Secondary Catalogue

The next few decades will be a busy time for space exploration and research and there are still many mysteries of the universe to investigate. This video looks at the future of the universe and human space exploration, looking at the continued and accelerating expansion of the universe, new space technologies and the potential start of a new ‘space race’. Recommended for students interested in technology and the careers that contribute to space exploration. Show Less

Despite the many dangers of space travel, something keeps us going back to the vast and exciting unknown beyond our planet. This video takes viewers through the history of humans in space, covering the 20th century ‘space race’, the dangers and health impacts of space on astronauts and the possibility of establishing colonies on other planets. Recommended for students interested in technology and the careers that contribute to space exploration. Show Less

Space is big and it has taken centuries of work by physicists, engineers, meteorologists and astronauts to allow us to begin to measure the universe properly. This video takes viewers through the history of humans observing distant stars and planets, covering telescopes, the electromagnetic spectrum, the Hubble Telescope and various space probes sent throughout our solar system. Recommended for students interested in technology and the careers that contribute to space exploration. Show Less

Over thousands of years, humans have developed our understanding of the stars and planets through the twin sciences of astronomy and cosmology. This video takes viewers through the history of humans studying the skies, exploring the links between gods and early astronomy, the debate over geocentrism and heliocentrism, and how an understanding of gravity was key to modern astronomy. Recommended for students interested in technology and the careers that contribute to space exploration. Show Less

This Miniclip defines climate change and explains the greenhouse effect and the role of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. While it explores the consequences of climate change on our environment – such as rising sea levels, more frequent extreme weather, and damage to our ecosystems – it also suggests both big and little changes that we can make to protect our Earth. Show Less

In this video, we learn about forests, one of the world’s biggest biomes. We’ll start by discussing what a forest really is - because it’s a lot more than just trees! The forest is in many ways a key resource, above all for the climate, but also for the economy. The forest absorbs part of the carbon dioxide we release when we burn fossil fuels. We learn about the layers that make up a forest. We also take a closer look at the types of forest that exist and what plants and animals we find there. Why do leaves change color in the fall? We’ll learn that too. Show Less

Heat waves, tropical cyclones, droughts, tornadoes, hailstorms, floods, and severe thunderstorms. These are all examples of extreme weather that shape our landscape. But what exactly are they and how do they happen? This Miniclip explores each of these extreme weather types and examines the natural and human influences that cause them including climate change, the Earth’s atmosphere, ocean currents and more. Show Less

Some of Earth’s magnificent landforms are caused by erosion and weathering. But what is erosion and how does it change the Earth’s surface so drastically? This Miniclip explains the process of erosion including the various mechanisms such as water, wind, ice, and mass movement; defines sediment and deposition as part of this process; and explains how human influence has increased its prevalence through global warming and deforestation. Show Less

Some of Earth’s magnificent landforms are caused by weathering and erosion. But what is weathering and how does it create magnificent structures on our planet? This Miniclip explains the process of weathering including the two main types: mechanical and chemical. Students will learn the different natural impacts on this process such as water, temperature change, wind, oxidation, and more. Show Less

For many new agricultural technologies, feasibility issues need to be considered before they can be adopted by farmers and businesses. This video explains why scientific verification and practical adoption of technology are both important and discusses the long-term aims of new technologies, with insight from scientists at agricultural research institutes. A highly relevant resource for senior secondary and tertiary students studying design technology, earth and environmental sciences or agriculture. Show Less

New technologies in the agricultural industry can have environmental, social and economic impacts. This video explores the technology that targets methane emissions, how fruit yield and quality can lead to greater profitability and how commercial farmers actually interact with technology, with insight from scientists at agricultural research institutes. A highly relevant resource for senior secondary and tertiary students studying design technology, earth and environmental sciences or agriculture. Show Less

Agricultural processes have a large-scale impact on natural resources and ecosystems and many businesses are turning to technology to help. This video introduces some issues that agricultural technologies aim to address, including water scarcity, farm waste and sustainability, with insight from scientists at agricultural research institutes. A highly relevant resource for senior secondary and tertiary students studying design technology, earth and environmental sciences or agriculture. Show Less

Before agricultural technologies can be adopted by businesses, they need to be thoroughly tested and evaluated. This video looks at the techniques and systems researchers use to collect and evaluate data, such as internet-connected sensors and the SF6 tracer, with insight from scientists at agricultural research institutes. A highly relevant resource for senior secondary and tertiary students studying design technology, earth and environmental sciences or agriculture. Show Less

This programme is about seawater. It is the most important liquid on Earth, not only from its sheer volume, but also because it has remarkable qualities. A few of them, like buoyancy, are common to all liquids - but seawater is also the cradle of life. Three key factors of water underpin life in the sea: water’s dissolving power, its tendency to keep a stable temperature, and its transparency to light. This programme explains the mechanisms and the outcomes of these key facts—and other things—that make seawater both weird and wonderful. Show Less

"Land and Ocean" examines who the world's land masses and oceans affect global climate patterns. We look at why the air gets colder and colder the higher you go, why coastal regions don't heat up or cool down as much as inland regions, why winters are colder in the northern hemisphere, and a whole lot more Show Less

In this episode, we describe how tropical cyclones form and examine their huge power. We explain what the Coriolis effect is and how it make tropical cyclones rotate the way that they do. We also travel to three continents to demonstrate how Coriolis effect affects water draining from a small container. Does water really swirl in a different direction depending on which hemisphere it is in? Show Less

"Following the Sun" looks at how the sun's movement across the sky every day changes. In summer, the sun reaches a much higher angle in the sky than it does in winter. This affects the design of energy-efficient homes and the placement of solar panels. Show Less

The majority of today’s astronomers and scientists support the theory we call the Big Bang. But what does the theory actually entail? How did it develop? Who was Edwin Hubble and what are spectral lines? In this film, we explore the background of the Big Bang theory. Was it really a bang? What different substances and particles were formed right after the Big Bang? We will explore these things. We will also find out how nebulas, stars, planets and solar systems were created. And finally, we will learn what evidence exists that supports this theory. What evidence is there that the Big Bang theory could be true? Show Less

In this episode we will learn about the geological time scale – what was the climate like a billion years ago and what living organisms existed on Earth at that time? Why did the dinosaurs actually die out? We discuss concepts such as Precambrian, Paleozoic, and Mesozoic, and learn what an Archaeopteryx is. We will explore all these things in the second part. Show Less

What were the first living organisms on Earth? How did they work? In this episode, we travel millions—even billions—of years backwards in time in order to learn how Earth was created. We study the significance of the nebular hypothesis and how Earth has changed since its inception. We also discuss concepts such as stromatolites, organelles, and eukaryotes. What were the first life forms on our planet and how did multicellular organisms develop? We will learn all these things in the first part of Development of Life. Show Less