SciShow Courses

Why Mad Cow Disease Predominantly Affects Teenage Population

Discover why mad cow disease (variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob) predominantly affected teenagers in the 1990s, exploring the scientific research behind this peculiar age-specific pattern of infection.

• YouTube
• 13 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

The Birds That Eat Fire - Extreme Bird Behaviors for Food and Survival

Discover fascinating behaviors of daring birds, from fire-eating species to method-acting killdeer, as they take remarkable risks for food, mating, and survival in their natural habitats.

• YouTube
• 11 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

We Don't Know What Causes the World's Worst Pain - Exploring Extremely Painful Diseases

Explore the mysteries behind excruciating conditions like trigeminal neuralgia, thunderclap headaches, and jackhammer esophagus. Discover the science of extreme pain and current treatment approaches.

• YouTube
• 12 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Why They Can't Make an HIV Vaccine - Challenges and Progress

Explore the challenges in developing an HIV vaccine and learn about promising advancements using broadly neutralizing antibodies and mRNA technology.

• YouTube
• 11 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

How One Hurricane Could Lead to a Global Tech Shortage - The Spruce Pine Silicon Supply Chain

Discover how a single mine in Spruce Pine, North Carolina supplies the essential quartz for global semiconductor production, making it a critical link in modern technology manufacturing.

• YouTube
• 11 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

How to Save the World from Plastic

Explores microplastics' origins and solutions for ocean pollution, tracing a water bottle's journey to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and discussing ways to address plastic waste.

• YouTube
• 10 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Sex, Spider Attacks, and Other Acts Preserved in Ancient Amber

Explore fascinating prehistoric moments preserved in amber, from dinosaur feathers to spider attacks, revealing nature's ancient secrets frozen in fossilized tree resin.

• YouTube
• 11 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

What's the Loudest Possible Sound?

Explore the science behind the loudest possible sound, understanding decibels, sound wave mechanics, and their impact on human hearing. Uncover surprising facts about extreme noise levels.

• YouTube
• 14 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Why Did Botswana Win the Diamond Lottery So Hard?

Uncover the geological factors behind Botswana's exceptional diamond production, exploring the unique conditions that make it a global leader in large gem discoveries.

• YouTube
• 11 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

What Would Happen If We Kept Digging to Earth's Center?

Explore the fascinating journey to Earth's core, from the limits of human drilling to the extreme conditions and geological wonders encountered as we theoretically dig deeper into our planet.

• YouTube
• 16 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Why We've Only Cured HIV Seven Times - Understanding the Complexity of HIV Treatment

Explore the complex scientific journey behind the seven successful HIV cures, understanding the challenges and limitations that prevent widespread implementation of these breakthrough treatments.

• YouTube
• 12 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

We All Have Synesthesia - Understanding Sensory Interactions in the Brain

Explore the fascinating phenomenon of synesthesia, where senses interconnect, and discover how everyone experiences sensory interactions in unique and unexpected ways.

• YouTube
• 13 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

The Deadliest Stuff on Earth - A Natural Hazards Compilation

Explore fascinating scientific insights into Earth's most lethal phenomena, from devastating plagues and toxic flora to natural disasters and dangerous chemical compounds.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 2 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Most Remarkable Fossil Discoveries of 2024 - A Scientific Overview

Discover fascinating prehistoric finds from 2024, including a frilled ceratopsian, potentially largest snake fossil, and the "giga goose," plus insights into smaller but equally significant discoveries.

• YouTube
• 14 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

How Ancient Glass Could Transport Life Between Planets

Explore how Darwin Glass, a rare material prized by Tasmanian Aboriginals, could be key to understanding panspermia theory and the potential transport of life between planets.

• YouTube
• 11 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video