Aquarium Makers

Specializing in saltwater aquariums, Nic Tiemens and Joe Pineda love the challenge of recreating a slice of the ocean indoors. Day in and day out, they use volume calculations, temperature, measurement and science to create these beautiful habitats.

Communications Satellites

It takes a sophisticated network of hundreds of communication satellites orbiting the earth to connect the dots of the global economy. It’s a field that relies on everything from variables to patterns and measurement to space science. Running time 02:43 minutes

First One in the Ballpark

Determining who is the best athlete on the field is hardly a matter of opinion. Sports reporters stay ahead of the competition by arriving early and keeping a close watch on statistics.

Revisiting the Moon

Evidence suggests there may be deposits of ice within craters at the poles of the moon. If this proves to be the case, Planetary Scientist Dr. Paul Spudis says it could possibly be “the most valuable piece of real estate in the solar system.” Find out why

Roller Coasters

The heart-pumping exhilaration keeps us coming back time and time again, but it’s the laws of the physics and a great deal of math that keep these thrill rides soaring through the air day after day.

Saving the Bald Eagle

Our national bird is back in the lower 48 states after nearly disappearing in the 60's and 70's. Robert Mesta, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, explains what it takes to recover a species like the bald eagle, and demonstrates his use of math.

Statistics in Farming

There are over 2.1 million farms in the U.S., totaling over 900 million acres. And those millions of harvests producing food; they’re also producing data--a lot of data! That’s where statisticians like Sarah Hoffman and Jackie Brown of the USDA come in.

The Lundberg Farms

From planting the seeds to harvesting, and everything in between, Bryce Lundberg takes students through the process of growing one of our most important staples: rice. He depends on his algebra skills in what he does.

The Starshade

Is there life on planets in other star systems? It's a very old question. But finding the answer may get simpler with a new invention by astrophysicist, professor and inventor Webster Cash.

The Surface of Mars

Currently the worldwide collection of Mars rocks totals exactly 37. They've come to us over the eons as meteorites. Molly McCanta’s job is to better understand the geological history of the red planet with only 37 samples to work from.

Windsails

Sailing the ocean no longer requires triple-masted schooners-in fact you can do it on a vessel no larger than a surfboard. What's the secret to designing a windsail that can skim the surface of the sea at 20 miles an hour, yet respond instantly to a sail?