Be Smart

Hey, Smart People! You may have recently seen some exciting news about (possible) alien life on (definitely) alien planets. Predictably, the truth is much more uncertain — no "E.T. Confirmed!" just yet.
But that's partly because it's so incredibly hard to find true "biosignatures." In fact, as a classic Be Smart vid explained, even when Carl Sagan aimed a distant spacecraft back at Earth he couldn't find definitive proof of life from space on our planet!
For more on how we actually search for signs of life beyond Earth, check out the video here ➡️ https://youtu.be/p7wBda0GE4Q?si=EGFtl...
And remember, next time you see exciting space headlines, stay curious! Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence 🤓🖖👽

1 week ago | [YT] | 2,124

Be Smart

🏌️‍♂️ Ever notice how weirdly white the sand is at The Masters? That’s no accident. It’s not just pretty—it’s science.

Check out my YouTube Short digging into the bizarre stuff hiding in Augusta’s iconic bunkers. Spoiler: it’s not what you think, and it’s definitely not “just sand.”

⛳️ Watch here 👉 www.youtube.com/shorts/iBkCJB...

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 145

Be Smart

Weathered: Inside the LA Firestorm is a new film from PBS we want to tell you about. From the makers of the digital series on ‪@pbsterra‬, this film offers a thorough examination of the events in LA. See how winds, heat, moisture, and urban design combined to allow the fires spread quickly and render firefighting ineffective. The film then reveals what we can do differently in the future to avoid a similar outcome.

You can watch the film for free on PBS streaming platforms here to.pbs.org/LAFirestorm or on PBS Terra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiX9t...

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1 month ago | [YT] | 594

Be Smart

Our friends at ‪@pbsterra‬ just dropped a new episode of Untold Earth and it's unbe-leaf-ably cool! Learn how Pando, a 13-MILLION-pound giant tree, has survived for centuries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwBgS.... Pando might be the world’s largest known organism, and you'll see how humans are fighting to protect it. Let them know we sent you in the comments!

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1 month ago | [YT] | 586

Be Smart

Today's our 12th YouTube birthday! 🎂 🎉 I can't believe it. Thank you to everyone who's learned with us along the way!
Did you just subscribe last month? Did you know us back when we were "It's Okay To Be Smart"? Join the celebration and leave a comment below with your favorite memories or messages!

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1 month ago | [YT] | 1,906

Be Smart

Hey Smart People! We need your feedback! Every year we do a huge audience survey (link here: to.pbs.org/2024SurveyBeSmart) It's your chance to let us know what was great, what could be even better, and even what NEW shows you'd like PBS to create in the year ahead!

The survey only takes a few minutes to complete, but it can have a big impact. And we promise — once you finish the survey, Lumbergh won’t make you come in on Saturday

Thanks!

4 months ago | [YT] | 669

Be Smart

50 years ago this week, we phoned E.T. for the first time 📡 ✨🌌 The Arecibo Message was sent into space on November 16, 1974, designed to introduce us to potential extraterrestrial neighbors. But should we have sent it? Watch my video about the risks and rewards of messaging extra-terrestrials before they answer! ▶︎▶︎ https://youtu.be/TC5Npnub6Qw

And here's my YouTube Short explaining what the Arecibo Message means: youtube.com/shorts/B-4FeqIauIM

5 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 1,412

Be Smart

Hey spooky people, Joe here. Monstrum made a *killer* special episode that breaks down the most iconic tropes from slasher films. You wouldn’t want to be the “final” girl who misses it. It’ll premiere tonight at 8 over on ‪@pbsstoried‬ at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LOQx...

6 months ago | [YT] | 636

Be Smart

With powerful Hurricane Milton bearing down on Florida just weeks after Helene battered the southeastern US, you might be wondering what it is that makes these storms so powerful, and why we are seeing such supercharged hurricanes. I made this video several years ago, but I think it's one of the best explanations out there for the strange physics inside a hurricane. Stay safe out there, everyone ▶▶ https://youtu.be/Xtu2_ziBI_w

6 months ago | [YT] | 1,447

Be Smart

Hey Smart People - tipping points are something I think about a lot. Ocean temperatures, glacial ice, insect decline… And if you care as much as I do, you should definitely check out about Weathered: Earth’s Extremes - it’s a new tv show from the team behind the popular ‪@pbsterra‬ series. It explores the world’s changing climate and some pretty cool work being done to protect it. The series is available for free on the PBS app and streaming platforms and you can watch the first episode now! to.pbs.org/WeatheredBeSmart

6 months ago | [YT] | 1,322