Video Collections

Recent advances in molecular genetics are radically changing ideasabout the appearance of primates and the subsequent branching off of the major lineages. Previously, it was thought primates first appeared some 65 million years ago; now experts are proposing dates as far back as 80-90 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. The hazy image of our lineage provided by the fossil record is now coming into focus thanks to new molecular analytical techniques; researchers now have whole genome sequences representing at least one member of each major lineages and whole mitochondrial lineages of nearly every genus in the order Primates.

California Academy Scientist Mart Pola Perez has made studying these gorgeous creatures of the sea her life's work.

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

Pam Schaller, Senior Aquatic Biologist at the California Academy of Sciences, discusses the Penguins at the Academy and her close relationship with them.

Dr. Frank Schwing, Director of the Environmental Research Division for the Southwest Fisheries Science Center of NOAA Fisheries Service, presents "Climate Change in California Coastal Waters: Economic, Social and Intrinsic Impacts on Our Marine Ecosystem."His lecture explores research-based trends in climate change and how the California coast is being impacted.  Topics include global temperature trends, Co2 and ocean acidification, projected sea level rise, global streamflow projections, and projected impact on fisheries and socio-economics.

World-renowned artist Maya Lin discusses the evolution of her final memorial project, What is Missing?, which debuted at the California Academy of Sciences on September 17.

The memorial is dedicated to raising awareness about the crisis surrounding biodiversity and habitat loss. This permanent sculpture at the Academy is the international debut of a multi-sited multimedia work that will exist both physically and virtually.

The work, along with Lin's other sculpture at the California Academy of Sciences, Where the Land Meets the Sea, was commissioned by the San Francisco Arts Commission and reflects the Academy's drive to explore, explain and protect the natural world.

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.

Can climate change cause sheep to shrink? Scientists studying wild flocks on a remote island near Scotland have discovered that warmer winters make for smaller sheep.

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.

San Francisco physician Dr. Jane Hightower is acknowledged by many to be the first doctor in the United States to recognize low-level mercury poisoning in patients who regularly ate certain kinds of fish. Hear firsthand about competing interests, varying government standards, and what it took to get high levels of mercury in the blood seen as a problem.

In his Pritzker Lecture, Dr. Bernie Krause, creator of Wild Sanctuary, demonstrates that every living organism produces sound. This presentation focuses on the symbiotic ways in which the sounds of one organism affect and interrelate with other organisms, local and regional, within a given habitat. Learn about unusual soundscapes and their relevance to preserving natural sounds worldwide. Biophony -- the notion that all sounds in undisturbed natural habitats fit into unique niches -- will be used to illustrate the ways in which animals taught humans to dance and sing.

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

The recent activity of Eyjafjallajökull helps us understand the effects of ash and wind after a volcanic eruption.

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

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

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.)

Anaconda feeding in the Academy Rainforest exhibit.

The Careers in Science Interns Project presents "Climate Change & Extinctions" with Dr. Peter Roopnarine.

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.

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.

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

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

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

A year after the 2007 Cosco Busan oil spill, we take a look at clean up efforts

The Hubble Telescope's latest image shows 13 billion-year-old infant (and still forming) galaxies.

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

California Academy of Sciences researcher Healy Hamilton goes sleuthing for seahorses and their kin in New Caledonia.

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

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

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

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.

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

Researchers at UC Berkeley have developed a microscope that fits on your cell phone.

Are facial expressions learned or innate?

A short clip of alligator snapping turtles (Macrochelys temminckii) feeding on fish. This large, fresh-water turtle species is native to North America.

Marine ecologist Scott Benson discusses the Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) population along the California coast. Learn about Leatherback turtles in coastal central California and their origins in the remote beaches of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

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.

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

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

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

Our biologist, Nancy Levine, provides a close-up encounter with our giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini).

Researchers at UCSF School of Pharmacy are making amazing images with E. coli bacteria.

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

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

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.

Botany curatorial assistant, Emily Magnaghi, demonstrates how to preserve plant specimens for scientific research in this instructional video.

From public health, to forensics, to conservation, Dr. David Mindell discusses the broad applications of evolutionary science in his recent book, The Evolving World.

Learn how evolution has grown from an unpopular curiosity to a set of invaluable tools.

On October 9, 2009, the LCROSS Mission will be investigating the possibility of water on the moon by measuring the debris caused by the rocket crashing into the surface of the moon for water ice. The project relies heavily on worldwide citizen science efforts. Water is an incredible resource, a key component to for the colonization of space, and is also an important source to help us undersatnd the evolution of the universe.

Why not use micro-organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungus, etc.) to create sustainable energy and fuel? There are a lot of ideas currently being researched and put to use including turning cow manure into natural gas.

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.

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.

Hairdresser Phil McCrory had an idea twenty years ago while watching news footage of the clean-up of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Human hair absorbs oil naturally, why not in large oil spills? Hair mats and hair booms were created and continue to find their way to oil spill clean-ups around the world, in large part thanks to Matter of Trust and its founder, Lisa Gautier.

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

Brian Fisher's passion for ants takes him all over the world, especially Madagascar. He continues to go back because he keeps finding new species.

Our Dive Safety Officer, Dave Chan, takes us on a behind the scenes look at the Academy's dive locker and equipment, as well as a description to how our aquatic biologists prepare for their daily dives in our Philippine Coral Reef tank.

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.  

Click here for information on our new exhibit Built for Speed, open now through Sept 29, 2013.

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

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

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

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

Academy researchers explain why Sao Tome and Principe are so special.

Ants may be tiny, but they play a huge role in their ecosystems. In fact, biologists estimate that the collective weight of all the ants on Earth is equal to the weight of all humans.

In this talk, Dr. Brian Fisher describes the unique behaviors and incredible adaptations of our planet's most charismatic small animals. See how ants farm, hunt and tend "herds of livestock." Learn how primitive Dracula ants feed on their sisters' blood.

Watch the fastest recorded movement of any animal -- a feisty ant with lightning-quick jaws that Dr. Fisher filmed with one of the world's most advanced high-speed cameras. You'll also learn about Dr. Fisher's conservation efforts in Madagascar and gain new respect for our smallest neighbors.

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

Native to South America, Anacondas are large, venomous boa constrictors that kill their prey by strangulation.

Academy video whiz, Ty Audronis, created a new home page animation to promote our upcoming special exhibition, "Extreme Mammals" (April 3 - September 12, 2010), using only stop motion photography. Find out how he did it.

What led California Academy of Sciences' herpetologist Jens Vindum to Myanmar? Find out.

Comparing the differences in the Y chromosomes in chimps and humans has created quite a buzz.

What happened when LCROSS deliberately crashed into the moon?

More than half of Darwin's book, The Voyage of the Beagle, treats southern South America. From 1832-1835, Charles Darwin traveled extensively in the Pampas and Patagonia.

For his Pritzker Lecture, Dr. Williams presents a natural history of the region based on his own four travel excursions over two decades following Darwin's travels more than a century and a half later.

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

A video about the development of the Academy's "Evolution Statement," by Careers In Sciences interns.

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

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

Who says the Academy Awards are only about Hollywood actors? We think our stars here at the California Academy of Sciences are pretty special too, and they deserve their own award ceremony. Here are the results for Best Visual Effects.

What is wave energy and how does it work?