Scientific American

Cicadas - Making Sense of the 17-Year Emergence

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:39:45 EST

In this video, we break down the complex science of periodical cicadas, one of nature's most intriguing creatures. Top image: tlindenbaum/Flickr.

Audubon's Birds Live On Long After His Death

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:20:36 EST

An exhibit at the New-York Historical Society showcases John James Audubon's original watercolors for his Birds of America.The naturalist's work remains a significant contribution to art and science.

Why Barns Are Red - The Countdown #22

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:31:56 EST

The Countdown is a biweekly video show highlighting the best stuff in space news. In this episode: Why Barns Are Red, Light Pollution Gets Crowded, An X-Classy 'Af-flare', The Moon and Earth's Common Water Source and An Ancient Underground Oasis

Gemini's Paraglider Landing System

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:28:57 EST

It's often left out of the history books, but NASA wanted to land the Gemini spacecraft on a runway with a paraglider.

Antarctica's Supernova Sand - The Countdown #21

Fri, 03 May 2013 10:30:47 EST

The Countdown is a biweekly video show highlighting the best stuff happening in space, astronomy and physics. In this episode: Virgin Galactic Powers Up, One-Way Ticket to Mars, Canadian Space Antics, Saturn Hurricane, Antarctica's Supernova Sand.

Missing Mars Lander Found? - The Countdown #20

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 08:44:49 EST

The Countdown is a biweekly video show highlighting the best stuff happening in space, astronomy and physics. In this episode: Star Factory, Five New Exoplanets, Saturn's Ring Rain, Planet Naming Controversy, Missing Mars Lander Found

What Is the Scientific Method (and Can Cats Swim?)

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:39:05 EST

Cats are good sleepers and destroyers of furniture, but why do we never see them swimming? In this episode of Instant Egghead we get to the bottom of this mystery and, oh yeah, also explain the scientific method. Episode written by Robin Lloyd.

How Massive Stars Are Born - The Countdown #19

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:46:03 EST

The Countdown is a biweekly video show highlighting the best stuff happening in space, astronomy and physics. In this episode: Voyager Hokey Pokey, Mini-Supernovae, Mercury Meteorite, Planck's Map, Birth of Massive Stars

Tiny Robots Reveal Ant Behavior

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:27:47 EST

A team of scientists at New Jersey Institute of Technology's Swarm Lab have developed tiny robots called Alice to help them understand the behavior of ant colonies.

The Methuselah Star - The Countdown #18

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:51:55 EST

The Countdown is a biweekly video show highlighting the best stuff happening in space, astronomy and physics. In this episode: Exoplanet Composition, Neighborhood Dwarves, Comet Pan-STARRS, Martian Love Boat, The Methuselah Star

Quantum Entanglement Takes a Road Trip

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:19:48 EST

Professor Enrique Galvez of Colgate University has built a machine to observe quantum entanglement, the strange phenomenon that Einstein called "spooky action at a distance." Follow this link for the first video in this series: http://goo.gl/YfUuh

Mannequin Cosmonaut Ivan Ivanovich - It Happened In Space

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:10:29 EST

Leading up to Yuri Gagarin's historic Vostok 1 flight, the Soviet Union launched two missions with a man-like mannequin, Ivan Ivanovich, on board.

Black Hole Spins Near Light-Speed - The Countdown #17

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 07:23:31 EST

The Countdown is a biweekly video show highlighting the best stuff happening in space, astronomy and physics. In this episode: Mercury's Magma Ocean, Flinging Space Trash, Spectacular Solar Images, Van Allen's Third Belt & Fast-Spinning Black Hole

Meteor Attack from Space - The Countdown, Episode 16

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 08:25:29 EST

The Countdown is a biweekly video show highlighting the best stuff happening in space, astronomy and physics. In this episode: Supernova Space Rays, Liquid Lunar Mystery, Red Dwarf Exoplanets, Name Pluto s Moons and Meteor Attack from Space.

Trouble with John Glenn's Heat Shield - It Happened in Space

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 10:25:08 EST

NASA's first orbital triumph was also its first near disaster. John Glenn, already a national hero in 1962, was almost lost in space.

Sailing on Sunlight - The Countdown, Episode 15

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 16:03:25 EST

The Countdown is a biweekly video show highlighting the best stuff happening in space, astronomy and physics. In this episode: Sailing on Sunlight, Goldilocks Redefined, Supernova Outburst,Columbia s Worms, Spring on Mars.

Who Was the First Human Ancestor? - Instant Egghead

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:09:41 EST

From the time of Charles Darwin science has painted a picture of our earliest ancestor in the image of a chimpanzee. Scientific American editor Katherine Harmon explains how new fossil evidence is redrawing the lines of human evolution.

Saturn's Super-Sized Storm - The Countdown, Episode 14

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:47:35 EST

The Countdown is a biweekly video show highlighting the best stuff happening in space, astronomy and physics. In this episode: Inflatable Space Station, Monkey Launch, Lunar Hedgehogs, Martian Groundwater and Saturn s Super-Sized Storm

First Mars Rovers Designed by Soviets - It Happened in Space

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:00:34 EST

Overshadowed by the success of NASA's Mars rover missions, few recall that the USSR once had its own rover program.

The Adrenal Glands - Iron Egghead

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 12:57:29 EST

The winning entry in Scientific American's 2012 Iron Egghead video contest explains how the adrenal glands work using only common objects found around the home. Warning: This video may cause uncontrollable laughter.