Timelapse: Photosynthesis Seen From Space
Witness the influence of the sun on the seasonal abundance of plant matter produced on land and in our oceans.
Why Do Birds Migrate?
See how seasonal changes drive patterns in animal behavior. Track the movement of two migratory birds of prey—ospreys and turkey vultures—as they travel between North and South America over a single calendar year.
How Many Planes Are in the Sky?
Real-time air traffic reveals modern travel patterns occurring on timescales far more rapid than species migration in the natural world. Illustrating flights taken over two days in September 2013, this clip demonstrates the frequency of plane flights arriving at and departing from airports worldwide.
how did human civilization spread?
Historic population and cropland data illustrate the relationship between the spread of human civilization and agriculture on Earth between 10,000 BCE and 2,000 CE.
how quickly do ships cross the oceans? (north america)
Ships cross waters in a matter of days or weeks. Shipping lanes not only connect human societies, but they also connect biological environments through which they pass—often resulting in the transport of invasive species. This clip demonstrates North American ship traffic over an eleven day period.
how quickly do ships cross the oceans? (europe)
Ships cross waters in a matter of days or weeks. Shipping lanes not only connect human societies, but they also connect biological environments through which they pass—often resulting in the transport of invasive species. This clip demonstrates European ship traffic over an eleven day period.
take a virtual dive in a kelp forest
Visit an underwater forest near Point Lobos, California, to learn what a kelp forest food web looks like. From the smallest microbes to the largest animals, more than a thousand species take part in this diverse food web that draws its energy from the Sun.
the living soil beneath our feet
Travel underground for an up-close look at the ants, amoebas, and bacteria that maintain healthy soil. Glimpse this microscopic world and learn about the symbiotic relationship between fungi and tree roots.
how do trees transport water from roots to leaves?
Step inside the trunk of a tree to follow the path water takes from the deepest roots to the very top of a Douglas fir.
why do we have different seasons?
Did you know that the Sun’s light shines differently on Earth at different times of the year? In this visualization watch as the Earth orbits the Sun, rotating, like a slightly tilted, spinning top. This rotation changes the angle at which sunlight hits the surface of our planet, creating the different seasons we experience here on Earth. Can you see how sunlight at different times of the year changes the productivity of life on land and in our oceans?