Comparative Biology Courses and Certifications

Big Brains, Small Brains

Pioneer Suzana Herculano-Houzel discusses the challenges and solutions of comparing brain size and function across species, and shares her groundbreaking insights into the uniqueness, or lack thereof, of the human brain.

• World Science U
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course

Comparative Canopy Biology and the Structure of Ecosystems

Explore the emerging field of comparative canopy biology, its challenges, and potential for understanding ecosystem structures across various biological communities, from forest canopies to periphyton.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 2 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Society for Experimental Biology

A Comparative Approach to Thermal Biology by Sean Tomlinson

Explore thermal biology through a comparative lens, examining how different organisms adapt to temperature variations and the implications for conservation efforts.

• YouTube
• 58 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

The Royal Institution

What Makes Us Human? - Exploring Human Uniqueness in Evolution

Explore human uniqueness through evolution, comparing our traits with other species. Discover how culture sets us apart despite shared biological origins with all life on Earth.

• YouTube
• 54 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Evolving Brains: Solid, Liquid and Synthetic - Lecture 1: Liquid Brains and Solid Brains

Explore diverse intelligences across life forms, from cells to humans. Examine brain evolution, commonalities, and differences, and consider possibilities for new types of minds.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 24 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Why We Come to the Aid of Our Friends - An Evolutionary Puzzle

Explore the evolutionary puzzle of unconditional friendship, its benefits, and how humans avoid exploitation. Discover the origins, cultural variations, and comparisons to social ties in other species.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 2 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology

The Warm Fuzzies - Mammals and Climate Change in the Eocene of North America

Explore mammalian evolution and climate change during North America's Eocene epoch, examining fossil evidence and environmental impacts on species development and adaptation.

• YouTube
• 49 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Evolution Soup

Is Evolution Dangerous by Design?

Explore human anatomy's flaws and evolution's quirks with biologist Dr. Abby Hafer. Examine issues like poor eyesight, back problems, and reproductive challenges to question the idea of intelligent design.

• YouTube
• 52 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Aging Across Scales - Evolutionary Theories and Population Thinking

Explore evolutionary theories of senescence, recent modeling insights, and the pace-shape framework to understand why some organisms age while others don't, across different lifespan scales.

• YouTube
• 52 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum

From Deinonychus to the Dinner Table: The Link Between Birds and Dinosaurs

Explore the evolutionary link between dinosaurs and birds, uncovering fascinating clues and shared characteristics that connect these ancient creatures to modern avian species.

• YouTube
• 26 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

The Aspen Institute

New Leash on Life - Is Dog Longevity the Key to Ours?

Explore groundbreaking research on extending dog lifespans and its potential implications for human longevity. Learn about upcoming life-extending drugs for dogs and their possible applications for humans.

• YouTube
• 52 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Simons Foundation

Tales of Diverse Hearing and Sound Localization Specialty: From Owls to Humans - February 12, 2025

Explore fascinating research on hearing mechanisms across species, comparing neural sound processing in owls and humans while uncovering fundamental similarities in brain function.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 2 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Simons Institute

The Evolutionary Sweet-Spot for Cognition

Explores the evolutionary factors influencing cognitive complexity across species, challenging traditional views and proposing a "sweet spot" theory for the development of advanced cognition.

• YouTube
• 45 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Perché Noi Sapiens Siamo Diversi - Evoluzione dell'Uomo Moderno

Esplorazione delle caratteristiche uniche dell'Homo sapiens rispetto ad altri ominidi, basata sulle ricerche del nefrologo di fama mondiale Giuseppe Remuzzi.

• YouTube
• 17 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video