How Did Dog Fur Inspire Velcro?

From PBS Terra. When Swiss engineer George de Mestral picked burrs out of his dog’s fur, he discovered what exactly made them so sticky. After his discovery, he created a synthetic version of what we know today as Velcro! Host Maren Hunsberger shares the full story.

The Lab Mistake That Changed Food Forever

From PBS Terra. You have scientist Constantin Fahlberg to thank for your favorite sweet treats! By accidentally getting residue in his mouth after working in his lab, Fahlberg discovered what we use as artificial sweeteners today. However, don’t try taste-testing at home kids! (Unless it’s geology.) Hear the story from host Maren Hunsberger.

What can ancient ice teach us about our climate’s future?

From PBS Terra. When the world’s ice sheets formed, they trapped carbon inside them, and by studying samples of ancient ice, we can learn a lot about the earth’s climate history. As well as predicting what this could mean for our climate’s future. Maiya May explains Weathered: Earth’s Extremes is now streaming on the PBS…

How Post-its Accidentally Became a Hit

From PBS Terra. The weak adhesive on a Post-it called microspheres was originally meant to be used in the aerospace industry (fail). Due to its weak nature, the adhesive wasn’t considered useful for the first 12 years after its invention. Host Maren Hunsberger shares the story of how this adhesive eventually became more valuable to…

Why The Sahara Desert Flooded

From PBS Terra. In September 2024, parts of the Sahara Desert flooded. But isn’t the Sahara supposed to be one of the driest places on Earth? (That’s a rhetorical question). So why did this happen? Will it happen again? What does it mean? Maiya May explains Weathered: Earth’s Extremes is now streaming on the PBS…

What Was Play-Doh Originally Used For?

From PBS Terra. Play-Doh wasn’t always a kid’s toy. It was originally created by a cleaning product company and used to pick up dirt from wallpaper! But how and why did its use change over time? Fascinating Fails host Maren Hunsberger shares the origin story! Original Production Funding Provided by National Science Foundation – Grant…

Coal Plant Explosion Knocks Me Off My Feet

From PBS Terra. Weathered’s Maiya May visited a coal power plant as it was being decommissioned. Experts predict that coal use will peak globally in 2024, and begin to decline quickly as renewable energy is deployed. And blowing them up is the easiest way to get rid of the coal plants. Weathered: Earth’s Extremes is…

The Toxic Beach Where Giant Ships Go to Die

From PBS Terra. This is the wild and complex reality of the world’s largest ship-breaking yard on the Arabian Sea. Hosted by Joe Hanson from Be Smart, Overview uses stunning 4k drone footage to reveal the natural and human made marvels shaping our planet–from a 10,000-foot view–literally. ***** PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like…

Just How Much Hotter are Treeless Streets?

From PBS Terra. Urban heat island effects are caused by building materials like pavement and concrete absorbing more heat than natural surfaces like plants, making cities much warmer than their surroundings. In Medellín, Colombia, Weathered’s Maiya May found out how much of a difference trees can make to mitigate this effect. Weathered: Earth’s Extremes is…

Hottest. Oceans. Ever.

From PBS Terra. Sea surface temperatures have been generally trending warmer each year, but 2023-2024 saw a huge increase over the previous record holder. Maiya May explains what these higher temperatures mean for our world’s oceans, especially coral reefs. Weathered: Earth’s Extremes is now streaming on the PBS App https://to.pbs.org/WTHR2

What is causing Brazil’s wildfires?

From PBS Terra. Brazil’s wildfires have doubled since last year, causing severe damage to the Amazon rainforest. But what conditions are causing these fires, and what will happen if the rainforest reaches its tipping point? Weathered: Earth’s Extremes host Maiya May explains more.

What are these 10,000 mirrors in the desert?

From PBS Terra. This futuristic looking array is a cutting edge solar farm – using super-heated molten salt to churn our power, even in the dark. Hosted by Joe Hanson from Be Smart, Overview uses stunning 4k drone footage to reveal the natural and human made marvels shaping our planet–from a 10,000-foot view–literally. ***** PBS…

What Causes Hurricane Rapid Intensification?

From PBS Terra. In a very short period of time Tropical Storm Helene quickly gained energy as it moved north over the Gulf of Mexico, and shortly after Hurricane Milton went from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in less than 24 hours, a process known as rapid intensification. Rapid Intensification is becoming…

The Rapid Intensification of Hurricane Helene

From PBS Terra. In a very short period of time Tropical Storm Helene quickly gained energy as it moved north over the Gulf of Mexico, intensifying into a Category 1 Hurricane. This process, known as "rapid intensification", could happen again as the storm approaches the coast of Florida, potentially bumping the storm up to a…

Why This Unusual Pattern May Save the Rainforests

From PBS Terra. Check out In the Margins on @pbsorigins : https://youtu.be/Y1cJCowMz9M?feature=shared Check out Roots of Resistance on @pbsorigins : https://youtu.be/rUCrmh58GrU?si=b6HPENjsnEKYPrzK The Choco region in northwest Ecuador is hosting a groundbreaking experiment to try and help it’s rainforests recover from rampant deforestation. A multinational team is planting small “tree islands" to attract natural seed dispersers.…

Swim in this lake if you want to die

From PBS Terra. These apocalyptic ponds in Canada are one of the nastier byproducts of fosile fuel production. Hosted by Joe Hanson from Be Smart, Overview uses stunning 4k drone footage to reveal the natural and human made marvels shaping our planet–from a 10,000-foot view–literally. ***** PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To…

How Otters Are Saving Earth’s Underwater Forests

From PBS Terra. Hidden beneath the surface of our coastal seas are towering forests – of kelp. These underwater ecosystems are as crucial to our environment as their land-based counterparts. We’ll explore them alongside conservationists who are working to restore these threatened habitats. We’ll also meet some adorable sea otters and learn about the role…

What’s the deal with SPF?

From PBS Terra. Some people sunburn easily while others don’t. How does this impact which sunscreen we should use? Is sunscreen necessary at all, especially for those with more melanin in their skin? Dr. Tina Lasisi explains. . Original Production Funding Provided by National Science Foundation – Grant No. 2120006 Any opinions, findings, and conclusions…

Can depressions be treated with… magnets?

From PBS Terra. Curing depression with magnets seems like science fiction, but is there actually some truth to this? How much more research is needed? Dr. Tina Lasisi explains . Original Production Funding Provided by National Science Foundation – Grant No. 2120006 Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those…

The dangers of BBLs

From PBS Terra. Brazilian Butt LIfts (aka: BBLs) have the highest mortality rate of any aesthetic surgical procedure. What is the cause of this mortality? Why do we STILL keep getting BBLs? Dr. Tina Lasisi explains. . Original Production Funding Provided by National Science Foundation – Grant No. 2120006 Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or…

Debunking the Aquatic Ape Hypothesis

From PBS Terra. Did human evolution actually feature a period where our ancestors lived in the water? Short answer: no. Longer answer (but still short enough for a YouTube Short) is in this in this video where Dr. Tina Lasisi unpacks the Aquatic Ape Hypothesis and explores why humans (perhaps unfortunately depending on your POV)…

Was Elizabeth Holmes on to something?

From PBS Terra. The allure of Theranos was its claim to detect numerous diseases from just a drop of blood. While Elizabeth Holmes’ ambitions ended in scandal, the science she was pursuing wasn’t entirely fantasy. Tina dives deep into the challenges of bloodwork, the technologies like mass spectrometry that could someday make Theranos’ dream a…

Can anyone explain this giant structure in the Sahara?

From PBS Terra. It’s not aliens. It’s not Atlantis. It is a geological wonder called the Richat Structure. Hosted by Joe Hanson from Be Smart, Overview uses stunning 4k drone footage to reveal the natural and human made marvels shaping our planet–from a 10,000-foot view–literally. ***** PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To…

How Corn Took Over the World 🌽

From PBS Terra. Learn more about Human Footprint: https://www.pbs.org/show/human-footprint As one industrialized strain of corn is dominating the market, it’s rapidly replacing thousands of indigenous and local varieties. But what does this transformation mean for our food security and the preservation of agricultural diversity? In Mexico, Human Footprint host Shane Campbell-Staton explores around a maize…