TGC – 12 Revolutionary Discoveries That Could Change Everything

We might think of science as a linear process—something is discovered, and that discovery leads to new developments—yet new insights occasionally contradict previous beliefs and send us in new directions. Indeed, the "discoveries that could change everything" are so important because of the way they turn conventional wisdom on its head, expanding our knowledge or helping us experience the world with even greater depths.
Now, you have the chance to dig into 12 of the most fascinating and important scientific advancements and paradigm shifts in recent years. Unexpected, consequential, and often counterintuitive, 12 Revolutionary Discoveries That Could Change Everything offers an inspiring introduction to science in the 21st century. Taught by Scientific American editor in chief Laura Helmuth, these 12 eye-opening lectures will satiate even the most inquisitive mind.
Laura sets the stage with what we used to know—for example, how the solar system was formed, how exercise promoted weight loss, or what dinosaurs may have looked like. She then surveys recent scientific literature to challenge our understanding of the world. Along the way, you'll meet researchers from around the world, ranging from leaders in their fields to graduate students seeking to make their mark to ordinary naturalists with extraordinary abilities. From the chemical makeup of ocean particles to the way the brain perceives the world, Laura takes you into the fields of neuroscience, botany, paleontology, oceanography, astrophysics, and much more.
What do textiles have to do with Viking conquests? What does quantum theory have to do with bird migrations? Can you really learn in your sleep? Rich in stories that will please scientists and laypeople alike, 12 Revolutionary Discoveries That Could Change Everything is an intellectual smorgasbord of scientific disciplines.
Dig into Unconventional Facts about Our Lives
One theme running through these revolutionary breakthroughs is the potential to optimize human life. For example, Laura digs into whether it's possible to learn while we're sleeping—something that was the stuff of science fiction in previous generations. As it turns out, sleep learning might be possible.
In another lesson, she explores the domain of weight loss and shares how anthropologists analyzed the calorie intake of certain hunter-gatherer populations to assess how physical activity correlates with how many calories we burn. The results are counterintuitive but offer potentially new directions for research into well-being.
After the 2020 pandemic, we're now familiar with messenger RNA technology, but did you know this research has been going on for decades? Even more interesting, the technology has possibilities beyond respiratory vaccines—revolutionizing the field of infectious disease at large.
Explore Hidden Wonders of the World—and Universe
While science offers numerous avenues for self-optimization, curiosity about the world is a fundamental building block of any scientific mind. Laura takes you into surprising developments that are helping us better understand the world.
You'll get the chance to explore
The mystery of bioluminescence across the world's oceans at night;
What DNA analysis reveals about the true color of dinosaurs;
The enigmatic nature of lichen, which is neither fungus nor alga but something in-between;
The secrets of the magnetic field and its relationship to bird brains and more.
With vivid imagery and clear explanations, Laura helps you walk in the footsteps of the scientists, naturalists, explorers, and poets who are explaining our modern world.
In this course, you'll not only gain a new appreciation for the world, but also for the wonders of the cosmos at large, starting with the inner workings of our brains. How does the mind actually work? Do we start with a blank slate and build on our perceptions, or does the mind self-organize through some underlying mechanism?
After tackling the secrets of the brain, you'll turn to one of the most captivating phenomena in the universe: black holes. What's beyond the event horizon, where even light cannot escape? The story of the grandest cosmos requires understanding the tiniest quantum particles, and you experience it all throughout this course, from the trauma baked into our genes to the collisions that started the solar system.
Carefully Curated, Consistently Satisfying
As the editor in chief of Scientific American magazine, Laura is constantly amazed by the breadth of modern scientific achievement. Through this course, she shares a smattering of what's possible thanks to human ingenuity and good old-fashioned curiosity.
Start your scientific journey today with 12 Revolutionary Discoveries That Could Change Everything. Because the universe is a marvelous place—and the paradigm shifts of the 21st century make it even more intriguing.
What Will You Learn?
Get to know the world through scientific discoveries
Explore the human body and mind
Discover our latest understanding of the world around us
Experience the wonders of science, from quantum theory to cosmic creation
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