menu
Sections
News
Investigations
Politics
Health
Tech
Science
Pop Culture
Business
Latino
Asian America
TV
Nightly News
Meet the Press
Dateline
TODAY
Top storylines
Iraq Turmoil
West Bank Kidnappings
Ukraine Crisis
Featured
30 seconds to know
Art of the Startup
Show Me
Nerdwatch
First Read
Flashback
Ann Curry
Maria Shriver
Multimedia
Video
Photo
Top Stories
How NBC News Freelancer Survived Ebola
A Good Fight: Detroit Boxing Gym Gets Kids Off Streets
Watch Live: Canadian Prime Minister Addresses Nation
Chaos: Soldier Killed in Canadian Capital Shooting
More from NBC
Local News
Weather
Sports
CNBC
MSNBC.COM
NBC.COM
Breaking News
In Plain Sight
NBC Learn
RE/CODE
Peacock Productions
Next Step for Vets
Parent Toolkit
nbcnews
home
latest
search
30 seconds to know
30 seconds to know
1 days
PLAY VIDEO
What Makes a Storm a Nor'easter?
Bill Karins
A nor'easter is a low-pressure storm that usually develop between Georgia and New Jersey.
30 seconds to know
5 days
ISIS Propaganda Video via FBI
PLAY VIDEO
Who Is ISIS Trying to Reach With Beheading Videos?
RAND's Brian Michael Jenkins explains that the aim of beheadings by ISIS is not just to shock the West.
30 seconds to know
7 days
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images
FROM NBC Sports
Hockey Is Back: What's a Penalty Kill?
NHL has many rules in place to prevent illegal plays, one being the penalty kill.
30 seconds to know
8 days
Shannan Bowen / AP
PLAY VIDEO
What Time Do Tornadoes Tend to Strike?
Bill Karins
Tornadoes tend to strike during a certain period of the day. But why?
30 seconds to know
12 days
Don Farrall / Getty Images
PLAY VIDEO
Listen Up: How Do Phone Apps Recognize Songs?
Julianne Pepitone
An app like Shazam is able to identify what song is playing around you in a matter of seconds. It works through a process called audio fingerprinting.
30 seconds to know
170 days
Courtesy of Xerox
Advertiser content by Xerox
Xerox Uses Big Data to Improve Transportation
Xerox
When you take a train, bus, or subway, do you ever imagine the complexity of data being generated by riders every minute of every day?
30 seconds to know
14 days
Joe Raedle / Getty Images file
PLAY VIDEO
College Prep: How Are the SATs and ACTs Different?
Rehema Ellis
The ACT and the SAT are both standardized tests that help colleges evaluate students and are accepted by all schools. So what sets the exams apart?
30 seconds to know
15 days
Brian Blanco / Getty Images
FROM NBC Sports
Why Are Female Players Suing FIFA?
NBCSports.com's Jeff Kassouf explains why FIFA is being sued by a group of players.
30 seconds to know
20 days
Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images
FROM NBC Sports
How Does NASCAR's Contender Round Work?
NASCAR America Analyst Kyle Petty talks the contender round, where 12 drivers enter and only eight advance.
30 seconds to know
23 days
Alex Wong / Getty Images file
PLAY VIDEO
Classroom Controversy: What Is Common Core, Anyway?
Rehema Ellis
The Common Core has been at the center of controversy at many school districts. But what exactly does this new academic standard mean for students?
30 seconds to know
23 days
Oliver Berg / Oliver Berg/picture-alliance/dpa
FROM CNBC.com
What Is Phishing?
NBC News Senior Tech Writer Julianne Pepitone explains what email phishing is and how to avoid falling prey to cyberhackers.
30 seconds to know
24 days
David Poller / Zuma Press, file
PLAY VIDEO
In Session: Will the Supreme Court Rule on Gay Marriage?
Miranda Leitsinger
The Supreme Court is coming back to a busy docket with several cases on same-sex marriage bans expected to draw the nation's attention.
30 seconds to know
26 days
BSIP / UIG via Getty Images file
PLAY VIDEO
What's the World's Deadliest Virus?
Maggie Fox
Ebola is getting a lot of coverage, but there's another disease that has claimed many more lives.
30 seconds to know
28 days
Jonathan Sanger / NBC News
PLAY VIDEO
What Does My LinkedIn Profile Need to Say?
Lou Dubois
Some minor tweaks to your LinkedIn profile might just help you land that next big gig.
30 seconds to know
31 days
NASA via AP file
PLAY VIDEO
Know Your Solar System: Why Is Mars Red?
Columbia University Astrophysicist Summer Ash explains how Mars got its red color.
30 seconds to know
33 days
Mike Blake / REUTERS file
PLAY VIDEO
How Do You Measure the Earth's Temperature?
University of Michigan Professor Paul Edwards explains the science behind the term "global temperature."
30 seconds to know
33 days
Mirko Stange/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
FROM NBC Sports
How Does an F1 Steering Wheel Work?
Drivers use their feet for gas and brakes, and their hands for everything else on the complex F1 steering wheel.
30 seconds to know
34 days
LARRY DOWNING / Reuters
PLAY VIDEO
Know Your Military: What Is CENTCOM?
RAND Senior Political Scientist Christopher Chivvis explains what CENTCOM does.
30 seconds to know
37 days
CARLOS ROBALO / EPA
PLAY VIDEO
What's the Difference Between Hurricanes and Typhoons?
Bill Karins
NBC News Meteorologist Bill Karins clears up the difference between hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones.
30 seconds to know
42 days
Apple
PLAY VIDEO
So How Does Apple Pay Work?
Julianne Pepitone
Apple’s mobile payment system uses a wireless technology that can securely send card information to a store’s special reader.
Apple Launch
19 of 32
43 days
Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP
PLAY VIDEO
About Time: So What Can the Apple Watch Do?
Julianne Pepitone
Apple has entered the smartwatch market with a new wearable device.
30 seconds to know
43 days
DAVID J. PHILLIP / AP file
PLAY VIDEO
Who's Allowed to Witness Inmate Executions?
Death Penalty Information Center Executive Director Richard Dieter explains who typically witnesses an execution of an inmate.
30 seconds to know
43 days
Jim McIsaac / Getty Images
FROM NBC Sports
Why Will the Mets Pay an Ex-Player for Another 20 Years?
Although former outfielder Bobby Bonilla hasn’t played with the New York Mets since 1999, they’ll be paying him millions until 2035. But why?
30 seconds to know
49 days
DARIO LOPEZ-MILLS / AP file
PLAY VIDEO
Religion 101: Can Students Pray in the Classroom?
Rehema Ellis
NBC News Education Correspondent Rehema Ellis clears up some of the rules of religion in public schools.
30 seconds to know
50 days
Handout / Getty Images
FROM MSNBC.COM
What Are the Most Dangerous Countries for Journalists?
Courtney Radsch, advocacy director for the Committee to Protect Journalists, talks about the dangers facing journalists around the world.