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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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  • October 10 · 10 min

    The Science Behind A Game of Thrones

    Valar more-curious! Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate SUBSCRIBE, it's FREE! http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub ↓ More info and sources below ↓ WINTER: Seasons of Westeros and the 3-body problem: http://arxiv.org/pdf/1304.0445v1.pdf Other possible explanations for the seasons: http://io9.com/5906300/5-scientific-explanations-for-game-of-thrones-messed-up-seasons Why those other reasons are wrong: http://bit.ly/1hYuRDJ http://boingboing.net/2012/05/14/great-moments-in-pedantry-win.html http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0019103511004064 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milankovitch_cycles NOTE ON MOONS AND STABILIZATION: I'm adding this comment after the video goes up: In retrospect I should have said that a moon doesn't *necessarily* have to be present to stabilize a planet. While our moon does cancel out some tugging from the other planets in the solar system, here's a recent paper shows that moonless planets can orbit with great stability even without the influence of a moon. Basically moons aren't required for stability: http://barnesos.net/publications/papers/2012.01.Icarus.Barnes.Moonless.Earth.pdf Even more reasons for the seasons: http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/05/how-seasons-qworkq-in-a-song-of-ice-and-fire GEOLOGY: Generation Anthropocene's AMAZING geologic history of Westeros and Essos: http://www.stanford.edu/group/anthropocene/cgi-bin/wordpress/game-of-thrones-geology/ VALYRIAN STEEL: Damascus steel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damascus_steel DRAGON FIRE: Kyle Hill's explanation for real-life dragon fire: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/but-not-simpler/2014/01/02/smaug-breathes-fire-like-a-bloated-bombardier-beetle-with-flinted-teeth/ DRAGON FLIGHT: Dragon-sized birds are biologically impossible: http://wapo.st/1lBV2RE WILDFIRE: Greek fire: http://www.sciforums.com/what-is-greek-fire-t-68540.html Trimethyl borate flame by hkparker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OrisgbsRmg MILK OF POPPY: Opates: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium THE WALL: Compression melting of ice: http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1qkdl0/can_ice_be_compressed_into_water/ DIRE WOLVES: Canis dirus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dire_wolf REAL-LIFE CHARACTERS: Abandon all productivity ye who click here: http://history-behind-game-of-thrones.com Stark/Lannister feud in real life tapestry: http://history-behind-game-of-thrones.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/porte_saint_denis170-753x1024.jpg Joe Hanson - Host and writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Katie Graham - Director of Photography Edited by Stephanie Noone and Kirby Conn from Arts & Labor John Knudsen - Gaffer Music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod 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

  • October 10 · 3 min

    The Stunning Cycles of Carbon and Oxygen In Your Body

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Click here to dig deeper into Oxygen: http://youtu.be/1PmD2GWB4u4 Click here to dig deeper into Carbon: http://youtu.be/1PmD2GWB4u4?t=47s Subscribe to It's Okay To Be Smart: http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jtotheizzoe Follow on Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com OXYGEN: Electron transport chain (O2 to water): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_transport_chain How Sam Ruben discovered that the oxygen that plants exhale comes from water, and not CO2: http://bit.ly/1vv1p0n CARBON: How plants convert CO2 into carbohydrates: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light-independent_reactions Carbohydrates turn into pyruvate: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycolysis Pyruvate powers the citric acid cycle, turning to CO2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citric_acid_cycle Joe Hanson - Host and writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Katie Graham - Director of Photography Andrew Matthews - Editor and motion graphics John Knudsen - Gaffer Music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod Stock images via Shutterstock 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

  • October 10 · 3 min

    The Sun Is A Magnet!

    Sunspots, solar flares, coronal mass ejections, OH MY! Uploaded 21-07-14 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 ↓ More info and sources below ↓ As massive magnetic fusion reactors go, the sun is pretty awesome. How a CME forms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsXqNNQsS7I More on solar storms from Bad Astronomy: http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/02/05/solar_eruption_a_sun_storm_leaves_behind_twisted_chaos.html http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/02/21/coronal_rain_streams_of_ionized_gas_rain_on_sun_after_a_solar_flare.html Anatomy of solar storms: http://www.space.com/12047-solar-flares-sun-storms-space-weather-infographic.html All the sun science you've ever wanted: http://solarcellcentral.com/sun_page.html Footage via NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, ESA/Hubble, and Pond5 Joe Hanson - Host and writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Editing/Motion Graphics - Andrew Matthews Music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod Artwork/photos via Shutterstock 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

  • October 10 · 2 min

    360˚ Inside an ICE CAVE!!

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Uploaded 28-11-17 Watch my video explaining this beautiful blue: https://youtu.be/IvBExYAkQRc Don’t miss our next video! SUBSCRIBE! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub ↓↓↓ More info below ↓↓↓ Special thanks to : Above and Beyond Alaska wilderness tours: http://beyondak.com/ Filmed at Mendenhall Glacier under a Special Use Permit on the Juneau Ranger District, Tongass National Forest ----------- 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 Editor: Joe Hanson Producer: Stephanie Noone and Amanda Fox Produced by PBS Digital Studios Music via APM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 10 · 17 min

    How Scientists Produced the Hottest Thing Ever

    Learn more about Surfshark VPN at: https://surfshark.deals/besmart SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a video! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub ↓↓↓ More info and sources below ↓↓↓ At CERN, physicists are searching for answers to some of the biggest questions ever — like how the universe started and where everything comes from. To get one step closer to an answer, CERN scientists recreated the first moment after the Big Bang… making extreme temperatures that hadn’t existed anywhere in the universe in 13.8 billion years. Join us to see how they did it. Join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart ----------- High fives to all our Brain Trust Patrons: Ed Eyden Jennifer Burton Charles Horton, Jr Holly, Brett, and Ashe Bullion Jaap Westera Mehdi Damou Barbora Bei Burt Humburg dani bowman David Johnston Baerbel Winkler Eric Meer Karen Haskell Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/ Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 10 · 14 min

    Using Gene Editing To Repaint Butterfly Wings

    To learn more about The Great Courses Plus visit http://ow.ly/Mq4F30oTjJp SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a video! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub ↓↓↓ More info and sources below ↓↓↓ Uploaded 18-06-19 Butterfly metamorphosis is still a bit of a mystery. What happens inside a chrysalis to turn a caterpillar into a beautifully painted butterfly? Does it really turn to soup? I visited Dr. Arnaud Martin, who uses the CRISPR genetic modification technology to learn about how genes build bodies. Dr. Martin uses CRISPR to disrupt certain genes, and then looks for changes in butterfly wing patterns, creating designs we never see in nature. This tells us which genes control which part of the "wing painting" process. In the process of visiting Dr. Martin’s lab, I had my mind blown about what REALLY happens during butterfly metamorphosis. You will too. #butterflies #CRISPR #genetics Special thanks to Arnaud Martin and the entire Martin Lab at George Washington University https://dnacrobatics.com Chrysalis window timelapses courtesy of Aaron Pomerantz from the lab of Dr. Nipam Patel. http://www.patellab.net/ Check out Aaron’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHr0u7Jsktou2CFl2GhTxYA SOURCES: https://sites.google.com/view/painting-wings-with-crispr/home The Great Courses Plus is currently available to watch through a web browser to almost anyone in the world and optimized for the US, UK, and Australian markets. The Great Courses Plus is currently working to both optimize the product globally and accept credit card payments globally. ----------- FOLLOW US for more curiosity: 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 http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Books from our episodes: http://smart-books.tumblr.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 10 · 12 min

    The TRUE Story of Ben Franklin & His Kite

    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 18-11-20 Thank you to Target for supporting PBS. You can learn more at: ​https://target.com/community Share your story today: ​https://to.pbs.org/3izZeXh You’ve probably heard of Ben Franklin and the kite. But do you know the TRUE story of how his famous experiment changed the world? Here’s the tale of how one person’s quest for scientific knowledge altered the direction of history. References: Dray, Philip. “Stealing God's Thunder: Benjamin Franklin's Lightning Rod and the Invention of America.” Random House, 2005. Franklin, Benjamin. “Experiments and observations on electricity, made at Philadelphia in America” 1769. https://archive.org/details/experimentsobser00fran/ ----------- 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 Special thanks to our Brain Trust Patrons: AlecZero Amy Sowada Baerbel Winkler Benjamin Teinby Denzel Holmes Diego Lombeida Dustin Eric Meer George Gladding Jay Stephens Karen Haskell Marcus Tuepker Oliver and Arden Bradshaw Peter Ehrnstrom Robert Young Salih Arslan Vincbis Zenimal 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

  • October 10 · 4 min

    The Universe in a Chalice of Wine (Richard Feynman Remixed)

    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 ↓ A poet once said, "The whole universe is in a glass of wine." We will probably never know in what sense he said that, for poets do not write to be understood. But it is true that if we look in glass of wine closely enough we see the entire universe There are the things of physics: the twisting liquid which evaporates depending on the wind and weather, the reflections in the glass, and our imagination adds the atoms. The glass is a distillation of the earth's rocks, and in its composition we see the secrets of the universe's age, and the evolution of the stars. What strange array of chemicals are in the wine? How did they come to be? There are the ferments, the enzymes, the substrates, and the products. There in wine is found the great generalization: all life is fermentation. Nobody can discover the chemistry of wine without discovering the cause of much disease. How vivid is the claret, pressing its existence into the consciousness that watches it! If in our small minds, for some convenience, divide this glass of wine, this universe, into parts - physics, biology, geology, astronomy, psychology, and so on - remember that nature does not know it! So let us put it all back together, not forgetting ultimately what it is for. Let us give one more final pleasure: drink it and forget it all! Get Feynman's Lectures on Physics in book form: http://bit.ly/OKfeynman "The Universe in a Glass of Wine" ... a poem by Richard Feynman, as delivered in the Feynman Lectures on physics. Watch them all here: http://io9.com/watch-a-series-of-seven-brilliant-lectures-by-richard-f-5894600 Clips used in this video: http://bit.ly/1ckkLsz Joe Hanson - Host Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen Inc Katie Graham - Director of Photography Bryan Poyser - Editor Sound Design - Lyman Hardy, Stuck On On 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

  • October 10 · 7 min

    ЩΉӨ BЦIᄂƬ ƬΉΣ PYЯΛMIDƧ

    Try 23andMe: http://www.23andme.com/okay Enjoy this video? SUBSCRIBE! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub ↓↓↓More info and sources below ↓↓↓ Uploaded 02-06-17 Who built the pyramids? The colossal geometric monuments found at Giza and elsewhere in Egypt are some of Earth’s most impressive constructions. Pyramids are truly wonders of the ancient and modern world. But when the pyramids were built, the ancient Egyptians hadn’t invented the wheel, developed bronze tools, or discovered pi. How were they able to stack two million stone blocks, each weighing more than two tons, into precise geometric alignments that would survive more than 4,000 years and capture the imaginations of explorers throughout history? They did it the same way we always have: by trial and error. The true history of the pyramids is one of experimentation and science, not magic… or aliens. ----------- REFERENCES: Lehner, M. (1997). The complete pyramids. Thames and Hudson. Parry, D. (2005). Engineering the pyramids. The History Press. Verner, M. (2003). The pyramids: their archaeology and history. Atlantic. Verner, M. (2007). The Pyramids: The Mystery, Culture, and Science of Egypt's Great Monuments. Grove/Atlantic, Inc.. ----------- FOLLOW US: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Merch: https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter/Instagram: @okaytobesmart @DrJoeHanson http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com ----------- It’s Okay To Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D. Director: Joe Nicolosi Writer: Joe Hanson 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

  • October 10 · 11 min

    The Impossible Hugeness of Deep Time

    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 12-02-19 Humans have a hard time with really big numbers, especially when it comes to DEEP TIME. The history of the Earth took a lot longer than you think, trust me. But I’m here to help you put it in perspective. With some string. REFERENCES: http://bit.ly/DeepTimeRefs ----------- FOLLOW US: Twitter: @DrJoeHanson @okaytobesmart Instagram: @DrJoeHanson https://www.itsokaytobesmart.com/ 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: Sarah Jenevein Creative Director: David Schulte Editors/animators: Derek Borsheim Producers: 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

  • October 10 · 7 min

    The Foundations of Energy

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Check out our whole series on ENERGY! http://bit.ly/1BnH5zu Subscribe: http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Twitter: @okaytobesmart ↓ More info and sources below ↓ The world of energy is a confusing place. What's better, nuclear or solar? What's the difference between fluorescent bulbs and LEDs? What's the difference between energy and power? And what the heck is a kilowatt-hour?! In this video, we give you a tour of the essential principles behind the energy machine that puts fuel in our tanks and brings electricity to our homes. To be a good energy citizen, you need to speak the language LEARN MORE: Special thanks to Sheril Kirshenbaum and the Webber Energy Group at the University of Texas at Austin for their help with this series. http://www.webberenergygroup.com/ Check out their awesome online course "Energy 101" to learn about energy and energy policy from A to Z! http://www.energy101.com/ And to find out what people think about energy, check out the UT Energy Poll: http://www.utenergypoll.com/ 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! 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 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 Theme music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod Other music via APM Stock images from Shutterstock, stock footage from Videoblocks ----------------- Last week's video: Does the Moon Orbit the Earth? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cJ3AemeUFM 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

  • October 10 · 30 min

    Something Strange Happens When You Flatten the Earth…

    Thank you to Squarespace for supporting PBS. Go to https://www.squarespace.com/besmart for a free trial and use code BESMART to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. ↓↓↓ More info and sources below ↓↓↓ Uploaded 21-04-26 Follow me to @pbsterra and watch Overview to celebrate Earth Month with PBS: https://youtu.be/ivoV1rwiYJk PBS Earth Month Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnNZYWyBGJ1F8ofFm4H9UTrHxqU8zngK4 Imprisoned for heresy, Gerardus Mercator later created a map that transformed navigation forever. We explore why his projection distorts the world, how it solved a deadly problem for sailors, and the astonishing mystery of how he used math that hadn’t even been invented yet to do it all. Be Smart explores science questions you didn’t even know you wondered about. It is hosted and produced by Joe Hanson, PhD. We post new videos all the time, so please subscribe! If you enjoyed this video, hit the ‘like’ button, leave a comment, or watch another of our videos! References: https://sites.google.com/view/mercator-mystery-references/home 0:00 A Prisoner of the Inquisition 1:52 The Navigation Crisis 4:22 Who Was This Mercator Guy, Anyway? 8:02 Globes and Heresy 10:45 Why Flat Maps Are Mathematically Impossible 13:27 The Math Mystery Behind the Mercator Map 16:11 How Mercator Used Math That Didn't Exist Yet 19:40 You're Using This Map Right Now 22:56 Is This Map Harmful? CONNECT WITH ME ____________________________________ Website: https://www.itsokaytobesmart.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart/ https://www.instagram.com/drjoehanson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/itsokaytobesmart A big thanks to our Brain Trust patrons: Baerbel Winkler, Brent Lopez, dani bowman, David Johnston, Ed Eyden, Eric Meer, Greg Olson, Holly, Brett, and Ashe Bullion, Jaap Westera, Karen Haskell, Marcus Pingel, Mike and Patty Loftis, Paul Weir, Reuben Brewer SPONSORSHIP INQUIRIES ____________________________________ Please email biz@itsokaytobesmart.com Stock video and images provided by Shutterstock, Artlist, and MotionArray Music provided by APM Written Joe Hanson Edited by Steven Simone Produced by Least Square Media and Spotzen for PBS Digital Studios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 10 · 22 min

    Why Sports Fans' Brains are Formed Different (with @smartereveryday)

    Take the PBS Digital Studios Audience Survey: https://to.pbs.org/pbssurvey2023a ↓↓↓ More info and sources below ↓↓↓ Humans can develop intense relationships, even obsessions, with the things we’re fans of. A huge part of our identities, our emotions, and our lives get tied up in these things. Why are we like this? Join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a video! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub ----------- High fives to all our Brain Trust Patrons: Charles Horton, Jr Holly, Brett, and Ashe Bullion Jaap Westera Millennial Glacier Mehdi Damou Barbora Bei Burt Humburg dani bowman David Johnston Baerbel Winkler Robert Young Eric Meer Karen Haskell 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

  • October 10 · 7 min

    Do Other Planets Have Seasons Too?

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Uploaded 25-08-17 Try CuriosityStream today: http://curiositystream.com/smart Don’t miss our next video! SUBSCRIBE! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub ↓↓↓ More info and sources below ↓↓↓ Earth has seasons, but what about the rest of the planets in the solar system? Let’s take a tour from Mercury to Pluto and see what seasons would be like on all our planetary neighbors. Bring a sweater! LEARN MORE: NASA Planet Fact Sheet: https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/ Winds of Mars: http://bit.ly/2wvlH3p Lakes of Titan: https://sites.google.com/site/alexanderghayes/Research/Titans-Lakes http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v481/n7379/full/nature10666.html?foxtrotcallback=true#ref7 ----------- 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: Matt Caplan, PhD Editor/animator: Sean Lane/Joe Nicolosi 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

  • October 10 · 16 min

    Can a Billion Oysters Restore New York City?

    Heroes on the half shell… Oyster power? SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a video! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub ↓↓↓ More info and sources below ↓↓↓ When people picture New York City they see skyscrapers, subways, and a concrete jungle. But the Big Apple is really a seaside city built on an archipelago. In the wake of a century of industrial pollution and climate change-fueled superstorms like Hurricane Sandy, New York’s waterways need help. Learn how Billion Oyster Project is working to restore one of the world’s greatest lost ecosystems in order to clean up New York’s water and protect it from an uncertain climate future. Learn more about Billion Oyster Project: https://www.billionoysterproject.org/ Join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart ----------- High fives to all our Brain Trust Patrons: Ed Eyden Jennifer Burton Charles Horton, Jr Holly, Brett, and Ashe Bullion Jaap Westera Mehdi Damou Barbora Bei Burt Humburg dani bowman David Johnston Baerbel Winkler Eric Meer Karen Haskell Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter 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

  • October 10 · 8 min

    Why Don't Woodpeckers Develop Concussions?

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Don’t be hard-headed. You should SUBSCRIBE! http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Tweet this video ⇒ http://bit.ly/OKTBSbang Share on FB ⇒ http://bit.ly/OKTBSbangFB ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Translate this video: LINK TKTK Want to wear your love for science? We’ve got merch: http://dftba.com/besmart -We’d like to thank these folks- Special thanks to Dr. Lorna Gibson of MIT for her woodpecker biomechanics expertise Three-dimensional reconstructions based on CT data courtesy of DigiMorph.org Pileated woodpecker slo-mo footage courtesy of Dr. Robert Shadwick/University of British Columbia -References/Learn More- Daneshvar, Daniel H., et al. "The epidemiology of sport-related concussion." Clinics in sports medicine 30.1 (2011): 1-17. Gibson, L. J. "Woodpecker pecking: how woodpeckers avoid brain injury." Journal of Zoology 270.3 (2006): 462-465. Haldane, John BS. "On being the right size." Harper’s Magazine 152 (1926): 424-427. Maroon, Joseph C., et al. "Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in contact sports: a systematic review of all reported pathological cases." PloS one 10.2 (2015): e0117338. May, Philip RA, et al. "Woodpecker drilling behavior: an endorsement of the rotational theory of impact brain injury." Archives of Neurology 36.6 (1979): 370-373. Schwab, Ivan R. "Cure for a headache." British Journal of Ophthalmology86.8 (2002): 843-843. Wang, Lizhen, et al. "Why do woodpeckers resist head impact injury: a biomechanical investigation." PloS one 6.10 (2011): e26490. ---------------- 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: @okaytobesmart @DrJoeHanson Instagram: @okaytobesmart @DrJoeHanson 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

  • October 10 · 10 min

    How To Process Science News

    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 ↓ Develop your own science truthiness detector! My favorite places to get science news: http://bit.ly/1dpkiI4 (Now as an RSS/OPML file thanks to @doodlewhale!! https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8365578/feedly.opml ) Also check out my public Twitter lists for more: http://www.twitter.com/jtotheizzoe Those were all real headlines at the beginning. Proof: Universe hologram: http://huff.to/1beW6W8 Chimp/pig humans: http://dailym.ai/1bSQNit Popcorn: http://huff.to/IYEUha LHC/black hole: http://bit.ly/1ce3VRX Squeezing breasts: http://bit.ly/JLTV6L Alcohol = heroin: http://cbsn.ws/19ftjXx Calamari pregnancy: http://bit.ly/1cU5VgQ Autism and freeways: http://bit.ly/1beWtQo Cats: http://bit.ly/J80hME Semen as antidepressant: http://bit.ly/18ZNIwT Quantum afterlife: http://dailym.ai/IYFYBH More reading: How to read about science: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/12/how-to-read-about-science/281855/ This is a science news article: http://www.theguardian.com/science/the-lay-scientist/2010/sep/24/1 Real science and health news: http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2012/02/07/real-science-and-health-news-f/ Baloney detection kit: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/03/16/baloney-detection-kit/ Do the Double X double take: http://www.doublexscience.org/science-health-medical-news-freaking-you-out-do-the-double-x-double-take-first/ PHD Comics: Science news cycle: http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1174 Music: Podington Bear - "Pretty Build" Joe Hanson - Host and writer 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

  • October 10 · 9 min

    How Do Tesla Coils Work? Musical Tesla Coils in SLOW MOTION! (Guest: @physicsgirl)

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Head to Physics Girl for electromagnetic explosions! https://youtu.be/AXOa66-k9MA Musical tesla coils are awesome. I went to visit Arc Attack, the legendary musical tesla coil band, to find out how they work (and to stand in between them!) I brought my friend Physics Girl along too Step inside the Tesla coils in this 360 video: https://youtu.be/2SNcbNlbyVo Special thanks to: ArcAttack http://arcattack.com/ ----------------- It’s Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D. Follow me on Twitter: @DrJoeHanson Produced by PBS Digital Studios: http://www.youtube.com/user/pbsdigitalstudios Music via APM Stock images from SciencePhoto http://www.sciencephoto.com/ and Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com Stock footage from Videoblocks (unless otherwise noted) http://www.videoblocks.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 10 · 43 min

    Inside the Lab That Protects You From Your Car

    Crashing a car is usually not a good idea. But sometimes, it can save lives. ↓↓↓ More info and sources below ↓↓↓ No one ever wants to get in a car crash. But if you ever do, be very thankful for the engineers who crash test cars. You may have seen crash test simulations on TikTok using physics engines like BeamNG but I promise you they are nothing compared to the real thing! Join us for this DEEP dive into the physics of car crashes and the ways that engineers hack Newton's laws to keep you safe. Filmed on location at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety https://www.iihs.org/ IIHS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iihs-hldi IIHS resources for teachers: https://classroom.iihs.org/ Crash test sensor car by PocketLab: https://www.thepocketlab.com/ References: https://sites.google.com/view/be-smart-crash-test-physics/home Join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a video! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub 0:00 Intro - Deep dive into crash testing 1:37 Welcome to crash test HQ 2:25 She crashes cars for a living 3:42 A visit with Isaac Newton 5:41 Why Newton's 2nd law rules all 11:21 New problems, new crash tests 14:37 Very finely-tuned violence 17:58 How engineers prepare a crash test (lots of duct tape) 20:42 Who you callin' dummy, dummy? 25:02 Car go BOOM (and the aftermath) 31:00 In the future, will cars be smart enough not to crash? 36:24 Conclusion and extras ----------- High fives to all our Brain Trust Patrons: Charles Horton, Jr Holly, Brett, and Ashe Bullion Jaap Westera Millennial Glacier Mehdi Damou Barbora Bei Burt Humburg dani bowman David Johnston Baerbel Winkler Robert Young Eric Meer Karen Haskell 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

  • October 10 · 10 min

    Is There Sentient Life On Other Worlds?

    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 ↓ How are we looking and listening for intelligent life? Don’t miss our next video! SUBSCRIBE! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Now that we know planets are common in our galaxy, how would we tell if one holds life? Sure, it will take incredibly powerful telescopes and ambitious new space missions, but what are we looking for? What are we listening for? How do we help other worlds know that we are here? Here's the thing: Life on Earth has an expiration date. No matter what humans do, our aging sun will eventually be so hot that we can't survive. If we want to live on, it will have to be beyond Earth. The only question is, will it be US who live on, or just our radio broadcasts and dead satellites? If you missed Part 1 last week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvET91EYoyc Check out "Five Billion Years of Solitude" by Lee Billings: http://amzn.to/18Tzv59 My Sagan + Valentine's Day episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TekbxvnvYb8 Ray Bradbury reading "If Only We Had Taller Been" courtesy of NASA/JPL More reading: The 7 hurdles for a planet to develop intelligent life: http://lgmacweb.env.uea.ac.uk/ajw/Reprints/watson_astrobiology_preprint.pdf Sagan's rules for life: http://scienceblog.com/community/older/1999/C/199902379.html Earth is gradually getting more radio quiet: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/weekinreview/02overbye.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Searching for the archaeological ruins of extraterrestrial civilzations: http://www.aeonmagazine.com/nature-and-cosmos/searching-for-the-archaeologicalruins-of-alien-civilisations/ How long will life survive on Earth? http://www.universetoday.com/25367/how-long-will-life-survive-on-earth/ Joe Hanson - Host and writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer Katie Graham - Director of Photography Andrew Matthews - Editor and Motion Graphics Kate Eads - Production Manager Filmed at Onion Creek Productions in Austin, TX 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

Showing 341–360 of 366 episodes