Follow Kentucky Through Geologic Time

This interactive shows the location of Kentucky through different geological eras of time.

Allopatric Speciation

These images from the Smithsonian Institution depict Nancy Knowlton's work with snapping shrimp in Panama. Knowlton found that the closing of the isthmus -- dividing the Pacific Ocean from the Caribbean -- resulted in new species of shrimp.

Animal Body Plans: Homeobox Genes

The homeobox genes that define the basic body plan of mice and fruit flies are illustrated in this graphic from The Human Evolution Coloring Book by Adrienne Zihlman. The accompanying article describes how these genes act as "molecular architects" in all animal species.

Accessibility features: Long Description

Are We Alone?

This video segment adapted from NOVA features a variety of scientific perspectives on the age old question, "Are we alone in the universe?" Animations make vivid the improbability that we could intercept a radio wave signaling extra terrestrial intelligence.

Accessibility features: Audio Description, Caption

Becoming a Fossil

This video segment describes how the Australopithecus afarensis skeleton known as Lucy could have been fossilized. Footage courtesy of NOVA: "In Search of Human Origins."

Accessibility features: Audio Description, Caption, Transcript

Caves: Extreme Conditions for Life

This video segment adapted from NOVA raises the provocative idea that if life can exist in the most extreme environments on Earth — such as in dark, toxic caves — then perhaps living things can also survive in harsh environments on other planets.

Accessibility features: Audio Description, Caption

Comets Bombard the Early Earth

Visualize how comets carrying chemicals necessary for life could have made their way to Earth billions of years ago in this video segment adapted from NOVA.

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Comets Deliver Amino Acids to Earth

Amino acids, essential ingredients for life, may have been delivered to Earth by comets billions of years ago, as visualized in this video segment adapted from NOVA.

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Continental Divide: The Breakup of Pangaea

Examine geological evidence found in fossils, rock deposits, and ancient mountains that supports the theory of continental drift in this interactive activity adapted from the Exploratorium.

Convergence: Marsupials and Placentals

This graphic illustrates some of the marsupial mammals in Australia and placental mammals in North America. Even though they are not closely related, these mammals look alike because they have adapted to similar ecological roles. From The Human Evolution Coloring Book by by Adrienne Zihlman.

Deep Sea Vents and Life's Origins

Deep-sea vents are home to strange, luminescent life forms that thrive through chemosynthesis. This video segment from NOVA: "Volcanoes of the Deep" hypothesizes life's beginnings in this extreme environment.

Accessibility features: Audio Description, Caption, Transcript

Deep Time

Explore 4 billion years of life on Earth and discover major transformations, geological changes, and extinction episodes in this Evolution Web feature.

Deep Time

Students learn about deep time by visiting an interactive Web timeline, comparing geologic time periods to the calendar year, and setting up a live-action timeline in the classroom.

Dinosaurs

This video segment from IdahoPTV's D4K shows us what paleontologists think dinosaurs looked like, what they ate, and why they might have disappeared. We see paleontologists at work studying dinosaurs fossils.

Accessibility features: Caption, Transcript

Evolution on Double Time

This excerpt from Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea by Carl Zimmer describes how gene duplication may have been the key to the rapid evolution of the early stages of life on Earth.

The Falls of the Ohio

This video from KET examines one of the largest exposed fossil beds in the world, found at the Falls of the Ohio River, near Louisville, Kentucky.

Finding Lucy

This Evolution video segment depicts the landmark hominid fossil finds by Don Johanson and his team in Ethiopia.

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Fish with Fingers

In this video segment from Evolution: "Great Transformations," paleontologist Jenny Clack explains that vertebrates evolved fingers before they invaded land.

Accessibility features: Audio Description, Caption, Transcript

The Fossil Evidence for Evolution

Students learn about the fossil record, one form of evidence for evolution.

Fossils

This video segment from IdahoPTV's D4K explains how fossils are formed, discusses the Hagerman Horse fossil found in Idaho. It describes the tools Paleontologists use and why they study fossils.

Accessibility features: Caption, Transcript