On this page: General Resources | Fossil Fuels | Renewable Energy | Experiments

general resources

▶️ NEW • What if there were 1 trillion more trees? from TED-Ed. “Today humanity produces more than 1,400 tons of carbon every minute. To combat climate change, we need to reduce fossil fuel emissions, and draw down excess CO2 to restore the balance of greenhouse gases. Like all plants, trees consume atmospheric carbon through photosynthesis.” – All

▶️ Who is responsible for climate change? from Kurzgesagt. Learn about the politics of reducing global carbon dioxide emissions and combating climate change. This video addresses three key questions: Which countries emit the most carbon dioxide today? Which countries have emitted the most in total? Which countries emit the most carbon dioxide per person? – Middle • High

▶️ Can wildlife adapt to climate change? from TED-Ed. “With rising temperatures and seas, massive droughts, and changing landscapes, successfully adapting to climate change is increasingly important. For humans, this can mean using technology to find solutions. But for some plants and animals, adapting to these changes involves the most ancient solution of all: evolution. Erin Eastwood explains how animals are adapting to climate change.” – All

​▶️ Why the Arctic is climate change's canary in the coal mine from TED-Ed. ​"William Chapman explains why scientists often describe the Arctic as the “canary in the coal mine” when it comes to climate change." – All

fossil fuels & global warming

▶️ A guide to the energy of the Earth from TED-Ed. “Energy is neither created nor destroyed, and yet the global demand for it continues to increase. But where does energy come from, and where does it go? Joshua M. Sneideman examines the many ways in which energy cycles through our planet, from the sun to our food chain to electricity and beyond.” – All

▶️ How do greenhouse gases actually work? from MinuteEarth. Concise explanation of the greenhouse effect. – All

▶️ How does fracking work? from TED-Ed. “Deep underground lie stores of once-inaccessible natural gas. There’s a technology, called hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” that can extract this natural gas, potentially powering us for decades to come. So how does fracking work and why is it a source of such heated controversy?” – Middle • High

▶️ Global Warming: It's all about carbon from NPR. An entertaining and informative 5-part animated video series about the role that carbon plays in global warming. – All

renewable energy

▶️ Can 100% renewable energy power the world? from TED-Ed. “Every year, the world uses 35 billion barrels of oil. This massive scale of fossil fuel dependence pollutes the earth, and it won’t last forever. On the other hand, we have abundant sun, water and wind, which are all renewable energy sources. So why don’t we exchange our fossil fuel dependence for an existence based only on renewables?” – Middle • High

▶️ How do solar panels work? from TED-Ed. “The Earth intercepts a lot of solar power: 173,000 terawatts. That’s 10,000 times more power than the planet’s population uses. So is it possible that one day the world could be completely reliant on solar energy? Richard Komp examines how solar panels convert solar energy to electrical energy.” – Middle • High

▶️ Why aren’t we only using solar? from TED-Ed. “Solar power is cheaper and more sustainable than our current coal-fueled power plants, so why haven't we made the switch? The real culprits here are the clouds, which make solar power difficult to control. Alexandros George Charalambides explains how solar towers and panels create electricity and how scientists are trying to create a system that can function even under cloud cover.” – All

▶️ Biofuels and bioprospecting for beginners from TED-Ed. “Biofuels can provide energy without the reliance on environmentally harmful fossils fuels, but scientists are still searching for a plentiful source. Craig A. Kohn demonstrates how cellulose, the naturally abundant tough walls of plant cells, might be the solution.” – All

experiments