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Be Smart.

Joe Hanson

We give you deep answers to simple questions about science and the rest of the universe. And also dad jokes. Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, PhD. He's a molecular biologist and an award-winning science communicator and journalist

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  • Sunday · 5 min

    There Are Millions of Skeletons Lying Beneath Washington, DC

    PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateOKAY ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Why do we build monuments? And what are they made of? Click here to SUBSCRIBE -- http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub I took a trip to Washington D.C. to check out some of our nation's most famous monuments. Where do they come from? From the depths of the Earth to the distant reaches of the cosmos, you'll never look at history the same way again. Music "Over the River and Through the River" - Father Sleep Written and hosted by Joe Hanson Produced by PBS Digital Studios: http://www.youtube.com/user/pbsdigitalstudios ----------- Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sunday · 9 min

    Why Do We All Hate Pigeons?

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Check out Planet Earth II! https://youtu.be/c8aFcHFu8QM On BBC One in the UK this Sunday and coming to BBC America on 28th January 2017 Don’t be bird-brained. You should SUBSCRIBE! http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Want to wear your love for science? We’ve got merch: http://dftba.com/besmart Find out when you can watch Planet Earth II: http://www.bbcamerica.com/shows/planet-earth http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02544td Special thanks to BBC Earth: https://www.youtube.com/user/BBCEarth Planet Earth II is a BBC Studios Natural History Unit Production, co-produced with BBC America, ZDF, Tencent and France Télévision Books from this episode: “Superdove” by Courtney Humphries: http://amzn.to/2h0sZly “Unseen City” by Nathanael Johnson http://amzn.to/2g3v1nM -References/Learn More- Robert Fulton’s illustrated “Book of Pigeons” - 1876 https://archive.org/details/illustratedbooko00robe Scarf, Damian, Harlene Hayne, and Michael Colombo. "Pigeons on par with primates in numerical competence." Science 334.6063 (2011): 1664-1664. Scarf, Damian, et al. "Orthographic processing in pigeons (Columba livia)." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113.40 (2016): 11272-11276. Skinner, Burrhus F. "Pigeons in a pelican." American Psychologist 15.1 (1960): 28. Watanabe, Shigeru, Junko Sakamoto, and Masumi Wakita. "PIGEONS'DISCRIMINATION OF PAINTINGS BY MONET AND PICASSO." Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior 63.2 (1995): 165-174. ---------------- It’s Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D. Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment or check us out at the links below! Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter: http://twitter.com/okaytobesmart http://twitter.com/jtotheizzoe Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/jtotheizzoe Snapchat: YoDrJoe Produced by PBS Digital Studios Music via APM Stock images from SciencePhoto http://www.sciencephoto.com/ and Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sunday · 6 min

    Bizarre Involuntary Behaviors Explained!

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Why we yawn, why we hiccup, twitchy eyes (and more)! Don’t miss our next video! SUBSCRIBE! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jtotheizzoe Follow on Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Follow on Instagram: http://instagram.com/jtotheizzoe Our bodies do a lot of weird things, and many of them are completely involuntary. Why do we often jerk our bodies awake right before falling asleep? Why do we yawn? Why do we hiccup? Why do some people sneeze when they look at the sun? And why does your eye twitch? This week we'll look at the science behind these crazy involuntary behaviors! MY T-SHIRT: http://www.cognitive-surplus.com/product/science-is-magic-that-works-shirt-organic/ Read more: Aristotle's "Book of Problems" free online: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/12699/12699-h/12699-h.htm#BOOK_OF_PROBLEMS (it was probably not written by Aristotle, but instead collected after his death) Yawns: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140811-warning-this-may-make-you-yawn Eye twitches: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1603/what-causes-my-eyelid-to-twitch Sun sneezes: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2821404/ Hiccups: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140127-do-hiccup-remedies-work Sleep twitches: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120522-suffer-from-sleep-shudders http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120522-suffer-from-sleep-shudders Post-micturition convulsion syndrome: http://io9.com/5810102/the-science-of-pee-shivers Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment below! ----------------- It's Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.DFollow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoe Email me: itsokaytobesmart AT gmail DOT com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Google+ https://plus.google.com/+itsokaytobesmart For more awesome science, check out: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Produced for PBS Digital Studios Joe Hanson - Creator/Host/Writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Andrew Matthews - Editing/Motion Graphics Katie Graham - Director of Photography John Knudsen - Gaffer Dalton Allen - Post-Production Intern Theme music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod Other music via APM Stock images from Shutterstock ----------------- Last week's video: There's no such thing as cold: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akd7MMRKDwc More videos: Why Are Some People Left-Handed? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPvMUpcxPSA Why Did We Blow on NES Games? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gf9mtXnJfM The Science of Game of Thrones - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Utu-LpJn3Is There Was No First Human - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdWLhXi24Mo How The Elements Got Their Names - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtg9p6A6xnY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sunday · 7 min

    What's REALLY Making Earth Hotter?

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Watch my other climate science videos: http://bit.ly/climatevids Get yourself an awesome I DID A SCIENCE shirt! http://dftba.com/besmart ↓ More info and sources below ↓ References/Learn more: July 2016 is hottest on record: http://climate.nasa.gov/news/2479/nasa-analysis-finds-july-2016-is-warmest-on-record/ NOAA’s State of the Climate July 2016 http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201607 Bloomberg’s climate change data viz project: http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-whats-warming-the-world/ Solar activity and temperature show opposite trend: https://www.skepticalscience.com/solar-activity-sunspots-global-warming-intermediate.htm Milankovitch cycles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milankovitch_cycles (I left out eccentricity because it operates on scales so long that it doesn’t affect short term climate change) Connecting climate models with actual temperature changes http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/full/10.1175/BAMS-D-14-00154.1 NASA Goddard’s Gavin Schmidt explains the history of the instrumental temperature record https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkT7IyUSjq0 Last time CO2 was this high, humans didn’t exist http://www.climatecentral.org/news/the-last-time-co2-was-this-high-humans-didnt-exist-15938 Shifting baselines: http://www.shiftingbaselines.org/op_ed/ Thomas Jefferson’s weather observations: https://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/weather-observations Ben Franklin as Meteorologist: http://www.jstor.org/stable/983821 ---------------- It’s Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D. Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment or check us out at the links below! Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter: http://twitter.com/okaytobesmart http://twitter.com/jtotheizzoe Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/jtotheizzoe Snapchat: YoDrJoe Produced by PBS Digital Studios Music via APM Stock images from SciencePhoto http://www.sciencephoto.com/ and Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sunday · 6 min

    Where Do Birds Go During Winter?

    And where do they keep their suitcases? Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Subscribe to It's Okay To Be Smart: http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub As winter approaches, V-shaped flocks glide overhead as the world's birds begin their long treks to warmer climates. Humans used to have some pretty crazy theories about where birds went for winter, like the moon, or to the bottom of the ocean. How did we learn the real story? And where DO birds go for winter? What are the longest bird migrations? How do birds store up energy for their long journey? How do birds navigate? Why do they fly in a V-shape? Find out in this week's video! Charles Morton's theory of birds on the moon: http://wrd.cm/1xMKc5k Read Charles Morton's original 1703 pamphlet! http://bit.ly/1C5AKhk The story of the stork with a spear in its neck: http://bit.ly/11PgkIs Aristotle's theory of bird transmutation: http://bit.ly/1uwQwHX The "barnacle goose" http://bit.ly/1C5BiUg The Arctic tern's record-breaking migration: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2836663/ The bar-tailed godwit's fat-fueled migration: https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/auk/v115n01/p0196-p0203.pdf Ruby-throated hummingbird mighty migration: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1325055/ The avian aerodynamics of the "flying V" http://bit.ly/1vFFlUs The many senses that birds use to find their way: http://bit.ly/11qN9vr How birds use magnetic fields to navigate: http://bit.ly/1r2jYLy Produced for PBS Digital Studios Joe Hanson - Host/Writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Katie Graham - Director of Photography Andrew Matthews - Editing/Motion Graphics Dalton Allen - Post-production intern John Knudsen - Gaffer Theme music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod Stock images by Shutterstock ----------- Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sunday · 10 min

    Where On Earth Do You Weigh The Least?

    You can learn more at https://curiositystream.com/smart SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a video! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub ↓↓↓ More info and sources below ↓↓↓ Uploaded 05-03-19 You may have heard that a kilogram of feathers weighs the same as a kilogram of steel, but that all depends on where you weigh them. This video is all about the difference between mass and weight, and how weirdly awesome Earth’s gravity really is. REFERENCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_versus_weight http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/about-us/42-our-solar-system/the-earth/gravity/94-does-your-weight-change-between-the-poles-and-the-equator-intermediate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equatorial_bulge http://www.cleonis.nl/physics/phys256/equatorial_bulge.php https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoid https://gracefo.jpl.nasa.gov/ http://www2.csr.utexas.edu/grace/publications/fact_sheet/4.html ----------- FOLLOW US: Twitter: @DrJoeHanson @okaytobesmart Instagram: @DrJoeHanson @okaytobesmart Merch: https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart BOOKS WE’VE FEATURED: http://smart-books.tumblr.com/ ----------- It’s Okay To Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D. Director: Joe Nicolosi Researcher: Matt Caplan, Ph.D. Creative Director: David Schulte Editors/animators: Derek Borsheim Executive Producer: Amanda Fox Producer: Stephanie Noone Produced by PBS Digital Studios Music via APM Stock images from Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sunday · 6 min

    The Science and Grace of Auroras

    PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateOKAY ↓ More info and sources below ↓ The science behind Earth's nocturnal light showClick here to SUBSCRIBE, it's FREE! -- http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Space might seem like an empty place, but the area surrounding Earth is constantly being bombarded by waves of charged particles released by the Sun: The solar wind. Luckily, thanks to Earth's swirling, molten core (and the magnetic field it provides), we are protected from this planet-sterilizing onslaught like an invisible force field All that science has a beautiful side effect: It makes the auroras! The Northern and Southern lights are the result of the solar wind and its dance with Earth's magnetic field and polar atmosphere. It's Earth's own cosmic light show! References for this episode: http://dft.ba/-4G6G Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment below! Written and hosted by Joe Hanson Produced by Painted On Productions (http://www.paintedon.com/) Special thanks to Laura Eakins from UT-Austin's Department of Astronomy Music in this episode: Gustav Holst: "Neptune, the Mystic," "Mercury, the Winged Messenger" Johnny Ripper: "Speak" Misha Nuis: "Ambient" Clips used in this episode: "Aurora 2012" by Christian Mülhauser http://vimeo.com/36141149 Gradient Sun by NASA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUL4JY15jSg Auroras underfoot by NASA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL_-Zz7JDoA "Temporal Distortion" by Randy Halverson: http://vimeo.com/36684976 "In Plain Sight" by Brad Goldpaint: http://vimeo.com/52347966 Massive Solar Filament Eruption by NASA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrnGi-q6iWc "ISS Stacks" by Christoph Malin: http://vimeo.com/51499009 ----------- Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sunday · 6 min

    The Dimensions of the Universe

    PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateOKAY ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Do you ever freak out about the scale of time and space? Me too! Don’t miss our next video! SUBSCRIBE! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub From the very large to the very small, the universe is an amazing place. Here's my favorite ways to explore its scale. Explore them yourself: Scale of the Universe 2 - http://htwins.net/scale2/ Powers of Ten - Charles and Ray Eames http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKBhvDjuy0 Here is Today - http://hereistoday.com/ Deep Time clock - http://deeptime.info/ More on "yugen" - http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/japanese-aesthetics/#5 Created by Joe Hanson Music by Podington Bear http://podingtonbear.com/ Video footage from http://www.videoblocks.com/ Produced for PBS Digital Studios ----------- Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sunday · 5 min

    What is Déjà Vu?!

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Uploaded 02-02-15 I feel like I've seen this video before… Subscribe: http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Twitter: @okaytobesmart ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/okaytobesmart http://twitter.com/jtotheizzoe Follow on Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Follow on Instagram: http://instagram.com/jtotheizzoe Most of us have felt it before, that strange sensation that you've been somewhere or seen something before, as if you already remembered what's happening. Are you psychic? Nope, that's just déjà vu. Why does déjà vu happen? Well, scientists aren't completely sure, but they've got a few good theories about it. Great déjà vu explainer from Jordan Gaines Lewis: http://www.gainesonbrains.com/2012/02/seeing-into-future-neuroscience-of-deja.html Some theories of why déjà vu happens: http://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-deja-vu-and-why-does-it-happen-11355 And now for something completely different: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2eUopy9sd8 Special thanks to Austin's Corona Cafe! Cast: Waiter - Joe Nicolosi (he's also the director) Sneezing girl - Kate Eads (she's also associate producer) Guy spilling coffee - John Knudesn (he's also gaffer) Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment below! ----------------- It's Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.DFollow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoe Email me: itsokaytobesmart AT gmail DOT com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Google+ https://plus.google.com/+itsokaytobesmart For more awesome science, check out: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Produced for PBS Digital Studios Joe Hanson - Creator/Host/Writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Andrew Matthews - Editing/Motion Graphics Katie Graham - Director of Photography John Knudsen - Gaffer Dalton Allen - Post-Production Intern Theme music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod Other music via APM Stock images from Shutterstock ----------------- Last week's video: 5 Weird Involuntary Behaviors Explained: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE8sRMZ5BCA More videos: Why Are Some People Left-Handed? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPvMUpcxPSA Why Did We Blow on NES Games? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gf9mtXnJfM The Science of Game of Thrones - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Utu-LpJn3Is There Was No First Human - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdWLhXi24Mo How The Elements Got Their Names - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtg9p6A6xnY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sunday · 15 min

    Evolution FAILS in the Human Body

    PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateOKAY ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Uploaded 19-11-19 SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a video! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub We’re on PATREON now! Join the community ►► https://www.patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart If you were taking an engineering class in school and you turned in the human body for your final exam… you would get like, a C+. Or maybe a B- at best. That’s because the human body is full of design flaws. Except they aren’t really design flaws, because the human body wasn’t designed. It was evolved, and it is still evolving. And that means some of our parts don’t work as well as they could, they just work well enough. Here’s a rundown of a few of the human body’s biggest evolutionary fails! Special thanks to our Brain Trust Patrons: AlecZero Bob Rosset Brent M. Diego Lombeida Sony Varghese ----------- Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sunday · 13 min

    The Most Unbelievable Image Ever Captured by Hubble Space Telescope

    PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateOKAY ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Uploaded 25-04-20 We’re on PATREON! Join the community ►► https://www.patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a video! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Celebrate the Hubble Space Telescope’s 30th Birthday with us: https://hubblesite.org/hubble-30th-anniversary https://www.nasa.gov/content/hubbles-30th-anniversary Disorientation” by Dr. Katie Mack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wT1-bRj9wI Special thanks: Dr. Katie Mack (@AstroKatie on Twitter) Dr. Frank Summers (STScI) Dr. Joel Green (STScI) Dr. Alex Lockwood (STScI) NASA European Space Agency Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) Hubblesite.org Special thanks to our Brain Trust Patrons: AlecZero Diego Lombeida Dustin Ernesto Silva George Gladding Marcus Tuepker Megan K Bradshaw Ron Kakar Vincbis Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sunday · 7 min

    DNA Doesn’t Look Like What You Think!

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Uploaded 05-09-17 I used #badDNA once in this video. Can you find it? Don’t miss our next video! SUBSCRIBE! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub ↓↓↓ More info and sources below ↓↓↓ If you see #badDna, be sure to show me on Twitter! @DrJoeHanson @okaytobesmart Biology textbooks are full of drawings of DNA, but none of those show what DNA actually looks like. Sure, they’re good models for understanding how DNA works, but inside of real cells, it’s a whole lot more interesting. Learn why we can’t look directly at DNA, and find out how DNA is actually packed inside cells. ----------- READ MORE: Best electron microscope image of DNA: http://theatln.tc/2xLBb0Y Atomic force microscopy (the tiny needle): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_force_microscopy Visualizing the 3-D genome: http://bit.ly/2eHud8k Stevens, Tim J., et al. "3D structures of individual mammalian genomes studied by single-cell Hi-C." Nature 544.7648 (2017): 59-64. ----------- FOLLOW US: Merch: https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter: @okaytobesmart @DrJoeHanson Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Instagram: @DrJoeHanson Snapchat: YoDrJoe ----------- It’s Okay To Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D. Director: Joe Nicolosi Writer: Joe Hanson Editor/animator: Evan Wright Producer: Stephanie Noone and Amanda Fox Produced by PBS Digital Studios Music via APM Stock images from Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sunday · 7 min

    Why Do We Cook?

    PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateOKAY ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Uploaded 23-12-13 Your brain is hungry. Here's how to feed it. SUBSCRIBE, it's FREE! http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Ever wonder why we cook our food? We do it because it tastes good, of course, and because our customs and traditions are built around it. But we also cook our food for some basic biological reasons, because of evolution. Some scientists think that figuring out how to cook actually MADE us human! If conversation gets a little dry around your holiday table, now you'll have some awesome science to share with everyone! Richard Wrangham - "Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human" http://amzn.to/1cg5flN "The Raw and the Stolen" (PDF) - Richard Wrangham et al. http://bit.ly/JTLYfe (that one has some of the counterarguments, too) Greg Laden's summary: http://bit.ly/1dx46oc Cooked Foods Needed for Early Human Brain: http://bit.ly/1l8bqJE Man Entered the Kitchen 1.9 Million Years Ago: http://bit.ly/1c1vcB5 What made us human: http://bit.ly/19lp4cU and http://www.epjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/EP08340342.pdf The story might not be quite so simple, though: http://blogs.plos.org/neuroanthropology/2010/10/28/food-for-thought-cooking-in-human-evolution/ Joe Hanson - Host Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKatie Graham - Director of Photography John Knudsen - Gaffer Isaac Hammons - Audio Recordist Stephen Bohls, Editor, Kino-Eye POST Christopher Chiles, Motion Graphics Kate Eads - Production Manager Intro music - Victor Herbert Orchestra, "Chinese Dance of the Mirillitons from the Nutcracker 1913" Body music - Podington Bear's "AlgoRhythmNatural" Special thanks to Thinkery Austin Produced for PBS Digital Studios ----------- Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sunday · 12 min

    How Many Species are in Your Backyard?

    PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateOKAY ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Uploaded 19-05-20 We’re on PATREON! Join the community ►► https://www.patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a video! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Download iNaturalist to join the It’s Okay to be Smart global survey project and submit your observations! https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/it-s-okay-to-be-smart-global-survey Learn more about iNaturalist and citizen science: https://www.inaturalist.org/ Special thanks to our Brain Trust Patrons: AlecZero Diego Lombeida Dustin Ernesto Silva George Gladding Marcus Tuepker Megan K Bradshaw Ron Kakar Vincbis Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sunday · 9 min

    How Did We Work Out What Light Is?

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Try CuriosityStream today: http://curiositystream.com/smart Here's a bright idea: Subscribe ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Beyond what we can touch, taste, smell, and hear, we experience the universe through light. But how did we come to discover light, and how did we learn light’s true nature, as the fastest thing in the universe, an electromagnetic spectrum, a wave and particle capable of the most amazing things? Here is the history of light, according to physics. ----------- LEARN MORE: “Light” by Kimberly Arcand and Megan Watzke Light: The Visible Spectrum and Beyond https://www.amazon.com/dp/163191006X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_C8j0yb2BY9XD9 ----------- FOLLOW US: Merch: https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter: @okaytobesmart @DrJoeHanson http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Instagram: @DrJoeHanson @okaytobesmart ----------- It’s Okay To Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D. Director: Joe Nicolosi Writer: Matt Caplan Producer/editor/animator: Andrew Matthews Producer: Stephanie Noone and Amanda Fox Produced by PBS Digital Studios Music via APM Stock images from Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sunday · 10 min

    Why Do You Love Your Family?

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Uploaded 20-12-17 Don't miss our next video! SUBSCRIBE! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub You can learn more about your personal DNA story by going to https://23andMe.com/okay ↓↓↓ More info and sources below ↓↓↓ Why do we love people we're related to? Compared to strangers, why do we feel such a deep sense of connection with our family members? Sure, they're nice to us, we take care of each other, and we often live with them, but there has to be a deeper biological reason. That reason, unsurprisingly is evolution. In this video, I explain why taking care of our family, or even dying for them, makes sense in the eyes of evolution. SOURCES: This video covers more than a half century of evolutionary biology theory and observation, but here's some reading if you'd like to learn more: Dawkins, Richard. (1976) "The Selfish Gene" http://amzn.to/2Dhd257 Fisher, R. A. (1930). "The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection" http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/880368061 Haldane, J.B.S. (1932). "The Causes of Evolution." London: Longmans, Green and Co. Hamilton, W. D. (1963). "The evolution of altruistic behavior." The American Naturalist, 97(896), 354-356. Hamilton, W. D. (1964). "The genetical evolution of social behaviour I." Journal of Theoretical Biology, 7(1), 1-16. ----------- FOLLOW US: Merch: https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter: @okaytobesmart @DrJoeHanson Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Instagram: @DrJoeHanson Snapchat: YoDrJoe ----------- It's Okay To Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D. Director: Joe Nicolosi Writer: Stephanie Keep Producer/editor/animator: Andrew Orsak Producer: Stephanie Noone and Amanda Fox Produced by PBS Digital Studios Music via APM Stock images from Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sunday · 10 min

    How Vaccines Function

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate A dose of reality about vaccines… Subscribe: http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Twitter: @okaytobesmart ↓ More info and sources below ↓ As more and more parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children or are vaccinating them later, diseases like measles are making a comeback. What's behind this antivax movement? Are vaccines safe? How do vaccines work? Why do some people claim there is a link between vaccines and autism? This week we look at why are people afraid of something that has saved so many lives, and the history and science of vaccines. #vaccine #antivax #measles REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING: "The Panic Virus" by Seth Mnookin: http://amzn.to/1CB8Q7p "On Immunity" by Eula Biss: http://amzn.to/1FTmmH1 Watch "Vaccines: Calling the Shots" from PBS' NOVA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVCO6_bpsEY The Robert Falcon Scott expedition and the lost cure for scurvy, by Maciej Cegłowski: http://idlewords.com/2010/03/scott_and_scurvy.htm The incredible value of vaccines: http://www.gavi.org/about/mission/facts-and-figures/ The Guardian's herd immunity simulation: http://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2015/feb/05/-sp-watch-how-measles-outbreak-spreads-when-kids-get-vaccinated Map of global vaccine rates: http://gamapserver.who.int/gho/interactive_charts/immunization/mcv/atlas.html How risky are vaccine side effects? http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/side-effects.htm Eula Biss on vaccines and empathy: http://www.vox.com/2015/2/6/7992071/how-one-vaccine-skeptic-became-a-vaccine-supporter Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment below! Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/okaytobesmart http://twitter.com/jtotheizzoe Follow on Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Follow on Instagram: http://instagram.com/jtotheizzoe ----------------- It's Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.DFollow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoe Email me: itsokaytobesmart AT gmail DOT com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Google+ https://plus.google.com/+itsokaytobesmart For more awesome science, check out: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Produced for PBS Digital Studios Joe Hanson - Creator/Host/Writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Andrew Matthews - Editing/Motion Graphics Katie Graham - Director of Photography John Knudsen - Gaffer Dalton Allen - Post-Production Intern Theme music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod Other music via APM Stock images from Shutterstock ----------------- Last week's video: What is Déjà Vu? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut8mYGi0YRs More videos: Why Are Some People Left-Handed? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPvMUpcxPSA Why Did We Blow on NES Games? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gf9mtXnJfM The Science of Game of Thrones - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Utu-LpJn3Is There Was No First Human - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdWLhXi24Mo health (industry) mmr polio​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sunday · 6 min

    Why It Took Scientists So Long To Adopt This Very Clear Idea

    But did thee feel the Earth move? We’re on PATREON! Support our show: https://www.patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Why do Africa and South America fit together? Anyone who’s ever looked at a map can see that Earth’s continents are kind of like a jigsaw puzzle. The idea that continents are constantly moving and weren’t always in their current spots is a pretty obvious idea, right? You might be surprised to learn that geologists only accepted that idea recently in the past few decades, and it figuring out how plate tectonics and continental drift work required some pretty strange evidence. ----------- LEARN MORE: Some background on Alfred Wegener: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/geology/techist.html Lystrosaurus (ancient mammal relative): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lystrosaurus Glossopteris (ancient fern): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossopteris The splitting of Africa: http://theconversation.com/splitting-africa-what-happens-when-a-continent-breaks-apart-6248 ----------- FOLLOW US: Merch: https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter: @okaytobesmart @DrJoeHanson Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Instagram: @DrJoeHanson Snapchat: YoDrJoe ----------- It’s Okay To Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D. Director: Joe Nicolosi Writer: Shaena Montanari Producer/editor/animator: Andrew Orsak Producer: Stephanie Noone and Amanda Fox Produced by PBS Digital Studios Music via APM Stock images from Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sunday · 7 min

    Climate Science: What You Need To Grasp

    Learn the basic science of climate change in 24 easy steps. Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Subscribe to It's Okay To Be Smart: http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Scientists overwhelmingly agree that our climate is changing, Earth is getting warmer, sea levels are rising, and it's primarily because of humans putting lots of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Whether you already trust in the science, you're undecided, or you disagree with what all this, this video is for you! SOURCES LISTED HERE: http://bit.ly/1zGbOry Want to learn about the science of climate change and why humans are causing it, but in layman's terms? I recommend these books: Climate Change: Evidence and Causes (National Academy of Sciences/Royal Society) FREE ebook: http://amzn.to/1w6itfl Global Weirdness (Climate Central) http://amzn.to/1BtZZbP How to Change Minds About Our Changing Climate (Seth Darling + Douglas Sisterson) http://amzn.to/12jjcxN Produced for PBS Digital Studios Joe Hanson - Creator/Host/Writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Andrew Matthews - Editing/Motion Graphics Katie Graham - Director of Photography John Knudsen - Gaffer Dalton Allen - Post-Production Intern Theme music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod ----------- Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sunday · 4 min

    What Colour is the Universe?

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Hint: It's not black Don’t miss our next video! SUBSCRIBE! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub ↓↓↓ More info and sources below ↓↓↓ When you stare up at the night sky, you might think that the universe is really black, but that's just because our eyes aren't sensitive enough to see the billions and billions of multicolored stars out there. Ever wonder why certain stars are certain colors? And what color is our sun, really? If we looked at enough stars, could we figure out the average color of the universe? Read more: Stellar classification: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellar_classification What color is the sun: http://casa.colorado.edu/~ajsh/colour/Tspectrum.html Star colors in hex code: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2010/03/10/a-hex-on-star-colors/#.VPPRvVPF-xA Color of the Milky Way: http://www.news.pitt.edu/milkywaycolor Average color of the universe (cosmic latte): http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap020702.html Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment below! Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/okaytobesmart http://twitter.com/jtotheizzoe Follow on Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Follow on Instagram: http://instagram.com/jtotheizzoe ----------------- It's Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D Follow me on Twitter: @DrJoeHanson Instagram: @DrJoeHanson Email me: itsokaytobesmart AT gmail DOT com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Produced by PBS Digital Studios: http://www.youtube.com/user/pbsdigitalstudios Joe Hanson - Creator/Host/Writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Andrew Matthews - Editing/Motion Graphics/Animation Katie Graham - Director of Photography John Knudsen - Gaffer Dalton Allen - Post-Production Intern Theme music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod Other music via APM Stock images from Shutterstock ----------------- Last week's video: Attack of the Zombie Parasites https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgCQStTSMuk More videos: Why Does February Have 28 Days? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgKaHTh-_Gs Why Vaccines Work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aNhzLUL2ys Why Are Some People Left-Handed? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPvMUpcxPSA Where Does the Smell of Rain Come From? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGcE5x8s0B8​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Showing 161–180 of 373 episodes