Be Smart.

Joe Hanson

We give you deep answers to simple questions about science and the rest of the universe. And also dad jokes. Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, PhD. He's a molecular biologist and an award-winning science communicator and journalist

  1. 17 hr ago

    Should You Feel Guilty About Climate Change? - featuring Al Gore

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate “An Inconvenient Sequel” is former Vice President Al Gore’s newest film 🌎🎥 Learn more: http://InconvenientSequel.com #BeInconvenient ↓↓↓ More info and sources below ↓↓↓ News about climate change is often full of doom, guilt, and anxiety. This can make many people reluctant to pay attention to or discuss it. We asked former Vice President Al Gore to help us find a different way to talk about climate change. Special thanks to former Vice President Al Gore (@AlGore) http://InconvenientSequel.com Facebook: @AnInconvenientTruth Twitter: @AITruthFilm Instagram: @AnInconvenientTruth The book: http://amzn.to/2vdTYCD Unless otherwise noted, data used in this video comes from: NASA, NOAA, The Global Carbon Project, U.S. Energy Information Administration, and Scripps Institute of Oceanography ----------- WATCH MORE: All of our climate science videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsmqeqKj7M-p_cC_I81favAvBu4U8-5-2 ----------- FOLLOW US: Merch: https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter: @okaytobesmart @DrJoeHanson Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Instagram: @DrJoeHanson Snapchat: YoDrJoe ----------- It’s Okay To Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D. Director/Editor: Joe Nicolosi Writer: Joe Hanson Animator: David Schulte Producer: Stephanie Noone and Amanda Fox Produced by PBS Digital Studios Music via APM Stock images from Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    8 min
  2. Where Did Zika Arise?

    18 hr ago

    Where Did Zika Arise?

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Get your Audible trial here: http://audible.com/ok Tweet this video ⇒ http://bit.ly/OKTBSzika1 Share on FB ⇒ http://bit.ly/OKTBSzikaFB ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Get yourself an awesome IOTBS shirt! http://dftba.com/besmart Follow the latest news on Zika: https://www.cdc.gov/zika/ http://www.who.int/emergencies/zika-virus/en/ Special thanks to the following for personal interviews about Zika outbreak: Dr. Peter Hotez - Baylor College of Medicine Dr. Scott Weaver - UT Medical Branch, Galveston Dr. Nikos Vasilakis - UT Medical Branch, Galveston Dr. Dahotra Sarkar - University of Texas at Austin Dr. Alex Wild - University of Texas at Austin Mustapha Debboun - Harris County Mosquito Control References/further reading: Malaria and Rome: A History of Malaria in Ancient Italy - Robert Sallares http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50747841 Sallares, Robert, and Susan Gomzi. "Biomolecular archaeology of malaria."Ancient Biomolecules 3.3 (2001): 195-213. Sallares, Robert, Abigail Bouwman, and Cecilia Anderung. "The spread of malaria to southern Europe in antiquity: new approaches to old problems."Medical history 48.03 (2004): 311-328. Hotez, Peter J. "Neglected Tropical Diseases in the Anthropocene: The Cases of Zika, Ebola, and Other Infections." PLoS Negl Trop Dis 10.4 (2016): e0004648. Hotez, Peter J. "Blue marble health redux: Neglected tropical diseases and human development in the Group of 20 (G20) nations and Nigeria." PLoS Negl Trop Dis 9.7 (2015): e0003672. Thumbnail image credits: Aedes aegypti mosquito: CDC/ Prof. Frank Hadley Collins, Dir., Cntr. for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Univ. of Notre Dame Zika virus capsid: Manuel Almagro Rivas, Wikimedia Commons ---- Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment or check us out at the links below! Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/okaytobesmart http://twitter.com/jtotheizzoe Follow on Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Follow on Instagram: http://instagram.com/jtotheizzoe Follow on Snapchat: YoDrJoe ----------------- It’s Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D. Follow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoe Produced by PBS Digital Studios: http://www.youtube.com/user/pbsdigitalstudios Music via APM Stock images from SciencePhoto http://www.sciencephoto.com/ and Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com Stock footage from Videoblocks (unless otherwise noted) http://www.videoblocks.com​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    8 min
  3. The Physics of Spacefaring Battles

    19 hr ago

    The Physics of Spacefaring Battles

    How scientifically accurate is your favorite sci-fi space battle? Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Subscribe to It's Okay To Be Smart: http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Joseph Shoer has several extensive, in-depth articles on the physics of space warfare: http://josephshoer.com/blog/2009/12/thoughts-on-space-battles/ http://josephshoer.com/blog/2010/07/projecting-space-battle-physics/ Space warfare: Almost everything you know is probably wrong http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.100198-Space-Warfare-Almost-Everything-You-Know-Is-Probably-Wrong Is space warfare really practical? http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.846407-Is-space-warfare-really-practical-except-lasers Zero-g dogfighting for dummies: http://www.citizenstarnews.com/news/zero-g-dogfighting-dummies Projectile weapons vs. directed energy weapons: http://forum.gateworld.net/threads/17263-Projectile-Weapons-vs-Directed-Energy-Weapons Nukes in space: http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/spacegunconvent.php Effects of radiation weapons in space: http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/radiation.php#effects Could the Death Star really destroy a planet? http://www.universetoday.com/92746/could-a-death-star-really-destroy-a-planet/ "Sir Isaac Newton is the deadliest son of a b***h in space" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLpgxry542M Produced for PBS Digital Studios Joe Hanson - Host and writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Katie Graham - Director of Photography Editing/Motion Graphics - Andrew Matthews/Kirby Conn Gaffers - John Knudsen/Philip Sheldon Post-production intern - Dalton Allen Theme music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod Stock images via Shutterstock ----------- Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    7 min
  4. How Science Specifies A Year

    20 hr ago

    How Science Specifies A Year

    PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateOKAY ↓ More info and sources below ↓ It's been one (tropical/sidereal/anomalous) year since I uploaded the very first It's Okay To Be Smart. Here's everything that's happened since! Thank you to everyone who's helped make this possible, and for letting me have the best job in the world. More: CGP Grey - What is a leap year? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX96xng7sAE MinutePhysics - What are years? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53glKEPzElA Bad Astronomy - http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/01/01/happy-new-year-again/#.UtbGr2RDtVM Check out the highlights of my arm wrestling match with Derek from Veritasium courtesy of Hank Green (cameos from Mike Rugnetta and Emily Eifler): https://twitter.com/hankgreen/status/388553085653901312 Joe Hanson - Host and writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen Inc Kate Eads - Associate Producer Katie Graham - Director of Photography Andrew Matthews - Editor and motion graphics Produced for PBS Digital Studios ----------- Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    6 min
  5. How Artist Claude Monet Was Sort Of Like a Honeybee

    21 hr ago

    How Artist Claude Monet Was Sort Of Like a Honeybee

    PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateOKAY ↓ More info and sources below ↓ The famous painter who was half-honeybee Don’t miss our next video! SUBSCRIBE! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Claude Monet had a very unique eye, and it can teach us a bit about the science of vision More reading: Monet's Eye at Download the Universe: http://www.downloadtheuniverse.com/dtu/2012/04/monets-ultraviolet-eye.html Simulation of Monet's Cataracts: http://archopht.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=418859#MONET More: http://petapixel.com/2012/04/17/the-human-eye-can-see-in-ultraviolet-when-the-lens-is-removed/ http://www.skepticalartist.com/2013/06/25/claude-monet-and-ultraviolet-light-did-the-master-impressionist-painter-have-uv-supervision/ Music: Johann Sebastian Bach - Goldberg Variations (From The Open Goldberg Variations, by Kimiko Ishizaka ----------------- Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment below! Follow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoe Email me: itsokaytobesmart AT gmail DOT com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart For more awesome science, check out: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Joe Hanson - Host and writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen Inc Kate Eads - Associate Producer Katie Graham - Director of Photography Andrew Matthews - Editor and motion graphics John Knudsen - Gaffer Produced for PBS Digital Studios ----------- Last week's video: The Science of Snowflakes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUot7XSX8uA More videos: The Universe In A Glass of Wine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3_n7TDL7lc Why We Cook: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpfwu__PF7Y Ghosts of Evolution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWW5OuxlKec​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    6 min
  6. The SCIENCE of BREWING!!!

    23 hr ago

    The SCIENCE of BREWING!!!

    Is beer the perfect beverage? Let's see what science says... Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Subscribe to It's Okay To Be Smart: http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Big thank you to Jester King Brewery in Austin, TX: http://jesterkingbrewery.com/ The chemistry of beer flavors: http://www.compoundchem.com/2014/07/10/beerchemicals/ Uncorking the past, a history of alcoholic beverages: http://www.economist.com/node/883706 Domestication of grain in near east: http://www.nature.com/nrg/journal/v3/n6/abs/nrg817.html Alcohol and social complexity in ancient western Asia: http://alexanderjoffe.net/alcohol.pdf Finally, a weird Dutch Heineken ad from the 1950's about sending beer to the moon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I03AxY5gA8I Joe Hanson - Host and writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Katie Graham - Director of Photography Editing/Motion Graphics - Andrew Matthews Gaffer - John Knudsen Post-production intern - Dalton Allen Theme music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod Stock images via Shutterstock ----------- Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    6 min
  7. The Remarkable Roots of Thanksgiving Foods

    1 day ago

    The Remarkable Roots of Thanksgiving Foods

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate I’m thankful for science. And also pie. SUBSCRIBE! http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Want to wear your love for science? We’ve got merch: http://dftba.com/besmart References/Learn More: How turkeys got so big: https://www.wired.com/2008/11/turkeytech/ Benjamin Franklin’s 1784 letter to Sarah Bache about turkeys: http://franklinpapers.org/franklin/framedVolumes.jsp?vol=41&page=281 Ames, Mercedes, and David M. Spooner. "DNA from herbarium specimens settles a controversy about origins of the European potato." American Journal of Botany 95.2 (2008): 252-257. Doebley, John. "The genetics of maize evolution." Annu. Rev. Genet. 38 (2004): 37-59. Grun, Paul. "The evolution of cultivated potatoes." Economic Botany 44.3 (1990): 39-55. McWilliams, James. The Pecan: A history of America's native nut. University of Texas Press, 2013. Nee, Michael. "The domestication of cucurbita (Cucurbitaceae)." Economic Botany 44.3 (1990): 56-68. Polashock, James, et al. "The American cranberry: first insights into the whole genome of a species adapted to bog habitat." BMC plant biology 14.1 (2014): 1 Speller, Camilla F., et al. "Ancient mitochondrial DNA analysis reveals complexity of indigenous North American turkey domestication." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107.7 (2010): 2807-2812. ---------------- It’s Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D. Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment or check us out at the links below! Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter: @okaytobesmart @DrJoeHanson Instagram: @DrJoeHanson Produced by PBS Digital Studios Music via APM Stock images from SciencePhoto http://www.sciencephoto.com/ and Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    6 min

About

We give you deep answers to simple questions about science and the rest of the universe. And also dad jokes. Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, PhD. He's a molecular biologist and an award-winning science communicator and journalist