about account add arrow-down arrow-left arrow-right arrow-up back-arrow register-arrow book-mobile book categories chat-bubble-mobile chat-bubble close college contact-us credit-card drag email-square facebook-mobile facebook-square facebook faq film history home load modal-error person pinterest-square play-mobile play queue remove resume search share show star tick trailer trash twitter-mobile twitter-square twitter university warning warning youtube-square open-eye close-eye promo-tag tag check info info active
logo

12 Essential Scientific Concepts

Explore 12 of science’s bedrock ideas in this course that introduces you to exciting fields like quantum theory, emergence, thermodynamics, and brain plasticity.

Watch First Lecture

The Miracle of Life
1 The Miracle of Life - 34 min
To truly understand what makes life special, you have to understand the fundamental makeup of life. In this first lecture, investigate the basic chemistry of living organisms, from the fundamental importance of water and carbon to the critical functions of proteins—the molecules that allow cells to survive, reproduce, and adapt.

24 Lectures

1
Image of The Miracle of Life
The Miracle of Life
0 of 34 min
2
Image of The Organization of Life
The Organization of Life
0 of 29 min
3
Image of Evolution—The Tireless Tinkerer
Evolution—The Tireless Tinkerer
0 of 29 min
4
Image of Other Mechanisms of Evolution
Other Mechanisms of Evolution
0 of 30 min
5
Image of DNA and Heritability
DNA and Heritability
0 of 29 min
6
Image of Epigenetics, Mutations, and Gene Insertion
Epigenetics, Mutations, and Gene Insertion
0 of 30 min
7
Image of The Illusion of Coherence—How We See
The Illusion of Coherence—How We See
0 of 29 min
8
Image of Acoustic Perception Deconstructed
Acoustic Perception Deconstructed
0 of 29 min
9
Image of Our Changing Brain
Our Changing Brain
0 of 29 min
10
Image of Plasticity, Brain Training, and Beyond
Plasticity, Brain Training, and Beyond
0 of 30 min
11
Image of Magnetism and Its Magic
Magnetism and Its Magic
0 of 28 min
12
Image of Electrical Forces, Fields, and Circuits
Electrical Forces, Fields, and Circuits
0 of 28 min
13
Image of Thermodynamics—Heat, Energy, and Work
Thermodynamics—Heat, Energy, and Work
0 of 29 min
14
Image of Metabolism—Energy in the Cell
Metabolism—Energy in the Cell
0 of 31 min
15
Image of Fluid Mechanics—Pressure, Buoyancy, Flow
Fluid Mechanics—Pressure, Buoyancy, Flow
0 of 28 min
16
Image of Navigation and Propulsion in Fluids
Navigation and Propulsion in Fluids
0 of 29 min
17
Image of The Big Bang That Didn’t
The Big Bang That Didn’t
0 of 29 min
18
Image of The Four Forces of Nature
The Four Forces of Nature
0 of 31 min
19
Image of The Elements of Everything
The Elements of Everything
0 of 28 min
20
Image of Looks like a Particle, Acts like a Wave
Looks like a Particle, Acts like a Wave
0 of 29 min
21
Image of Quanta, Uncertainty, and a Cat
Quanta, Uncertainty, and a Cat
0 of 30 min
22
Image of String Theory, Membranes, and the Multiverse
String Theory, Membranes, and the Multiverse
0 of 31 min
23
Image of Emergence—Simple Rules, Complex Systems
Emergence—Simple Rules, Complex Systems
0 of 31 min
24
Image of Order out of Chaos
Order out of Chaos
0 of 32 min

Reviews

j********m
August 21, 2019
This was actually a great course - four stars just means not perfect but pretty great. The range of topics covered in 12 hours of video is impressive. Some times it seemed like it got into some weeds very quickly and suddenly, often introducing terms that were simply way too complicated, and then moving on (esp. the course on genetics); since only really 25 minutes are spent per subject, some of the nitty gritty would have been better being skipped over in favor of more focus on basics and big picture stuff. Also, the course booklet was disappointing; it would often just be a transcription of the lecture; A picture is worth a thousand words - how about a diagram of the brain, or of plant and animal cells, or a neuron? It's not like they're trying to save space, they'll put in a pleasant photograph of a flower, not really as a visual aid, but just to break the monotony. It's easier for me to fault find than praise: it was very informative; I really appreciated the short and sweet history of major developments within the given disciplines that start out most lectures.

Reply

Delete

a********m
August 14, 2019
Excellent course. Touched on some great scientific concepts. Excellent presentation that held my attention.

Reply

Delete

p********m
August 4, 2019

Reply

Delete