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Awesome Learning

Misconceptions About Animals

Misconceptions About Animals

Are sloths lazy? Are elephants afraid of mice? Can porcupines shoot their quills? In this video from Mental Floss, host Justin Dodd explores myths, misconceptions, and inaccuracies about 64 different animals. We’re just glad we’re not actually swallowing spiders in our sleep.

How Video Game Graphics Work

How Video Game Graphics Work

It’s easy to take the high-fidelity 3D graphics in today’s video games for granted, but a lot of artistry, hardware, and software goes into every frame you see on screen. Branch Education provides an in-depth yet understandable explanation of the processes and technology at work when rendering video game graphics.

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The Mites in Your Cheese

The Mites in Your Cheese

Cheese can get its flavor from flavor from things like bacteria or mold. But if you enjoy the lemony flavor of French Mimolette or German Milbenkäse cheese, you’ve enjoyed a little bonus protein in the form of cheese mites. Journey to the Microcosmos explains how these tiny organisms add flavor to these cheeses.

Kurzgesagt’s Size Comparison Video

Kurzgesagt’s Size Comparison Video

We’ve featured many size comparison videos from channels like MetaBallStudios and RED SIDE. Kursgezagt wanted to make a different kind of comparison video, examining opposingly small and large things relative to the size of an average human, from the tiniest proton to the vastness of observable universe.

The Last Solar Eclipse

The Last Solar Eclipse

Like many of you, we find solar eclipses fascinating. They’re already quite rare, but did you know that someday, there won’t be any more eclipses? Minutephysics explains how eclipses have changed over the eons and how total solar eclipses continue to get less likely. Fortunately, we still get to enjoy one on April 8, 2024.

Facts About Time

Facts About Time

Time isn’t as simple as what shows up on your phone’s screen. Erin McCarthy of Mental Floss offers up a number of interesting tidbits about the nature of time, how humans perceive its passage, how space and time relate, and the different ways of measuring time itself.

How Long is Now?

How Long is Now?

Not to be confused with the similarly-named song by The Smiths, modern-day philosopher exurb1a is back to fill our brains with another fascinating perspective on our existence. Along the way, he challenges our perceptions of time, place, and self and explains the basic concepts of metaphysics.

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True Facts: Animal Superpowers

True Facts: Animal Superpowers

Nature can be truly amazing, bestowing creatures with all kinds of wondrous capabilities to help them survive and thrive. Ze Frank looks at creatures with superpowers like transparency, squeezing prey to death, and the ability to sling slime.

How Vintage Pinball Machines Work

How Vintage Pinball Machines Work

There’s a good reason that pinball machines are so expensive. These hand-assembled games incorporate multiple circuit boards, complicated wiring harnesses, and hundreds of parts. Technology Connections starts with a brief look at a 1990s pinball machine, then dives in deep to explain the amazing engineering of a vintage electromechanical machine.

Why Social Media Divides Us

Why Social Media Divides Us

There’s no question that extreme opinions have become more prevalent in recent years, and much of the blame is laid at the feet of social media. Kurzgesagt explores the psychology of online communication and theorizes why it’s making people less empathetic and more divided. They then provide some ideas about how we could make things better.

What’s Up with the Microwave Popcorn Button?

What’s Up with the Microwave Popcorn Button?

Many modern microwave ovens have a popcorn button, but microwave popcorn bags have a notice saying not to use that button to cook their product. Technology Connections offers an entertaining explanation of the issue, the rationale behind the warnings, and how to know if the forbidden button is okay to use on your particular microwave.

How Aliens Could Win an Interstellar War

How Aliens Could Win an Interstellar War

We still don’t know if there’s extraterrestrial life out there, but if there is, there’s a chance that they won’t like us Earthlings and will want to get rid of us. Kurzgesagt takes the aliens’ side in this theoretical conflict and offers strategies to help them wipe out humanity forever. Though they assume our enemies are more technologically advanced than us.

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A Brief History of Batteries

A Brief History of Batteries

We rely on batteries to power everything from our watches to our phones to our vehicles. But where did batteries come from, and who invented them? Origins explores the history of batteries and their evolution since 1799. Along the way, you learn we don’t see “B” cell batteries and what frog legs and torpedo fish have to do with it all.

The Earth in One Day

The Earth in One Day

Imagine, if you will, that the entire 4.5 billion year history of the Earth was collapsed down to a 24-hour single day. Bright Side’s educational video does just that, taking significant events in the development of our world and giving us a relative sense of how closely together they played out.

Was There Life at the Start of the Universe?

Was There Life at the Start of the Universe?

Scientists estimate that life began on Earth about 3.7 billion years ago. But it’s quite plausible that life existed before this, shortly after the Big Bang created the universe. Kurzgesagt explains why this might have been possible and what sort of life forms might have been cooking in the universe’s primordial soup.

The History of Pretzels

The History of Pretzels

Now that we know about the history of mustard, it’s time to learn about one of its companion foods. Mental Floss’ Food History is here to explain where the first pretzels came from, how they evolved from a religious food into the popular snack we know and love today, and why we have both soft and hard versions.

How a Pipe Organ Works

How a Pipe Organ Works

Organist Anna Lapwood provides an in-depth yet easy-to-understand explanation of how pipe organs work using the massive 3574-pipe organ at St John’s Smith Square in London. Along the way, you’ll learn about its pipes, wind chests, stops, pedals, and manuals, as well as hear some very different kinds of sounds it can produce.

The Day the Dinosaurs Died

The Day the Dinosaurs Died

Sixty-six million years ago, everything seemed to be going just fine for the dinosaurs. But then something changed, wiping out the thriving beasts. Kurzgesagt looks at how one seemingly minor change in the skies led to the rapid extinction of most life on Earth. It’s a dramatic reminder to live each day as if it was your last.

The History of Gummy Bears

The History of Gummy Bears

We love us some gummy bears. There’s something so perfect about their chewy texture, fruity flavors, and adorable form that makes them special. Mental Floss series Food History looks back at the origins and evolution of the tasty candy treat, which first took their bear-shaped form in the 1920s in Germany.

The Science of Crowd Control

The Science of Crowd Control

Large groups of people can be intimidating and occasionally dangerous. But why are some crowds well-behaved and others chaotic? Wendover Production digs into the science and psychology at work when it comes to crowd behavior. Competitiveness, stress, and crowd density have a lot to do with the worst-case scenarios.

Fun Facts from the History of Beer

Fun Facts from the History of Beer

Beer has been around for thousands of years, and it’s been a social lubricant for everyone from frat boys to world leaders. Weird History Food explores a few interesting facts about the bubbly brew from its origins in China and Mesopotamia through its spread around the globe to become the world’s most popular alcoholic beverage.

How Cranes Build Themselves

How Cranes Build Themselves

Art of Engineering explains how the tall construction cranes used to build skyscrapers are able to increase their own height. The process known as “climbing” a tower crane requires precision and patience and can be incredibly dangerous if not done properly.

What Are the Different Kinds of Construction Machines?

What Are the Different Kinds of Construction Machines?

We drive past construction sites all the time and see all kinds of heavy machinery. But most of us have no idea what the difference is between a bulldozer, a skid-steer, and an excavator. Practical Engineering offers a concise explanation of the jobs each of these machines is designed for.

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