Who was Joseph McCarthy and why is his name synonymous with witch hunts? What were the factors that permitted the political repression of the 1950s to flourish? Could the same thing happen today? An intriguing video traces the rise and...

Pop! Why does bending your joints in a certain way cause a cracking sound? This fascinating video delves into the synovial fluid and "bubbles" that exist in your in the space between stretched out joints, as well as debunks...

What do tulips, real estate, and stock in a pet store have in common? Find out what happens when products or services sell for much more than they are worth.

Should we remember Richard Nixon only for his abuse of power and the scandal that resulted in the end of his presidency? Here is a fantastic TedEd video illustrating major highlights from Nixon's term as president of the United...

Did you know that the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 2, 1776? Did you know that five men, not just Thomas Jefferson, are credited with writing the Declaration? Did you know that references to slavery were excised from the...

The threat posed by super volcanoes is explored in a short video that reviews the destruction caused by Mount Tambora in 1815 and by Peru's Huaynaputina in 1600. Think it can't happen again? The narrator contends that the explosive...

Who says scientists are boring geeks? Certainly not the narrator of a short video who dishes up the scandals associated with Tycho Brahe, a Danish scientist and alchemist (now that's two labels you don't often see together) who used...

Why would Robert E. Lee order Pickett's Charge, an action that changed the course of the Civil War? Geographer and historian Anne Knowles uses digital technology to explain what she thinks is the missing piece in trying to understand...

Hypatia, teacher, and advisor to the governor of Alexandria, was a Neoplatonist, believing that arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music were the sacred language of the universe. Find out why this brilliant scholar was brutally...

A short TEDEd video introduces viewers to the life and poetry of Pablo Neruda. The narrator not only shares details of Neruda's exploits in support of revolutionaries but also why his poetry is so popular even in translation.

A short video traces the practice of cannibalism through history and across cultures. Viewers may be shocked to learn the extend to which it is practiced today, even in the United States.

Quantum mechanics just might take computing to a new level. Pupils watch an animated video to learn about quantum computers and how they differ from classical computers. They learn about two current approaches to quantum computing,...

Who were the warriors most feared by the Egyptians, Greeks, Persians Central Asians, and Chinese? The mighty women called Amazons, that’s who. Secondary viewers learn that the understanding of the Amazons, who were originally assumed to...

When an Irish giant and a Scottish giant face off in a mythical duel, it is a cunning woman who determines the outcome with her clever tricks. Introduce viewers to geomythology—myths that explain the occurrence of natural features—with...

Because the monsters Scylla, Charybdis, and Polyphemus in Homer's Odyssey are fictional, scholars may assume the Iliad is also entirely fictional. A carefully researched video describes Heinrich Schliemann's discovery of the...

How did ancient Egyptians treat a scorpion bite? Scholars analyze the life of a doctor during trying times of Ancient Egypt. They investigate treatments and issues that arise with the various medical concerns of the era. To conclude,...

How does a caterpillar become a butterfly? Watch a video that details the metamorphosis of a butterfly, and discover a world of insects that also undergo metamorphosis.

Go beyond the usual retelling of the myth of King Midas and his golden touch with a video that reveals the story of the rogue ruler's unusual ears.

Zounds! Who'da thunk it? Colors can be deadly. Viewers learn about the dangers of white (lead), green (radium and cupric hydrogen arsenic), and orange (uranium oxide) pigments used in clothing, ceramics, and home decor.

The famous length of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace — 15 books and 365 chapters — presents a real challenge for many readers and their teachers. So why bother? Use a short video that argues for a reading of an unabridged...

What has copyright law have to do with the Dracula, the most famous vampire in history? Check out the twisted tale of how a fight over the royalty rights to Bram Stoker's novel gave immortality to the blood sucker.

Greek myths take center stage in a short video that not only revisits the of tragic fates of Daedalus and his son Icarus, but also explains the roles King Minos, his wife Pasiphae, and the Minotaur played in a cautionary tale of human...

What makes a poem a poem? The narrator of a short video wades into the debate with the contention that the three characteristics that poems share are musical qualities, condensed language, and intense feelings.

With a little luck, viewers can enjoy a short video that examines superstitions, their origins, and even some benefits. Knock on wood.