Video Collections

Scattered off the southeastern tip of Papua New Guinea, the little-known islands of Milne Bay Province provide a perfect laboratory for studying the spread of bird-borne diseases. "There are over 600 different islands and many different combinations of variables," explains Academy scientist Jack Dumbacher, who has been studying the birds of Papua New Guinea for more than 20 years. "Some islands are inhabited by people, but many have never been settled. You find agriculture, chickens, or pigs on some islands, but not on others. In this kind of laboratory, we can really begin to study the spread of diseases in a very sophisticated way."

Join Dumbacher as he sails through the islands for the first time, and learn why his research has direct implications for human health.

Can journalists be citizen scientists? That was the heart of the piece we did about toxic emissions close to schools from a report by "USA Today." For the news investigation, "USA Today" reporters compiled existing information from the US Environmental Protection Agency and made correlations between school proximities and the sources of pollution. The story resonated here in the Bay Area because a number of schools ranked in the top percentile for pollution exposure according to his information, specifically schools in west Berkeley. Youth Radio help us with this piece.

What happened when LCROSS deliberately crashed into the moon?

Gene therapy has proven to cure color blindness in squirrel monkeys. Can the same process work for humans?

Emergency physician Matt Lewin's life and work as the Academy's research expedition doctor are a bit on the extreme side.

An amateur astronomer discovers a new, mysterious spot on Jupiter.

Robert C. Drewes, a curator in the department of Herpetology at the California Academy of Sciences, discusses his expedition to the islands Sao Tome and Principe and the impact of humans on their environment.

Bio-inspiration is when engineers and scientists look to nature for ideas. Locally, researchers at UC Berkeley are developing an uber-adhesive based on a gecko's feet.

Elephants communicate through the air like we do, but also seismically through the ground.

The 2011 Philippine Biodiversity Expedition is the largest expedition undertaken by the Academy. It will be the first expedition to make a comprehensive survey of both terrestrial and marine diversity.

Learn more about the expedition.

The recent discovery of an ancient flax fiber in a cave in the Republic of Georgia has scientists rethinking when human ancestors started constructing clothing from textiles and not animal skins.

A time-lapse video of the new California Academy of Sciences building being constructed. The building re-opened on September 27, 2008 and designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano, the new Academy is one of most eco-friendly buildings in the world and was awarded a LEED Platinum certification after its completion.

Academy researchers and biologists discuss the possible future of the world's oceans.

The Academy's inaugural show in the Morrison Planetarium is Fragile Planet. This 30-minute round trip to the outer reaches of the universe reveals how special Earth really is.

Visitors begin their voyage at the Academy, lift off through the atmosphere to gain an astronaut’s view of Earth, then travel to the Moon, Mars, and beyond to search for habitats that might host extraterrestrial life. Narrated by Sigourney Weaver and interwoven with talks by a live presenter, Fragile Planet will redefine your sense of "home." For more informaiton about show times, visit the Morrison Planetarium.

Science writer Jonah Lehrer talks about what happens in our brains when we make decisions, small and large.

We mark the 40th Anniversary of the 1969 moon landing by looking forward to getting astronauts back to the moon.

In the new Morrison Planetarium’s second show, travel through time and space to experience the dramatic lives and deaths of stars. Witness brilliant supernova explosions, dive into the heart of the fiery Sun, and watch it transform into a red giant five billion years in the future. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, Journey to the Stars will help you discover the deep-rooted connection between humanity and the stars.

Journey to the Stars was developed by the American Museum of Natural History, New York in collaboration with the California Academy of Sciences as well as GOTO INC., Tokyo, Japan; Papalote Museo del Niño, Mexico City, Mexico; and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C. The show was created with the major support and partnership of NASA, Science Mission Directorate, Heliophysics Division.

Meet Swima bombaviridis, a newly discovered species found at great depths of the Pacific Ocean. They drop green bioluminescent bombs to evade predators.

Researchers are finding that Crows use complex reasoning to obtain food with tools.

Our living roof supports only native plant species. Jessica Van Den Berg, a grad student a SF State, wondered what types of insects those plants would attract.

An Academy scientist handles both female and male Zoropsis spinimana spiders.

Our living roof supports only native plant species. Jessica Van Den Berg, a grad student a SF State, wondered what types of insects those plants would attract.

For a sneak peek into what's inside the Academy, watch this video.

A diverse group of scientists recently solved the 3000 year-old case of how King Tut died.

The Academy's inaugural show in the Morrison Planetarium is Fragile Planet. This 30-minute round trip to the outer reaches of the universe reveals how special Earth really is.

Visitors begin their voyage at the Academy, lift off through the atmosphere to gain an astronaut’s view of Earth, then travel to the Moon, Mars, and beyond to search for habitats that might host extraterrestrial life. Narrated by Sigourney Weaver and interwoven with talks by a live presenter, Fragile Planet will redefine your sense of "home." For more informaiton about show times, visit the Morrison Planetarium.

Two recent studies are finding that lizard and snake populations are in decline. One of the causes? Climate change.

What colors were dinosaurs? We may be closer to figuring this out.

Here's a behind-the-scenes look at our special Valentine's Day Penguin Show & Tell program happening this Sunday, Feb 14, 2010. Our biologist Pam is distributing hand-made valentines to the birds, who will use the material in their nests. This type of enrichment activity is something we do often to keep the birds engaged and it mimics the foraging that wild African penguins do year-round to keep their nests comfortable. Note: There is no sound with this video.

Will Triceratops go the way of Pluto? Losing its status as a dinosaur? Find out!

A behind the scenes peek at the Dwarf Cuttlefish (Sepia bandensis) a native to the Indo-Pacific region of the ocean around Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines. (This video, shot at the Steinhart Aquarium, is silent.)

The Platinum Behind-the-Scenes Tour is the ultimate all-access experience at the California Academy of Sciences. Here's a preview to this exclusive, up close and personal look at the greenest museum on Earth. For more information, visit www.calacademy.org/visit/tours.

Will the Large Hadron Collider create a black hole that will destroy the world? No, but it may solve mysteries about the origin of the universe.

What effect will climate change have on California's coastal redwood trees?

Academy researchers and biologists discuss the possible future of the world's oceans.

Meet the hardworking biologists who make the California Academy of Sciences' living rainforest exhibit thrive.

Sea nettle jellyfish (Chrysaora fuscescens) are common along the Pacific coast in fall and winter. They sometimes congregate in huge swarms. Here's a glimpse at our sea nettle tank in the Steinhart Aquarium at the Academy.

Sea urchins have no eyes or visual organs, but researchers are proving that they do, in fact, see.

Our biologist, Nicole Chaney, gives us an up-close and personal encounter with a panther chameleon (Furciper pardalis).

NASA confirms that the LCROSS satellite detected water on the moon.

2011 Best Fulldome Program at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival Life: A Cosmic Story, is a high-speed ride through the history of life. Narrated by Jodie Foster, with an exceptional soundtrack.  Come explore the age-old mystery: How did life on Earth begin? Opened November 6, 2010.

How do Monarch butterflies know where to migrate year after year? In Spanish with English subtitles.

Pam Schaller, Senior Aquatic Biologist at the California Academy of Sciences, discusses African Penguins and their techniques for survival.

Academy entomologist Dave Kavanaugh heads to the Sierras tracking ice beetles.

Take a peek at a day-in-the-life of African Penguins at the California Academy of Science. This time-lapse video was taken on July 3, 2010. 5am-11pm at a one minute interval.

Researchers are finding that Crows use complex reasoning to obtain food with tools.

Is the dust storm that swept through Sydney, Australia a sign of climate change?

Does life exist elsewhere in the Universe? Perhaps. Last week, scientists announced the discovery of the amino acid, glycine, on the Wild 2 comet. Amino acids provide key components for life here on Earth, but this is the first time we have definitive evidence of these molecules occurring in space.

The octopus is widely regarded as the world’s smartest invertebrate. A new study provides evidence for that claim.

In 2008, a team of scientists warned that a large earthquake could hit Haiti. Local geologist, Carol Prentice, who was part of that team, discusses how they came to that conclusion and how the Bay Area could be next.

Why have the California sea lions disappeared from Pier 39? And where have they gone?

Scott Moran, Lead Project Manager for the construction of the new California Academy of Sciences, gives a tour of the new facility, which opened in fall 2008.

Scientists at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory are hoping that nuclear fusion will become an energy source in the near future.

The destruction of coral reefs, trawling and the use of seahorses in Chinese medicine is leading to their decline. How do we stop this near-mythical sea creature from becoming extinct? "Wired" interviews Academy researcher, Healy Hamilton, to discuss this unique fish and the dangers that threaten them.

David de Rothschild and his boat, the Plastiki, will set sail across the Pacific soon. Find out how a boat made entirely of plastic hopes to rid the oceans of the stuff.

In the new Morrison Planetarium’s second show, travel through time and space to experience the dramatic lives and deaths of stars. Witness brilliant supernova explosions, dive into the heart of the fiery Sun, and watch it transform into a red giant five billion years in the future. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, Journey to the Stars will help you discover the deep-rooted connection between humanity and the stars.

Journey to the Stars was developed by the American Museum of Natural History, New York in collaboration with the California Academy of Sciences as well as GOTO INC., Tokyo, Japan; Papalote Museo del Niño, Mexico City, Mexico; and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C. The show was created with the major support and partnership of NASA, Science Mission Directorate, Heliophysics Division.

Plastics are surfacing in our oceans. What's the solution?

The Maya Lin sculpture at the California Academy of Sciences is art informed by science. "What is Missing?"  is a memorial to extinct and endangered species.

Dangling from branches over water, they watch and wait for fish to swim close to the surface before plunging their heads into the water. Arboreal (tree-dwelling) snakes who eat fish are very rare. To date, Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences is the only aquarium in the world to have this species on display. Visitors to the Academy can find the snakes in the Water Planet exhibit. (Video filmed by Richard Ross.)

Marine animals, especially whales, are susceptible to noise in the ocean. Find out what one local group is doing to quiet it down.

NASA's WISE mission has just completed its first survey of the entire sky.

NOAA's Ned Gardiner describes satellite images that have been stitched together showing North America this past winter.

The first California Condor egg in 100 years is found in Pinnacles National Monument.

If you had a few seconds warning before a big earthquake hit, what would you do?

The Academy's Zeray Alemseged's recent discovery pushes human tool-use back over 800,000 years.

Jean-Michel Cousteau talks about Bush's designations of four Marine National Monuments.

The California Academy of Science’s Visualization Studio has worked with professional astronomers to create a planetarium show "trailer" for the NSF-funded Citizen Sky Project.  Narrated by renowned author and educator Timothy Ferris, the six-minute "Citizen Sky: Epsilon Aurigae" will play at select NightLife events at the Academy and will be made available at no cost to other planetariums nationwide.  Since not everyone can make it to the planetarium for a special showing, this HD version will allow you to enjoy the show at home.

An Academy scientist handles both female and male Zoropsis spinimana spiders.

In the new Morrison Planetarium’s second show, travel through time and space to experience the dramatic lives and deaths of stars. Witness brilliant supernova explosions, dive into the heart of the fiery Sun, and watch it transform into a red giant five billion years in the future. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, Journey to the Stars will help you discover the deep-rooted connection between humanity and the stars.

Journey to the Stars was developed by the American Museum of Natural History, New York in collaboration with the California Academy of Sciences as well as GOTO INC., Tokyo, Japan; Papalote Museo del Niño, Mexico City, Mexico; and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C. The show was created with the major support and partnership of NASA, Science Mission Directorate, Heliophysics Division.

In the new Morrison Planetarium’s second show, travel through time and space to experience the dramatic lives and deaths of stars. Witness brilliant supernova explosions, dive into the heart of the fiery Sun, and watch it transform into a red giant five billion years in the future. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, Journey to the Stars will help you discover the deep-rooted connection between humanity and the stars.

Journey to the Stars was developed by the American Museum of Natural History, New York in collaboration with the California Academy of Sciences as well as GOTO INC., Tokyo, Japan; Papalote Museo del Niño, Mexico City, Mexico; and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C. The show was created with the major support and partnership of NASA, Science Mission Directorate, Heliophysics Division.

The survival of sea turtles is threatened, but fortunately they have a champion. Academy Research Fellow, Wallace J Nichols is pursuing his lifelong passion to help save them for future generations. This is the fascinating story of how he turned one of their hunters into a valuable ally.

The Academy's inaugural show in the Morrison Planetarium is Fragile Planet. This 30-minute round trip to the outer reaches of the universe reveals how special Earth really is.

Visitors begin their voyage at the Academy, lift off through the atmosphere to gain an astronaut’s view of Earth, then travel to the Moon, Mars, and beyond to search for habitats that might host extraterrestrial life. Narrated by Sigourney Weaver and interwoven with talks by a live presenter, Fragile Planet will redefine your sense of "home." For more informaiton about show times, visit the Morrison Planetarium.

Google Earth announces its latest release at the California Academy of Sciences with Al Gore and Sylvia Earle talking about how to protect our Earth and oceans.

Academy Researcher, Marta Pola, talks about her love of colorful creatures called Nudibranchs.

The Academy's inaugural show in the Morrison Planetarium is Fragile Planet. This 30-minute round trip to the outer reaches of the universe reveals how special Earth really is.

Visitors begin their voyage at the Academy, lift off through the atmosphere to gain an astronaut’s view of Earth, then travel to the Moon, Mars, and beyond to search for habitats that might host extraterrestrial life. Narrated by Sigourney Weaver and interwoven with talks by a live presenter, Fragile Planet will redefine your sense of "home." For more informaiton about show times, visit the Morrison Planetarium.