Archive for month: May, 2017

Why do we knock on wood?

Chances are you’ve knocked on wood in the past month. But, really, why? Here’s one origin story: Knocking on wood is thought to come from the folklore of the ancient Indo-Europeans, or possibly people who predated them, who believed that [...]

8 fun facts about bees (in TED-Ed GIFs)

How much do you know about the tiny, mighty bees? Here are 8 facts worth learning about our formidable friends: 1. Bees make our surroundings beautiful. In addition to pollinating our crops, bees are responsible for pollinating all of the things [...]

A brief history of African-American social dance (in TED-Ed GIFs)

This is the Bop. The Bop is a type of social dance. Dance is a language, and social dance is an expression that emerges from a community. Below, Camille A. Brown offers a brief history of African-American social dance. A [...]

The physics of the “hardest move” in ballet (in TED-Ed GIFs)

In the third act of “Swan Lake”, the Black Swan pulls off a seemingly endless series of turns, bobbing up and down on one pointed foot and spinning around and around and around … thirty-two times. It’s one of the [...]

What would it take to survive in space?

Prolonged space travel takes a severe toll on the human body. As we seriously consider the human species becoming space-faring, a big question stands: even if we do break free from Earth’s orbit and embark on long-duration journeys among the [...]

The physics of football (in TED-Ed GIFs)

In 1997, Brazilian football player Roberto Carlos set up for a 35 meter free kick with no direct line to the goal. Carlos’s shot sent the ball flying wide of the players, but just before going out of bounds it [...]

7 healthy tips for a better night’s sleep

Sleep is critical for mind and body health. Without it, the effects can be severe. But what if you suffer from insomnia? Below, neuroscientist Claudia Aguirre provides 7 healthy tips for a better night’s sleep: 1. Aim for power hours. Sleep the [...]