If you have ever seen a hummingbird, you may have noticed the bright colors on its stomach or how it appears to change shades in the light. This is called Iridescence, and many animals have it. The change of color comes from how light is reflected off their bodies. But why do animals have this ability, and what makes it an evolutionary benefit?
You can take over 1,700 free university courses online now
So you want to upgrade your skills and know-how. Why not go straight to the experts? With Coursera, you can take free university courses online.
Here’s how you can take free Ivy League courses
Thanks to Coursera, you can learn from Ivy League universities. These eight universities are among the best in the world — and their expensive tuition reflects that. If you’ve ever wished you could learn from Harvard, Yale or Princeton professors, you’re in luck.
Did we mention it’s free? Plus, it’s easy to register for a class. Just sign up on Coursera. You can either use your name and email address or your Facebook account. Once logged on, you can search through the 1,700+ free classes available. There are more than 7,000 courses, but they are not all free.
Here are a few potential courses you can take:
You’ll watch pre-recorded videos, participate in activities and take quizzes, just as you would with any university class, whether you’re taking it online or in person. You can search for courses in the Coursera search tool or click Explore.
You can earn a certificate for some classes. Just think about how useful that will be if you seek a job promotion or funding for your startup company.
RELATED: 15 things you didn’t know you can get for free
Plus, you’re not on your own
You can interact with other students to get help with assignments or debate issues. That means you can connect with other pupils across the country. There are currently more than 50 humanities classes on Coursera, like:
This site shows how long it's been since every kind of natural disaster
How many days has humanity gone without its last major tsunami? What about since the previous cataclysmic volcanic eruption or significant gravitational disruption detected? Tap or click here to take advantage of Google disaster alerts.
1960s science fiction is here
Tech has come a long way since the 1960s. Here’s a quick recap, in one minute.
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NASA's Hubble Telescope just spotted the farthest star ever seen
Since our first interaction with space, NASA has come a long way. It’s installed astronauts year-round in space and developed technologically advanced equipment like the Hubble telescope to give us a deeper insight into the universe.
How to track the newly launched James Webb Space Telescope
If you celebrate Christmas, your favorite part was likely the delicious dinner someone in your family made or the piles of presents underneath the tree. But you may not have realized NASA was making history on Christmas day.
The science of love
Love is a complex and intricate emotion. We all yearn for love, but the pain can be overwhelming when it’s lost. While it’s true that it originates in the chemistry of our brains, can science honestly explain love? Does it involve more than just chemical reactions?
The future of particle accelerators
Particle accelerators have been in the news a lot in the last few years. The most famous one is the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. In this video, take a science deep dive into how particle accelerators will advance in the coming years and how that will play a role in the larger world of science.
Why do we find things cute?
Why do we find certain animals and other things adorable? There’s a complex science behind cuteness and how it affects our behavior and emotion. From baby animals to round, chubby faces, uncovering the evolutionary and psychological reasons why we find certain things cute is astounding.
The strongest magnets ever made by humans
Magnets can lift heavy objects and create strong electrical fields. They are truly a marvel of modern science and technology. But how strong can they get? Get ready to be amazed by the strength and capabilities of the strongest magnets humans have ever made.
Apple's science fiction is reality
Apple’s new second-generation AirPods Pro blow the previous model out of the water. In 60 seconds, here’s a look at the incredible tech behind them.
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Tesla robot is coming
Science fiction gave us high hopes for humanoid robots. Can Tesla’s Optimus robot live up to the hype? Here’s what you need to know, in 60 seconds.
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Science discoveries made in 2021 you didn’t hear about
In 2021, the news was dominated by COVID-19. All the new variants and vaccine rollouts seemed to blind most of us to other scientific discoveries throughout the year. So, here is a breakdown of some of the most remarkable findings you probably didn’t hear about.
Review: A kitchen gadget that turns tap water into 'wellness drinks'
Are you drinking enough water? No judgment here because I certainly don’t. It’s just boring, bland … just blah.
Go to any grocery store, and you’ll find endless rows of flavored drinks that are touted as healthy yet often come with at least some strings attached. But what if you could make your own drinks at home that were actually healthier than water?
Fall is coming! Use this map to see where the leaves are changing
The changing of seasons usually brings with it a beautiful display of colors. Going from winter to spring or summer to fall, the myriad of hues can transform the landscape overnight.
But few seasonal changes are as dramatic as when it shifts from summer into the bright yellows, oranges and reds of fall. It can be a spectacle to behold, and many people travel around the country to see it up close. Tap or click here for seven travel hacks to save you time and money on your next trip.
Royal Marines using jet suits to board a ship
Jet packs used to be just a thing in science fiction movies. But they have finally become a reality. The British military is trying out these amazing pieces of tech to board ships, and seeing them in action is truly amazing.
How to become an Instagram star
Can anyone become an Instagram influencer? That’s the question HBO’s new documentary posed. Really, it was more of a science experiment. Here’s what they found.
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BPMs scariest Halloween movies
With Halloween only a week away, let’s use a little “over the counter science” to find the scariest films. Spooky!
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SpaceX historic launch set for liftoff - here's how to watch
We’ve reached a pivotal point in the history of manned spaceflight: Private industry making its way to the stars. For the first time, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon craft will take human passengers to the International Space Station, and the world is waiting with bated breath to see if Elon Musk’s company is up to the task.
Pick from thousands of free documentaries to watch on this site
You’ve binge-watched the latest seasons of “Ozark” and “Westworld.”
Now you’re looking for something new but still can’t bring yourself to check out the new Netflix reality TV show “Too Hot to Handle.” Instead of diving into the shallow end of the streaming show pool, how about watching something a little more interesting instead?