2 Essential Scientific Concepts

Course Overview

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

Course No. 1126

Science is such a vast arena of knowledge that people looking for a better grasp of its secrets often wonder where to begin. The answer: with the essentials. Now, finally satisfy your desire for scientific inquiry in a way that makes this enormous field accessible, understandable, and undeniably captivating.

Professor Viskontas boils down the scientific world into 12 key concepts every educated person should know. Devoting two lectures to each concept, her 24-lecture series is an engaging and enlightening introduction to everything from the behavior of subatomic particles to the latest theories about the Big Bang.

Key Topics Covered:

• Brain plasticity
• Fluid mechanics
• Electromagnetism
• Genetics
• Quantum theory
• Emergence
• Evolution
• Thermodynamics
• The Big Bang
• The nature of matter

Video Lectures

01: The Miracle of Life (34 min)

Investigate the basic chemistry of living organisms, from water and carbon to the critical functions of proteins.

02: The Organization of Life (29 min)

Explore eukaryotic cells, mitochondria, lysosomes, and cellular processes like protein synthesis and energy generation.

03: Evolution – The Tireless Tinkerer (30 min)

Examine Darwin’s theory of evolution, its evidence, and how natural selection operates in real-world scenarios.

04: Other Mechanisms of Evolution (31 min)

Learn about genetic drift, gene flow, allele frequency, and the Hardy-Weinberg principle.

05: DNA and Heritability (30 min)

Discover Mendel’s genetics, DNA as a cellular code, and how genes express themselves through proteins.

06: Epigenetics, Mutations, and Gene Insertion (31 min)

Explore how genes change via epigenetics, mutations, and viral gene insertion.

07: The Illusion of Coherence – How We See (29 min)

Dive into the biology of vision and the “binding problem” linking neural physiology and consciousness.

08: Acoustic Perception Deconstructed (30 min)

Understand ear anatomy, hearing loss, pitch subjectivity, and interactions between hearing and sight.

09: Our Changing Brain (29 min)

Study neuroplasticity, memory formation, and the brain’s ability to adapt through learning.

10: Plasticity, Brain Training, and Beyond (31 min)

Harness neuroplasticity to combat aging, recover from disease, and master skills via the hippocampus and BDNF.

11: Magnetism and Its Magic (28 min)

Uncover the science behind magnets, electron spins, ferromagnetism, and magnetic fields.

12: Electrical Forces, Fields, and Circuits (28 min)

Learn the basics of electricity, electric potential, and circuits in the human body and technology.

13: Thermodynamics – Heat, Energy, and Work (29 min)

Explore the laws of thermodynamics, ideal engines, and applications like steam and combustion engines.

14: Metabolism – Energy in the Cell (31 min)

See thermodynamics in action via photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and metabolic engineering.

15: Fluid Mechanics – Pressure, Buoyancy, Flow (28 min)

Grasp aerodynamics fundamentals, including buoyant force, Bernoulli’s equation, and pressure-depth relationships.

16: Navigation and Propulsion in Fluids (30 min)

Apply fluid mechanics to transportation, turbulence, and the physics of drag and propulsion.

17: The Big Bang That Didn’t (29 min)

Investigate the Big Bang theory, cosmic evidence, and potential universe endings (Crunch, Freeze, Rip).

18: The Four Forces of Nature (32 min)

Study gravity, electromagnetism, and nuclear forces shaping the universe’s structure and behavior.

19: The Elements of Everything (29 min)

Decode the periodic table, subatomic particles (fermions, Higgs boson), and undiscovered elements.

20: Looks like a Particle, Acts like a Wave (30 min)

Probe wave-particle duality via Planck, Einstein, and Heisenberg, with laser applications.

21: Quanta, Uncertainty, and a Cat (31 min)

Delve into quantum paradoxes (Schrödinger’s cat), the Copenhagen Interpretation, and quantum computing.

22: String Theory, Membranes, and the Multiverse (31 min)

Examine string theory, M-theory, black holes, and Loop Quantum Gravity’s explanation of quantum gravity.

23: Emergence – Simple Rules, Complex Systems (31 min)

See how simple agents (ants, birds) create complex systems through emergent behavior.

24: Order out of Chaos (32 min)

Explore AI, social robotics, theory of mind, and cities as emergent structures.