Ocean Defense Kid | Connor Berryhill // 60 Second Docs
Adults NatureConnor Berryhill was only 5 years old when an underwater encounter with an endangered monk seal set him on a path to take care of the world's most vulnerable creatures. Now 11, he's taken his small-scale activism big and started his own nonprofit, MicroActivist. Their mission: to connect youth with projects to protect the ocean -- and save our planet's oceans and seas.
Most hurricanes that hit the US come from the same exact spot in the world
Adults NatureAs Hurricane Irma bears down on the East coast, Floridians may be wondering where all the hurricanes come from, and why they all follow a similar course. In fact, Irma, Harvey, and Jose were all born on the other side of the Atlantic, off the coast of Africa, and the Sahara desert may be to blame.
The amazing ways plants defend themselves - Valentin Hammoudi
Adults NaturePlants are constantly under attack. They face threats ranging from microscopic fungi to small herbivores like caterpillars, up to large herbivores like elephants. But plants are ready, with a whole series of internal and external defenses that make them a less appealing meal - or even a deadly one. Valentin Hammoudi explains some of the fascinating ways that plants defend themselves.
The science of smog - Kim Preshoff
Adults NatureOn July 26, 1943, Los Angeles was blanketed by a thick gas that stung people's eyes and blocked out the Sun. Panicked residents believed their city had been attacked using chemical warfare. But the cloud wasn't an act of war. It was smog. So what is this thick gray haze actually made of? And why does it affect some cities and not others? Kim Preshoff details the science behind smog.
Will the ocean ever run out of fish? - Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Jennifer Jacquet
Adults NatureWhen most people think of fishing, we imagine relaxing in a boat and patiently reeling in the day's catch. But modern industrial fishing -- the kind that stocks our grocery shelves -- looks more like warfare. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Jennifer Jacquet explain overfishing and its effects on ecosystems, food security, jobs, economies, and coastal cultures.
More ice is about to break off of Antarctica - and it's what scientists feared most
Adults NatureThe giant crack that's been racing across Antarctica Larsen C ice shelf finally met its breaking point between July 10 and 12. The result was an iceberg the size of Delaware and weighing a trillion metric tons.
Can you solve the fish riddle? - Steve Wyborney
Adults NatureAs the cargo director on the maiden voyage of the S.S. Buoyant, you've agreed to transport several tanks containing the last specimens of an endangered fish species to their new aquarium. Unfortunately, the boat is battered by a fierce storm, throwing your precious cargo overboard. Can you get the fish to safety and save the day? Steve Wyborney shows how.
Why wildfires are necessary - Jim Schulz
Adults NatureOur early ancestors relied on lightning to cause forest fires, from which they could collect coals and burning sticks to help them cook food and clear land. Yet, it wasn't just humans who benefited from these natural phenomena. Even as they destroyed trees, fires also helped the forests themselves. Jim Schulz outlines the benefits of wildfire.