Skip to main content

Up Next

Science of Marathon Running

Science of Marathon Running

Season 2 Episode 23
7:17
There Was No First Human

There Was No First Human

Season 2 Episode 24
3:44
The Amazing Science of DUST?

The Amazing Science of DUST?

Season 2 Episode 27
5:19
Could We Clone Ourselves?

Could We Clone Ourselves?

Season 2 Episode 28
5:31
The Far Future of the Universe

The Far Future of the Universe

Season 2 Episode 29
4:58
Your Mom is LITERALLY Part Of You!

Your Mom is LITERALLY Part Of You!

Season 2 Episode 30
2:55
The Science of Game of Thrones

The Science of Game of Thrones

Season 2 Episode 31
7:31
The Science of BBQ!!!

The Science of BBQ!!!

Season 2 Episode 33
7:27
Why Does Time Go Forward?

Why Does Time Go Forward?

Season 2 Episode 34
2:44
Carbon and Oxygen and You: Explained

Carbon and Oxygen and You: Explained

Season 2 Episode 35
1:28
Why Did We Blow On Nintendo Games?

Why Did We Blow On Nintendo Games?

Season 2 Episode 36
5:10
Back to Show
It's Okay to Be Smart

How The Elements Got Their Names

Season 2 Episode 22

Ever wonder what all those names on the periodic table actually mean? There's a whole lot of fascinating history on Mendeleev's table. Some carry names from antiquity, some are named for people, some are named for places, and some are named for mythical beings. Discover the etymology of the elements!

Support Provided By
Season
Why Seedless Fruit Is a Disaster Waiting To Happen
14:51
Seedless fruits are delicious, convenient… and completely unnatural.
The Randomness Crisis Threatening the Internet
21:13
What does randomness really mean? And why your digital life depend on it?
Blood Types Are Weirder Than You Think
16:20
Why do we have different blood types? And why do we have blood at all?
How Feathered Dinosaurs Accidentally Invented Flight
16:18
How did dinosaurs become birds—and what good is half a wing?
What Could We See with a Planet-Sized Telescope?
16:00
Just how big would a telescope need to be to actually see an alien world in detail?
The Argument for De-Extinction: Explained
26:19
Dire wolves are back—sort of.
Will Earth Run Out of Oxygen
16:53
The key enzyme behind photosynthesis isn’t actually all that great at its job.
What’s Inside the Oldest Rocks in the World?
16:40
The oldest rocks on Earth are more than just ancient—they’re time machines!
Why Your Grandma Is an Evolutionary Mystery
17:11
This is one of the weirdest mysteries of human evolution: Why do we have grandmas?
What Synesthesia Feels Like
12:28
Why do some people taste music or hear colors? Let’s talk about synesthesia.
Why Useless Knowledge Can Be So Useful
14:35
How a chemical in lizard spit inspired one of the most important medical advancements.
How Scientists Cracked the Secret To Making Diamonds
12:15
These diamond makers create one of the most amazing materials on Earth — from dead people.
Active loading indicator