Discover Resources
Browse curated homeschool resources from the community
What Has No Ears but Can Still Hear Jakob Christensen Dalsgaard
The world is always abuzz with sounds, many of which human ears simply can’t hear. However, other species have extraordinary adaptations that grant them access to realms of sonic extremes. And some of them don’t even have ears— at least, not like we typically imagine. So, which is the best listener? Jakob Christensen-Dalsgaard explores the auditory capabilities of the animal kingdom.
How to Know If You Re Being Selfish and Whether or Not That s Bad Mark Hopwood
The question of whether or not humans are inherently selfish is one of philosophy’s oldest debates. The idea that we only act out of self-interest is an extreme stance that few philosophers would endorse. However, the idea that all humans have a deep selfish streak is something many philosophers would agree with. So, are we innately selfish? Mark Hopwood explores this classic conundrum.
How Do Bulletproof Vests Work Max G Levy
By 1975, Richard Davis had been shot at close range 192 times. But not only was he completely healthy, each of those bullets were part of a demonstration to sell his new product: the bulletproof vest. So, how does such a light, flexible piece of clothing stop a bullet? The secret was a synthetic fiber material invented a decade earlier. Max G. Levy explores the incredible strength of kevlar.
Blood Concrete and Dynamite Building the Hoover Dam Alex Gendler
In the early 20th century, the US had expanded from coast to coast, but many cities in the southwest still lacked reliable water sources. The Colorado River's erratic flow and frequent floods made it unreliable for agriculture, and the region’s growing cities needed more energy. So the government decided to build a massive hydroelectric dam. Alex Gendler details the creation of the Hoover Dam.
The Life Cycle of a Pair of Jeans Madhavi Venkatesan
The first pairs of jeans were designed for durability; denim was constructed as a sturdy weave worn by sailors and miners. But over the course of the 20th century, as the demand for jeans has gone up, their durability has gone down. Today, most pairs last no longer than a year. And each new pair you buy has a much higher cost than you might think. Madhavi Venkatesan traces the life cycle of jeans.
We Need to Talk About an Injustice Bryan Stevenson Db286072 13dd 45f8 9e92 59f0e7044faf
In an engaging and personal talk, human rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson shares some hard truths about America's justice system, starting with a massive imbalance along racial lines: a third of the country's Black male population has been incarcerated at some point in their lives. These issues are rarely talked about with this level of candor, insight and persuasiveness.
How to spot a misleading graph - Lea Gaslowitz
Visual literacy for data interpretation.
The Program That Brought Nazis to America Brian Crim
In May of 1945 the Third Reich was in chaos. Adolf Hitler was dead and German surrender was imminent. But while World War II was almost over, a new war was brewing. And the US was eager to recruit the smartest minds in Germany before the Soviets got the chance— regardless of their affiliation with the Nazis. This became known as Operation Paperclip. Brian Crim digs into the clandestine campaign.
Why Climate Change is a Threat to Human Rights Mary Robinson Ted Talks
Climate change is unfair. While rich countries can fight against rising oceans and dying farm fields, poor people around the world are already having their lives upended — and their human rights threatened — by killer storms, starvation and the loss of their own lands. Mary Robinson asks us to join the movement for worldwide climate justice.