How the bendy straw was invented | Moments of Vision 12 - Jessica Oreck
Adults Creativity Design HistoryToday, Americans use an estimated 500 million drinking straws every day. But where did the idea for this beloved utensil come from? In the twelfth installment of our 'Moments of Vision' series, Jessica Oreck shares the origins of the bendy straw.
Why don't perpetual motion machines ever work? - Netta Schramm
Adults Science Technology WorkPerpetual motion machines - devices that can do work indefinitely without any external energy source - have captured many inventors' imaginations because they could totally transform our relationship with energy. There's just one problem: they don't work. Why not? Netta Schramm describes the pitfalls of perpetual motion machines.
Wait... Is China Really the Leader in Green Energy?
Adults Global Warming WorldWith plans to pull out of the Paris climate deal, the US is quickly falling behind in the race for clean energy. So who's winning?
Binging with Babish: World's Greatest Sandwich from Spanglish
Adults Creativity FoodSpanglish, the movie your aunt refers to as a "must-watch!", is home to a Thomas Keller-inspired creation known around the internet as "The World's Greatest Sandwich". Can such familiar ingredients earn such a prestigious moniker? Let's find out, and let's take it one step further: by baking our own rustic country loaf to act as the "bread" for our creation. Recipe below!
Four inventions that might change the world
Adults Creativity Future ScienceTiny lab-grown organs. A spongy cloth that absorbs oil spills. Sure, why not. These are some of the finalists for the European Inventor Award.
The weird clothes of Rei Kawakubo
Adults Art CreativityRei Kawakubo started the fashion label Comme des Garcons. At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the spring 2017 exhibition is exclusively dedicated to her work. So does she make art? Or does she make clothes?
Moore's Law Is Ending... So, What's Next?
Adults Future Software Engineering TechnologyScientists are engineering a new, more efficient generation of computer chips by modeling them after the human brain.
How Your Brain Helps You Lie To Yourself
Adults Human PsychologyA new study aims to find out why and how we avoid information we don't want to hear-- and how we can stop doing it.
Einstein's unique way of thinking contributed to his genius
Adults Physics ScienceRobbert Dijkgraaf is a theoretical physicist and Leon Levy Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. He is also the co-author of "The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge." In this video, he explains how Albert Einstein saw the world in a different way from how most scientists see it.
Binging with Babish: Twin Peaks Pancakes & Coffee (feat. Cocktail Chemistry)
Adults Creativity FoodLooking at his work, it would appear as though David Lynch loves a few themes: surrealism. Dream sequences. Machinery. And apparently, coffee. Learn how to make the fluffiest of pancakes and the coffeeist of coffees with the help of Nick Fisher from Cocktail Chemistry as we welcome back Twin Peaks this weekend.
How tap dancing was made in America
Adults Culture History MusicTap dancing originated in America. It's a mix of several dance styles-Irish jigging, British clogging, and the percussive steps from African dance. Tap dancing can be traced back to Five Points, now known as Chinatown in New York city. Tap dance also has its roots in minstrel shows, where it was viewed as American comedy. In the 70s, tap dancing legends, Jane Goldberg and Brenda Bufalino took tap from the bright show tune lights of Broadway back to a place of self expression.
The history of tea - Shunan Teng
Adults Culture Food HistoryTea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water -- and from sugary Turkish Rize tea to salty Tibetan butter tea, there are almost as many ways of preparing the beverage as there are cultures on the globe. Where did this beverage originate, and how did it become so popular? Shunan Teng details tea's long history. Lesson by Shunan Teng, animation by Steff Lee.
A psychologist debunks the claim that fidget spinners help kids focus
Adults Gadgets PsychologyFidget spinners are everywhere these days. You can buy them on any street corner for a few dollars, and both kids and adults are obsessed with them. The companies that make these hot new gadgets claim they help relieve stress and anxiety and can help kids with ADHD focus. David Anderson, PhD, a clinical psychologist from the Child Mind Institute, shares his thoughts on spinners.
A brief history of goths - Dan Adams
Adults Culture History MusicWhat do fans of atmospheric post-punk music have in common with ancient barbarians? Not much ... so why are both known as "goths"? Is it a weird coincidence - or is there a deeper connection stretching across the centuries? Dan Adams investigates. Lesson by Dan Adams, animation by Globizco.
History's deadliest colors - J. V. Maranto
Adults History ScienceWhen radium was first discovered, its luminous green color inspired people to add it into beauty products and jewelry. It wasn't until much later that we realized that radium's harmful effects outweighed its visual benefits. Unfortunately, radium isn't the only pigment that historically seemed harmless or useful but turned out to be deadly. J. V. Maranto details history's deadliest colors. Lesson by J. V. Maranto, animation by Juan M. Urbina.
Storing the Sun's Energy in Liquid Could Change Solar Forever
Adults Global Warming TechnologyResearchers have just found two new ways to make solar power more efficient. Could this solve our energy crisis?