Mind-Blowing Science: Season 2

Course Overview

Course No. 90102

The Emmy® Award-winning Mind-Blowing Science returns with Season 2, bringing to life another collection of Scientific American’s most intriguing articles. Founded in 1845, Scientific American is the oldest continuously published magazine in the U.S., featuring contributions from over 200 Nobel Prize winners, including Albert Einstein.

This season explores thought-provoking topics ranging from the simulation hypothesis to cosmic mapping, human evolution to psychedelic therapies. Join esteemed experts as they unravel mysteries of the universe, the human mind, and cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs.

Video Episodes

01: Do We Live in a Simulation? (15 min)

Examine the evidence for and against the simulation theory, featuring insights from philosophers, physicists, and technologists.

02: A Model Octopus (12 min)

Discover what octopus brains can teach us about complex cognition, despite their vastly different anatomy from humans.

03: How to Control Your Feelings (21 min)

Learn the five stages of emotional regulation and techniques to make smarter choices in high-pressure situations.

04: How Birds Branched Out (13 min)

Trace the evolution of birds from dinosaurs to today’s 10,000+ species, and their dazzling diversity.

05: Survival of the Friendliest (19 min)

Explore how human “cooperative communication” became an evolutionary advantage over other hominin species.

06: A New Map of the Universe (17 min)

Dive into the Sloan Digital Sky Survey’s cosmic map, revealing dark energy and the universe’s accelerating expansion.

07: How Stress Shuts Down Your Brain (16 min)

New research on stress physiology, including sex-based differences and strategies for better resilience.

08: Protecting Earth from Asteroids (20 min)

NASA’s tracking of 300+ near-Earth asteroids and plans to prevent potential catastrophic impacts.

09: Extreme Birding (26 min)

Follow a team’s 24-hour quest to spot 200 bird species, breaking New England’s record.

10: Lifting the Venus Curse (16 min)

NASA’s missions to uncover why Venus, Earth’s twin, became a hostile, apocalyptic world.

11: Top Emerging Technologies (13 min)

Innovations addressing climate change, global health, energy use, and food production.

12: Secrets of the Antikythera Machine (15 min)

The ancient Greek “computer” with precision gears that predate its era by centuries.

13: Humans Are Still Evolving (16 min)

How recent genetic changes hint at humanity’s ongoing biological adaptation.

14: Psychedelic Treatments for Psychiatric Disorders (7 min)

Breakthroughs in psilocybin and MDMA-assisted therapies for mental health.

15: Should Doctors Stop Prescribing Weight Loss? (15 min)

Rethinking the link between body weight and health outcomes in modern medicine.