Discover Resources
Browse curated homeschool resources from the community
Mating Frenzies Sperm Hoards and Brood Raids the Life of a Fire Ant Queen Walter R Tschinkel
In the spring, just after a heavy rainfall, male and female fire ants swarm the skies for a day of romance, known as the nuptial flight. Thousands of reproduction-capable ants take part in a mating frenzy, and for one successfully mated female, her work is only beginning. Walter R. Tschinkel details how the new queen builds a colony and protects it from neighboring ant armies.
Why Do We See Illusions Mark Changizi
Why can’t our extremely complex eyes render simple optical illusions? Surprise, surprise -- it comes back to the brain, which has only evolved to encounter natural stimuli. At TEDYouth 2012, Mark Changizi explains how the brain reckons with optical illusions.
What If Every Satellite Suddenly Disappeared Moriba Jah
What would happen if one day all of humanity’s artificial satellites suddenly disappeared? Within hours, most of the planet’s traffic would grind to a halt, the world economy would shut down, and most countries would declare a state of emergency. Even in the best-case scenario, our civilization would be set back by decades. So, what are the odds of this actually happening? Moriba Jah investigates.
Easy Peasy Chemistry with Lab
Found a problem? Check here. Credits: 1 Prerequisite: Algebra 1, High School Biology Recommended: 11th PRINTABLES: We have compiled all of the worksheets used in this course. You can print them you…
CK-12 Physics Simulations
Discover a new way of learning Physics using Real World Simulations
Why Are Earthquakes so Hard to Predict Jean Baptiste P Koehl
In 132 CE, Zhang Heng presented his latest invention: a large vase he claimed could tell them whenever an earthquake occurred for hundreds of miles. Today, we no longer rely on pots as warning systems, but earthquakes still offer challenges to those trying to track them. Why are earthquakes so hard to anticipate, and how could we get better at predicting them? Jean-Baptiste P. Koehl investigates.
Mysteries of Vernacular Quarantine Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel
Stemming from the days of bubonic plague in Medieval Europe, quarantines were originally used to prevent potentially plague-infested ships from disembarking at a port city. Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel explain how the length of the wait, often 40 days, came to be associated with the word we use today.
The Myth of Dionysus Drunken Revenge Iseult Gillespie
Acoetes of Maeonia had been roped into serving as the navigator for a band of pirates. And now the pirates had kidnapped a sleeping youth. As they laid their victim’s body on the ship, Acoetes felt the pit in his stomach deepen. The pirates hadn’t noticed, but their new captive was a slumbering god. Iseult Gillespie digs into the Greek myth of Dionysus and his return to Thebes.
Where Do Superstitions Come from Stuart Vyse
Are you afraid of black cats? Would you open an umbrella indoors? How do you feel about the number 13? Whether or not you believe in them, you’re probably familiar with a few of these superstitions. But where did they come from? Stuart Vyse shares the weird and specific origins of some of our favorite superstitions.
Alex Steffen Sees a Sustainable Future
Worldchanging.com founder Alex Steffen argues that reducing humanity's ecological footprint is especially vital now, as the western consumer lifestyle spreads to developing countries.
How Reliable is Fingerprint Evidence Theodore E Yeshion
In 1902, detectives arrived at a grisly murder scene and found a shard of broken glass with several bloody fingerprints. They painstakingly searched the police station’s records and eventually found a match— a man who later confessed to the crime. Today, fingerprints remain one of the most common types of evidence in criminal courts. But just how reliable are they? Theodore Yeshion investigates.
Under the Hood the Chemistry of Cars Cynthia Chubbuck
There are over one billion cars in the world right now, getting people from point A to point B. But cars aren’t just a mode of transportation; they also teach an excellent lesson in chemistry. Cynthia Chubbuck navigates the intricate chemistry performed in our car engines that keep them from getting too hot or too cold.
The Real Story Behind Archimedes Eureka Armand D Angour
When you think of Archimedes’ Eureka moment, you probably imagine a man in a bathtub, right? As it turns out, there's much more to the story. Armand D'Angour tells the story of Archimedes' biggest assignment -- an enormous floating palace commissioned by a king -- that helped him find Eureka.
How Do Gas Masks Actually Work George Zaidan
You might think of gas masks as clunky military-looking devices. But in the near future, we may need to rely on these filters as part of our everyday lives. In addition to emerging diseases, wildfire frequency has more than tripled, and climate change has increased toxic ground level ozone. So how do these masks work, and can they protect us from airborne threats? George Zaidan investigates.
Encyclopedic Entry: Food Web
A food web consists of all the food chains in a single ecosystem.
Will Laser Blasters Ever Be Possible Christopher Baird
A fleet of rebel spaceships is greeted by a frenzy of laser blasts – illuminating the sector with brilliant bursts of light. Science fiction has shown us scenes like this for decades, but the lasers in our daily lives seem far less dazzling and destructive. So, could sci-fi laser weaponry ever exist? And how do lasers even work in the first place? Christopher Baird investigates.