TED-Ed Originals are short, award-winning animated videos about ideas. Three times a week, you can watch a brand new TED-Ed Original designed to spark your curiosity. Ready to catch up on the latest riddles? In a binge-watching mood? Start with this list of the top 10 most popular TED-Ed Originals released in 2016:

1. Can you solve the temple riddle?

Your expedition finally stands at the heart of the ancient temple. But as you study the inscriptions in the darkness, two wisps of green smoke burst forth. The walls begin to shake. The giant sandglass begins flowing with less than an hour before it empties, and a rumbling tells you that you don’t want to be around when that happens. Can you use math to escape the temple? Dennis E. Shasha shows how. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

2. Can you solve the locker riddle?

Your rich, eccentric uncle just passed away, and you and your 99 nasty relatives have been invited to the reading of his will. He wanted to leave all of his money to you, but he knew that if he did, your relatives would pester you forever. Can you solve the riddle he left for you and get the inheritance? Lisa Winer shows how. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

3. Can you solve the frog riddle?

You’re stranded in a rainforest, and you’ve eaten a poisonous mushroom. To save your life, you need an antidote excreted by a certain species of frog. Unfortunately, only the female frog produces the antidote. The male and female look identical, but the male frog has a distinctive croak. Derek Abbott shows how to use conditional probability to make sure you lick the right frog and get out alive. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

4. Can you solve the passcode riddle?

In a dystopian world, your resistance group is humanity’s last hope. Unfortunately, you’ve all been captured by the tyrannical rulers and brought to the ancient coliseum for their deadly entertainment. Will you be able to solve the passcode riddle and get everyone out safely? Ganesh Pai shows how. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

5. What would happen if you didn’t drink water?

Water is essentially everywhere in our world, and the average human is composed of between 55 and 60% water. So what role does water play in our bodies, and how much do we actually need to drink to stay healthy? Mia Nacamulli details the health benefits of hydration. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

6. Can you solve the prisoner boxes riddle?

Your favorite band is great at playing music…but not so great at being organized. They keep misplacing their instruments on tour, and it’s driving their manager mad. Can you solve the brain-numbing riddle their manager assigns them and make sure the band stays on their label? Yossi Elran shows how. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

7. Why do cats act so weird?

They’re cute, they’re lovable, and judging by the 26 billion views on over 2 million YouTube videos of them, one thing is certain: cats are very entertaining. But their strange feline behaviors, both amusing and baffling, leave many of us asking: Why do cats do that? Tony Buffington explains the science behind some of your cat’s strangest behaviors. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

8. The psychology of narcissism

Narcissism isn’t just a personality type that shows up in advice columns; it’s actually a set of traits classified and studied by psychologists. But what causes it? And can narcissists improve on their negative traits? W. Keith Campbell describes the psychology behind the elevated and sometimes detrimental self-involvement of narcissists. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

9. Can you solve the control room riddle?

As your country’s top spy, you must infiltrate the headquarters of the evil syndicate, find the secret control panel, and deactivate their death ray. But your reconnaissance team is spotty, and you have only limited information about the control panel’s whereabouts. Can you solve the control room riddle and deactivate their weapon in time? Dennis Shasha shows you how. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

10. How did Hitler rise to power?

Decades after the fall of the Third Reich, it feels impossible to understand how Adolf Hitler, the tyrant who orchestrated one of the largest genocides in human history, could ever have risen to power in a democratic country. So how did it happen, and could it happen again? Alex Gendler and Anthony Hazard dive into the history and circumstances that allowed Hitler to become Führer of Germany. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

On behalf of everyone here at TED-Ed, thanks for learning with us this year!

To get brand new TED-Ed Originals delivered to your inbox for free in 2017, sign up for the TED-Ed weekly newsletter here >>

If you are a TED-Ed community member who waits with anticipation for new TED-Ed Original videos to be published, then you’ll likely enjoy a few fun facts about the curiosity-inspired educational videos that were published three times a week in 2015. For example, did  you know that TED-Ed works with hundreds of talented animators and brilliant educators from around the globe to produce these 3-5 minute short videos? Or that there’s a small but mighty group of about 10 people who work on each and every TED-Ed Original, from editing to writing to fact checking to reviewing all animations? Or that in total, the TED-Ed audience has watched more than 344,071,325 minutes of TED-Ed original video content this year? That’s nearly 240,000 days, or 654 years of watching! As a thank you to our audience as we approach the end of 2015, here’s a list of the top 10 most popular TED-Ed Originals of 2015:

1. Can you solve the bridge riddle?

Taking that internship in a remote mountain lab might not have been the best idea. Pulling that lever with the skull symbol just to see what it did probably wasn’t so smart either. But now is not the time for regrets because you need to get away from these mutant zombies…fast. Can you use math to get you and your friends over the bridge before the zombies arrive? Alex Gendler shows how. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

2. Can you solve the prisoner hat riddle?

You and nine other individuals have been captured by super-intelligent alien overlords. The aliens think humans look quite tasty, but their civilization forbids eating highly logical and cooperative beings. Unfortunately, they’re not sure whether you qualify, so they decide to give you all a test. Can you solve this hat riddle? Alex Gendler shows how. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

3. Why sitting is bad for you

Sitting down for brief periods can help us recover from stress or recuperate from exercise. But nowadays, our lifestyles make us sit much more than we move around. Are our bodies built for such a sedentary existence? Murat Dalkilinç investigates the hidden risks of sitting down. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

4. The famously difficult green-eyed logic puzzle

One hundred green-eyed logicians have been imprisoned on an island by a mad dictator. Their only hope for freedom lies in the answer to one famously difficult logic puzzle. Can you solve it? Alex Gendler walks us through this green-eyed riddle. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

5. The wars that inspired Game of Thrones

Beginning around 1377, medieval England was shaken by a power struggle between two noble families, which spanned generations and involved a massive cast of characters, complex motives and shifting loyalties. Sound familiar? Alex Gendler illustrates how the historical conflict known as the Wars of the Roses served as the basis for much of the drama in Game of Thrones. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

6. What would happen if you didn’t sleep?

In the United States, it’s estimated that 30 percent of adults and 66 percent of adolescents are regularly sleep-deprived. This isn’t just a minor inconvenience: staying awake can cause serious bodily harm. Claudia Aguirre shows what happens to your body and brain when you skip sleep. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

7. Why are some people left-handed?

Today, about one-tenth of the world’s population are southpaws. Why are such a small proportion of people left-handed — and why does the trait exist in the first place? Daniel M. Abrams investigates how the uneven ratio of lefties and righties gives insight into a balance between competitive and cooperative pressures on human evolution. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

8. The benefits of good posture

Has anyone ever told you, “Stand up straight!” or scolded you for slouching at a family dinner? Comments like that might be annoying — but they’re not wrong. Your posture is the foundation for every movement your body makes and can determine how well your body adapts to the stresses on it. Murat Dalkilinç gives the pros of good posture. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

9. How do dogs “see” with their noses?

You may have heard the expression that dogs ‘see with their noses.’ But these creature’s amazing nasal architecture actually reveals a whole world beyond what we can see. Alexandra Horowitz illustrates how the dog’s nose can smell the past, the future and even things that can’t be seen at all. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

10. What makes muscles grow?

We have over 600 muscles in our bodies that help bind us together, hold us up, and help us move. Your muscles also need your constant attention, because the way you treat them on a daily basis determines whether they will wither or grow. Jeffrey Siegel illustrates how a good mix of sleep, nutrition and exercise keep your muscles as big and strong as possible. Watch this TED-Ed Original below.

So what have we discovered about the TED-Ed audience in 2015? It seems that we all like stretching our minds — especially with riddles. We all like knowing about our bodies, and how they work. And, most importantly, we all love to learn.

On behalf of everyone here at TED-Ed, thanks for learning with us this year!

To get brand new TED-Ed Originals delivered to your inbox for free in 2016, sign up for the TED-Ed weekly newsletter here >>

What are the best gifts for teachers and schools? What can people donate to help students, both near and far? We asked the TED-Ed Innovative Educators for advice. Below, 6 school gifts recommended by educators:

Grocery store gift cards + “weekend bags” of healthy food.

One way to help students is to help struggling families. “If a student is worried about eating, or they are going hungry, then they aren’t going to be focused on learning,” says Craig Zimmer, an educator with the Durham Catholic District School Board in Ontario (CANADA). Grocery store gift cards are a great thing to donate to school counselors, so they can pass them on to families in need. Why school counselors? Because they often know what’s going on at home with students, even if other poeple don’t. ”Often these students just try to blend in, when in reality they have really important needs,” says Kim Preshoff, a teacher at Williamsville North High School in New York (USA). Another option: Give a bag of healthy groceries for the weekend. ”Some kids don’t get meals outside of school, so weekends and days off are horrible for them,” says Rita Kitchen, who teaches at Hilliard Weaver Middle School in Ohio (USA). A “weekend bag” of food for their family — i.e. a grocery bag of fresh, healthy food to help them get through the weekend — can have an immediate positive impact in a student’s life.

Weather-appropriate clothing donations.

Particularly in cold weather, there is a huge need for clean, untorn clothing for needy kids. Appropriate clothing donations may include: jeans, coats, hats, gloves, socks and boots. ”Our students all wear uniforms, which can mask socioeconomic status, and we’re not a Title I school — but in only 3 years in existence, I’ve seen things change overnight for some families,” says Vicki Albritton, who teaches at the STEM Academy at Bartlett in Georgia (USA).

Art + school supplies.

Basic art, school and craft supplies are always in demand. “I’ve had families who can meet the basic needs, but extra paper or a much needed binder are luxuries. Also, students always need craft supplies. Imagine not being able to practice how to write or color or create because your family can’t afford the basics like crayons, glue and craft paper,” says Karen Goepen-Wee, who teaches at Rundle College Academy in Alberta (CANADA).

Sponsorship of student experiences outside of school.

Museum trips, hands-on excursions, field trips — you can help to create “extra” student experiences. Your support can make a world of difference in the lives of students, whether you’re funding field trips or leading a nature hike, says Jennifer Hesseltine, who teaches at Malone Middle School in New York (USA).

Time spent with professionals in different careers.

Students need role models — and adult mentorship. Whether you’re an scientist, explorer or artist, your experiences can benefit students. “The opportunity for kids to engage with professionals will help with relevance,” says David Miyashiro, superintendent of the Cajon Valley Union School District in California (USA). And it doesn’t have to be in person — you can talk to student groups halfway around the globe via video calls. “Many of our kids just want an adult to listen and guide them and . . . be there (even if it is “virtually’),” says Mitzi Stover, who teaches at North High School in Torrance, California (USA).

Content-related “stuff” for students.

Anything that fosters learning, inventing, and/or playing is great. If you’re a parent, look to your own kids for inspiration. “If there’s something your child really enjoys at school; microscopes, robots, dancing classes, etc., consider donating that item to a local school in need. Get your child involved with the purchase and delivery,” says Nola-Rae Cronan of the Cranbrook Kingswood Middle School for Girls in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (USA). Want a specific idea for an awesome gift? Try a Makey Makey invention kit, suggests Nicholas Provenzano of Grosse Point Public Schools in Michigan (USA). Want to give a teacher exactly what they want? Go to Donorschoose.org and pick a wishlist, suggests Dylan Ferniany of Birmingham City Schools, Alabama (USA).

For more recommendations from teachers, sign up for the TED-Ed weekly newsletter here >>

Featured image from the TED-Ed Original: What is a gift economy?