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Vanilla is a flavor so common that some people use it as an adjective to describe something plain or ordinary. But watch out! This beloved, flavorful bean may soon become a rarity. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

Do you know someone with red hair? Perhaps you have those fiery locks yourself. This video takes a close biochemical look into what makes redheads stand out from the crowd. It's not just the color of their hair. Credit: Reactions/American…

This animation explains the concept of biomes (major communities of organisms distributed over wide areas) and describes some of the biomes found around the world.

When it’s time to vote on Election Day, how do you decide on a candidate? In this video, neuroscientist Michael Shadlen explains how our brains secretly do math in order to make decisions. Credit: Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute

Thanks to the demands of eco-conscious consumers, biodegradable and compostable plastics are cropping up everywhere. Are these green plastics the solution to our throwaway lifestyle? Well, it’s complicated, as this video explains. Credit:…

This animation shows how chaotic systems are unpredictable because of their extreme sensitivity to their initial conditions.

This animation explains what a cylcoid is and shows how the size of a cycloid relates to the size of the rolling circle that generates it.

Could lead toxicity have produced behavioral changes in Ancient Rome’s population and caused the collapse of the Roman Empire? This video explores the use of lead by the ancient Romans, archaeological findings supporting high levels of lead…

Online entrepreneurs may try to sell bottled human pheromones, but do these even exist? It's doubtful, according to this video. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

Best-selling author Sam Kean debunks the myth of the Megalodon, the 50-foot super shark that, despite what you may have read, is long extinct. In this video, Kean unravels the myth by explaining how the element manganese holds the key.…

This animation explains that fractals are self-similar geometrical objects at different scales and magnifications and shows how fractals can be generated by applying simple mathematical rules repetitively.

If you’ve eaten food today that has at least one ingredient that was farmed, you probably owe some thanks to earthworms. How do these lowly invertebrates turn what humans find inedible into beloved compost? Earthworms have an extra enzyme…

Many people have done it, but few admit to it. This video explains why, from an environmental perspective, it is absolutely acceptable to urinate in the ocean. (Correction: At 1:50, the narration and text should read "250 gallons," not…

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles measuring less than five millimeters (about 0.2 inches) in length whose sources include polymer textile fibers, microbeads from personal care products, and environmental degradation of waste plastic…

Most cats love catnip, but that’s not why this flowering plant produces its volatile oils. The scent of catnip is actually an application of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" strategy. Find out exactly what that means in this video.…

Pond scum is usually just a nuisance, but under certain environmental conditions, blue-green algae (which are actually bacteria) can blossom into harmful algal blooms. These blooms can release all sorts of deadly poisons into the environment.…

Why do wasps become more aggressive after you kill a hive member? The answer is the same reason as why you should be wary of bees that smell like bananas. This short video uses chemistry to explain that statement. Credit:…