After having solved the small matter of evolution by natural selection - becoming one of the most famous scientists in the world in the process - Charles Darwin turned his focus to a different personal obsession…

It's really rare to find fossils, which means that when they're lost again after someone dug them up, it really hurts. These are a few of the most famous fossils that went missing after someone found them, and what researchers can...

We've all heard of the Rosetta Stone, either the language-learning software or the stone itself. But how much do you really know about it? Let's get into the full history of this icon of ancient Egypt, what we learned from...

The Vikings were renowned navigators at a time before magnetic compasses were invented. So how'd they manage it? Their secret may have been these pretty-pointed crystals of calcite called Iceland spar, and this month's SciShow Rocks...

It may seem like Earth isn't as well-decorated as its ring-bearing neighbors in the solar system, but new research suggests that may not always have been the case. Not only did our planet maybe once have a ring, but our ancient bling...

In the 1920s, archaeologists discovered that the young pharaoh Tutankhamun was buried with a fancy iron dagger. It wasn't just fancy because part of it came from outer space; it was also made by artisans in another kingdom and given as...

Humans may have been around for a long time, but life has existed for way longer. In this episode of Crash Course Biology, we’ll journey through deep time to uncover the history of life on Earth. We’ll explore the big, game-changing...

Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has targeted diversity, equity and inclusion efforts nationwide, including on college campuses. In Ohio, a new state law is also challenging DEI programs, leaving students and...

What if ancient myths are warnings for the future? Contemporary folklorist Lauren Fadiman explores how the Norse tale of Ragnarök may stem from real climate catastrophe, revealing how folklore preserves lessons of resilience and can...

Hope isn’t just a feeling, but a skill you can practice, explains climate activist Xiye Bastida. Taking cues from the resilience of nature, she shows why trusting Indigenous leaders who’ve protected the planet for generations can help...

After a mysterious wave of tics and twitches swept through a small-town high school in New York, documentary podcaster Dan Taberski set out to investigate what was really happening. Drawing on extensive research and intimate interviews...

What separates struggling artists from successful ones? Looking to creative geniuses like Mozart, Edison and Monet, video creator Jon Youshaei explains why aiming to be prolific — despite flops and failures along the way — is the key to...

How can the lessons of the past help us navigate the turbulence of the present and future? Social philosopher Roman Krznaric explores why history isn’t just a record of what’s gone wrong — it’s also full of solutions, resilience and...

Why are we using tech from 100 years ago to deliver the world's electricity? Materials scientist Jason Huang shows how we could massively upgrade the global power grid by replacing the wires in existing transmission lines with new,...

The year is 1030 CE. Chu Hong's best friend, Liang Gao, tells him that the local magistrate has been spotted holding a surprise archery competition in a nearby town and will arrive at their village soon. This is Hong’s chance to showcase...

No substance has been as constant an ally to insidious scheming as arsenic, the so-called “king of poisons.” In its chemically pure form, it isn’t much of a threat because our bodies don’t absorb it well; it’s when arsenic combines with...

In 1935, researchers found that after removing the frontal lobes of two chimps, they no longer experienced frustration or anxiety. Neurologist Egas Moniz believed that replicating this in humans could cure mental illness— leading to one...

Today, rats are often regarded as the most successful invasive species in the world. The most common species of rat scurried onto the scene roughly 1 to 3 million years ago in Asia. There, they craftily survived Earth’s most recent ice...

Of all Shakespeare’s plays, perhaps none is stranger than “Macbeth”— a parable on power rife with supernatural elements. But according to texts from the 11th century, this tragedy has its roots in reality. What’s more, other accounts...

Lots of languages and species are going extinct, but because others keep getting found or described, the official counts of languages and species are still increasing.

Hurricane path prediction seems straightforward, until it is not – that’s because hurricanes can encounter atmospheric effects that turn their paths into erratic nonsense.

Many animal species stuff themselves with toxic chemicals for protection, which forces them to use a handful of distinct strategies to avoid becoming victims of their own weapons.

The Grand Canyon is super-wide and super-deep, which might make you think that the Colorado River, which carved it, is particularly old or powerful. Or at least that's what I thought.

It seems wild that some animals basically trade in their bodies for new ones during their lifetime, but it's actually really common – and it makes a lot of sense.