Get a free trial until June 30, 2026!
New members get full access to our science units, hands-on activities, mini-lessons, & more!

New members get a full, free trial through June 2026!

Mini-lessons

Slide Image
This mineral, called pyrite, is also known as “fool’s gold.” But this one only contains small crystals...
5
Here are some giant pyrite crystals! This is their natural shape --this is how they were found!
5
This rainbow-colored mineral, called bismuth, is one of the ingredients used in medicines that help an upset stomach!
4
Some minerals, like tourmaline, have more than one color. This kind of tourmaline even has a special name... guess!
3
It’s called watermelon tourmaline! This is a piece that's been sliced sideways so that you can see it better.
3
These reddish-colored crystals are a mineral called crocoite. They look beautiful, but they're highly toxic!
2
Some crystals form INSIDE of rock, and can only be found by breaking the rock open…
1
This is a type of opal called "fire opal." See how it looks when you shine a bright light on it... (go to the next slide!)
1
When the light shines just right on it, this piece of fire opal looks like it contains a miniature sky with clouds at sunset!
1
Slide Image

Voting for this episode is now closed. Would you like to vote on the most recent poll?

We pulled three questions from our jar. Which question do you want to explore?

Illustration of a glass jar with a 'questionmark' label
  • What makes some candy sour?

    -Adalynn, 3rd Grade

  • Do all flowers smell good?

    -Jasper, 1st Grade

  • What is slime mold?

    -Chelsea, 3rd Grade

Is the video not playing properly?

Please follow these steps:

  1. Very rarely a video will fail to completely load in your browser. Try to reload this page to see if that fixes the problem.
  2. If reloading does not help, try our other video player .
  3. If the video still fails to play, open this video in a new tab and please let us know you’re having trouble. We want to fix this issue for you.

How are diamonds made?

Watch the video to discover the answer and don't forget to vote for next week's question. There are mysteries all around us. Have fun and stay curious!