TED Talks
Season 2019
TV-PG
Series of talks about technology, entertainment, and design.
Where to Watch TED Talks • Season 2019
300 Episodes
- Jan Rader: In the opioid crisis, here's what it takes to save a life
E1Jan Rader: In the opioid crisis, here's what it takes to save a lifeAs a fire chief and first responder, Jan Rader has spent her career saving lives. But when the opioid epidemic hit her town, she realized they needed to take a brand-new approach to life-saving. In this powerful, hopeful talk, Rader shows what it's like on the front lines of this crisis -- and how her community is taking an unusual new approach to treating substance-abuse disorder that starts with listening. - Elizabeth Lyle: How to break bad management habits before they reach the next generation of leaders
E2Elizabeth Lyle: How to break bad management habits before they reach the next generation of leadersCompanies are counting on their future leaders to manage with more speed, flexibility and trust than ever before. But how can middle managers climb the corporate ladder while also challenging the way things have always been done? Leadership expert Elizabeth Lyle offers a new approach to breaking the rules while you're on your way up, sharing creative ways organizations can give middle managers the space and coaching they need to start leading differently. - Lýdia Machová: The secrets of learning a new language
E3Lýdia Machová: The secrets of learning a new languageWant to learn a new language but feel daunted or unsure where to begin? You don't need some special talent or a "language gene," says Lýdia Machová. In an upbeat, inspiring talk, she reveals the secrets of polyglots (people who speak multiple languages) and shares four principles to help unlock your own hidden language talent -- and have fun while doing it. - Paula Stone Williams and Jonathan Williams: The story of a parent's transition and a son's redemption
E4Paula Stone Williams and Jonathan Williams: The story of a parent's transition and a son's redemptionPaula Stone Williams knew from a young age that she was transgender. But as she became a parent and prominent evangelical pastor, she feared that coming out would mean losing everything. In this moving, deeply personal talk, Paula and her son Jonathan Williams share what Paula's transition meant for their family -- and reflect on their path to redemption. As Jonathan says: "I cannot ask my father to be anything other than her true self." - Martin Danoesastro: What are you willing to give up to change the way we work?
E5Martin Danoesastro: What are you willing to give up to change the way we work?What does it take to build the fast, flexible, creative teams needed to challenge entrenched work culture? For transformation expert Martin Danoesastro, it all starts with one question: "What are you willing to give up?" He shares lessons learned from companies on both sides of the innovation wave on how to structure your organization so that people at all levels are empowered to make decisions fast and respond to change. - Chiki Sarkar: How India's smartphone revolution is creating a new generation of readers and writers
E6Chiki Sarkar: How India's smartphone revolution is creating a new generation of readers and writersIndia has the second largest population of any country in the world -- yet it has only 50 decent bookstores, says publisher Chiki Sarkar. So she asked herself: How do we get more people reading books? Find out how Sarkar is tapping into India's smartphone revolution to create a new generation of readers and writers in this fun talk about a fresh kind of storytelling. - Renzo Vitale: What should electric cars sound like?
E7Renzo Vitale: What should electric cars sound like?Electric cars are extremely quiet, offering some welcome silence in our cities. But they also bring new dangers, since they can easily sneak up on unsuspecting pedestrians. What kind of sounds should they make to keep people safe? Get a preview of what the future may sound like as acoustic engineer and musician Renzo Vitale shows how he's composing a voice for electric cars. - Karissa Sanbonmatsu: The biology of gender, from DNA to the brain
E8Karissa Sanbonmatsu: The biology of gender, from DNA to the brainHow exactly does gender work? It's not just about our chromosomes, says biologist Karissa Sanbonmatsu. In a visionary talk, she shares new discoveries from epigenetics, the emerging study of how DNA activity can permanently change based on social factors like trauma or diet. Learn how life experiences shape the way genes are expressed -- and what that means for our understanding of gender. - Shohini Ghose: A beginner's guide to quantum computing
E9Shohini Ghose: A beginner's guide to quantum computingA quantum computer isn't just a more powerful version of the computers we use today; it's something else entirely, based on emerging scientific understanding -- and more than a bit of uncertainty. Enter the quantum wonderland with TED Fellow Shohini Ghose and learn how this technology holds the potential to transform medicine, create unbreakable encryption and even teleport information. - Gunjan Bhardwaj: How blockchain and AI can help us decipher medicine's big data
E10Gunjan Bhardwaj: How blockchain and AI can help us decipher medicine's big dataWhen diagnosed with a disease, it's often overwhelming to sort through mountains of medical data to figure out what therapies are available, pinpoint where they're offered and identify the best experts to help. Complexity specialist Gunjan Bhardwaj recognizes that mining this information may best be done using a system of artificial intelligence and blockchain to help people, within and outside the medical field, navigate and comprehend such "deep, dense and diverse" data — entering a new era where all research is searchable and shareable. - Deutsche Philharmonie Merck: "Part II. The Journey Through Time" / "Ruslan and Lyudmila"
E11Deutsche Philharmonie Merck: "Part II. The Journey Through Time" / "Ruslan and Lyudmila"Composed by its conductor, Ben Palmer in 2018, the Deutsche Philharmonie Merck performs "Part II. The Journey Through Time" to celebrate the 350th anniversary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. This is followed by a second piece by Mikhail Glinka, "Ruslan and Lyudmila," an overture based on a poem by Pushkin, providing a contemplative melody with toiling bravado, soaring strings and notes of inspiration — which one could imagine as the sounds of a working mind struck by brilliance. - Boris Hesser: A grassroots healthcare revolution in Africa
E12Boris Hesser: A grassroots healthcare revolution in AfricaHalf the world's population doesn't have access to basic health care. The answer to bridging this divide lies in pharmacies, which Boris A. Hesser believes can be developed into bonafide centers of community care. In this forward-thinking talk, Hesser explains how he and his team are working to bring affordable health care to everyone, everywhere. - Vikas Jaitely: How we can fight antibiotic-resistant superbugs with a new class of vaccines
E13Vikas Jaitely: How we can fight antibiotic-resistant superbugs with a new class of vaccinesThe alarming rise of "superbugs" could claim up to 10 million lives globally by 2050 due to their unique ability to resist antibiotics. However, pharmacist Vikas Jaitely is researching ways we can battle these drug-resistant bacteria — by studying how they evolve in order to create more effective treatments and vaccines. - Sarah Klein: The possibilities of human-centric lighting
E15Sarah Klein: The possibilities of human-centric lightingLighting, which is often selected based on installation costs, can actually help us improve how we work, help with jetlag, and even improve our sleep. Researcher Sarah Klein believes we need to think of light differently — not just as illumination, but as a tool for our emotional and biological well-being. - Doreen Koenning: Can sharks help us fight cancer?
E16Doreen Koenning: Can sharks help us fight cancer?Medicine made from human antibodies help us battle cancer and other diseases — but they blend into our immune system so well, it's difficult to track their side effects. Shark antibodies, by contrast, stand out like a sore thumb. Antibody researcher Doreen Koenning has dedicated her career to studying how these proteins could become a valuable tool in clinical drug trials — and potentially create a new breed of treatment in the fight against cancer. - Daniel Sherling: How we use a shipping container to spark scientific curiosity
E17Daniel Sherling: How we use a shipping container to spark scientific curiosity"How can students get excited about science if they don't have access to the resources?" asks science education promoter Daniel Sherling. Answer? Bring the fun science to schools — with a mobile science lab meant to encourage engaged, dynamic learning! Sherling explains how he, his team and a bright yellow shipping container tour North America with a single goal: to spark curiosity in the next generation of scientists. - Kathy Vinokurov: Challenging the perception of belonging
E18Kathy Vinokurov: Challenging the perception of belongingWhat happens when you're Russian, grow up in Israel and work for an international pharmaceutical company in Germany? You end up with a multinational background that may be difficult for your peers to understand or relate to on a personal level. Materials scientist Kathy Vinokurov believes that we can break down these cultural barriers — using something as simple as a homemade cake. - Scott Williams: The impact of a TED Talk -- one year later
E20Scott Williams: The impact of a TED Talk -- one year laterIn 2017, Scott Williams highlighted the invaluable role of informal caregivers within society on the TED@Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany stage. Since then, over a million have seen his talk. Williams joins curator Bruno Giussani to discuss the influence of his talk both within Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and on the general public. - Monique W. Morris: Why black girls are targeted for punishment at school -- and how to change that
E21Monique W. Morris: Why black girls are targeted for punishment at school -- and how to change thatAround the world, black girls are being pushed out of schools because of policies that target them for punishment, says author and social justice scholar Monique W. Morris. The result: countless girls are forced into unsafe futures with restricted opportunities. How can we put an end to this crisis? In an impassioned talk, Morris uncovers the causes of "pushout" and shows how we can work to turn all schools into spaces where black girls can heal and thrive. - Katharine Wilkinson: How empowering women and girls can help stop global warming
E22Katharine Wilkinson: How empowering women and girls can help stop global warmingIf we really want to address climate change, we need to make gender equity a reality, says writer and environmentalist Katharine Wilkinson. As part of Project Drawdown, Wilkinson has helped scour humanity's wisdom for solutions to draw down heat-trapping, climate-changing emissions: obvious things like renewable energy and sustainable diets and not so obvious ones, like the education and empowerment of women. In this informative, bold talk, she shares three key ways that equity for women and girls can help stop global warming. "Drawing down emissions depends on rising up," Wilkinson says. - Casey Gerald: Embrace your raw, strange magic
E23Casey Gerald: Embrace your raw, strange magicThe way we're taught to live has got to change, says author Casey Gerald. Too often, we hide parts of ourselves in order to fit in, win praise, be accepted. But at what cost? In this inspiring talk, Gerald shares the personal sacrifices he made to attain success in the upper echelons of American society -- and shows why it's time for us to have the courage to live in the raw, strange magic of ourselves. - Akash Manoj: A life-saving device that detects silent heart attacks
E24Akash Manoj: A life-saving device that detects silent heart attacksYou probably know the common symptoms of a heart attack: chest and arm pain, shortness of breath and fatigue. But there's another kind that's just as deadly and harder to detect because the symptoms are silent. In this quick talk, 17-year-old inventor Akash Manoj shares the device he's developed to stop this silent killer: a noninvasive, inexpensive, wearable patch that alerts patients during a critical moment that could mean the difference between life and death. - LADAMA: How music crosses cultures and empowers communities
E25LADAMA: How music crosses cultures and empowers communitiesSinging in Spanish, Portuguese and English, LADAMA brings a vibrant, energizing and utterly danceable musical set to the TED stage. In between performances of their songs "Night Traveler" and "Porro Maracatu," they discuss how cross-cultural musical collaboration can empower communities. - Cecile Richards: The political progress women have made -- and what's next
E26Cecile Richards: The political progress women have made -- and what's nextWomen have made enormous progress over the last century -- challenging the status quo, busting old taboos and changing business from the inside out. But when it comes to political representation, there's still a long way to go, says activist Cecile Richards. In this visionary talk, Richards calls for a global political revolution for women's equality and offers her ideas for how we can build it. - Kotchakorn Voraakhom: How to transform sinking cities into landscapes that fight floods
E27Kotchakorn Voraakhom: How to transform sinking cities into landscapes that fight floodsFrom London to Tokyo, climate change is causing cities to sink -- and our modern concrete infrastructure is making us even more vulnerable to severe flooding, says landscape architect and TED Fellow Kotchakorn Voraakhom. But what if we could design cities to help fight floods? In this inspiring talk, Voraakhom shows how she developed a massive park in Bangkok that can hold a million gallons of rainwater, calling for more climate change solutions that connect cities back to nature. - Tiana Epps-Johnson: What's needed to bring the US voting system into the 21st century
E28Tiana Epps-Johnson: What's needed to bring the US voting system into the 21st centuryThe American election system is complicated, to say the least -- but voting is one of the most tangible ways that each of us can shape our communities. How can we make the system more modern, inclusive and secure? Civic engagement champion Tiana Epps-Johnson shares what's needed to bring voting in the US into the 21st century -- and to get every person to the polls. - Débora Mesa Molina: Stunning buildings made from raw, imperfect materials
E29Débora Mesa Molina: Stunning buildings made from raw, imperfect materialsWhat would it take to reimagine the limits of architecture? Débora Mesa Molina offers some answers in this breathtaking, visual tour of her work, showing how structures can be made with overlooked materials and unconventional methods -- or even extracted from the guts of the earth. "The world around us is an infinite source of inspiration if we are curious enough to see beneath the surface of things," she says. - Tim Harford: A powerful way to unleash your natural creativity
E31Tim Harford: A powerful way to unleash your natural creativityWhat can we learn from the world's most enduringly creative people? They "slow-motion multitask," actively juggling multiple projects and moving between topics as the mood strikes -- without feeling hurried. Author Tim Harford shares how innovators like Einstein, Darwin, Twyla Tharp and Michael Crichton found their inspiration and productivity through cross-training their minds. - Soraya Chemaly: The power of women's anger
E32Soraya Chemaly: The power of women's angerAnger is a powerful emotion -- it warns us of threat, insult, indignity and harm. But across the world, girls and women are taught that their anger is better left unvoiced, says author Soraya Chemaly. Why is that, and what might we lose in this silence? In a provocative, thoughtful talk, Chemaly explores the dangerous lie that anger isn't feminine, showing how women's rage is justified, healthy and a potential catalyst for change. - Marian Wright Edelman: Reflections from a lifetime fighting to end child poverty
E33Marian Wright Edelman: Reflections from a lifetime fighting to end child povertyWhat does it take to build a national movement? In a captivating conversation with TEDWomen curator Pat Mitchell, Marian Wright Edelman reflects on her path to founding the Children's Defense Fund in 1973 -- from the early influence of growing up in the segregated American South to her activism with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. -- and shares how growing older has only made her more radical. - Emily Quinn: The way we think about biological sex is wrong
E34Emily Quinn: The way we think about biological sex is wrongDid you know that almost 150 million people worldwide are born intersex -- with biology that doesn't fit the standard definition of male or female? (That's as many as the population of Russia.) At age 10, Emily Quinn found out she was intersex, and in this wise, funny talk, she shares eye-opening lessons from a life spent navigating society's thoughtless expectations, doctors who demanded she get unnecessary surgery -- and advocating for herself and the incredible variety that humans come in. (Contains mature content) - Leland Melvin: An astronaut's story of curiosity, perspective and change
E35Leland Melvin: An astronaut's story of curiosity, perspective and changeWhat job is best for a young man who's been a tennis ace, a cross-country traveler, a chemistry nerd and an NFL draftee? How about ... astronaut? Leland Melvin tells the story of the challenges he's accepted and the opportunities he's seized -- and how they led him to the International Space Station and a whole new perspective of life on earth. (Contains mature content) - Ruby Sales: How we can start to heal the pain of racial division
E36Ruby Sales: How we can start to heal the pain of racial division"Where does it hurt?" It's a question that activist and educator Ruby Sales has traveled the US asking, looking deeply at the country's legacy of racism and searching for sources of healing. In this moving talk, she shares what she's learned, reflecting on her time as a freedom fighter in the civil rights movement and offering new thinking on pathways to racial justice. - Matt Beane: How do we learn to work with intelligent machines?
E37Matt Beane: How do we learn to work with intelligent machines?The path to skill around the globe has been the same for thousands of years: train under an expert and take on small, easy tasks before progressing to riskier, harder ones. But right now, we're handling AI in a way that blocks that path -- and sacrificing learning in our quest for productivity, says organizational ethnographer Matt Beane. What can be done? Beane shares a vision that flips the current story into one of distributed, machine-enhanced mentorship that takes full advantage of AI's amazing capabilities while enhancing our skills at the same time. - Amy Nicole Baker: 7 common questions about workplace romance
E39Amy Nicole Baker: 7 common questions about workplace romanceShould you date your coworker? Should workplace couples keep their relationships secret? And why are coworkers so often attracted to each other? Organizational psychologist Amy Nicole Baker shares the real answers to commonly asked questions about romance at the office. - Michael C. Bush: This is what makes employees happy at work
E40Michael C. Bush: This is what makes employees happy at workThere are three billion working people on this planet, and only 40 percent of them report being happy at work. Michael C. Bush shares his insights into what makes workers unhappy -- and how companies can benefit their bottom lines by fostering satisfaction. - Wendy De La Rosa: 3 psychological tricks to help you save money
E41Wendy De La Rosa: 3 psychological tricks to help you save moneyWe all want to save more money -- but overall, people today are doing less and less of it. Behavioral scientist Wendy De La Rosa studies how everyday people make decisions to improve their financial well-being. What she's found can help you painlessly make the commitment to save more and spend less. - Matt Mullenweg: Why working from home is good for business
E42Matt Mullenweg: Why working from home is good for businessAs the popularity of remote working continues to spread, workers today can collaborate across cities, countries and even multiple time zones. How does this change office dynamics? And how can we make sure that all employees, both at headquarters and at home, feel connected? Matt Mullenweg, cofounder of Wordpress and CEO of Automattic (which has a 100 percent distributed workforce), shares his secrets. - Priyanka Jain: How to make applying for jobs less painful
E43Priyanka Jain: How to make applying for jobs less painfulFinding a job used to start with submitting your résumé to a million listings and never hearing back from most of them. But more and more companies are using tech-forward methods to identify candidates. If AI is the future of hiring, what does that mean for you? Technologist Priyanka Jain gives a look at this new hiring landscape. - Nicaila Matthews Okome: This is the side hustle revolution
E44Nicaila Matthews Okome: This is the side hustle revolutionPast generations found a company to work for and then stayed there for decades. But today, we rarely stay in the same job (let alone on the same career path) and we don't rely on a single income stream. The tools and resources are out there for us to do our own thing, and more of us are going with the entrepreneurial spirit -- even if it's on the side of a traditional job. Podcaster and marketer Nicaila Matthews Okome helps survey the scene. - Patty McCord: 8 lessons on building a company people enjoy working for
E45Patty McCord: 8 lessons on building a company people enjoy working forMost companies operate on a set of policies: mandated vacation days, travel guidelines, standard work hours, annual goals. But what happens when a company looks less to control and more to trust? Patty McCord, the iconic former chief talent officer at Netflix, shares the key insights that led her to toss the handbook out the window. - Danielle R. Moss: How we can help the "forgotten middle" reach their full potential
E46Danielle R. Moss: How we can help the "forgotten middle" reach their full potentialYou know the "forgotten middle": they're the students, coworkers and regular people who are often overlooked because they're seen as neither exceptional nor problematic. How can we empower them to reach their full potential? Sharing her work helping young people get to and through college, social activist Danielle R. Moss challenges us to think deeper about who deserves help and attention -- and shows us how to encourage those in the middle to dream big. - Julian Burschka: What your breath could reveal about your health
E47Julian Burschka: What your breath could reveal about your healthThere's no better way to stop a disease than to catch and treat it early, before symptoms occur. That's the whole point of medical screening techniques like radiography, MRIs and blood tests. But there's one medium with overlooked potential for medical analysis: your breath. Technologist Julian Burschka shares the latest in the science of breath analysis -- the screening of the volatile organic compounds in your exhaled breath -- and how it could be used as a powerful tool to detect, predict and ultimately prevent disease. - Anirudh Sharma: Ink made of air pollution
E48Anirudh Sharma: Ink made of air pollutionWhat if we could capture pollution in the air around us and turn it into something useful? Inventor Anirudh Sharma shares how he created AIR-INK, a deep black ink that's made from PM 2.5 pollution. See how he hacked together a clever way to capture these tiny particles -- and make the world just a little bit cleaner in the process. - Shad Begum: How women in Pakistan are creating political change
E49Shad Begum: How women in Pakistan are creating political changeActivist Shad Begum has spent her life empowering women to live up to their full potential. In a personal talk, she shares her determined struggle to improve the lives of women in her deeply religious and conservative community in northwest Pakistan -- and calls for women around the world to find their political voice. "We must stand up for our own rights -- and not wait for someone else to come and help us," Begum says. - Mathias Basner: Why noise is bad for your health -- and what you can do about it
E50Mathias Basner: Why noise is bad for your health -- and what you can do about itSilence is a rare commodity these days. There's traffic, construction, air-conditioning, your neighbor's lawnmower ... and all this unwanted sound can have a surprising impact on your health, says noise researcher Mathias Basner. Discover the science behind how noise affects your health and sleep -- and how you can get more of the benefits of the sound of silence. - Dropbox: How one team turned a sprint project into a marathon success
E51Dropbox: How one team turned a sprint project into a marathon successTED Resident Keith Kirkland and his team at WearWorks use haptic technology to develop products and experiences that communicate information through touch. In 2017, they were faced with a seemingly impossible challenge: quickly develop a device for a blind ultra-marathon runner to compete -- unaided and unassisted -- in the New York City Marathon. Jennifer Brook, a design researcher at Dropbox, explains how the team at WearWorks navigated the challenges and tensions of designing this groundbreaking new technology. - Steven Petrow: 3 ways to practice civility
E52Steven Petrow: 3 ways to practice civilityWhat does it mean to be civil? Journalist Steven Petrow looks for answers in the original meaning of the word, showing why civility shouldn't be dismissed as conversation-stifling political correctness or censorship. Learn three ways we can each work to be more civil -- and start talking about our differences with respect. - Aja Monet and phillip agnew: A love story about the power of art as organizing
E53Aja Monet and phillip agnew: A love story about the power of art as organizingIn a lyrical talk full of radical imagination, poet Aja Monet and community organizer phillip agnew share the story of how they fell in love and what they've learned about the powerful connection between great social movements and meaningful art. Journey to Smoke Signals Studio in Miami, their home and community art space where they're creating a refuge for neighbors and creators -- and imagining a new answer to distraction, anger and anxiety. - Roy Bahat and Bryn Freedman: How do we find dignity at work?
E54Roy Bahat and Bryn Freedman: How do we find dignity at work?Roy Bahat was worried. His company invests in new technology like AI to make businesses more efficient -- but, he wondered, what was AI doing to the people whose jobs might change, go away or become less fulfilling? The question sent him on a two-year research odyssey to discover what motivates people, and why we work. In this conversation with curator Bryn Freedman, he shares what he learned, including some surprising insights that will shape the conversation about the future of our jobs. - Jeanne Pinder: What if all US health care costs were transparent?
E55Jeanne Pinder: What if all US health care costs were transparent?In the US, the very same blood test can cost $19 at one clinic and $522 at another clinic just blocks away -- and nobody knows the difference until they get a bill weeks later. Journalist Jeanne Pinder says it doesn't have to be this way. She's built a platform that crowdsources the true costs of medical procedures and makes the data public, revealing the secrets of health care pricing. Learn how knowing what stuff costs in advance could make us healthier, save us money -- and help fix a broken system. - Liz Kleinrock: How to teach kids to talk about taboo topics
E56Liz Kleinrock: How to teach kids to talk about taboo topicsWhen one of Liz Kleinrock's fourth-grade students said the unthinkable at the start of a class on race, she knew it was far too important a teachable moment to miss. But where to start? Learn how Kleinrock teaches kids to discuss taboo topics without fear -- because the best way to start solving social problems is to talk about them. - Ashweetha Shetty: How education helped me rewrite my life
E57Ashweetha Shetty: How education helped me rewrite my lifeThere's no greater freedom than finding your purpose, says education advocate Ashweetha Shetty. Born to a poor family in rural India, Shetty didn't let the social norms of her community stifle her dreams and silence her voice. In this personal talk, she shares how she found self-worth through education -- and how she's working to empower other rural youth to explore their potential. "All of us are born into a reality that we blindly accept -- until something awakens us and a new world opens up," Shetty says. - Dolores Huerta: How to overcome apathy and find your power
E58Dolores Huerta: How to overcome apathy and find your power"Sí, se puede!" -- "Yes, we can!" It's the rallying cry Dolores Huerta came up with as a young activist in the 1970s, and she's lived by it in her tireless pursuit of civil rights ever since. With her signature wit and humor, Huerta reflects on her life's work, offering inspiration for anybody trying to overcome apathy, get involved and find their own power. - Ronald Rael: An architect's subversive reimagining of the US-Mexico border wall
E59Ronald Rael: An architect's subversive reimagining of the US-Mexico border wallWhat is a border? It's a line on a map, a place where cultures mix and merge in beautiful, sometimes violent and occasionally ridiculous ways. And a border wall? An overly simplistic response to that complexity, says architect Ronald Rael. In a moving, visual talk, Rael reimagines the physical barrier that divides the United States and Mexico -- sharing satirical, serious works of art inspired by the borderlands and showing us the border we don't see in the news. "There are not two sides defined by a wall. This is one landscape, divided," Rael says. - Lindy Lou Isonhood: A juror's reflections on the death penalty
E60Lindy Lou Isonhood: A juror's reflections on the death penaltyLindy Lou Isonhood grew up in a town where the death penalty was a fact of life, part of the unspoken culture. But after she served as a juror in a capital murder trial -- and voted "yes" to sentencing a guilty man to death -- something inside her changed. In this engaging and personal talk, Isonhood reflects on the question she's been asking herself in the 25 years since the trial: Am I a murderer? - Karl Skjonnemand: The self-assembling computer chips of the future
E61Karl Skjonnemand: The self-assembling computer chips of the futureThe transistors that power the phone in your pocket are unimaginably small: you can fit more than 3,000 of them across the width of a human hair. But to keep up with innovations in fields like facial recognition and augmented reality, we need to pack even more computing power into our computer chips -- and we're running out of space. In this forward-thinking talk, technology developer Karl Skjonnemand introduces a radically new way to create chips. "This could be the dawn of a new era of molecular manufacturing," Skjonnemand says. - Farida Nabourema: Is your country at risk of becoming a dictatorship? Here's how to know
E62Farida Nabourema: Is your country at risk of becoming a dictatorship? Here's how to knowFarida Nabourema has dedicated her life to fighting the military regime in Togo, Africa's oldest autocracy. She's learned two truths along the way: no country is destined to be oppressed -- and no country is immune to dictatorship. But how can you tell if you're at risk before it happens? In a stirring talk, Nabourema shares the four key signs of a dictatorship, along with the secret to defiance for those living within an oppressive system. - Majd Mashharawi: How I'm making bricks out of ashes and rubble in Gaza
E63Majd Mashharawi: How I'm making bricks out of ashes and rubble in GazaMajd Mashharawi was walking through her war-torn neighborhood in Gaza when an idea flashed in her mind: What if she could take the rubble and transform it into building materials? See how she designed a brick made out of ashes that's helping people rebuild their homes -- and learn about her new project: bringing solar-powered energy to families living in darkness. - César Hidalgo: A bold idea to replace politicians
E64César Hidalgo: A bold idea to replace politiciansCésar Hidalgo has a radical suggestion for fixing our broken political system: automate it! In this provocative talk, he outlines a bold idea to bypass politicians by empowering citizens to create personalized AI representatives that participate directly in democratic decisions. Explore a new way to make collective decisions and expand your understanding of democracy. - Yvonne van Amerongen: The "dementia village" that's redefining elder care
E65Yvonne van Amerongen: The "dementia village" that's redefining elder careHow would you prefer to spend the last years of your life: in a sterile, hospital-like institution or in a village with a supermarket, pub, theater and park within easy walking distance? The answer seems obvious now, but when Yvonne van Amerongen helped develop the groundbreaking Hogeweyk dementia care center in Amsterdam 25 years ago, it was seen as a risky break from tradition. Journey with van Amerongen to Hogeweyk and get a glimpse at what a reimagined nursing home based on freedom, meaning and social life could look like. - Sarah T. Stewart: Where did the Moon come from? A new theory
E66Sarah T. Stewart: Where did the Moon come from? A new theoryThe Earth and Moon are like identical twins, made up of the exact same materials -- which is really strange, since no other celestial bodies we know of share this kind of chemical relationship. What's responsible for this special connection? Looking for an answer, planetary scientist and MacArthur "Genius" Sarah T. Stewart discovered a new kind of astronomical object -- a synestia -- and a new way to solve the mystery of the Moon's origin. - Thomas Curran: Our dangerous obsession with perfectionism is getting worse
E67Thomas Curran: Our dangerous obsession with perfectionism is getting worseSocial psychologist Thomas Curran explores how the pressure to be perfect -- in our social media feeds, in school, at work -- is driving a rise in mental illness, especially among young people. Learn more about the causes of this phenomenon and how we can create a culture that celebrates the joys of imperfection. - Amanda Williams: Why I turned Chicago's abandoned homes into art
E69Amanda Williams: Why I turned Chicago's abandoned homes into artAmanda Williams shares her lifelong fascination with the complexity of color: from her experiences with race and redlining to her discovery of color theory to her work as a visual artist. Journey with Williams to Chicago's South Side and explore "Color(ed) Theory," a two-year art project in which she painted soon-to-be-demolished houses bold, monochromatic colors infused with local meaning -- catalyzing conversations and making the hidden visible. - Olympia Della Flora: Creative ways to get kids to thrive in school
E70Olympia Della Flora: Creative ways to get kids to thrive in schoolTo get young kids to thrive in school, we need to do more than teach them how to read and write -- we need to teach them how to manage their emotions, says educator Olympia Della Flora. In this practical talk, she shares creative tactics she used to help struggling, sometimes disruptive students -- things like stopping for brain breaks, singing songs and even doing yoga poses -- all with her existing budget and resources. "Small changes make huge differences, and it's possible to start right now ... You simply need smarter ways to think about using what you have, where you have it," she says. - Esha Alwani: What it's like to have Tourette's -- and how music gives me back control
E71Esha Alwani: What it's like to have Tourette's -- and how music gives me back controlEsha Alwani began writing songs when she was six years old, shortly after being diagnosed with Tourette syndrome. And she noticed something amazing: whenever she played music, her involuntary tics suddenly went away. Listen along as Alwani explores the power of music and delights the audience with an ethereal performance of her piano ballad "I'm Not Loving You (My Mask)." - Rebecca Brachman: A new class of drug that could prevent depression and PTSD
E72Rebecca Brachman: A new class of drug that could prevent depression and PTSDCurrent treatments for depression and PTSD only suppress symptoms, if they work at all. What if we could prevent these diseases from developing altogether? Neuroscientist and TED Fellow Rebecca Brachman shares the story of her team's accidental discovery of a new class of drug that, for the first time ever, could prevent the negative effects of stress -- and boost a person's ability to recover and grow. Learn how these resilience-enhancing drugs could change the way we treat mental illness. - Samy Nour Younes: A short history of trans people's long fight for equality
E73Samy Nour Younes: A short history of trans people's long fight for equalityTransgender activist and TED Resident Samy Nour Younes shares the remarkable, centuries-old history of the trans community, filled with courageous stories, inspiring triumphs -- and a fight for civil rights that's been raging for a long time. "Imagine how the conversation would shift if we acknowledge just how long trans people have been demanding equality," he says. - Nora Brown: "East Virginia" / "John Brown's Dream"
E74Nora Brown: "East Virginia" / "John Brown's Dream"In a mesmerizing set, musician Nora Brown breathes new life into two old-time banjo tunes: "East Virginia" and "John Brown's Dream." An evocative performance paired with a quick history of the banjo's evolution. - Kimberly Noble: How does income affect childhood brain development?
E75Kimberly Noble: How does income affect childhood brain development?Neuroscientist and pediatrician Kimberly Noble is leading the Baby's First Years study: the first-ever randomized study of how family income changes children's cognitive, emotional and brain development. She and a team of economists and policy experts are working together to find out: Can we help kids in poverty simply by giving families more money? "The brain is not destiny," Noble says. "And if a child's brain can be changed, then anything is possible." - Helen Marriage: Public art that turns cities into playgrounds of the imagination
E76Helen Marriage: Public art that turns cities into playgrounds of the imaginationVisual artist Helen Marriage stages astonishing, large-scale public art events that expand the boundaries of what's possible. In this visual tour of her work, she tells the story of three cities she transformed into playgrounds of the imagination -- picture London with a giant mechanical elephant marching through it -- and shows what happens when people stop to marvel and experience a moment together. - Muhammed Idris: What refugees need to start new lives
E77Muhammed Idris: What refugees need to start new livesEvery minute, 20 people are newly displaced by climate change, economic crisis and political instability, according to the UNHCR. How can we help them overcome the barriers to starting new lives? TED Resident Muhammed Idris is leading a team of technologists, researchers and refugees to develop Atar, the first-ever AI-powered virtual advocate that guides displaced people through resettlement, helping restore their rights and dignity. "Getting access to the right resources and information can be the difference between life and death," Idris says. - Eve Pearlman: How to lead a conversation between people who disagree
E78Eve Pearlman: How to lead a conversation between people who disagreeIn a world deeply divided, how do we have hard conversations with nuance, curiosity, respect? Veteran reporter Eve Pearlman introduces "dialogue journalism": a project where journalists go to the heart of social and political divides to support discussions between people who disagree. See what happened when a group that would have never otherwise met -- 25 liberals from California and 25 conservatives from Alabama -- gathered to talk about contentious issues. "Real connection across difference: this is a salve that our democracy sorely needs," Pearlman says. - Nora McInerny: We don't "move on" from grief. We move forward with it
E79Nora McInerny: We don't "move on" from grief. We move forward with itIn a talk that's by turns heartbreaking and hilarious, writer and podcaster Nora McInerny shares her hard-earned wisdom about life and death. Her candid approach to something that will, let's face it, affect us all, is as liberating as it is gut-wrenching. Most powerfully, she encourages us to shift how we approach grief. "A grieving person is going to laugh again and smile again," she says. "They're going to move forward. But that doesn't mean that they've moved on." - Keith Kirkland: Wearable tech that helps you navigate by touch
E80Keith Kirkland: Wearable tech that helps you navigate by touchKeith Kirkland is developing wearable tech that communicates information using only the sense of touch. He's trying to figure out: What gestures and vibration patterns could intuitively communicate ideas like "stop" or "go"? Check out his team's first product, a navigation device for the blind and visually impaired, and learn more about the entirely new "haptic language" he's creating to power it. - Kashfia Rahman: How risk-taking changes a teenager's brain
E81Kashfia Rahman: How risk-taking changes a teenager's brainWhy do teenagers sometimes make outrageous, risky choices? Do they suddenly become reckless, or are they just going through a natural phase? To find out, Kashfia Rahman -- winner of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (and a Harvard freshman) -- designed and conducted an experiment to test how high school students respond to and get used to risk, and how it changes their still-developing brains. What she discovered about risk and decision-making could change how we think about why teens do what they do. - Rana Abdelhamid: 3 lessons on starting a movement from a self-defense trailblazer
E82Rana Abdelhamid: 3 lessons on starting a movement from a self-defense trailblazerAt 16, Rana Abdelhamid started teaching self-defense to women and girls in her neighborhood. Almost 10 years later, these community classes have grown into Malikah: a global grassroots network creating safety, power and solidarity for all women. How did she do it? Abdelhamid shares three ingredients for building a movement from the ground up. - Kakenya Ntaiya: Empower a girl, transform a community
E83Kakenya Ntaiya: Empower a girl, transform a communityKakenya Ntaiya turned her dream of getting an education into a movement to empower vulnerable girls and bring an end to harmful traditional practices in Kenya. Meet two students at the Kakenya Center for Excellence, a school where girls can live and study safely -- and uplift their community along the way. "When you empower a girl, you transform a community," Ntaiya says. - Carole Cadwalladr: Facebook's role in Brexit -- and the threat to democracy
E84Carole Cadwalladr: Facebook's role in Brexit -- and the threat to democracyIn an unmissable talk, journalist Carole Cadwalladr digs into one of the most perplexing events in recent times: the UK's super-close 2016 vote to leave the European Union. Tracking the result to a barrage of misleading Facebook ads targeted at vulnerable Brexit swing voters -- and linking the same players and tactics to the 2016 US presidential election -- Cadwalladr calls out the "gods of Silicon Valley" for being on the wrong side of history and asks: Are free and fair elections a thing of the past? - Jack Dorsey: How Twitter needs to change
E85Jack Dorsey: How Twitter needs to changeCan Twitter be saved? In a wide-ranging conversation with TED's Chris Anderson and Whitney Pennington Rodgers, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey discusses the future of the platform -- acknowledging problems with harassment and moderation and proposing some fundamental changes that he hopes will encourage healthy, respectful conversations. "Are we actually delivering something that people value every single day?" Dorsey asks. - Sheperd Doeleman: Inside the black hole image that made history
E86Sheperd Doeleman: Inside the black hole image that made historyAt the center of a galaxy more than 55 million light-years away, there's a supermassive black hole with the mass of several billion suns. And now, for the first time ever, we can see it. Astrophysicist Sheperd Doeleman, head of the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration, speaks with TED's Chris Anderson about the iconic, first-ever image of a black hole -- and the epic, worldwide effort involved in capturing it. - Danielle N. Lee: How hip-hop helps us understand science
E87Danielle N. Lee: How hip-hop helps us understand scienceIn the early 1990s, a scandal rocked evolutionary biology: scientists discovered that songbirds -- once thought to be strictly monogamous -- engaged in what's politely called "extra-pair copulation." In this unforgettable biology lesson on animal infidelity, TED Fellow Danielle N. Lee shows how she uses hip-hop to teach science, leading the crowd in an updated version of Naughty by Nature's hit "O.P.P." - Romain Lacombe: A personal air-quality tracker that lets you know what you're breathing
E88Romain Lacombe: A personal air-quality tracker that lets you know what you're breathingHow often do you think about the air you're breathing? Probably not enough, says entrepreneur and TED Fellow Romain Lacombe. He introduces Flow: a personal air-quality tracker that fits in your hand and monitors pollution levels in real time. See how this device could help you track and understand pollution street by street, hour by hour -- and empower you to take action to improve your health. - David R. Liu: Can we cure genetic diseases by rewriting DNA?
E89David R. Liu: Can we cure genetic diseases by rewriting DNA?In a story of scientific discovery, chemical biologist David R. Liu shares a breakthrough: his lab's development of base editors that can rewrite DNA. This crucial step in genome editing takes the promise of CRISPR to the next level: if CRISPR proteins are molecular scissors, programmed to cut specific DNA sequences, then base editors are pencils, capable of directly rewriting one DNA letter into another. Learn more about how these molecular machines work -- and their potential to treat or even cure genetic diseases. - Srikumar Rao: Plug into your hard-wired happiness
E90Srikumar Rao: Plug into your hard-wired happinessWe all strive for happiness -- but we spend most of our lives learning to be unhappy, says Srikumar Rao. In this practical talk, he teaches how to break free of the "I'd be happy if ..." mental model, and embrace our hard-wired happiness. - Elizabeth Dunn: Helping others makes us happier -- but it matters how we do it
E91Elizabeth Dunn: Helping others makes us happier -- but it matters how we do itResearch shows that helping others makes us happier. But in her groundbreaking work on generosity and joy, social psychologist Elizabeth Dunn found that there's a catch: it matters how we help. Learn how we can make a greater impact -- and boost our own happiness along the way -- if we make one key shift in how we help others. "Let's stop thinking about giving as just this moral obligation and start thinking of it as a source of pleasure," Dunn says. - Yana Buhrer Tavanier: How to recover from activism burnout
E93Yana Buhrer Tavanier: How to recover from activism burnoutWhen you're feeling burned out as an activist, what's the best way to bounce back? TED Senior Fellow Yana Buhrer Tavanier explores the power of "playtivism" -- the incorporation of play and creativity into movements for social change. See how this versatile approach can spark new ideas, propel action and melt fear. - Michele Wucker: Why we ignore obvious problems -- and how to act on them
E94Michele Wucker: Why we ignore obvious problems -- and how to act on themWhy do we often neglect big problems, like the financial crisis and climate change, until it's too late? Policy strategist Michele Wucker urges us to replace the myth of the "black swan" -- that rare, unforeseeable, unavoidable catastrophe -- with the reality of the "gray rhino," the preventable danger that we choose to ignore. She shows why predictable crises catch us by surprise -- and lays out some signs that there may be a charging rhino in your life right now. - Joanne Chory: How supercharged plants could slow climate change
E95Joanne Chory: How supercharged plants could slow climate changePlants are amazing machines -- for millions of years, they've taken carbon dioxide out of the air and stored it underground, keeping a crucial check on the global climate. Plant geneticist Joanne Chory is working to amplify this special ability: with her colleagues at the Salk Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, she's creating plants that can store more carbon, deeper underground, for hundreds of years. Learn more about how these supercharged plants could help slow climate change. (This ambitious plan is a part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.) - Es Devlin: Mind-blowing stage sculptures that fuse music and technology
E96Es Devlin: Mind-blowing stage sculptures that fuse music and technologyIt starts with a sketch. Then it evolves into a larger-than-life visual masterpiece, a celebration of human connection. Follow along as legendary artist and designer Es Devlin takes us on a visual tour of her work -- including iconic stage sculptures she's created for Beyoncé, Adele, Kanye West, U2 and more -- and previews her design for the upcoming World Expo 2020 in Dubai. - Ivan Poupyrev: Everything around you can become a computer
E97Ivan Poupyrev: Everything around you can become a computerDesigner Ivan Poupyrev wants to integrate technology into everyday objects to make them more useful and fun -- like a jacket you can use to answer phone calls or a houseplant you can play like a keyboard. In a talk and tech demo, he lays out his vision for a physical world that's more deeply connected to the internet and shows how, with a little collaboration, we can get there. Unveiled in this talk: Poupyrev announces that his newest device, Jacquard, is now publicly available for all designers to use. - Eric Liu: How to revive your belief in democracy
E98Eric Liu: How to revive your belief in democracyCivic evangelist Eric Liu shares a powerful way to rekindle the spirit of citizenship and the belief that democracy still works. Join him for a trip to "Civic Saturday" and learn more about how making civic engagement a weekly habit can help build communities based on shared values and a path to belonging. - Halla Tómasdóttir and Bryn Freedman: The crisis of leadership -- and a new way forward
E99Halla Tómasdóttir and Bryn Freedman: The crisis of leadership -- and a new way forwardWhat should modern leadership look like? Entrepreneur and former Icelandic presidential candidate Halla Tómasdóttir thinks global leaders need to change their ways -- or risk becoming irrelevant. In a conversation with curator Bryn Freedman, she shows how anybody can step up and make a difference, even if you don't yet have power. "There's a leader inside every single one of us," she says, "and our most important work in life is to release that leader." - Wajahat Ali: The case for having kids
E100Wajahat Ali: The case for having kidsThe global fertility rate, or the number of children per woman, has halved over the last 50 years. What will having fewer babies mean for the future of humanity? In this funny, eye-opening talk, journalist (and self-described exhausted dad) Wajahat Ali examines how the current trend could lead to unexpected problems -- and shares why he believes we need to make it easier for people to have babies. "For those who can and choose to, may you pass on this beautiful thing called life with kindness, generosity, decency and love," he says. - Matt Walker: Sleep is your superpower
E101Matt Walker: Sleep is your superpowerSleep is your life-support system and Mother Nature's best effort yet at immortality, says sleep scientist Matt Walker. In this deep dive into the science of slumber, Walker shares the wonderfully good things that happen when you get sleep — and the alarmingly bad things that happen when you don't, for both your brain and body. Learn more about sleep's impact on your learning, memory, immune system and even your genetic code — as well as some helpful tips for getting some shut-eye. - Doug Roble: Digital humans that look just like us
E102Doug Roble: Digital humans that look just like usIn an astonishing talk and tech demo, software researcher Doug Roble debuts "DigiDoug": a real-time, 3-D, digital rendering of his likeness that's accurate down to the scale of pores and wrinkles. Powered by an inertial motion capture suit, deep neural networks and enormous amounts of data, DigiDoug renders the real Doug's emotions (and even how his blood flows and eyelashes move) in striking detail. Learn more about how this exciting tech was built — and its applications in movies, virtual assistants and beyond. - Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin: What you should know about vaping and e-cigarettes
E103Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin: What you should know about vaping and e-cigarettesE-cigarettes and vapes have exploded in popularity in the last decade, especially among youth and young adults — from 2011 to 2015, e-cigarette use among high school students in the US increased by 900 percent. Biobehavioral scientist Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin explains what you're actually inhaling when you vape (hint: it's definitely not water vapor) and explores the disturbing marketing tactics being used to target kids. "Our health, the health of our children and our future generations is far too valuable to let it go up in smoke — or even in aerosol," she says. - Arnav Kapur: How AI could become an extension of your mind
E104Arnav Kapur: How AI could become an extension of your mindTry talking to yourself without opening your mouth, by simply saying words internally. What if you could search the internet like that — and get an answer back? In the first live public demo of his new technology, TED Fellow Arnav Kapur introduces AlterEgo: a wearable AI device with the potential to let you silently talk to and get information from a computer system, like a voice inside your head. Learn more about how the device works and the far-reaching implications of this new kind of human-computer interaction. - Katie Hood: The difference between healthy and unhealthy love
E106Katie Hood: The difference between healthy and unhealthy loveIn a talk about understanding and practicing the art of healthy relationships, Katie Hood reveals the five signs you might be in an unhealthy relationship — with a romantic partner, a friend, a family member — and shares the things you can do every day to love with respect, kindness and joy. "While love is an instinct and an emotion, the ability to love better is a skill we can all build and improve on over time," she says. - Brittany Packnett: How to build your confidence -- and spark it in others
E107Brittany Packnett: How to build your confidence -- and spark it in others"Confidence is the necessary spark before everything that follows," says educator and activist Brittany Packnett. In an inspiring talk, she shares three ways to crack the code of confidence — and her dream for a world where revolutionary confidence helps turn our most ambitious dreams into reality. - Lucy Cooke: Sloths! The strange life of the world's slowest mammal
E108Lucy Cooke: Sloths! The strange life of the world's slowest mammalSloths have been on this planet for more than 40 million years. What's the secret to their success? In a hilarious talk, zoologist Lucy Cooke takes us inside the strange life of the world's slowest mammal and shows what we can learn from their ingenious adaptations. - Bruce Friedrich: The next global agricultural revolution
E109Bruce Friedrich: The next global agricultural revolutionConventional meat production causes harm to our environment and presents risks to global health, but people aren't going to eat less meat unless we give them alternatives that cost the same (or less) and that taste the same (or better). In an eye-opening talk, food innovator and TED Fellow Bruce Friedrich shows the plant- and cell-based products that could soon transform the global meat industry — and your dinner plate. - Hamdi Ulukaya: The anti-CEO playbook
E110Hamdi Ulukaya: The anti-CEO playbookProfit, money, shareholders: these are the priorities of most companies today. But at what cost? In an appeal to corporate leaders worldwide, Chobani founder Hamdi Ulukaya calls for an end to the business playbook of the past — and shares his vision for a new, "anti-CEO playbook" that prioritizes people over profits. "This is the difference between profit and true wealth," he says. - America Ferrera: My identity is a superpower -- not an obstacle
E111America Ferrera: My identity is a superpower -- not an obstacleHollywood needs to stop resisting what the world actually looks like, says actor, director and activist America Ferrera. Tracing the contours of her career, she calls for more authentic representation of different cultures in media — and a shift in how we tell our stories. "Presence creates possibility," she says. "Who we see thriving in the world teaches us how to see ourselves, how to think about our own value, how to dream about our futures." - Jarrell Daniels: What prosecutors and incarcerated people can learn from each other
E112Jarrell Daniels: What prosecutors and incarcerated people can learn from each otherA few weeks before his release from prison, Jarrell Daniels took a class where incarcerated men learned alongside prosecutors. By simply sitting together and talking, they uncovered surprising truths about the criminal justice system and ideas for how real change happens. Now a scholar and activist, Daniels reflects on how collaborative education could transform the justice system and unlock solutions to social problems. - Kate E. Brandt: A world without waste
E113Kate E. Brandt: A world without wasteEvery Google search or YouTube upload costs the global network both energy and resources. As Google's head of sustainability, it's Kate E. Brandt's job to strategize solutions that cut the cost on our environment and our economy. In an innovative talk, she dives into her plan to green up Google by creating a circular economy which reuses, recycles and eliminates waste altogether. - Ane Brun: "It All Starts With One" / "You Light My Fire"
E114Ane Brun: "It All Starts With One" / "You Light My Fire"Multi-instrumentalist Ane Brun joins the Lyris Quartet to perform two haunting, mesmerizing songs: the cabaret-inspired "It All Starts With One" and folk-infused "You Light My Fire," with backing vocals from Rebecca Lichtenfeld. - Rev. William Barber and Rev. Liz Theoharis: A call for a moral revival
E115Rev. William Barber and Rev. Liz Theoharis: A call for a moral revivalPoverty, ecological devastation and oppressive systems are among some of the biggest issues facing America today. Reverend William Barber and Reverend Liz Theoharis believe that it's time to address these issues with a uniting approach. They've traveled the country, following and guiding the Poor People's Campaign: a wave of nonviolent civil disobedience first started by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Their aim? To shift the narrative around poverty and empower all. - Ayanna Howard: Why we need to build robots we can trust
E116Ayanna Howard: Why we need to build robots we can trustThe algorithms we've created to make our lives more organized and less chaotic are also learning from our behavior -- and our biases. Roboticist Ayanna Howard explores ways we can train our tech to be fairer than us, asking: How can we be more accountable in our relationships with robots? - Flor de Toloache: "Ruiseñor" / "No Hay Vuelta Atrás"
E117Flor de Toloache: "Ruiseñor" / "No Hay Vuelta Atrás"All-female Mariachi band Flor de Toloache take their name from a Mexican medicinal flower that's known to be an ingredient for love potions. Between two captivating songs, learn more about how the group is making a mark on Mariachi history. - Simona Abdallah: Beats that break barriers
E118Simona Abdallah: Beats that break barriersPercussionist Simona Abdallah takes the stage with a rapturous bang of the darbuka, a drum of Middle Eastern origins traditionally played by men. With a striking sound and crisp beats, she plays two songs and invites everyone to join the rhythm. - Neha Madhira and Haley Stack: Why student journalists should be protected from censorship
E119Neha Madhira and Haley Stack: Why student journalists should be protected from censorshipHigh school newspaper editors Neha Madhira and Haley Stack share how they fought back when their critical journalism faced the threat of censorship. Learn more about how their efforts expanded to lobbying for New Voices, a law which would extend First Amendment protections to student journalism, and which has now passed in multiple states. - Stephen Doyle: Art that brings words to life
E120Stephen Doyle: Art that brings words to lifeWhat if words did more than just sit on a page or a screen? Graphic designer Stephen Doyle creates art that expands on the literal meanings of words. This playful talk could shift your perspective on how you see language. - Chitra Aiyar: How to build community when you feel isolated
E121Chitra Aiyar: How to build community when you feel isolatedCollege can feel like a lonely place, especially if you're a student of color, a low-income individual, a first-generation youth -- or all three. Educator Chitra Aiyar outlines how she encourages her students to cultivate spaces for other marginalized students to connect and help each other grow. - Nivruti Rai: An open-source database to create "guardian angel" AI
E122Nivruti Rai: An open-source database to create "guardian angel" AIImagine an extra brain that knows us better than we know ourselves, that exists "with us, beside us, experiencing our world with us ... always connected, always processing, always watching." Nivruti Rai believes that AI systems could become these kinds of guardian angels, if given the chance. In this future-forward talk, Rai explains how machine-learning could flourish once it's able to analyze complex traffic patterns. - Beth Mortimer and Tarje Nissen-Meyer: The enigmatic language of elephants
E123Beth Mortimer and Tarje Nissen-Meyer: The enigmatic language of elephantsElephants communicate using sounds deeper than the human ear can detect. Biologist Beth Mortimer and geophysicist Tarje Nissen-Meyer plan to eavesdrop on their conversations using a noninvasive, real-time and low-cost study method that can also potentially help locals in developing countries fight poaching. Learn how they keep an ear to the ground to help protect the world's most vulnerable societies, precious landscapes and iconic animals. - Galit Ariel: How AR can make us feel more connected to the world
E124Galit Ariel: How AR can make us feel more connected to the worldTechnologist Galit Ariel believes that humanity's final frontier is the mind-blowing, space-bending technology known as augmented reality. Our bodies and minds are wired for rich physical interactions, and AR adds a digital layer directly onto or within our existing environment -- to transform our living rooms into lush jungles, for example. The possibilities for technologies to help us be more present and connected to the world are infinite as space itself. "Amazing journeys await us right here on planet Earth," Ariel says. "Bon voyage." - Maeve Higgins: Why the "good immigrant" is a bad narrative
E125Maeve Higgins: Why the "good immigrant" is a bad narrativeIn this playfully delivered talk with a poignant message, comedian and podcaster Maeve Higgins delves into the stories about immigration she heard while traveling around the US (as an immigrant herself). "People should not be considered valuable just because they do something of value to us," Higgins says. - Baratunde Thurston: How to deconstruct racism, one headline at a time
E126Baratunde Thurston: How to deconstruct racism, one headline at a timeBaratunde Thurston explores the phenomenon of white Americans calling the police on black Americans who have committed the crimes of ... eating, walking or generally "living while black." In this profound, thought-provoking and often hilarious talk, he reveals the power of language to change stories of trauma into stories of healing — while challenging us all to level up. - Erika Hamden: What it takes to launch a telescope
E127Erika Hamden: What it takes to launch a telescopeTED Fellow and astronomer Erika Hamden leads the team building FIREBall, a telescope that hangs from a giant balloon at the very edge of space and looks for clues about how stars are created. She takes us inside the roller-coaster, decade-long journey to get the telescope from an idea into orbit — and shows how failure is inevitable when you're pushing the limits of knowledge. - Reniqua Allen: The story we tell about millennials -- and who we leave out
E128Reniqua Allen: The story we tell about millennials -- and who we leave outMillennials are now the largest, most diverse adult population in the US — but far too often, they're reduced to the worn-out stereotype of lazy, entitled avocado toast lovers, says author Reniqua Allen. In this revealing talk, she shares overlooked stories of millennials of color, offering a broader, more nuanced view of the generation. "Millennials are not a monolith," she says. - Roger Hanlon: The amazing brains and morphing skin of octopuses and other cephalopods
E129Roger Hanlon: The amazing brains and morphing skin of octopuses and other cephalopodsOctopus, squid and cuttlefish — collectively known as cephalopods — have strange, massive, distributed brains. What do they do with all that neural power? Dive into the ocean with marine biologist Roger Hanlon, who shares astonishing footage of the camouflaging abilities of cephalopods, which can change their skin color and texture in a flash. Learn how their smart skin, and their ability to deploy it in sophisticated ways, could be evidence of an alternative form of intelligence — and how it could lead to breakthroughs in AI, fabrics, cosmetics and beyond. - Bjarke Ingels: Floating cities, the LEGO House and other architectural forms of the future
E130Bjarke Ingels: Floating cities, the LEGO House and other architectural forms of the futureDesign gives form to the future, says architect Bjarke Ingels. In this worldwide tour of his team's projects, journey to a waste-to-energy power plant (that doubles as an alpine ski slope) and the LEGO Home of the Brick in Denmark — and catch a glimpse of cutting-edge flood resilience infrastructure in New York City as well as an ambitious plan to create floating, sustainable cities that are adapted to climate change. - Kate Bowler: "Everything happens for a reason" -- and other lies I've loved
E131Kate Bowler: "Everything happens for a reason" -- and other lies I've lovedIn life's toughest moments, how do you go on living? Kate Bowler has been exploring this question ever since she was diagnosed with stage IV cancer at age 35. In a profound, heartbreaking and unexpectedly funny talk, she offers some answers — challenging the idea that "everything happens for a reason" and sharing hard-won wisdom about how to make sense of the world after your life is suddenly, completely changed. "I believe that in the darkness, even there, there will be beauty and there will be love," she says. - David Brooks: The lies our culture tells us about what matters -- and a better way to live
E132David Brooks: The lies our culture tells us about what matters -- and a better way to liveOur society is in the midst of a social crisis, says op-ed columnist and author David Brooks: we're trapped in a valley of isolation and fragmentation. How do we find our way out? Based on his travels across the United States — and his meetings with a range of exceptional people known as "weavers" — Brooks lays out his vision for a cultural revolution that empowers us all to lead lives of greater meaning, purpose and joy. - The Nature Conservancy: An ingenious proposal for scaling up marine protection
E133The Nature Conservancy: An ingenious proposal for scaling up marine protectionIsland and coastal nations need to protect their waters to keep the oceans healthy. But they often have lots of debt and aren't able to prioritize ocean conservation over other needs. The team at The Nature Conservancy sees a way to solve both problems at once: restructuring a nation's debt in exchange for its government's commitment to protect coastal areas. Learn more about how "Blue Bonds for Conservation" work -- and how you can help unlock billions of dollars for the oceans. This ambitious plan is a part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change. (Voiced by Ladan Wise) - Juna Kollmeier: The most detailed map of galaxies, black holes and stars ever made
E134Juna Kollmeier: The most detailed map of galaxies, black holes and stars ever madeHumans have been studying the stars for thousands of years, but astrophysicist Juna Kollmeier is on a special mission: creating the most detailed 3-D maps of the universe ever made. Journey across the cosmos as she shares her team's work on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, imaging millions of stars, black holes and galaxies in unprecedented detail. If we maintain our pace, she says, we can map every large galaxy in the observable universe by 2060. "We've gone from arranging clamshells to general relativity in a few thousand years," she says. "If we hang on 40 more, we can map all the galaxies." - Karen Lloyd: The mysterious microbes living deep inside the earth -- and how they could help humanity
E135Karen Lloyd: The mysterious microbes living deep inside the earth -- and how they could help humanityThe ground beneath your feet is home to a massive, mysterious world of microbes — some of which have been in the earth's crust for hundreds of thousands of years. What's it like down there? Take a trip to the volcanoes and hot springs of Costa Rica as microbiologist Karen Lloyd shines a light on these subterranean organisms and shows how they could have a profound impact on life up here. - Priya Parker: 3 steps to turn everyday get-togethers into transformative gatherings
E136Priya Parker: 3 steps to turn everyday get-togethers into transformative gatheringsWhy do some gatherings take off and others don't? Author Priya Parker shares three easy steps to turn your parties, dinners, meetings and holidays into meaningful, transformative gatherings. - Mónica Ramírez: Passing the mic to migrant farmer workers
E137Mónica Ramírez: Passing the mic to migrant farmer workersHow can we make space for marginalized communities to tell their stories? Raised by migrant farm workers, attorney Mónica Ramírez points out the injustices this often unseen and isolated group faces -- from wage theft and sexual harassment to dangerous working conditions -- and advocates for the solutions they need. - Resistance Revival Chorus: "The Rich Man's House" / "Woke Up This Morning (With My Mind Stayed on Freedom)"
E139Resistance Revival Chorus: "The Rich Man's House" / "Woke Up This Morning (With My Mind Stayed on Freedom)"Resistance Revival Chorus, a collective of more than 60 women, fill the TED World Theater with a rhapsodic performance of "The Rich Man's House" and "Woke Up This Morning (With My Mind Stayed on Freedom)." They show us how joy can be an act of resistance. - Daniel Lismore: My life as a work of art
E140Daniel Lismore: My life as a work of artDaniel Lismore's closet is probably a bit different than yours -- his clothes are constructed out of materials ranging from beer cans and plastic crystals to diamonds, royal silks and 2,000-year-old Roman rings. In this striking talk, Lismore shares the vision behind his elaborate ensembles and explores what it's like to live life as a work of art. "Everyone is capable of creating their own masterpiece," he says. "You should try it sometime." - Michael Tubbs: The political power of being a good neighbor
E141Michael Tubbs: The political power of being a good neighborMichael Tubbs is the youngest mayor in American history to represent a city with more than 100,000 people — and his policies are sparking national conversations. In this rousing talk, he shares how growing up amid poverty and violence in Stockton, California shaped his bold vision for change and his commitment to govern as a neighbor, not a politician. "When we see someone different from us, they should not reflect our fears, our anxieties, our insecurities," he says. "We should see our common humanity." - David Baker: 5 challenges we could solve by designing new proteins
E142David Baker: 5 challenges we could solve by designing new proteinsProteins are remarkable molecular machines: they digest your food, fire your neurons, power your immune system and so much more. What if we could design new ones, with functions never before seen in nature? In this remarkable glimpse of the future, David Baker shares how his team at the Institute for Protein Design is creating entirely new proteins from scratch — and shows how they could help us tackle five massive challenges facing humanity. (This ambitious plan is a part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.) - Rob Reid: How synthetic biology could wipe out humanity -- and how we can stop it
E143Rob Reid: How synthetic biology could wipe out humanity -- and how we can stop itThe world-changing promise of synthetic biology and gene editing has a dark side. In this far-seeing talk, author and entrepreneur Rob Reid reviews the risks of a world where more and more people have access to the tools and tech needed to create a doomsday bug that could wipe out humanity — and suggests that it's time to take this danger seriously. - Suleika Jaouad: What almost dying taught me about living
E144Suleika Jaouad: What almost dying taught me about living"The hardest part of my cancer experience began once the cancer was gone," says author Suleika Jaouad. In this fierce, funny, wisdom-packed talk, she challenges us to think beyond the divide between "sick" and "well," asking: How do you begin again and find meaning after life is interrupted? - Sarah Kay: "A Bird Made of Birds"
E145Sarah Kay: "A Bird Made of Birds""The universe has already written the poem you were planning on writing," says Sarah Kay, quoting her friend, poet Kaveh Akbar. Performing "A Bird Made of Birds," she shares how and where she finds poetry. (Kay is also the host of TED's podcast "Sincerely, X." Listen on the Luminary podcast app at luminary.link/ted) - Brandon Clifford: The architectural secrets of the world's ancient wonders
E146Brandon Clifford: The architectural secrets of the world's ancient wondersHow did ancient civilizations move massive stones to build Stonehenge, the Pyramids and the Easter Island statues? In this quick, delightful talk, TED Fellow Brandon Clifford reveals some architectural secrets of the past and shows how we can use these ingenious techniques to build today. "In an era where we design buildings to last 30, maybe 60 years, I would love to learn how to create something that could entertain for an eternity," he says. - Lindsay Amer: Why kids need to learn about gender and sexuality
E147Lindsay Amer: Why kids need to learn about gender and sexualityLindsay Amer is the creator of "Queer Kid Stuff," an educational video series that breaks down complex ideas around gender and sexuality through songs and metaphors. By giving kids and their families a vocabulary to express themselves, Amer is helping to create more empathetic adults — and spreading a message of radical acceptance in a world where it's sometimes dangerous to just be yourself. "I want kids to grow up and into themselves with pride for who they are and who they can be," Amer says. - Climbing PoeTree: "Being Human" / "Awakening"
E148Climbing PoeTree: "Being Human" / "Awakening"Alixa Garcia and Naima Penniman of Climbing PoeTree combine impactful poetry and sharp beatboxing in a spoken word performance of "Being Human." They're joined by the captivating vocals and instrumental melodies of Claudia Cuentas and Tonya Abernathy for "Awakening." - Heidi Grant: How to ask for help -- and get a "yes"
E149Heidi Grant: How to ask for help -- and get a "yes"Asking for help is tough. But to get through life, you have to do it all the time. So how do you get comfortable asking? In this actionable talk, social psychologist Heidi Grant shares four simple rules for asking for help and getting it — while making the process more rewarding for your helper, too. - Jonny Sun: You are not alone in your loneliness
E150Jonny Sun: You are not alone in your lonelinessBeing open and vulnerable with your loneliness, sadness and fear can help you find comfort and feel less alone, says writer and artist Jonny Sun. In an honest talk filled with his signature illustrations, Sun shares how telling stories about feeling like an outsider helped him tap into an unexpected community and find a tiny sliver of light in the darkness. - Jon Gray: The next big thing is coming from the Bronx, again
E151Jon Gray: The next big thing is coming from the Bronx, again"The hood is good," says Jon Gray of the Bronx, New York-based creative collective Ghetto Gastro. Working at the intersection of food, design and art, Gray and his team honor the soul and history of their community while applying their unbridled creativity and expansive imagination to unexpected, otherworldly collaborations. Learn more about how they're creating and investing in their home borough — bringing the Bronx to the world and vice versa. - Glenn Cantave: How augmented reality is changing activism
E152Glenn Cantave: How augmented reality is changing activismGlenn Cantave uses technology to highlight narratives of the oppressed. In a tour of immersive visual projects, he shares his work with the team at Movers and Shakers NYC, a coalition that executes direct action and advocacy campaigns for marginalized communities using virtual reality, augmented reality and the creative arts. - Moriba Jah: The world's first crowdsourced space traffic monitoring system
E153Moriba Jah: The world's first crowdsourced space traffic monitoring system"Most of what we send into outer space never comes back," says astrodynamicist and TED Fellow Moriba Jah. In this forward-thinking talk, Jah describes the space highways orbiting earth and how they're mostly populated by space junk. Learn more about his quest to develop and scale the world's first crowdsourced space traffic monitoring system — and how it could help solve the debris problem in near-earth space. - Julius Maada Bio: A vision for the future of Sierra Leone
E154Julius Maada Bio: A vision for the future of Sierra LeoneWhen Julius Maada Bio first seized political power in Sierra Leone in 1996, he did so to improve the lives of its citizens. But he soon realized that for democracy to flourish, its foundation needs to be built on the will of the people. After arranging an election, he voluntarily gave up power and left Africa. Twenty years later, after being democratically elected president of Sierra Leone, he reflects on the slow path to democracy, the importance of education for all and his focus on helping young Sierra Leoneans thrive. - Natalie Fratto: 3 ways to measure your adaptability -- and how to improve it
E155Natalie Fratto: 3 ways to measure your adaptability -- and how to improve itWhen venture investor Natalie Fratto is determining which start-up founder to support, she doesn't just look for intelligence or charisma; she looks for adaptability. In this insightful talk, Fratto shares three ways to measure your "adaptability quotient" — and shows why your ability to respond to change really matters. - Barbara J. King: Grief and love in the animal kingdom
E156Barbara J. King: Grief and love in the animal kingdomFrom mourning orcas to distressed elephants, biological anthropologist Barbara J. King has witnessed grief and love across the animal kingdom. In this eye-opening talk, she explains the evidence behind her belief that many animals experience complex emotions, and suggests ways all of us can treat them more ethically -- including every time we eat. "Animals don't grieve exactly like we do, but this doesn't mean that their grief isn't real," she says. "It is real, and it's searing, and we can see it if we choose." - Rick Doblin: The future of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy
E157Rick Doblin: The future of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapyCould psychedelics help us heal from trauma and mental illnesses? Researcher Rick Doblin has spent the past three decades investigating this question, and the results are promising. In this fascinating dive into the science of psychedelics, he explains how drugs like LSD, psilocybin and MDMA affect your brain -- and shows how, when paired with psychotherapy, they could change the way we treat PTSD, depression, substance abuse and more. - Jamie Paik: Origami robots that reshape and transform themselves
E158Jamie Paik: Origami robots that reshape and transform themselvesTaking design cues from origami, robotician Jamie Paik and her team created "robogamis": folding robots made out super-thin materials that can reshape and transform themselves. In this talk and tech demo, Paik shows how robogamis could adapt to achieve a variety of tasks on earth (or in space) and demonstrates how they roll, jump, catapult like a slingshot and even pulse like a beating heart. - Amy Padnani: How we're honoring people overlooked by history
E159Amy Padnani: How we're honoring people overlooked by historySince its founding in 1851, the "New York Times" has published thousands of obituaries -- for heads of state, famous celebrities, even the inventor of the sock puppet. But only a small percentage of them chronicle the lives of women and people of color. In this insightful talk, "Times" editor Amy Padnani shares the story behind "Overlooked," the project she's leading to recognize people from history whose deaths were ignored -- and refocus society's lens on who is considered important. - Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy: How film transforms the way we see the world
E160Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy: How film transforms the way we see the worldFilm has the power to change the way we think about ourselves and our culture. Documentarian and TED Fellow Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy uses it to fight violence against women, turning her camera on the tradition of honor killings in Pakistan. In a stirring talk, she shares how she took her Oscar-winning film on the road in a mobile cinema, visiting small towns and villages across Pakistan -- and shifting the dynamics between women, men and society, one screening at a time. - Ella Al-Shamahi: The fascinating (and dangerous) places scientists aren't exploring
E161Ella Al-Shamahi: The fascinating (and dangerous) places scientists aren't exploringWe're not doing frontline exploratory science in a huge portion of the world — the places governments deem too hostile or disputed. What might we be missing because we're not looking? In this fearless, unexpectedly funny talk, paleoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi takes us on an expedition to the Yemeni island of Socotra — one of the most biodiverse places on earth — and makes the case for scientists to explore the unstable regions that could be home to incredible discoveries. - Derren Brown: Mentalism, mind reading and the art of getting inside your head
E162Derren Brown: Mentalism, mind reading and the art of getting inside your head"Magic is a great analogy for how we edit reality and form a story — and then mistake that story for the truth," says psychological illusionist Derren Brown. In a clever talk wrapped around a dazzling mind-reading performance, Brown explores the seductive appeal of finding simple answers to life's complex and subtle questions. - Claudia Miner: A new way to get every child ready for kindergarten
E163Claudia Miner: A new way to get every child ready for kindergartenEarly education is critical to children's success — but millions of kids in the United States still don't have access to programs that prepare them to thrive in kindergarten and beyond. Enter the UPSTART Project, a plan to bring early learning into the homes of children in underserved communities, at no cost to families. Education innovator Claudia Miner shares how UPSTART is setting four-year-olds up for success with 15 minutes of learning a day — and how you can help. (This ambitious plan is a part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.) - Elizabeth Howell: How we can improve maternal healthcare -- before, during and after pregnancy
E164Elizabeth Howell: How we can improve maternal healthcare -- before, during and after pregnancyShocking, but true: the United States has the highest rate of deaths for new mothers of any developed country — and 60 percent of them are preventable. With clarity and urgency, physician Elizabeth Howell explains the causes of maternal mortality and shares ways for hospitals and doctors to make pregnancy safer for women before, during and after childbirth. - Rahul Mehrotra: The architectural wonder of impermanent cities
E165Rahul Mehrotra: The architectural wonder of impermanent citiesEvery 12 years, a megacity springs up in India for the Kumbh Mela religious festival — what's built in ten weeks is completely disassembled in one. What can we learn from this fully functioning, temporary settlement? In a visionary talk, urban designer Rahul Mehrotra explores the benefits of building impermanent cities that can travel, adapt or even disappear, leaving the lightest possible footprint on the planet. - Hajer Sharief: How to use family dinner to teach politics
E166Hajer Sharief: How to use family dinner to teach politicsEveryone should participate in decision-making and politics — and it starts at home, says activist Hajer Sharief. She introduces a simple yet transformative idea: that parents can teach their children about political agency by giving them a say in how their households are run, in the form of candid family meetings where everyone can express their opinions, negotiate and compromise. "We need to teach people that political, national and global affairs are as relevant to them as personal and family affairs," she says. "Can you really afford not to be interested or not participate in politics?" - Tshering Tobgay: An urgent call to protect the world's "Third Pole"
E167Tshering Tobgay: An urgent call to protect the world's "Third Pole"The Hindu Kush Himalaya region is the world's third-largest repository of ice, after the North and South Poles — and if current melting rates continue, two-thirds of its glaciers could be gone by the end of this century. What will happen if we let them melt away? Environmentalist and former Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay shares the latest from the "water towers of Asia," making an urgent call to create an intergovernmental agency to protect the glaciers — and save the nearly two billion people downstream from catastrophic flooding that would destroy land and livelihoods. - George Monbiot: The new political story that could change everything
E168George Monbiot: The new political story that could change everythingTo get out of the mess we're in, we need a new story that explains the present and guides the future, says author George Monbiot. Drawing on findings from psychology, neuroscience and evolutionary biology, he offers a new vision for society built around our fundamental capacity for altruism and cooperation. This contagiously optimistic talk will make you rethink the possibilities for our shared future. - Nicola Sturgeon: Why governments should prioritize well-being
E169Nicola Sturgeon: Why governments should prioritize well-beingIn 2018, Scotland, Iceland and New Zealand established the network of Wellbeing Economy Governments to challenge the acceptance of GDP as the ultimate measure of a country's success. In this visionary talk, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon explains the far-reaching implications of a "well-being economy" — which places factors like equal pay, childcare, mental health and access to green space at its heart — and shows how this new focus could help build resolve to confront global challenges. - Ivonne Roman: How policewomen make communities safer
E170Ivonne Roman: How policewomen make communities saferLess than 13 percent of police officers in the United States are women — despite their proven effectiveness in diffusing violent situations and reducing the use of force. Drawing on more than two decades of experience as a police officer and chief, TED Fellow Ivonne Roman shares how a simple change to police academy physical fitness tests could help build a more balanced force that benefits communities and officers alike. - Nicola Sturgeon: What Brexit means for Scotland
E171Nicola Sturgeon: What Brexit means for ScotlandFirst Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon joined TEDSummit in Edinburgh to deliver a visionary talk about making collective well-being the main aim of public policy and the economy. Watch the full talk at go.ted.com/nicolasturgeon. It was a charged week in UK politics; that same morning, Boris Johnson assumed office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. After the talk, Head of TED Chris Anderson joined First Minister Sturgeon to ask a few questions about the political situation in the UK. - Nanfu Wang: What it was like to grow up under China's one-child policy
E172Nanfu Wang: What it was like to grow up under China's one-child policyChina's one-child policy ended in 2015, but we're just beginning to understand what it was like to live under the program, says TED Fellow and documentary filmmaker Nanfu Wang. With footage from her film "One Child Nation," she shares untold stories that reveal the policy's complex consequences and expose the creeping power of propaganda. - Margaret Heffernan: The human skills we need in an unpredictable world
E173Margaret Heffernan: The human skills we need in an unpredictable worldThe more we rely on technology to make us efficient, the fewer skills we have to confront the unexpected, says writer and entrepreneur Margaret Heffernan. She shares why we need less tech and more messy human skills — imagination, humility, bravery — to solve problems in business, government and life in an unpredictable age. "We are brave enough to invent things we've never seen before," she says. "We can make any future we choose." - Victor Vescovo: What's at the bottom of the ocean -- and how we're getting there
E175Victor Vescovo: What's at the bottom of the ocean -- and how we're getting thereVictor Vescovo is leading the first-ever manned expedition to the deepest point of each of the world's five oceans. In conversation with TED science curator David Biello, Vescovo discusses the technology that's powering the explorations — a titanium submersible designed to withstand extraordinary conditions — and shows footage of a never-before-seen creature taken during his journey to the bottom of the Indian Ocean. - Joseph Gordon-Levitt: How craving attention makes you less creative
E176Joseph Gordon-Levitt: How craving attention makes you less creativeJoseph Gordon-Levitt has gotten more than his fair share of attention from his acting career. But as social media exploded over the past decade, he got addicted like the rest of us — trying to gain followers and likes only to be left feeling inadequate and less creative. In a refreshingly honest talk, he explores how the attention-driven model of big tech companies impacts our creativity — and shares a more powerful feeling than getting attention: paying attention. - Jon Lowenstein: Family, hope and resilience on the migrant trail
E177Jon Lowenstein: Family, hope and resilience on the migrant trailFor the past 20 years, photographer and TED Fellow Jon Lowenstein has documented the migrant journey from Latin America to the United States, one of the largest transnational migrations in world history. Sharing photos from his decade-long project "Shadow Lives USA," Lowenstein takes us into the inner worlds of the families escaping poverty and violence in Central America — and pieces together the complex reasons people leave their homes in search of a better life. - Bina Venkataraman: The power to think ahead in a reckless age
E178Bina Venkataraman: The power to think ahead in a reckless ageIn a forward-looking talk, author Bina Venkataraman answers a pivotal question of our time: How can we secure our future and do right by future generations? She parses the mistakes we make when imagining the future of our lives, businesses and communities, revealing how we can reclaim our innate foresight. What emerges is a surprising case for hope — and a path to becoming the "good ancestors" we long to be. - Pico Iyer: What ping-pong taught me about life
E179Pico Iyer: What ping-pong taught me about lifeGrowing up in England, Pico Iyer was taught that the point of a game was to win. Now, some 50 years later, he's realized that competition can be "more like an act of love." In this charming, subtly profound talk, he explores what regular games of ping-pong in his neighborhood in Japan have revealed about the riddle of winning — and shows why not knowing who's won can feel like the ultimate victory. - Kishore Mahbubani: How the West can adapt to a rising AsiaE180
Kishore Mahbubani: How the West can adapt to a rising AsiaAs Asian economies and governments continue to gain power, the West needs to find ways to adapt to the new global order, says author and diplomat Kishore Mahbubani. In an insightful look at international politics, Mahbubani shares a three-part strategy that Western governments can use to recover power and improve relations with the rest of the world. - Britt Wray: How climate change affects your mental healthE181
Britt Wray: How climate change affects your mental health"For all that's ever been said about climate change, we haven't heard nearly enough about the psychological impacts of living in a warming world," says science writer Britt Wray. In this quick talk, she explores how climate change is threatening our well-being — mental, social and spiritual — and offers a starting point for what we can do about it. - Kelly Wanser: Emergency medicine for our climate feverE182
Kelly Wanser: Emergency medicine for our climate feverAs we recklessly warm the planet by pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, some industrial emissions also produce particles that reflect sunshine back into space, putting a check on global warming that we're only starting to understand. Climate activist Kelly Wanser asks: Can we engineer ways to harness this effect and further reduce warming? Learn more about the promises and risks of "cloud brightening" — and how it could help restore our climate to health. - Lee Thomas: How I help people understand vitiligoE183
Lee Thomas: How I help people understand vitiligoTV news anchor Lee Thomas thought his career was over after he was diagnosed with vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder that left large patches of his skin without pigment and led to derision and stares. In a captivating talk, he shares how he discovered a way to counter misunderstanding and fear around his appearance with engagement, dialogue — and a smile. "Positivity is something worth fighting for, and the fight is not with others — it's internal," Thomas says. "If you want to make positive changes in your life, you have to consistently be positive." - Yeonmi Park: What I learned about freedom after escaping North KoreaE184
Yeonmi Park: What I learned about freedom after escaping North Korea"North Korea is unimaginable," says human rights activist Yeonmi Park, who escaped the country at the age of 13. Sharing the harrowing story of her childhood, she reflects on the fragility of freedom — and shows how change can be achieved even in the world's darkest places. - Asmeret Asefaw Berhe: A climate change solution that's right under our feetE185
Asmeret Asefaw Berhe: A climate change solution that's right under our feetThere's two times more carbon in the earth's soil than in all of its vegetation and the atmosphere — combined. Biogeochemist Asmeret Asefaw Berhe dives into the science of soil and shares how we could use its awesome carbon-trapping power to offset climate change. "[Soil] represents the difference between life and lifelessness in the earth system, and it can also help us combat climate change — if we can only stop treating it like dirt," she says. - Jochen Wegner: What happened when we paired up thousands of strangers to talk politicsE186
Jochen Wegner: What happened when we paired up thousands of strangers to talk politicsIn spring 2019, more than 17,000 Europeans from 33 countries signed up to have a political argument with a complete stranger. They were part of "Europe Talks," a project that organizes one-on-one conversations between people who disagree — sort of like a Tinder for politics. Editor Jochen Wegner shares the unexpected things that happened when people met up to talk — and shows how face-to-face discussions could get a divided world to rethink itself. - Emily F. Rothman: How porn changes the way teens think about sexE187
Emily F. Rothman: How porn changes the way teens think about sex"The free, online, mainstream pornography that teenagers are most likely to see is a completely terrible form of sex education," says public health researcher Emily F. Rothman. She shares how her mission to end dating and sexual violence led her to create a pornography literacy program that helps teens learn about consent and respect — and invites them to think critically about sexually explicit media. - Anthony Veneziale: "Stumbling towards intimacy": An improvised TED TalkE188
Anthony Veneziale: "Stumbling towards intimacy": An improvised TED TalkIn a hilarious, completely improvised talk, improv master Anthony Veneziale takes to the TED stage for a truly one-of-a-kind performance. Armed with an audience-suggested topic ("stumbling towards intimacy") and a deck of slides he's never seen before, Veneziale crafts a meditation on the intersection of love, language and ... avocados? - Andrew Marantz: Inside the bizarre world of internet trolls and propagandistsE189
Andrew Marantz: Inside the bizarre world of internet trolls and propagandistsJournalist Andrew Marantz spent three years embedded in the world of internet trolls and social media propagandists, seeking out the people who are propelling fringe talking points into the heart of conversation online and trying to understand how they're making their ideas spread. Go down the rabbit hole of online propaganda and misinformation — and learn we can start to make the internet less toxic. - Howard Taylor: A global initiative to end violence against children
E190Howard Taylor: A global initiative to end violence against childrenEach year, one billion children experience violence at home, at school, online or in their communities, says child safety advocate Howard Taylor. The problem is social, economic, political -- and urgent. In an eye-opening talk, Taylor shows why we have an unprecedented opportunity right now to end violence against children and create a better future for every child. - Phillip Atiba Goff: How we can make racism a solvable problem -- and improve policingE191
Phillip Atiba Goff: How we can make racism a solvable problem -- and improve policingWhen we define racism as behaviors instead of feelings, we can measure it — and transform it from an impossible problem into a solvable one, says justice scientist Phillip Atiba Goff. In an actionable talk, he shares his work at the Center for Policing Equity, an organization that helps police departments diagnose and track racial gaps in policing in order to eliminate them. Learn more about their data-driven approach — and how you can get involved with the work that still needs to be done. (This ambitious plan is part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.) - Carl June: A "living drug" that could change the way we treat cancerE192
Carl June: A "living drug" that could change the way we treat cancerCarl June is the pioneer behind CAR T-cell therapy: a groundbreaking cancer treatment that supercharges part of a patient's own immune system to attack and kill tumors. In a talk about a breakthrough, he shares how three decades of research culminated in a therapy that's eradicated cases of leukemia once thought to be incurable — and explains how it could be used to fight other types of cancer. - Sandeep Jauhar: How your emotions change the shape of your heartE193
Sandeep Jauhar: How your emotions change the shape of your heart"A record of our emotional life is written on our hearts," says cardiologist and author Sandeep Jauhar. In a stunning talk, he explores the mysterious ways our emotions impact the health of our hearts — causing them to change shape in response to grief or fear, to literally break in response to emotional heartbreak — and calls for a shift in how we care for our most vital organ. - Danielle Citron: How deepfakes undermine truth and threaten democracyE194
Danielle Citron: How deepfakes undermine truth and threaten democracyThe use of deepfake technology to manipulate video and audio for malicious purposes — whether it's to stoke violence or defame politicians and journalists — is becoming a real threat. As these tools become more accessible and their products more realistic, how will they shape what we believe about the world? In a portentous talk, law professor Danielle Citron reveals how deepfakes magnify our distrust — and suggests approaches to safeguarding the truth. - Jacqueline Woodson: What reading slowly taught me about writingE195
Jacqueline Woodson: What reading slowly taught me about writingReading slowly — with her finger running beneath the words, even when she was taught not to — has led Jacqueline Woodson to a life of writing books to be savored. In a lyrical talk, she invites us to slow down and appreciate stories that take us places we never thought we'd go and introduce us to people we never thought we'd meet. "Isn't that what this is all about — finding a way, at the end of the day, to not feel alone in this world, and a way to feel like we've changed it before we leave?" she asks. - Nick Hanauer: The dirty secret of capitalism -- and a new way forwardE196
Nick Hanauer: The dirty secret of capitalism -- and a new way forwardRising inequality and growing political instability are the direct result of decades of bad economic theory, says entrepreneur Nick Hanauer. In a visionary talk, he dismantles the mantra that "greed is good" — an idea he describes as not only morally corrosive, but also scientifically wrong — and lays out a new theory of economics powered by reciprocity and cooperation. - Emmett Shear: What streaming means for the future of entertainmentE197
Emmett Shear: What streaming means for the future of entertainmentIn a talk and demo, Twitch cofounder Emmett Shear shares his vision for the future of interactive entertainment — and explains how video game streaming is helping people build communities online. "I am excited for a world where our entertainment could connect us instead of isolating us — a world where we can bond with each other over our shared interests and create real, strong communities," Shear says. - Kristie Ebi: How climate change could make our food less nutritiousE198
Kristie Ebi: How climate change could make our food less nutritiousRising carbon levels in the atmosphere can make plants grow faster, but there's another hidden consequence: they rob plants of the nutrients and vitamins we need to survive. In a talk about global food security, epidemiologist Kristie Ebi explores the potentially massive health consequences of this growing nutrition crisis — and explores the steps we can take to ensure all people have access to safe, healthy food. - Patrick Chappatte: A free world needs satireE199
Patrick Chappatte: A free world needs satireWe need humor like we need the air we breathe, says editorial cartoonist Patrick Chappatte. In a talk illustrated with highlights from a career spent skewering everything from dictators and ideologues to selfies and social media mobs, Chappatte makes a resounding, often hilarious case for the necessity of satire. "Political cartoons were born with democracy, and they are challenged when freedom is," he says. - Federica Bianco: How we use astrophysics to study earthbound problems
E200Federica Bianco: How we use astrophysics to study earthbound problemsTo study a system as complex as the entire universe, astrophysicists need to be experts at extracting simple solutions from large data sets. What else could they do with this expertise? In an interdisciplinary talk, TED Fellow and astrophysicist Federica Bianco explains how she uses astrophysical data analysis to solve urban and social problems — as well as stellar mysteries. - Johann Hari: This could be why you're depressed or anxious
E201Johann Hari: This could be why you're depressed or anxiousIn a moving talk, journalist Johann Hari shares fresh insights on the causes of depression and anxiety from experts around the world — as well as some exciting emerging solutions. "If you're depressed or anxious, you're not weak and you're not crazy — you're a human being with unmet needs," Hari says. - Cindy Gallop: Make love, not porn
E202Cindy Gallop: Make love, not pornCindy Gallop shares how hardcore pornography has distorted the way a generation of young men thinks about sex -- and how she's fighting back with Make Love Not Porn, her effort to correct the myths being propagated. (This talk contains mature content) - Sonaar Luthra: We need to track the world's water like we track the weather
E204Sonaar Luthra: We need to track the world's water like we track the weatherWe need a global weather service for water, says entrepreneur and TED Fellow Sonaar Luthra. In a talk about environmental accountability, Luthra shows how we could forecast water shortages and risks with a global data collection effort — just like we monitor the movement of storms — and better listen to what the earth is telling us. - Safeena Husain: A bold plan to empower 1.6 million out-of-school girls in India
E205Safeena Husain: A bold plan to empower 1.6 million out-of-school girls in India"Girls' education is the closest thing we have to a silver bullet to help solve some of the world's most difficult problems," says social entrepreneur Safeena Husain. In a visionary talk, she shares her plan to enroll a staggering 1.6 million girls in school over the next five years — combining advanced analytics with door-to-door community engagement to create new educational pathways for girls in India. (This ambitious plan is part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.) - Emeli Sandé: "You Are Not Alone" / "Extraordinary Being" / "Shine"
E206Emeli Sandé: "You Are Not Alone" / "Extraordinary Being" / "Shine""We are intricately connected by the most glorious of energies," says singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé. Accompanied by Ray Angry on piano, Sandé sings three soaring ballads: "You Are Not Alone," "Extraordinary Being" and "Shine." - Tim Flannery: Can seaweed help curb global warming?
E207Tim Flannery: Can seaweed help curb global warming?It's time for planetary-scale interventions to combat climate change — and environmentalist Tim Flannery thinks seaweed can help. In a bold talk, he shares the epic carbon-capturing potential of seaweed, explaining how oceangoing seaweed farms created on a massive scale could trap all the carbon we emit into the atmosphere. Learn more about this potentially planet-saving solution — and the work that's still needed to get there. - Yaniv Erlich: How we're building the world's largest family tree
E208Yaniv Erlich: How we're building the world's largest family treeComputational geneticist Yaniv Erlich helped build the world's largest family tree — comprising 13 million people and going back more than 500 years. He shares fascinating patterns that emerged from the work — about our love lives, our health, even decades-old criminal cases — and shows how crowdsourced genealogy databases can shed light not only on the past but also on the future. - Will Hurd: A wall won't solve America's border problems
E209Will Hurd: A wall won't solve America's border problems"Building a 30-foot-high concrete structure from sea to shining sea is the most expensive and least effective way to do border security," says Congressman Will Hurd, a Republican from Texas whose district encompasses two times zones and shares an 820-mile border with Mexico. Speaking from Washington, DC in a video interview with former state attorney general Anne Milgram, Hurd discusses the US government's border policy and its controversial detention and child separation practices — and lays out steps toward a better future at the border. (Recorded at the TED World Theater in New York on September 10, 2019) - Sam Van Aken: How one tree grows 40 different kinds of fruit
E210Sam Van Aken: How one tree grows 40 different kinds of fruitArtist Sam Van Aken shares the breathtaking work behind the "Tree of 40 Fruit," an ongoing series of hybridized fruit trees that grow 40 different varieties of peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines and cherries — all on the same tree. What began as an art project to showcase beautiful, multi-hued blossoms has become a living archive of rare heirloom specimens and their histories, a hands-on (and delicious!) way to teach people about cultivation and a vivid symbol of the need for biodiversity to ensure food security. "More than just food, embedded in these fruit is our culture ... In many ways, these fruit are our story," Van Aken says. - Muthoni Drummer Queen: Creativity builds nations
E211Muthoni Drummer Queen: Creativity builds nationsIn a hopeful talk followed by an empowering performance, musician and TED Fellow Muthoni Drummer Queen shares how industries like music, film and fashion provide a platform for Africans to broadcast their rich and diverse talents — and explains how the shared experience of creativity can replace attitudes of exclusionism and othering with acceptance and self-love. - Sarah Sze: How we experience time and memory through art
E212Sarah Sze: How we experience time and memory through artArtist Sarah Sze takes us on a kaleidoscopic journey through her work: immersive installations as tall as buildings, splashed across walls, orbiting through galleries — blurring the lines between time, memory and space. Explore how we give meaning to objects in this beautiful tour of Sze's experiential, multimedia art. - Mohammad Modarres: Why you should shop at your local farmers market
E213Mohammad Modarres: Why you should shop at your local farmers marketThe average farmer in America makes less than 15 cents of every dollar on a product that you purchase at a store. They feed our communities, but farmers often cannot afford the very foods they grow. In this actionable talk, social entrepreneur Mohammad Modarres shows how to put your purchasing power into action to save local agriculture from collapse and transform the food industry from the bottom up. - Moreangels Mbizah: How community-led conservation can save wildlife
E214Moreangels Mbizah: How community-led conservation can save wildlifeConservationist and TED Fellow Moreangels Mbizah studied the famous Cecil the lion until he was shot by a trophy hunter in 2015. She wonders how things could've gone differently, asking: "What if the community that lived next to Cecil was involved in protecting him?" In a quick talk, Mbizah shares the state of conservation in her home of Zimbabwe — and why she thinks that communities living with wildlife are the ones best positioned to help them. - Mitchell Katz: What the US health care system assumes about you
E215Mitchell Katz: What the US health care system assumes about youThe US health care system assumes many things about patients: that they can take off from work in the middle of the day, speak English, have a working telephone and a steady supply of food. Because of that, it's failing many of those who are most in need, says Mitchell Katz, CEO of the largest public health care system in the US. In this eye-opening talk, he shares stories of the challenges low-income patients face — and how we can build a better system for all. - Camilla Arndal Andersen: What happens in your brain when you taste food
E216Camilla Arndal Andersen: What happens in your brain when you taste foodWith fascinating research and hilarious anecdotes, neuroscientist Camilla Arndal Andersen takes us into the lab where she studies people's sense of taste via brain scans. She reveals surprising insights about the way our brains subconsciously experience food — and shows how this data could help us eat healthier without sacrificing taste. - Efosa Ojomo: Reducing corruption takes a specific kind of investment
E217Efosa Ojomo: Reducing corruption takes a specific kind of investmentTraditional thinking on corruption goes like this: if you put good laws in place and enforce them well, then economic development increases and corruption falls. In reality, we have the equation backwards, says innovation researcher Efosa Ojomo. In this compelling talk, he offers new thinking on how we could potentially eliminate corruption worldwide by focusing on one thing: scarcity. "Societies don't develop because they've reduced corruption," he says. "They're able to reduce corruption because they've developed." - Paul Rucker: "Criminalization of Survival"
E218Paul Rucker: "Criminalization of Survival"Visual artist, cellist and TED Fellow Paul Rucker performs a disarming rendition of "Criminalization of Survival," a piece he created to explore the fragile journey of life in light of the brutality of the immigration crisis. - Herman Narula: The transformative power of video games
E219Herman Narula: The transformative power of video gamesA full third of the world's population — 2.6 billion people — play video games, plugging into massive networks of interaction that have opened up opportunities well beyond entertainment. In a talk about the future of the medium, entrepreneur Herman Narula makes the case for a new understanding of gaming — one that includes the power to create new worlds, connect people and shape the economy. - Gangadhar Patil: How we're helping local reporters turn important stories into national news
E220Gangadhar Patil: How we're helping local reporters turn important stories into national newsLocal reporters are on the front lines of important stories, but their work often goes unnoticed by national and international news outlets. TED Fellow and journalist Gangadhar Patil is working to change that. In this quick talk, he shows how he's connecting grassroots reporters in India with major news outlets worldwide — and helping elevate and expose stories that might never get covered otherwise. - Andrew Forrest: A radical plan to end plastic waste
E221Andrew Forrest: A radical plan to end plastic wastePlastic is an incredible substance for the economy — and the worst substance possible for the environment, says entrepreneur Andrew Forrest. In a conversation meant to spark debate, Forrest and head of TED Chris Anderson discuss an ambitious plan to get the world's biggest companies to fund an environmental revolution — and transition industry towards getting all of its plastic from recycled materials, not from fossil fuels. - Juan Enriquez: A personal plea for humanity at the US-Mexico border
E222Juan Enriquez: A personal plea for humanity at the US-Mexico borderIn this powerful, personal talk, author and academic Juan Enriquez shares stories from inside the immigration crisis at the US-Mexico border, bringing this often-abstract debate back down to earth — and showing what you can do every day to create a sense of belonging for immigrants. "This isn't about kids and borders," he says. "It's about us. This is about who we are, who we the people are, as a nation and as individuals." - Laura Boykin: How we're using DNA tech to help farmers fight crop diseases
E223Laura Boykin: How we're using DNA tech to help farmers fight crop diseasesNearly 800 million people worldwide depend on cassava for survival — but this critical food source is under attack by entirely preventable viruses, says computational biologist and TED Senior Fellow Laura Boykin. She takes us to the farms in East Africa where she's working with a diverse team of scientists to help farmers keep their crops healthy using a portable DNA lab and mini supercomputer that can identify viruses in hours, instead of months. - Shannon Lee: What Bruce Lee can teach us about living fully
E224Shannon Lee: What Bruce Lee can teach us about living fullyMost of us know Bruce Lee as the famous martial artist and action film star — but he was also a philosopher who taught "self-actualization": the practice of how to be yourself in the best way possible. In this inspiring talk, Bruce's daughter Shannon Lee takes us inside the mind of her father, exploring how to use his philosophy in your daily life to achieve profound personal growth and make a lasting impact. - Judith Jamison and members of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Revelations from a lifetime of dance
E225Judith Jamison and members of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Revelations from a lifetime of dance"Dance can elevate our human experience beyond words," says Judith Jamison, artistic director emerita of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. In between performances of excerpts from Alvin Ailey's classic works "Revelations" and "Cry," Jamison reflects on the enduring power of dance to transform history into art that thrills audiences around the world. (Performances by Solomon Dumas, Samantha Figgins and Constance Stamatiou.) - Adena Friedman: What's the future of capitalism?
E226Adena Friedman: What's the future of capitalism?Global markets let people put their money behind ideas that make society better. So why does capitalism get a lot of the blame for the world's problems? In this forward-thinking talk, Nasdaq president and CEO Adena Friedman explains how markets can level the playing field -- as long as we imagine more and new ways to balance the capitalistic foundations of choice and freedom. - The Bloom Twins: "Wrong" / "Small Town Weirdos"
E227The Bloom Twins: "Wrong" / "Small Town Weirdos"In an intoxicating performance, the Bloom Twins -- multi-instrumentalist sisters Anna and Sonya Kupriienko -- perform their special brand of "dark pop": a haunting collision of melody and electronic tracks. - First Aid Kit: "King of the World" / "Nothing Has to Be True" / "My Silver Lining"
E228First Aid Kit: "King of the World" / "Nothing Has to Be True" / "My Silver Lining"Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit blend sweet vocal harmonies, raw melodies and honest lyrics in a lively performance of their original songs: "King of the World", "Nothing Has to Be True" and "My Silver Lining." - David Deutsch: After billions of years of monotony, the universe is waking up
E229David Deutsch: After billions of years of monotony, the universe is waking upTheoretical physicist David Deutsch delivers a mind-bending meditation on the "great monotony" -- the idea that nothing novel has appeared in the universe for billions of years -- and shows how humanity's capacity to create explanatory knowledge could be the thing that bucks this trend. "Humans are not playthings of cosmic forces," he says. "We are users of cosmic forces." - Julie Cordua: How we can eliminate child sexual abuse material from the internet
E230Julie Cordua: How we can eliminate child sexual abuse material from the internetSocial entrepreneur Julie Cordua works on a problem that isn't easy to talk about: the sexual abuse of children in images and videos on the internet. At Thorn, she's building technology to connect the dots between the tech industry, law enforcement and government -- so we can swiftly end the viral distribution of abuse material and rescue children faster. Learn more about how this scalable solution could help dismantle the communities normalizing child sexual abuse around the world today. (This ambitious plan is part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.) - Marcus Bullock: An app that helps incarcerated people stay connected to their families
E231Marcus Bullock: An app that helps incarcerated people stay connected to their familiesOver his eight-year prison sentence, Marcus Bullock was sustained by his mother's love -- and by the daily letters and photos she sent of life on the outside. Years later, as an entrepreneur, Bullock asked himself: How can I make it easier for all families to stay connected during incarceration? Enter FlikShop: an app he developed that lets families send quick postcards to loved ones in prison and help keep open a critical line of support. - Luis H. Zayas: The psychological impact of child separation at the US-Mexico border
E232Luis H. Zayas: The psychological impact of child separation at the US-Mexico borderHow does psychological trauma affect children's developing brains? In this powerful talk, social worker Luis H. Zayas discusses his work with refugees and asylum-seeking families at the US-Mexico border. What emerges is a stunning analysis of the long-term impact of the US's controversial detention and child separation policies -- and practical steps for how the country can do better. - Tina Arrowood: A circular economy for salt that keeps rivers clean
E233Tina Arrowood: A circular economy for salt that keeps rivers cleanDuring the winter of 2018-2019, one million tons of salt were applied to icy roads in the state of Pennsylvania alone. The salt from industrial uses like this often ends up in freshwater rivers, making their water undrinkable and contributing to a growing global crisis. How can we better protect these precious natural resources? Physical organic chemist Tina Arrowood shares a three-step plan to keep salt out of rivers -- and create a circular salt economy that turns industrial byproducts into valuable resources. - Alasdair Harris: How a handful of fishing villages sparked a marine conservation revolution
E234Alasdair Harris: How a handful of fishing villages sparked a marine conservation revolutionWe need a radically new approach to ocean conservation, says marine biologist and TED Fellow Alasdair Harris. In a visionary talk, he lays out a surprising solution to the problem of overfishing that could both revive marine life and rebuild local fisheries -- all by taking less from the ocean. "When we design it right, marine conservation reaps dividends that go far beyond protecting nature," he says. - Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: A love story for the coral reef crisis
E235Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: A love story for the coral reef crisisOver the course of hundreds of scuba dives, marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson fell in love -- with a fish. In this ode to parrotfish, she shares five reasons why these creatures are simply amazing (from their ability to poop white sand to make colorful "wardrobe changes") and shows what's at stake -- for us and them -- as climate change threatens the future of coral reefs. - Bjarke Ingels: An architect's guide to living on Mars
E236Bjarke Ingels: An architect's guide to living on MarsWhat would it take to live on Mars? In an imaginative talk, architect Bjarke Ingels shares his prototype Martian "city" in Dubai, where they're building technologies that humanity would need to thrive on the Red Planet. - Becca McCharen-Tran: Fashion that celebrates all body types -- boldly and unapologetically
E237Becca McCharen-Tran: Fashion that celebrates all body types -- boldly and unapologeticallyFashion designers have the power to change culture -- and Becca McCharen-Tran is using her platform to expand the industry's narrow definition of beauty. Sharing highlights of her work, McCharen-Tran discusses the inspiration behind her norm-shattering designs and shows how she's celebrating beauty in all forms. "I want the consumer to know that it's not your body that needs to change -- it's the clothes," she says. - Janelle Shane: The danger of AI is weirder than you think
E238Janelle Shane: The danger of AI is weirder than you thinkThe danger of artificial intelligence isn't that it's going to rebel against us, but that it's going to do exactly what we ask it to do, says AI researcher Janelle Shane. Sharing the weird, sometimes alarming antics of AI algorithms as they try to solve human problems -- like creating new ice cream flavors or recognizing cars on the road -- Shane shows why AI doesn't yet measure up to real brains. - Abhishek Gopalka: How motivation can fix public systems
E239Abhishek Gopalka: How motivation can fix public systemsHow do you fix broken public systems? You spark people's competitive spirit. In a talk about getting people motivated to make change, public sector strategist Abhishek Gopalka discusses how he helped improve the health system of Rajasthan, a state in India home to more than 80 million people, using the powers of transparency and public accountability. "Motivation doesn't just appear," Gopalka says. "Something needs to change to make you care." - Jon M. Chu: The pride and power of representation in film
E240Jon M. Chu: The pride and power of representation in filmOn the heels of the breakout success of his film "Crazy Rich Asians," director Jon M. Chu reflects on what drives him to create -- and makes a resounding case for the power of connection and on-screen representation. - Ashwin Naidu: The link between fishing cats and mangrove forest conservation
E241Ashwin Naidu: The link between fishing cats and mangrove forest conservationMangrove forests are crucial to the health of the planet, gobbling up CO2 from the atmosphere and providing a home for a diverse array of species. But these rich habitats are under continual threat from deforestation and industry. In an empowering talk, conservationist and TED Fellow Ashwin Naidu shares how community-driven efforts in South and Southeast Asia are working to protect mangroves -- all with a little help from the mysterious and endangered fishing cat. - Claire Wardle: How you can help transform the internet into a place of trust
E242Claire Wardle: How you can help transform the internet into a place of trustHow can we stop the spread of misleading, sometimes dangerous content while maintaining an internet with freedom of expression at its core? Misinformation expert Claire Wardle explores the new challenges of our polluted online environment and maps out a plan to transform the internet into a place of trust -- with the help everyday users. "Together, let's rebuild our information commons," she says. - Beau Lotto and Cirque du Soleil: How we experience awe -- and why it matters
E243Beau Lotto and Cirque du Soleil: How we experience awe -- and why it mattersNeuroscientist Beau Lotto conducted an ambitious study with Cirque du Soleil on the emotion of awe and its psychological and behavioral benefits. In this talk and live performance, he shares some of their findings -- and stands back as Cirque du Soleil dancers create their own awe-inducing spectacle. - Alexis Gambis: Why we need more (real) science in fiction
E244Alexis Gambis: Why we need more (real) science in fictionFilmmaker, biologist and TED Fellow Alexis Gambis makes films grounded in fact, straddling the genres of experimental, documentary and fiction. Showing clips of his work, Gambis demonstrates how storytelling helps explain important scientific advancements and social issues -- and how it can be a lens on our own humanity. "We need more real science in fictional movies, to create more eclectic, more inclusive, more poetic portrayals of science and scientists in the world," he says. - Hiromi Ozaki: How I bring myth and magic to life
E245Hiromi Ozaki: How I bring myth and magic to lifeRecent scientific developments have made possible things once attributed only to gods and mythologies. Artist and TED Fellow Hiromi Ozaki shows how she worked with scientists in biotechnology and genetic engineering to turn one myth -- the Red String of Fate -- into a reality. - Andrew Nemr: The sounds and sights of tap dance
E246Andrew Nemr: The sounds and sights of tap danceThe audio aspect of tap dancing is just as essential as the visual. Choose your own adventure by listening with your eyes closed and/or watching as TED Fellow Andrew Nemr performs an exploration of rhythm and sound, joined by dancers from the Vancouver Tap Dance Society. - Rose M. Mutiso: How to bring affordable, sustainable electricity to Africa
E247Rose M. Mutiso: How to bring affordable, sustainable electricity to AfricaEnergy poverty, or the lack of access to electricity and other basic energy services, affects nearly two-thirds of Sub-Saharan Africa. As the region's population continues to increase, so will the need to build a new energy system to grow with it, says Rose M. Mutiso. In a bold talk, she discusses how a balanced mix of solutions like solar, wind farms, geothermal power and modern grids could create a high-energy future for Africa -- providing reliable electricity, creating jobs and raising incomes. - Leila Pirhaji: The medical potential of AI and metabolites
E248Leila Pirhaji: The medical potential of AI and metabolitesMany diseases are driven by metabolites -- small molecules in your body like fat, glucose and cholesterol -- but we don't know exactly what they are or how they work. Biotech entrepreneur and TED Fellow Leila Pirhaji shares her plan to build an AI-based network to characterize metabolite patterns, better understand how disease develops -- and discover more effective treatments. - Toby Kiers: Lessons from fungi on markets and economics
E249Toby Kiers: Lessons from fungi on markets and economicsResource inequality is one of our greatest challenges, but it's not unique to humans. Like us, mycorrhizal fungi that live in plant and tree roots strategically trade, steal and withhold resources, displaying remarkable parallels to humans in their capacity to be opportunistic (and sometimes ruthless) -- all in the absence of cognition. In a mind-blowing talk, evolutionary biologist Toby Kiers shares what fungi networks and relationships reveal about human economies, and what they can tell us about inequality. - Jess Kutch: What productive conflict can offer a workplace
E250Jess Kutch: What productive conflict can offer a workplaceGot an idea to make your workplace better? Labor organizer and TED Fellow Jess Kutch can show you how to put it into action. In this quick talk, she explains how "productive conflict" -- when people organize to challenge and change their work lives for the better -- can be beneficial for employees and employers alike. - Daniel Streicker: What vaccinating vampire bats can teach us about pandemics
E251Daniel Streicker: What vaccinating vampire bats can teach us about pandemicsCould we anticipate the next big disease outbreak, stopping a virus like Ebola before it ever strikes? In this talk about frontline scientific research, ecologist Daniel Streicker takes us to the Amazon rainforest in Peru where he tracks the movement of vampire bats in order to forecast and prevent rabies outbreaks. By studying these disease patterns, Streicker shows how we could learn to cut off the next pandemic at its source. - Lori Gottlieb: How changing your story can change your life
E252Lori Gottlieb: How changing your story can change your lifeStories help you make sense of your life -- but when these narratives are incomplete or misleading, they can keep you stuck instead of providing clarity. In an actionable talk, psychotherapist and advice columnist Lori Gottlieb shows how to break free from the stories you've been telling yourself by becoming your own editor and rewriting your narrative from a different point of view. - Sara-Jane Dunn: The next software revolution: programming biological cells
E253Sara-Jane Dunn: The next software revolution: programming biological cellsThe cells in your body are like computer software: they're "programmed" to carry out specific functions at specific times. If we can better understand this process, we could unlock the ability to reprogram cells ourselves, says computational biologist Sara-Jane Dunn. In a talk from the cutting-edge of science, she explains how her team is studying embryonic stem cells to gain a new understanding of the biological programs that power life -- and develop "living software" that could transform medicine, agriculture and energy. - Bob Langert: The business case for working with your toughest critics
E254Bob Langert: The business case for working with your toughest criticsAs a "corporate suit" (his words) and former VP of sustainability at McDonald's, Bob Langert works with companies and their strongest critics to find solutions that are good for both business and society. In this actionable talk, he shares stories from the decades-long transition into corporate sustainability at McDonald's -- including his work with unlikely partners like the Environmental Defense Fund and Temple Grandin -- and shows why your adversaries can sometimes be your best allies. - Bhakti Sharma: What open water swimming taught me about resilience
E255Bhakti Sharma: What open water swimming taught me about resilienceDive into the deep with open water swimmer Bhakti Sharma, as she shares what she learned about resilience during her personal journey from the scorching heat of Rajasthan, India to the bone-chilling waters of her record-breaking swim in Antarctica and her courageous crossing of the English Channel. "In the middle of the ocean, there is nowhere to hide," Sharma says. - Tashka and Laura Yawanawá: The Amazon belongs to humanity -- let's protect it together
E256Tashka and Laura Yawanawá: The Amazon belongs to humanity -- let's protect it togetherTashka and Laura Yawanawá lead the Yawanawá people in Acre, Brazil -- a tribe that stewards almost 500,000 acres of Amazon rainforest. As footage of the Amazon burning shocks the world's consciousness, Tashka and Laura call for us to transform this moment into an opportunity to support indigenous people who have the experience, knowledge and tools needed to protect the land. - Paul A. Kramer: Our immigration conversation is broken -- here's how to have a better one
E257Paul A. Kramer: Our immigration conversation is broken -- here's how to have a better oneHow did the US immigration debate get to be so divisive? In this informative talk, historian and writer Paul A. Kramer shows how an "insider vs. outsider" framing has come to dominate the way people in the US talk about immigration -- and suggests a set of new questions that could reshape the conversation around whose life, rights and thriving matters. - Morley: "Follow the Sound"
E258Morley: "Follow the Sound"Playing "Follow the Sound" from her album "Borderless Lullabies" -- which was created in support of immigrant and refugee children entering the US -- Morley weaves jazz, soul and resonant vocals. She's joined onstage by cellist Dave Eggar and multi-instrumentalist Chris Bruce. - Maria Popova: An excerpt from "Figuring"
E259Maria Popova: An excerpt from "Figuring"In a striking spoken-word performance, poet and thinker Maria Popova reads an excerpt from her book "Figuring," accompanied by cellist Dave Eggar and guitarist Chris Bruce. This stunning meditation on the interconnectivity of lives shatters "the illusion of separateness, of otherness." - Eli Pariser: What obligation do social media platforms have to the greater good?
E261Eli Pariser: What obligation do social media platforms have to the greater good?Social media has become our new home. Can we build it better? Taking design cues from urban planners and social scientists, technologist Eli Pariser shows how the problems we're encountering on digital platforms aren't all that new -- and shares how, by following the model of thriving towns and cities, we can create trustworthy online communities. - Ma Yansong: Urban architecture inspired by mountains, clouds and volcanoes
E262Ma Yansong: Urban architecture inspired by mountains, clouds and volcanoesTaking inspiration from nature, architect Ma Yansong designs breathtaking buildings that break free from the boxy symmetry of so many modern cities. His exuberant and graceful work -- from a pair of curvy skyscrapers that "dance" with each other to an opera house that looks like a snow-capped mountain -- shows us the beauty of architecture that defies norms. - Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin: A historical musical that examines black identity in the 1901 World's Fair
E263Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin: A historical musical that examines black identity in the 1901 World's FairIn this lively talk and performance, artist and TED Fellow Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin offers a sneak peek of her forthcoming musical "At Buffalo." Drawing on archival material from the 1901 Pan-American Exhibition, a world's fair held in Buffalo, New York, the show examines conflicting representations of black identity exhibited at the fair -- highlighting unsettlingly familiar parallels between American society at the turn of the century and today, and asking: Are we all still part of the show? - Rabiaa El Garani: Hope and justice for women who've survived ISIS
E264Rabiaa El Garani: Hope and justice for women who've survived ISISHuman rights protector Rabiaa El Garani shares the challenging, heartbreaking story of sexual violence committed against Yazidi women and girls in Iraq by ISIS -- and her work seeking justice for the survivors. "These victims have been through unimaginable pain. But with a little help, they show how resilient they are," she says. "It is an honor to bear witness; it is a privilege to seek justice." (This talk contains mature content.) - Mani Vajipey: How India's local recyclers could solve plastic pollution
E265Mani Vajipey: How India's local recyclers could solve plastic pollutionIndia has one of the world's highest rates of plastic recycling, thanks largely to an extensive network of informal recyclers known as "kabadiwalas." Entrepreneur Mani Vajipey discusses his work to organize their massive efforts into a collection system that could put India on the path to ending plastic pollution -- and show the rest of the world how to do it, too. - Peter Beck: Small rockets are the next space revolution
E266Peter Beck: Small rockets are the next space revolutionWe're in the dawn of a new space revolution, says engineer Peter Beck: the revolution of the small. In a talk packed with insights into the state of the space industry, Beck shares his work building rockets capable of delivering small payloads to space rapidly and reliably -- helping us search for extraterrestrial life, learn more about the solar system and create a global internet network. - Robert Gupta: Music is medicine, music is sanity
E267Robert Gupta: Music is medicine, music is sanityRobert Gupta, violinist with the LA Philharmonic, talks about a violin lesson he once gave to a brilliant, schizophrenic musician -- and what he learned. Called back onstage later, Gupta plays his own transcription of the prelude from Bach's Cello Suite No. 1. - Cady Coleman: What it's like to live on the International Space Station
E268Cady Coleman: What it's like to live on the International Space StationIn this quick, fun talk, astronaut Cady Coleman welcomes us aboard the International Space Station, where she spent nearly six months doing experiments that expanded the frontiers of science. Hear what it's like to fly to work, sleep without gravity and live life hurtling at 17,500 miles per hour around the Earth. "The space station is the place where mission and magic come together," Coleman says. - Sydney Jensen: How can we support the emotional well-being of teachers?
E269Sydney Jensen: How can we support the emotional well-being of teachers?Teachers emotionally support our kids -- but who's supporting our teachers? In this eye-opening talk, educator Sydney Jensen explores how teachers are at risk of "secondary trauma" -- the idea that they absorb the emotional weight of their students' experiences -- and shows how schools can get creative in supporting everyone's mental health and wellness. - Erika Pinheiro: What's really happening at the US-Mexico border -- and how we can do better
E270Erika Pinheiro: What's really happening at the US-Mexico border -- and how we can do betterAt the US-Mexico border, policies of prolonged detention and family separation have made seeking asylum in the United States difficult and dangerous. In this raw and heartfelt talk, immigration attorney Erika Pinheiro offers a glimpse into her daily work on both sides of the border and shares some of the stories behind the statistics -- including her own story of being detained and separated from her son. It's a clear-eyed call to remember the humanity that's impacted by policy -- and a warning: "History shows us that the first population to be vilified and stripped of their rights is rarely the last," she says. - Gaby Barrios: Why gender-based marketing is bad for business
E271Gaby Barrios: Why gender-based marketing is bad for businessCompanies often target consumers based on gender, but this kind of advertising shortcut doesn't just perpetuate outdated stereotypes -- it's also bad for business, says marketing expert Gaby Barrios. In this clear, actionable talk, she explains why gender-based marketing doesn't drive business nearly as much as you might think -- and shows how companies can find better ways to reach customers and grow their brands. - Dan Ariely: How to change your behavior for the better
E272Dan Ariely: How to change your behavior for the betterWhat's the best way to get people to change their behavior? In this funny, information-packed talk, psychologist Dan Ariely explores why we make bad decisions even when we know we shouldn't -- and discusses a couple tricks that could get us to do the right thing (even if it's for the wrong reason). - Jean-Manuel Izaret: A new Netflix-style pricing model that could make medical treatments affordable for all
E273Jean-Manuel Izaret: A new Netflix-style pricing model that could make medical treatments affordable for allIn the US, the steep cost of medical care means many curable diseases go untreated. Pricing expert Jean-Manuel Izaret shares a plan for making treatments for curable diseases affordable for all by switching to a subscription-like payment system (similar to the one pioneered by Netflix) that would distribute costs over time and across an entire population of subscribers. - Arunabha Ghosh: 5 steps for clean air in India
E274Arunabha Ghosh: 5 steps for clean air in IndiaIndia's big cities have some of the worst air quality in the world. How can we fix this public health crisis? In an actionable talk, social entrepreneur Arunabha Ghosh lays out a five-step plan to put India on the path to cleaner, safer air -- and shows how every citizen can play an active role in getting there. - David Asch: Why it's so hard to make healthy decisions
E275David Asch: Why it's so hard to make healthy decisionsWhy do we make poor decisions that we know are bad for our health? In this frank, funny talk, behavioral economist and health policy expert David Asch explains why our behavior is often irrational -- in highly predictable ways -- and shows how we can harness this irrationality to make better decisions and improve our health care system overall. - LaToya Ruby Frazier: A creative solution for the water crisis in Flint, Michigan
E276LaToya Ruby Frazier: A creative solution for the water crisis in Flint, MichiganArtist LaToya Ruby Frazier spent five months living in Flint, Michigan, documenting the lives of those affected by the city's water crisis for her photo essay "Flint is Family." As the crisis dragged on, she realized it was going to take more than a series of photos to bring relief. In this inspiring, surprising talk, she shares the creative lengths she went to in order to bring free, clean water to the people of Flint. - Daniel Bögre Udell: How to save a language from extinction
E277Daniel Bögre Udell: How to save a language from extinctionAs many as 3,000 languages could disappear within the next 80 years, all but silencing entire cultures. In this quick talk, language activist Daniel Bögre Udell shows how people around the world are finding new ways to revive ancestral languages and rebuild their traditions -- and encourages us all to investigate the tongues of our ancestors. "Reclaiming your language and embracing your culture is a powerful way to be yourself," he says. - Mike Brown: The search for our solar system's ninth planet
E278Mike Brown: The search for our solar system's ninth planetCould the strange orbits of small, distant objects in our solar system lead us to a big discovery? Planetary astronomer Mike Brown proposes the existence of a new, giant planet lurking in the far reaches of our solar system -- and shows us how traces of its presence might already be staring us in the face. - Sougwen Chung: Why I draw with robots
E279Sougwen Chung: Why I draw with robotsWhat happens when humans and robots make art together? In this awe-inspiring talk, artist Sougwen Chung shows how she "taught" her artistic style to a machine -- and shares the results of their collaboration after making an unexpected discovery: robots make mistakes, too. "Part of the beauty of human and machine systems is their inherent, shared fallibility," she says. - Deepa Narayan: 7 beliefs that can silence women -- and how to unlearn them
E280Deepa Narayan: 7 beliefs that can silence women -- and how to unlearn themIn India (and many other countries), girls and women still find themselves silenced by traditional rules of politeness and restraint, says social scientist Deepa Narayan. In this frank talk, she identifies seven deeply entrenched norms that reinforce inequality -- and calls on men to help usher in change. - Cathy Mulzer: The incredible chemistry powering your smartphone
E281Cathy Mulzer: The incredible chemistry powering your smartphoneEver wondered how your smartphone works? Take a journey down to the atomic level with scientist Cathy Mulzer, who reveals how almost every component of our high-powered devices exists thanks to chemists -- and not the Silicon Valley entrepreneurs that come to most people's minds. As she puts it: "Chemistry is the hero of electronic communications." - Alejandro Durán: How I use art to tackle plastic pollution in our oceansE282
Alejandro Durán: How I use art to tackle plastic pollution in our oceansAlejandro Durán uses art to spotlight the ongoing destruction of our oceans' ecosystems. In this breathtaking talk, he shows how he meticulously organizes and reuses plastic waste from around the world that washes up on the Caribbean coast of Mexico -- everything from water bottles to prosthetic legs -- to create vivid, environmental artworks that may leave you mesmerized and shocked. - Heidi Boisvert: How I'm using biological data to tell better stories -- and spark social change
E283Heidi Boisvert: How I'm using biological data to tell better stories -- and spark social changeWhat kinds of stories move us to act? To answer this question, creative technologist Heidi Boisvert is measuring how people's brains and bodies unconsciously respond to different media. She shows how she's using this data to determine the specific narrative ingredients that inspire empathy and justice -- and spark large-scale social change. - Kelsey Johnson: The problem of light pollution -- and 5 ridiculously easy ways to fix it
E284Kelsey Johnson: The problem of light pollution -- and 5 ridiculously easy ways to fix itEver gaze up at the starry night sky? This stunning view is at risk of disappearing -- unless we act now, says astrophysicist Kelsey Johnson. In this fascinating, unexpectedly funny talk, she explains how light pollution affects almost every species on earth (including us) and shares five "stupidly simple" things you can do to help solve the problem. - Cornelia Geppert: A video game that helps us understand loneliness
E285Cornelia Geppert: A video game that helps us understand lonelinessStep into artist Cornelia Geppert's visually stunning video game "Sea of Solitude," which explores how battling the "monsters" of loneliness and self-doubt can help us better grapple with the complexity and struggles of mental health. - Eve Ensler: The profound power of an authentic apology
E286Eve Ensler: The profound power of an authentic apologyGenuine apology goes beyond remorse, says legendary playwright Eve Ensler. In this frank, wrenching talk, she shares how she transformed her own experience of abuse into wisdom on what wrongdoers can do and say to truly repent -- and offers a four-step roadmap to help begin the process. (This talk contains mature content.) - Jane Fonda: Why I protest for climate justice
E287Jane Fonda: Why I protest for climate justiceAt age 81, actor and activist Jane Fonda is putting herself on the line for the planet -- literally. In a video interview with TEDWomen curator Pat Mitchell, Fonda speaks about getting arrested multiple times during Fire Drill Fridays, the weekly climate demonstrations she leads in Washington, DC -- and discusses why civil disobedience is becoming a new normal in the age of climate change. - Edward Tenner: The paradox of efficiency
E288Edward Tenner: The paradox of efficiencyIs our obsession with efficiency actually making us less efficient? In this revelatory talk, writer and historian Edward Tenner discusses the promises and dangers of our drive to get things done as quickly as possible -- and suggests seven ways we can use "inspired inefficiency" to be more productive. - Mariana Mazzucato: What is economic value, and who creates it?
E289Mariana Mazzucato: What is economic value, and who creates it?Where does wealth come from, who creates it and what destroys it? In this deep dive into global economics, Mariana Mazzucato explains how we lost sight of what value means and why we need to rethink our current financial systems -- so capitalism can be steered toward a bold, innovative and sustainable future that works for all of us. - Christiana Figueres and Chris Anderson: How we can turn the tide on climate
E290Christiana Figueres and Chris Anderson: How we can turn the tide on climateWitness the unveiling of Countdown, a major global campaign to cut greenhouse gas emissions. TED has partnered with scientists, policy makers, organizations, activists and more to create an initiative that everyone in the world can be part of. Check out http://countdown.ted.com to learn how you can get involved — and help turn the tide on climate. [Note: there are two unusual features of this TED Talk. One, it's much longer than our normal, extending a full hour. Two, it's made up of contributions from more than a dozen people, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Al Gore, Katharine Hayhoe, Jimmy Kimmel and Yuval Noah Harari, among others. We're putting it out there because the topic deserves this kind of prominence.] - Lorna Davis: A guide to collaborative leadership
E291Lorna Davis: A guide to collaborative leadershipWhat's the difference between heroes and leaders? In this insightful talk, Lorna Davis explains how our idolization of heroes is holding us back from solving big problems -- and shows why we need "radical interdependence" to make real change happen. - Bright Simons: To help solve global problems, look to developing countries
E292Bright Simons: To help solve global problems, look to developing countriesTo address the problem of counterfeit goods, African entrepreneurs like Bright Simons have come up with innovative and effective ways to confirm products are genuine. Now he asks: Why aren't these solutions everywhere? From password-protected medicines to digitally certified crops, Simons demonstrates the power of local ideas -- and calls on the rest of the world to listen up. - Kelsey Leonard: Why lakes and rivers should have the same rights as humans
E293Kelsey Leonard: Why lakes and rivers should have the same rights as humansWater is essential to life. Yet in the eyes of the law, it remains largely unprotected -- leaving many communities without access to safe drinking water, says legal scholar Kelsey Leonard. In this powerful talk, she shows why granting lakes and rivers legal "personhood" -- giving them the same legal rights as humans -- is the first step to protecting our bodies of water and fundamentally transforming how we value this vital resource. - Henna-Maria Uusitupa: How the gut microbes you're born with affect your lifelong health
E294Henna-Maria Uusitupa: How the gut microbes you're born with affect your lifelong healthYour lifelong health may have been decided the day you were born, says microbiome researcher Henna-Maria Uusitupa. In this fascinating talk, she shows how the gut microbes you acquire during birth and as an infant impact your health into adulthood -- and discusses new microbiome research that could help tackle problems like obesity and diabetes. - Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz: Your body was forged in the spectacular death of stars
E295Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz: Your body was forged in the spectacular death of starsWe are all connected by the spectacular birth, death and rebirth of stars, says astrophysicist Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz. Journey through the cosmic history of the universe as Ramirez-Ruiz explains how supernovas forged the elements of life to create everything from the air you breathe to the very atoms that make you. - Jasmine Crowe: What we're getting wrong in the fight to end hunger
E296Jasmine Crowe: What we're getting wrong in the fight to end hungerIn a world that's wasting more food than ever before, why do one in nine people still go to bed hungry each night? Social entrepreneur Jasmine Crowe calls for a radical transformation to our fight to end global hunger -- challenging us to rethink our routine approaches to addressing food insecurity and sharing how we can use technology to gather unused food and deliver it directly to people in need. - Nick Bostrom: How civilization could destroy itself -- and 4 ways we could prevent it
E297Nick Bostrom: How civilization could destroy itself -- and 4 ways we could prevent itHumanity is on its way to creating a "black ball": a technological breakthrough that could destroy us all, says philosopher Nick Bostrom. In this incisive, surprisingly light-hearted conversation with Head of TED Chris Anderson, Bostrom outlines the vulnerabilities we could face if (or when) our inventions spiral beyond our control -- and explores how we can prevent our future demise. - Guy Winch: How to turn off work thoughts during your free time
E298Guy Winch: How to turn off work thoughts during your free timeFeeling burned out? You may be spending too much time ruminating about your job, says psychologist Guy Winch. Learn how to stop worrying about tomorrow's tasks or stewing over office tensions with three simple techniques aimed at helping you truly relax and recharge after work. - Valorie Kondos Field: Why winning doesn't always equal success
E299Valorie Kondos Field: Why winning doesn't always equal successValorie Kondos Field knows a lot about winning. As the longtime coach of the UCLA women's gymnastics team, she won championship after championship and has been widely acclaimed for her leadership. In this inspiring, brutally honest and, at times, gut-wrenching talk, she shares the secret to her success. Hint: it has nothing to do with "winning." - Cara E. Yar Khan: The beautiful balance between courage and fear
E300Cara E. Yar Khan: The beautiful balance between courage and fearAfter being diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that deteriorates muscle, Cara E. Yar Khan was told she'd have to limit her career ambitions and dial down her dreams. She ignored that advice and instead continued to pursue her biggest ambitions. In this powerful, moving talk, she shares her philosophy for working on the projects that matter to her most -- while letting courage and fear coexist. Watch for heart-stopping, vertigo-inducing footage of a trip that shows her living her theory to the full.
