Discover Resources
Browse curated homeschool resources from the community
The Sharks That Hunt in Forests Luka Seamus Wright
Forests don’t usually come to mind as a habitat for sharks. But marine forests provide a home for 35% of the world’s sharks. Mangrove forests in particular function as an essential bridge between land and sea and have evolved various adaptations that protect them and their resident sharks. Luka Seamus Wright explores these unique and vital ecosystems.
Run Sail or Hide How to Survive the Destruction of Pompeii Gary Devore
It’s a bustling day in Pompeii. After a quick visit to the market, Fabia spots her brothers, Lucius and Marcus, crossing the Forum. The siblings begin discussing Lucius’ wedding — but a deafening boom interrupts them. They watch Vesuvius spew smoke, ash, and rock — and realize they’ve been living in the shadow of a volcano. Gary Devore follows the siblings as they attempt to survive the disaster.
Why Fascism is so Tempting and How Your Data Could Power it Yuval Noah Harari
Author and historian Yuval Noah Harari explains the important difference between fascism and nationalism — and what the consolidation of our data means for the future of democracy. Harari warns that the greatest danger that now faces liberal democracy is that the revolution in information technology will make dictatorships more efficient and capable of control.
How Long Should Your Naps Be Sara C Mednick
Your eyes get heavy and gradually close... But wait! It's only lunch time and you still have so much to do. Would taking a nap help? Or would it derail your day? Well, that depends on a few things— especially what stages of sleep the nap includes. Sara C. Mednick details the cognitive benefits of napping, and explores the optimal length and time of day for a quick snooze.
3 Ways to Cope with Anxiety Olivia Remes
Imagine there's someone standing next to you all the time pointing out every! single! thing! you're doing wrong. This is what millions of anxiety sufferers feel on a daily basis, and it's awful. Anxiety researcher Olivia Remes lays out a roadmap to getting rid of that "someone." It begins, she says, with being kinder to ourselves and to others.
Why is Vermeer s Girl with the Pearl Earring Considered a Masterpiece James Earle
Is she turning towards you or away from you? No one can agree. She’s the subject of Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer’s "Girl with the Pearl Earring," a painting often referred to as the ‘Mona Lisa of the North.’ But what makes this painting so captivating? James Earle explains how this work represents the birth of a modern perspective on economics, politics, and love.
Why is it so Hard to Escape Poverty Ann Helen Bay
Imagine that you’ve been unemployed for months. Government benefit programs have helped you cover your expenses, but you’re barely getting by. Finally, you receive a paycheck— but there’s a catch. Your new job pays enough to disqualify you from benefit programs, but not enough to cover your costs. So how do we design benefit programs that don’t penalize you for working? Ann-Helén Bay investigates.
How Does Ultrasound Work Jacques s Abramowicz
In a dark cave, bats can’t see much. But even with their eyes shut, they can navigate rocky topography at incredible speeds. This is because bats aren't just guided by their eyes, but rather, by their ears. It may seem impossible to see with sound, but bats, naval officers, and doctors do it all the time. How is that possible? Jacques S. Abramowicz digs into the unique properties of ultrasound.
Las Mariposas How Three Sisters Defied a Dictator Lisa Krause
For over 30 years, thousands of people were imprisoned, tortured, and murdered under Rafael Trujillo’s dictatorship in the Dominican Republic. Three sisters would go on to lead an underground revolution. But while their courage inspired many, it threatened the man in power, and their lives would come to a tragic early end. Who were these brave women? Lisa Krause tells the story of Las Mariposas.
Can You Solve the Riddle and Escape Hades Dan Finkel
The underworld is overcrowded, and Zeus has ordered Hades to let some spirits out. Hades arranges all the souls of the dead in a line before Cerberus. When one of his three heads bites down on the soul in front of it, they’ll get returned to the land of the living. Anyone to the left must stay in Hades forever. Can you pick the right spot and escape the underworld? Dan Finkel shows how.
What Do the Lungs Do Emma Bryce
When you breathe, you transport oxygen to the body’s cells to keep them working, while also clearing your system of the carbon dioxide that this work generates. How do we accomplish this crucial and complex task without even thinking about it? Emma Bryce takes us into the lungs to investigate how they help keep us alive.
The Arctic vs the Antarctic Camille Seaman
How can you tell the two poles apart? Where are the penguins? What about the bears? The Arctic pole is located in the Northern Hemisphere within the deep Arctic Ocean, while the Antarctic pole is smack in the middle of the ice-covered Antarctica. Camille Seaman describes how enterprising people and organisms have found ways to reside around both poles despite the frigid temperatures.
How to Recognize a Dystopia Alex Gendler
The genre of dystopia – the ‘not good place’– has captured the imaginations of artists and audiences alike for centuries. But why do we bother with all this pessimism? Alex Gendler explains how dystopias act as cautionary tales– not about some particular government or technology, but the very idea that humanity can be molded into an ideal shape.
How X Rays See Through Your Skin Ge Wang
Originally discovered by accident, X-rays are now used about 100 million times a year in clinics around the world. How do these magic eyes work? Ge Wang details the history and mechanics of the X-ray machine and CT scanners.
How Speaking Multiple Languages Benefits the Brain Mia Nacamulli
It’s obvious that knowing more than one language can make certain things easier — like traveling or watching movies without subtitles. But are there other advantages to having a bilingual (or multilingual) brain? Mia Nacamulli details the three types of bilingual brains and shows how knowing more than one language keeps your brain healthy, complex and actively engaged.
Inside the Minds of Animals Bryan B Rasmussen
Do animals think? It’s a question that has intrigued scientists for thousands of years, inspiring them to come up with different methods and criteria to measure the intelligence of animals. Bryan B Rasmussen navigates through this controversial question, showing how determining intelligence often says more about how humans think than about anything else.