gaskett dives into the surprisingly complex ways orchids attract insects.
How Breathing Works Nirvair Kaur
We breathe constantly, but have you ever thought about how breathing works? Discover the ins and outs of one of our most basic living functions-- from the science of respiration to how to control your breaths.
Is There a Disease That Makes Us Love Cats Jaap De Roode
Today, about a third of the world’s population is infected with a strange disease called toxoplasmosis — and most of them never even know it. And while the parasite can multiply in practically any host, it can only reproduce sexually in the intestines of cats. Could this disease be the reason so many people love cats and keep them as pets? Jaap de Roode shares what we know about toxoplasmosis.
Why Do We Eat Popcorn at the Movies Andrew Smith
Soft percussion and a toasty scent mark the violent transformation of tough seeds into cloud-like puffs. This is the almost magical process of popcorn-making. Dozens of kinds of popcorn are now grown in the US, with different strains assuming distinctive shapes when their kernels explode. So, how did we actually end up with this whimsical food? Andrew Smith traces the history of popcorn.
How to Survive the Apocalypse Ada Ep 1
This is episode 1 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.
5 Signs Youre a Good Driver Iseult Gillespie
As one of the agency’s best employees, you’ve been selected as a finalist to take on a new top-secret mission. You’ve already shown your aptitude for surveillance and disguise, but the agency’s looking to test one last critical skill: how well you can drive. Can you prove that you're a good driver? Iseult Gillespie shares tips on how to best tackle the challenges of driving and build confidence.
Can You Solve the Savanna Mystery Cella Wright
In the early 2000s, one of the world’s most widespread invasive species landed in Kenya’s Laikipia Plateau: big-headed ants. They expanded rapidly into super-colonies, preying on other insects, spiders, and even small birds. Their presence has wreaked havoc on the ecosystem and significantly changed the landscape. So, how did these tiny creatures have such a huge impact? Cella Wright investigates.
Mysteries of Vernacular Zero Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel
Though the first written number system can be dated back to 2500 years ago in Mesopotamia, a zero-like symbol did not appear until 7th century CE India. Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel track the evolution of zero from a dot to the symbol we use today, as well as the Arabic, Italian and French roots of the word.
Is it Ethical for Parents to Choose Their Babys Traits Michael Vazquez and Raye Ploeger
Andre and Leslie are a deaf couple who have decided to have a child, and they’re considering using a process to ensure deafness in their child. As deaf parents, they feel they could provide better guidance to a child that would share their lived experience and grow up immersed in deaf culture. But is this genetic intervention ethical? Michael Vazquez and Raye Ploeger explore this classic dilemma.
Why Do Snakes Have Forked Tongues Cella Wright
An alligator snapping turtle lures its prey using a blood-engorged tongue that resembles a wriggling worm. And it’s far from the only animal doing tongue trickery. Tongues in the animal kingdom vary widely — from texture and length, to shape and dexterity. So, what's the point of having so many different kinds of tongues? Cella Wright explores how different species use the appendage to survive.
What Are Those Colors You See When You Rub Your Eyes Paul Cj Taylor
In the 1600s, Isaac Newton conducted a series of experiments to better understand the lights and colors that sometimes appear when your eyes are closed. If you’ve ever sat around an evening campfire or unintentionally glanced at the Sun, you may have noticed illuminated patterns briefly dance along your vision. So how do these visual illusions form? Paul Taylor explores the science of afterimages.
The Tale of the Boy Who Tricked a Tyrant Paschal Kyiiripuo Kyoore
Shock seized the West African Dagara village as word travelled of a new decree. Completely disregarding time-honored naming rituals, the tyrannical chief declared that he alone would name the village’s children. But soon an unlikely challenger appeared: Yagangnaa, the boy who named himself. Paschal Kyiiripuo Kyoore shares the tale of the defiant boy and his battle of wits with the chief.
The Year Without Summer David Biello
In 1815, Mount Tambora erupted and its emissions spread across the globe, blotting out the sun for almost an entire year. This wreaked havoc on agriculture, leading to famines all across the Northern hemisphere. It was the year without summer— one of the darkest periods in human history. So why are some modern researchers considering repeating it? David Biello digs into geoengineering.
The Greek Tragedy of Oedipus Daughter Stephen Esposito
The gods watched as Oedipus’ daughter, Antigone, stole out of the palace in Thebes the morning after a devastating battle. Antigone was on a dangerous mission to do what she felt was right, though it meant risking her life. She sought to abide by divine law and honor her late brother Polyneices through burial— but the king had other plans. Stephen Esposito shares the tragic Greek tale of Antigone.
Is it Really That Bad to Eat Cookie Dough Emma Bryce
Salmonella infects millions worldwide each year, causing fever, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. And these effects can be extreme: Salmonella is the leading cause of hospitalizations and deaths from food poisoning. So, how does it spread from chickens to humans? And how does it make us sick? Emma Bryce follows the journey of this crafty pathogen from farm to plate.
What Earth in 2125 Could Look Like Iseult Gillespie
Faced with the realities of current crises, it’s easy to assume our world is headed in a bleak direction. But there’s good reason to be hopeful— with developments in science and technology, a positive future is more viable than ever before. So, what if the future was awesome? Iseult Gillespie explores what three cities could look like in 100 years if we harness the tools we have at our disposal.
How to Be Fearless in the Face of Authoritarianism Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
How do you stand up to authoritarianism? In this powerful talk, housewife-turned-politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya describes her bid to defeat Belarus's long-time autocratic leader in the nation's 2020 presidential election. She shares a meditation on the link between fearlessness and freedom, reminding us that we all have what it takes to stand up to injustice— we just need to do it together.
The One Thing Stopping Jellyfish from Taking Over Mariela Pajuelo Javier Antonio Quinones
Over the past two decades, jellyfish have begun to overwhelm our oceans. If things stay on their current trajectory, we could be headed for a future where the entire ocean is thick with jellyfish. So, is there anything that can keep these gelatinous creatures under control? Mariela Pajuelo and Javier Antonio Quinones take a look at the jellyfish’s most ancient predator.
Why Was the Rosetta Stone so Important Franziska Naether
For centuries, scholars puzzled over the hieroglyphs they found carved onto ancient Egyptian ruins, tablets, and papyri. But in 1799, a unique discovery would finally help unlock their meaning. It was a stone inscribed with three different texts: Egyptian Hieroglyphs, Demotic Egyptian, and Ancient Greek. Franziska Naether shares how scholars decoded the ancient message of the Rosetta Stone.
Could One Vaccine Protect Against Everything
There’s a vaccine being developed now that would protect you against every strain of the flu— even ones that don’t exist yet. But influenza is constantly mutating, so is a universal vaccine even possible? And how do you design a vaccine that will be effective against future strains? Explore how scientists are developing new ways to help our immune systems fight viruses.