Feeling stressed? Try reading this out loud!
Researchers have found that reading together can help strengthen bonds and reduce stress. In a recent study, families were asked to read together while wearing a brain monitoring cap that tracks activity over time. The results suggested that moments of shared reading can sync brain patterns between two people, which then suggest that the experience of reading books together helps parents and children connect.
Furthermore, the importance of stories themselves can’t be ignored. Stories are how people explain the world and their lives to one another — the decisions you make and the person you become are partially influenced by the stories you’ve read or heard. The research is very new, but studies of this sort can help us understand why reading together builds empathy, focus, emotional well-being, and might support children’s development and encourage a lifelong love of reading. And not just because a good story might distract two siblings for long enough to stop flicking each other’s ears!
In The Journey of Blood Flow, Dr. Michael Mosley explores how our understanding of circulation has evolved from ancient ideas to modern science. From William Harvey’s groundbreaking discovery to advanced imaging and engineering innovations, he reveals how blood moves through a vast and complex system in the body. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Wonderful World of Blood, in which Dr. Michael Mosley carries out six experiments on his own blood, from starving it of oxygen to injecting it with snake venom.
In Myths and Discoveries About Blood, Dr. Michael Mosley introduces the science, history, and mystery behind blood and its life-giving role in the human body. Learn how blood has inspired myths about immortality and healing, while modern science begins to uncover its true functions and potential. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Wonderful World of Blood, in which Dr. Michael Mosley carries out six experiments on his own blood, from starving it of oxygen to injecting it with snake venom.
Explore the five senses like never before! Dive into 10 fascinating BBC videos from shows like Got Science? and Secrets of Skin that uncover the amazing science behind how we see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. Students will discover why food tastes different on an airplane, how smell involves more than just the nose, why our eyes make emotional tears, how sound can change flavor, and how fingertips and smell receptors send powerful signals to the brain. It’s a fun, surprising look at the hidden connections between the brain and our everyday experiences.
In Turning Plastic Waste Into Diesel Fuel, dive into the world of crude oil and how it's used to make plastic through a process that creates long chains called polymers. Jem tries to turn waste plastic back into something useful: diesel fuel! Using a hot, oxygen-free oven, he cooks the plastic to turn it into liquid fuel, and with help from chemists, he successfully gets a car to run on the diesel made from waste plastic. It’s a cool experiment showing how we can recycle plastic into something powerful! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Bang Goes the Theory, a series that delves into the ways science impacts our lives and shapes the world we experience every day.
In Inside a Super Recycling Plant, plastic is everywhere, and while it’s bad for wildlife, many people wonder — how bad is it for us? Every year, millions of tons of plastic end up in landfills, but new technology is making recycling more effective. At a cutting-edge plant, 5 million plastic bottles are cleaned, chopped up, and turned into brand-new, food-safe bottles every day — without any waste! This process gives old plastic a fresh start and shows progress in tackling the massive plastic problem. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Bang Goes the Theory, a series that delves into the ways science impacts our lives and shapes the world we experience every day.
The article "Benjamin Franklin’s Bright Ideas: From Lightning Rods to Bifocals" from BBC's HistoryExtra highlights Franklin’s curious mind and lifelong passion for learning. It explains how he used science and creativity to develop useful inventions like the lightning rod, bifocal glasses, and even an unspillable soup bowl, while also uncovering the electric nature of lightning with his famous kite experiment.
The article "Always Bugged By Mosquitoes? Blame Your Body Odor" from BBC's Science Focus explores a unique study using a huge mosquito-testing arena in Zambia. Scientists found that body odor plays a key role in how mosquitoes choose people to bite. The results could lead to better mosquito traps and tools to fight diseases like malaria.
In A Pedal Power Test, Jem is building a small plane powered by pedaling, but he needs to generate 350 watts to get it off the ground. After testing with Dr. Brickley, he discovers he can only produce 275 watts. The doctor believes with some training, Jem can increase his wattage and make his flying dream possible! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Bang Goes the Theory, a series that delves into the ways science impacts our lives and shapes the world we experience every day.
In The Science of Dehydration, Jem pushes his body to the limit with intense exercise while scientists measure how dehydration affects his performance. After sweating it out on a treadmill and exercise bike — without drinking any water — his blood volume drops, and his reaction time slows by a third! The results prove just how crucial hydration is for both the body and the brain. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Bang Goes the Theory, a series that delves into the ways science impacts our lives and shapes the world we experience every day.
Feeling stressed? Try reading this out loud!
Researchers have found that reading together can help strengthen bonds and reduce stress. In a recent study, families were asked to read together while wearing a brain monitoring cap that tracks activity over time. The results suggested that moments of shared reading can sync brain patterns between two people, which then suggest that the experience of reading books together helps parents and children connect.
Furthermore, the importance of stories themselves can’t be ignored. Stories are how people explain the world and their lives to one another — the decisions you make and the person you become are partially influenced by the stories you’ve read or heard. The research is very new, but studies of this sort can help us understand why reading together builds empathy, focus, emotional well-being, and might support children’s development and encourage a lifelong love of reading. And not just because a good story might distract two siblings for long enough to stop flicking each other’s ears!
In The Journey of Blood Flow, Dr. Michael Mosley explores how our understanding of circulation has evolved from ancient ideas to modern science. From William Harvey’s groundbreaking discovery to advanced imaging and engineering innovations, he reveals how blood moves through a vast and complex system in the body. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Wonderful World of Blood, in which Dr. Michael Mosley carries out six experiments on his own blood, from starving it of oxygen to injecting it with snake venom.
In Myths and Discoveries About Blood, Dr. Michael Mosley introduces the science, history, and mystery behind blood and its life-giving role in the human body. Learn how blood has inspired myths about immortality and healing, while modern science begins to uncover its true functions and potential. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Wonderful World of Blood, in which Dr. Michael Mosley carries out six experiments on his own blood, from starving it of oxygen to injecting it with snake venom.
Explore the five senses like never before! Dive into 10 fascinating BBC videos from shows like Got Science? and Secrets of Skin that uncover the amazing science behind how we see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. Students will discover why food tastes different on an airplane, how smell involves more than just the nose, why our eyes make emotional tears, how sound can change flavor, and how fingertips and smell receptors send powerful signals to the brain. It’s a fun, surprising look at the hidden connections between the brain and our everyday experiences.
In Turning Plastic Waste Into Diesel Fuel, dive into the world of crude oil and how it's used to make plastic through a process that creates long chains called polymers. Jem tries to turn waste plastic back into something useful: diesel fuel! Using a hot, oxygen-free oven, he cooks the plastic to turn it into liquid fuel, and with help from chemists, he successfully gets a car to run on the diesel made from waste plastic. It’s a cool experiment showing how we can recycle plastic into something powerful! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Bang Goes the Theory, a series that delves into the ways science impacts our lives and shapes the world we experience every day.
In Inside a Super Recycling Plant, plastic is everywhere, and while it’s bad for wildlife, many people wonder — how bad is it for us? Every year, millions of tons of plastic end up in landfills, but new technology is making recycling more effective. At a cutting-edge plant, 5 million plastic bottles are cleaned, chopped up, and turned into brand-new, food-safe bottles every day — without any waste! This process gives old plastic a fresh start and shows progress in tackling the massive plastic problem. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Bang Goes the Theory, a series that delves into the ways science impacts our lives and shapes the world we experience every day.
The article "Benjamin Franklin’s Bright Ideas: From Lightning Rods to Bifocals" from BBC's HistoryExtra highlights Franklin’s curious mind and lifelong passion for learning. It explains how he used science and creativity to develop useful inventions like the lightning rod, bifocal glasses, and even an unspillable soup bowl, while also uncovering the electric nature of lightning with his famous kite experiment.
The article "Always Bugged By Mosquitoes? Blame Your Body Odor" from BBC's Science Focus explores a unique study using a huge mosquito-testing arena in Zambia. Scientists found that body odor plays a key role in how mosquitoes choose people to bite. The results could lead to better mosquito traps and tools to fight diseases like malaria.
In A Pedal Power Test, Jem is building a small plane powered by pedaling, but he needs to generate 350 watts to get it off the ground. After testing with Dr. Brickley, he discovers he can only produce 275 watts. The doctor believes with some training, Jem can increase his wattage and make his flying dream possible! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Bang Goes the Theory, a series that delves into the ways science impacts our lives and shapes the world we experience every day.
In The Science of Dehydration, Jem pushes his body to the limit with intense exercise while scientists measure how dehydration affects his performance. After sweating it out on a treadmill and exercise bike — without drinking any water — his blood volume drops, and his reaction time slows by a third! The results prove just how crucial hydration is for both the body and the brain. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Bang Goes the Theory, a series that delves into the ways science impacts our lives and shapes the world we experience every day.