TED Talks
Season 2014
TV-PG
Series of talks about technology, entertainment, and design.
Where to Watch Season 2014
242 Episodes
- Mick Cornett: How an obese town lost a million pounds
E1Episode 1Mick Cornett: How an obese town lost a million poundsOklahoma City is a midsized town that had a big problem: It was among the most obese towns in America. Mayor Mick Cornett realized that, to make his city a great place to work and live, it had to become healthier too. In this charming talk, he walks us through the interlocking changes that helped OKC drop a collective million pounds (450,000 kilos). - Maysoon Zayid: I got 99 problems... palsy is just one
E2Episode 2Maysoon Zayid: I got 99 problems... palsy is just one"I have cerebral palsy. I shake all the time," Maysoon Zayid announces at the beginning of this exhilarating, hilarious talk. (Really, it's hilarious.) "I'm like Shakira meets Muhammad Ali." With grace and wit, the Arab-American comedian takes us on a whistle-stop tour of her adventures as an actress, stand-up comic, philanthropist and advocate for the disabled. - Suzanne Talhouk: Don't kill your language
E3Episode 3Suzanne Talhouk: Don't kill your languageMore and more, English is a global language; speaking it is perceived as a sign of being modern. But — what do we lose when we leave behind our mother tongues? Suzanne Talhouk makes an impassioned case to love your own language, and to cherish what it can express that no other language can. In Arabic with subtitles. (Filmed at TEDxBeirut.) - Roger Stein: A bold new way to fund drug research
E4Episode 4Roger Stein: A bold new way to fund drug researchBelieve it or not, about 20 years' worth of potentially life-saving drugs are sitting in labs right now, untested. Why? Because they can't get the funding to go to trials; the financial risk is too high. Roger Stein is a finance guy, and he thinks deeply about mitigating risk. He and some colleagues at MIT came up with a promising new financial model that could move hundreds of drugs into the testing pipeline. (Filmed at TED@StateStreet.) - Sandra Aamodt: Why dieting doesn't usually work
E5Episode 5Sandra Aamodt: Why dieting doesn't usually workIn the US, 80% of girls have been on a diet by the time they're 10 years old. In this honest, raw talk, neuroscientist Sandra Aamodt uses her personal story to frame an important lesson about how our brains manage our bodies, as she explores the science behind why dieting not only doesn't work, but is likely to do more harm than good. She suggests ideas for how to live a less diet-obsessed life, intuitively. - Frederic Kaplan: How to build an information time machine
E6Episode 6Frederic Kaplan: How to build an information time machineImagine if you could surf Facebook ... from the Middle Ages. Well, it may not be as far off as it sounds. In a fun and interesting talk, researcher and engineer Frederic Kaplan shows off the Venice Time Machine, a project to digitize 80 kilometers of books to create a historical and geographical simulation of Venice across 1000 years. (Filmed at TEDxCaFoscariU.) - Ryan Holladay: To hear this music you have to be there. Literally
E7Episode 7Ryan Holladay: To hear this music you have to be there. LiterallyThe music industry has sometimes struggled to find its feet in the digital world. In this lovely talk, TED Fellow Ryan Holladay tells us why he is experimenting with what he describes as "location-aware music." This programming and musical feat involves hundreds of geotagged segments of sounds that only play when a listener is physically nearby. (Filmed at TED@BCG.) - Harish Manwani: Profit’s not always the point
E8Episode 8Harish Manwani: Profit’s not always the pointYou might not expect the chief operating officer of a major global corporation to look too far beyond either the balance sheet or the bottom line. But Harish Manwani, COO of Unilever, makes a passionate argument that doing so to include value, purpose and sustainability in top-level decision-making is not just savvy, it's the only way to run a 21st century business responsibly. - Mark Kendall: Demo: A needle-free vaccine patch that's safer and way cheaper
E9Episode 9Mark Kendall: Demo: A needle-free vaccine patch that's safer and way cheaperOne hundred sixty years after the invention of the needle and syringe, we’re still using them to deliver vaccines; it’s time to evolve. Biomedical engineer Mark Kendall demos the Nanopatch, a one-centimeter-by-one-centimeter square vaccine that can be applied painlessly to the skin. He shows how this tiny piece of silicon can overcome four major shortcomings of the modern needle and syringe, at a fraction of the cost. - Sheryl Sandberg: So we leaned in ... now what?
E10Episode 10Sheryl Sandberg: So we leaned in ... now what?Sheryl Sandberg admits she was terrified to step onto the TED stage in 2010 — because she was going to talk, for the first time, about the lonely experience of being a woman in the top tiers of business. Millions of views (and a best-selling book) later, the Facebook COO talks with the woman who pushed her to give that first talk, Pat Mitchell. Sandberg opens up about the reaction to her idea, and explores the ways that women still struggle with success. - Luke Syson: How I learned to stop worrying and love
E11Episode 11Luke Syson: How I learned to stop worrying and loveLuke Syson was a curator of Renaissance art, of transcendent paintings of saints and solemn Italian ladies — serious art. And then he changed jobs, and inherited the Met's collection of ceramics — pretty, frilly, "useless" candlesticks and vases. He didn't like it. He didn't get it. Until one day … (Filmed at TEDxMet.) - Shereen El Feki: A little-told tale of sex and sensuality
E13Episode 13Shereen El Feki: A little-told tale of sex and sensuality“If you really want to know a people, start by looking inside their bedrooms," says Shereen El Feki, who traveled through the Middle East for five years, talking to people about sex. While those conversations reflected rigid norms and deep repression, El Feki also discovered that sexual conservatism in the Arab world is a relatively new thing. She wonders: could a re-emergence of public dialogue lead to more satisfying, and safer, sex lives? - Paula Johnson: His and hers … healthcare
E14Episode 14Paula Johnson: His and hers … healthcareEvery cell in the human body has a sex, which means that men and women are different right down to the cellular level. Yet too often, research and medicine ignore this insight — and the often startlingly different ways in which the two sexes respond to disease or treatment. As pioneering doctor Paula Johnson describes in this thought-provoking talk, lumping everyone in together means we essentially leave women's health to chance. It's time to rethink. - Yves Morieux: As work gets more complex, 6 rules to simplify
E15Episode 15Yves Morieux: As work gets more complex, 6 rules to simplifyWhy do people feel so miserable and disengaged at work? Because today's businesses are increasingly and dizzyingly complex — and traditional pillars of management are obsolete, says Yves Morieux. So, he says, it falls to individual employees to navigate the rabbit's warren of interdependencies. In this energetic talk, Morieux offers six rules for "smart simplicity." (Rule One: Understand what your colleagues actually do.) - Joe Kowan: How I beat stage fright
E16Episode 16Joe Kowan: How I beat stage frightHumanity's fine-tuned sense of fear served us well as a young species, giving us laser focus to avoid being eaten by competing beasts. But it's less wonderful when that same visceral, body-hijacking sense of fear kicks in in front of 20 folk-music fans at a Tuesday night open-mic. Palms sweat, hands shake, vision blurs, and the brain says RUN: it's stage fright. In this charming, tuneful little talk, Joe Kowan talks about how he conquered it. - Anant Agarwal: Why massive open online courses (still) matter
E17Episode 17Anant Agarwal: Why massive open online courses (still) matter2013 was a year of hype for MOOCs (massive open online courses). Great big numbers and great big hopes were followed by some disappointing first results. But the head of edX, Anant Agarwal, makes the case that MOOCs still matter — as a way to share high-level learning widely and supplement (but perhaps not replace) traditional classrooms. Agarwal shares his vision of blended learning, where teachers create the ideal learning experience for 21st century students. - Anne Milgram: Why smart statistics are the key to fighting crime
E18Episode 18Anne Milgram: Why smart statistics are the key to fighting crimeWhen she became the attorney general of New Jersey in 2007, Anne Milgram quickly discovered a few startling facts: not only did her team not really know who they were putting in jail, but they had no way of understanding if their decisions were actually making the public safer. And so began her ongoing, inspirational quest to bring data analytics and statistical analysis to the US criminal justice system. - McKenna Pope: Want to be an activist? Start with your toys
E19Episode 19McKenna Pope: Want to be an activist? Start with your toysMcKenna Pope's younger brother loved to cook, but he worried about using an Easy-Bake Oven — because it was a toy for girls. So at age 13, Pope started an online petition for the American toy company Hasbro to change the pink-and-purple color scheme on the classic toy and incorporate boys into its TV marketing. In a heartening talk, Pope makes the case for gender-neutral toys and gives a rousing call to action to all kids who feel powerless. - Nicolas Perony: Puppies! Now that I’ve got your attention, complexity theory
E20Episode 20Nicolas Perony: Puppies! Now that I’ve got your attention, complexity theoryAnimal behavior isn't complicated, but it is complex. Nicolas Perony studies how individual animals — be they Scottish Terriers, bats or meerkats — follow simple rules that, collectively, create larger patterns of behavior. And how this complexity born of simplicity can help them adapt to new circumstances, as they arise. - Maya Penn: Meet a young entrepreneur, cartoonist, designer, activist …
E21Episode 21Maya Penn: Meet a young entrepreneur, cartoonist, designer, activist …Maya Penn started her first company when she was 8 years old, and thinks deeply about how to be responsible both to her customers and to the planet. She shares her story — and some animations, and some designs, and some infectious energy — in this charming talk. - Esta Soler: How we turned the tide on domestic violence (Hint: the Polaroid helped)
E22Episode 22Esta Soler: How we turned the tide on domestic violence (Hint: the Polaroid helped)When Esta Soler lobbied for a bill outlawing domestic violence in 1984, one politician called it the "Take the Fun Out of Marriage Act." "If only I had Twitter then," she mused. This sweeping, optimistic talk charts 30 years of tactics and technologies — from the Polaroid camera to social media — that led to a 64% drop in domestic violence in the U.S. - Dan Berkenstock: The world is one big dataset. Now, how to photograph it ...
E23Episode 23Dan Berkenstock: The world is one big dataset. Now, how to photograph it ...We're all familiar with satellite imagery, but what we might not know is that much of it is out of date. That's because satellites are big and expensive, so there aren't that many of them up in space. As he explains in this fascinating talk, Dan Berkenstock and his team came up with a different solution, designing a cheap, lightweight satellite with a radically new approach to photographing what's going on on Earth. - Teddy Cruz: How architectural innovations migrate across borders
E24Episode 24Teddy Cruz: How architectural innovations migrate across bordersAs the world's cities undergo explosive growth, inequality is intensifying. Wealthy neighborhoods and impoverished slums grow side by side, the gap between them widening. In this eye-opening talk, architect Teddy Cruz asks us to rethink urban development from the bottom up. Sharing lessons from the slums of Tijuana, Cruz explores the creative intelligence of the city's residents and offers a fresh perspective on what we can learn from places of scarcity. - Alex Wissner-Gross: A new equation for intelligence
E25Episode 25Alex Wissner-Gross: A new equation for intelligenceIs there an equation for intelligence? Yes. It’s F = T ∇ Sτ. In a fascinating and informative talk, physicist and computer scientist Alex Wissner-Gross explains what in the world that means. (Filmed at TEDxBeaconStreet.) - Aparna Rao: Art that craves your attention
E26Episode 26Aparna Rao: Art that craves your attentionIn this charming talk, artist Aparna Rao shows us her latest work: cool, cartoony sculptures (with neat robotic tricks underneath them) that play with your perception — and crave your attention. Take a few minutes to simply be delighted. - David Puttnam: Does the media have a
E27Episode 27David Puttnam: Does the media have aIn this thoughtful talk, David Puttnam asks a big question about the media: Does it have a moral imperative to create informed citizens, to support democracy? His solution for ensuring media responsibility is bold, and you might not agree. But it's certainly a question worth asking ... (Filmed at TEDxHousesofParliament.) - Leyla Acaroglu: Paper beats plastic? How to rethink environmental folklore
E28Episode 28Leyla Acaroglu: Paper beats plastic? How to rethink environmental folkloreMost of us want to do the right thing when it comes to the environment. But things aren’t as simple as opting for the paper bag, says sustainability strategist Leyla Acaroglu. A bold call for us to let go of tightly-held green myths and think bigger in order to create systems and products that ease strain on the planet. - Chris McKnett: The investment logic for sustainability
E29Episode 29Chris McKnett: The investment logic for sustainabilitySustainability is pretty clearly one of the world's most important goals; but what groups can really make environmental progress in leaps and bounds? Chris McKnett makes the case that it's large institutional investors. He shows how strong financial data isn't enough, and reveals why investors need to look at a company's environmental, social and governance structures, too. - Rupal Patel: Synthetic voices, as unique as fingerprints
E30Episode 30Rupal Patel: Synthetic voices, as unique as fingerprintsMany of those with severe speech disorders use a computerized device to communicate. Yet they choose between only a few voice options. That's why Stephen Hawking has an American accent, and why many people end up with the same voice, often to incongruous effect. Speech scientist Rupal Patel wanted to do something about this, and in this wonderful talk she shares her work to engineer unique voices for the voiceless. - Yann Dall'Aglio: Love -- you're doing it wrong
E31Episode 31Yann Dall'Aglio: Love -- you're doing it wrongIn this delightful talk, philosopher Yann Dall’Aglio explores the universal search for tenderness and connection in a world that's ever more focused on the individual. As it turns out, it's easier than you think. A wise and witty reflection on the state of love in the modern age. (Filmed at TEDxParis.) - Molly Stevens: A new way to grow bone
E32Episode 32Molly Stevens: A new way to grow boneWhat does it take to regrow bone in mass quantities? Typical bone regeneration — wherein bone is taken from a patient’s hip and grafted onto damaged bone elsewhere in the body — is limited and can cause great pain just a few years after operation. In an informative talk, Molly Stevens introduces a new stem cell application that harnesses bone’s innate ability to regenerate and produces vast quantities of bone tissue painlessly. - Roselinde Torres: What it takes to be a great leader
E33Episode 33Roselinde Torres: What it takes to be a great leaderThe world is full of leadership programs, but the best way to learn how to lead might be right under your nose. In this clear, candid talk, Roselinde Torres describes 25 years observing truly great leaders at work, and shares the three simple but crucial questions would-be company chiefs need to ask to thrive in the future. - Christopher Ryan: Are we designed to be sexual omnivores?
E34Episode 34Christopher Ryan: Are we designed to be sexual omnivores?An idea permeates our modern view of relationships: that men and women have always paired off in sexually exclusive relationships. But before the dawn of agriculture, humans may actually have been quite promiscuous. Author Christopher Ryan walks us through the controversial evidence that human beings are sexual omnivores by nature, in hopes that a more nuanced understanding may put an end to discrimination, shame and the kind of unrealistic expectations that kill relationships. - Ash Beckham: We're all hiding something. Let's find the courage to open up
E35Episode 35Ash Beckham: We're all hiding something. Let's find the courage to open upIn this touching talk, Ash Beckham offers a fresh approach to empathy and openness. It starts with understanding that everyone, at some point in their life, has experienced hardship. The only way out, says Beckham, is to open the door and step out of your closet. - Siddharthan Chandran: Can the damaged brain repair itself?
E36Episode 36Siddharthan Chandran: Can the damaged brain repair itself?After a traumatic brain injury, it sometimes happens that the brain can repair itself, building new brain cells to replace damaged ones. But the repair doesn't happen quickly enough to allow recovery from degenerative conditions like motor neuron disease (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease or ALS). Siddharthan Chandran walks through some new techniques using special stem cells that could allow the damaged brain to rebuild faster. - Catherine Bracy: Why good hackers make good citizens
E37Episode 37Catherine Bracy: Why good hackers make good citizensHacking is about more than mischief-making or political subversion. As Catherine Bracy describes in this spirited talk, it can be just as much a force for good as it is for evil. She spins through some inspiring civically-minded projects in Honolulu, Oakland and Mexico City — and makes a compelling case that we all have what it takes to get involved. - Michael Metcalfe: We need money for aid. So let’s print it.
E38Episode 38Michael Metcalfe: We need money for aid. So let’s print it.During the financial crisis, the central banks of the United States, United Kingdom and Japan created $3.7 trillion in order to buy assets and encourage investors to do the same. Michael Metcalfe offers a shocking idea: could these same central banks print money to ensure they stay on track with their goals for global aid? Without risking inflation? - Henry Lin: What we can learn from galaxies far, far away
E39Episode 39Henry Lin: What we can learn from galaxies far, far awayIn a fun, exciting talk, teenager Henry Lin looks at something unexpected in the sky: distant galaxy clusters. By studying the properties of the universe's largest pieces, says the Intel Science Fair award winner, we can learn quite a lot about scientific mysteries in our own world and galaxy. - Annette Heuser: The 3 agencies with the power to make or break economies
E40Episode 40Annette Heuser: The 3 agencies with the power to make or break economiesThe way we rate national economies is all wrong, says rating agency reformer Annette Heuser. With mysterious and obscure methods, three private US-based credit rating agencies wield immense power over national economies across the globe, and the outcomes can be catastrophic. But what if there was another way? In this bold talk, Heuser shares her vision for a nonprofit agency that would bring more equality and justice into the mix. - Mary Lou Jepsen: Could future devices read images from our brains?
E41Episode 41Mary Lou Jepsen: Could future devices read images from our brains?As an expert on cutting-edge digital displays, Mary Lou Jepsen studies how to show our most creative ideas on screens. And as a brain surgery patient herself, she is driven to know more about the neural activity that underlies invention, creativity, thought. She meshes these two passions in a rather mind-blowing talk on two cutting-edge brain studies that might point to a new frontier in understanding how (and what) we think. - Philip Evans: How data will transform business
E42Episode 42Philip Evans: How data will transform businessWhat does the future of business look like? In an informative talk, Philip Evans gives a quick primer on two long-standing theories in strategy — and explains why he thinks they are essentially invalid. - Christopher Soghoian: Government surveillance — this is just the beginning
E43Episode 43Christopher Soghoian: Government surveillance — this is just the beginningPrivacy researcher Christopher Soghoian sees the landscape of government surveillance shifting beneath our feet, as an industry grows to support monitoring programs. Through private companies, he says, governments are buying technology with the capacity to break into computers, steal documents and monitor activity — without detection. This TED Fellow gives an unsettling look at what's to come. - Gabe Barcia-Colombo: My DNA vending machine
E44Episode 44Gabe Barcia-Colombo: My DNA vending machineVending machines generally offer up sodas, candy bars and chips. Not so for the one created by TED Fellow Gabe Barcia-Colombo. This artist has dreamed up a DNA Vending Machine, which dispenses extracted human DNA, packaged in a vial along with a collectible photo of the person who gave it. It’s charming and quirky, but points out larger ethical issues that will arise as access to biotechnology increases. - Manu Prakash: A 50-cent microscope that folds like origami
E45Episode 45Manu Prakash: A 50-cent microscope that folds like origamiPerhaps you’ve punched out a paper doll or folded an origami swan? TED Fellow Manu Prakash and his team have created a microscope made of paper that's just as easy to fold and use. A sparkling demo that shows how this invention could revolutionize healthcare in developing countries … and turn almost anything into a fun, hands-on science experiment. - Ajit Narayanan: A word game to communicate in any language
E46Episode 46Ajit Narayanan: A word game to communicate in any languageWhile working with kids who have trouble speaking, Ajit Narayanan sketched out a way to think about language in pictures, to relate words and concepts in "maps." The idea now powers an app that helps nonverbal people communicate, and the big idea behind it, a language concept called FreeSpeech, has exciting potential. - Clayton Cameron: A-rhythm-etic. The math behind the beats
E47Episode 47Clayton Cameron: A-rhythm-etic. The math behind the beatsReady to dance in your seat? Drummer Clayton Cameron breaks down different genres of music—from R&B to Latin to pop—by their beats. A talk that proves hip hop and jazz aren't cooler than math—they simply rely on it. - Anne-Marie Slaughter: Can we all
E48Episode 48Anne-Marie Slaughter: Can we allPublic policy expert Anne-Marie Slaughter made waves with her 2012 article, "Why women still can't have it all." But really, is this only a question for women? Here Slaughter expands her ideas and explains why shifts in work culture, public policy and social mores can lead to more equality — for men, women, all of us. - Toby Shapshak: You don't need an app for that
E49Episode 49Toby Shapshak: You don't need an app for thatAre the simplest phones the smartest? While the rest of the world is updating statuses and playing games on smartphones, Africa is developing useful SMS-based solutions to everyday needs, says journalist Toby Shapshak. In this eye-opening talk, Shapshak explores the frontiers of mobile invention in Africa as he asks us to reconsider our preconceived notions of innovation. - Carin Bondar: The birds and the bees are just the beginning
E50Episode 50Carin Bondar: The birds and the bees are just the beginningThink you know a thing or two about sex? Think again. In this fascinating talk, biologist Carin Bondar lays out the surprising science behind how animals get it on. (This talk describes explicit and aggressive sexual content.) - Steven Pinker and Rebecca Newberger Goldstein: The long reach of reason
E51Episode 51Steven Pinker and Rebecca Newberger Goldstein: The long reach of reasonHere's a TED first: an animated Socratic dialog! In a time when irrationality seems to rule both politics and culture, has reasoned thinking finally lost its power? Watch as psychologist Steven Pinker is gradually, brilliantly persuaded by philosopher Rebecca Newberger Goldstein that reason is actually the key driver of human moral progress, even if its effect sometimes takes generations to unfold. The dialog was recorded live at TED, and animated, in incredible, often hilarious, detail by Cognitive. - Daniel Reisel: The neuroscience of restorative justice
E52Episode 52Daniel Reisel: The neuroscience of restorative justiceDaniel Reisel studies the brains of criminal psychopaths (and mice). And he asks a big question: Instead of warehousing these criminals, shouldn’t we be using what we know about the brain to help them rehabilitate? Put another way: If the brain can grow new neural pathways after an injury … could we help the brain re-grow morality? - Edward Snowden: Here's how we take back the Internet
E53Episode 53Edward Snowden: Here's how we take back the InternetAppearing by telepresence robot, Edward Snowden speaks at TED2014 about surveillance and Internet freedom. The right to data privacy, he suggests, is not a partisan issue, but requires a fundamental rethink of the role of the internet in our lives — and the laws that protect it. "Your rights matter,” he says, "because you never know when you're going to need them." Chris Anderson interviews, with special guest Tim Berners-Lee. - Chris Hadfield: What I learned from going blind in space
E54Episode 54Chris Hadfield: What I learned from going blind in spaceThere's an astronaut saying: In space, “there is no problem so bad that you can’t make it worse.” So how do you deal with the complexity, the sheer pressure, of dealing with dangerous and scary situations? Retired colonel Chris Hadfield paints a vivid portrait of how to be prepared for the worst in space (and life) — and it starts with walking into a spider’s web. Watch for a special space-y performance. - Charmian Gooch: My wish: To launch a new era of openness in business
E55Episode 55Charmian Gooch: My wish: To launch a new era of openness in businessAnonymous companies protect corrupt individuals – from notorious drug cartel leaders to nefarious arms dealers – behind a shroud of mystery that makes it almost impossible to find and hold them responsible. But anti-corruption activist Charmian Gooch hopes to change all that. At TED2014, she shares her brave TED Prize wish: to know who owns and controls companies, to change the law, and to launch a new era of openness in business. - Richard Ledgett: The NSA responds to Edward Snowden’s TED Talk
E56Episode 56Richard Ledgett: The NSA responds to Edward Snowden’s TED TalkAfter a surprise appearance by Edward Snowden at TED2014, Chris Anderson said: "If the NSA wants to respond, please do." And yes, they did. Appearing by video, NSA deputy director Richard Ledgett answers Anderson’s questions about the balance between security and protecting privacy. - Larry Page: Where’s Google going next?
E57Episode 57Larry Page: Where’s Google going next?Onstage at TED2014, Charlie Rose interviews Google CEO Larry Page about his far-off vision for the company. It includes aerial bikeways and internet balloons … and then it gets even more interesting, as Page talks through the company’s recent acquisition of Deep Mind, an AI that is learning some surprising things. - Ziauddin Yousafzai: My daughter, Malala
E58Episode 58Ziauddin Yousafzai: My daughter, MalalaPakistani educator Ziauddin Yousafzai reminds the world of a simple truth that many don’t want to hear: Women and men deserve equal opportunities for education, autonomy, an independent identity. He tells stories from his own life and the life of his daughter, Malala, who was shot by the Taliban in 2012 simply for daring to go to school. "Why is my daughter so strong?” Yousafzai asks. “Because I didn’t clip her wings." - Bran Ferren: To create for the ages, let's combine art and engineering
E59Episode 59Bran Ferren: To create for the ages, let's combine art and engineeringWhen Bran Ferren was just 9, his parents took him to see the Pantheon in Rome — and it changed everything. In that moment, he began to understand how the tools of science and engineering become more powerful when combined with art, with design and beauty. Ever since, he's been searching for a convincing modern-day equivalent to Rome's masterpiece. Stay tuned to the end of the talk for his unexpected suggestion. - Ed Yong: Suicidal crickets, zombie roaches and other parasite tales
E60Episode 60Ed Yong: Suicidal crickets, zombie roaches and other parasite talesWe humans set a premium on our own free will and independence ... and yet there's a shadowy influence we might not be considering. As science writer Ed Yong explains in this fascinating, hilarious and disturbing talk, parasites have perfected the art of manipulation to an incredible degree. So are they influencing us? It's more than likely. - Del Harvey: The strangeness of scale at Twitter
E61Episode 61Del Harvey: The strangeness of scale at TwitterWhen hundreds of thousands of tweets are fired every second, a one-in-a-million chance — including unlikely-sounding scenarios that could harm users — happens about 500 times a day. For Del Harvey, who heads Twitter’s Trust and Safety Team, these odds aren’t good. The security maven spends her days thinking about how to prevent worst-case scenarios while giving voice to people around the globe. With deadpan humor, she offers a window into how she keeps 240 million users safe. - Hugh Herr: The new bionics that let us run, climb and dance
E62Episode 62Hugh Herr: The new bionics that let us run, climb and danceHugh Herr is building the next generation of bionic limbs, robotic prosthetics inspired by nature's own designs. Herr lost both legs in a climbing accident 30 years ago; now, as the head of the MIT Media Lab’s Biomechatronics group, he shows his incredible technology in a talk that's both technical and deeply personal — with the help of ballroom dancer Adrianne Haslet-Davis, who lost her left leg in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, and performs again for the first time on the TED stage. - Geena Rocero: Why I must come out
E63Episode 63Geena Rocero: Why I must come outWhen fashion model Geena Rocero first saw a photo of herself in a bikini, "I thought ... you have arrived!" As she reveals, that’s because she was born with the gender assignment “boy.” In this moving talk, Rocero tells the story of becoming who she always knew she was. - Allan Adams: The discovery that could rewrite physics
E65Episode 65Allan Adams: The discovery that could rewrite physicsOn March 17, 2014, a group of physicists announced a thrilling discovery: the “smoking gun” data for the idea of an inflationary universe, a clue to the Big Bang. For non-physicists, what does it mean? TED asked Allan Adams to briefly explain the results, in this improvised talk illustrated by Randall Munroe of xkcd. - Bill and Melinda Gates: Why giving away our wealth has been the most satisfying thing we've done
E66Episode 66Bill and Melinda Gates: Why giving away our wealth has been the most satisfying thing we've doneIn 1993, Bill and Melinda Gates took a walk on the beach and made a big decision: to give their Microsoft wealth back to society. In conversation with Chris Anderson, the couple talks about their work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as their marriage, their children, their failures and the satisfaction of giving most of their money away. - Jennifer Golbeck: The curly fry conundrum: Why social media “likes” say more than you might think
E67Episode 67Jennifer Golbeck: The curly fry conundrum: Why social media “likes” say more than you might thinkDo you like curly fries? Have you Liked them on Facebook? Watch this talk to find out the surprising things Facebook (and others) can guess about you from your random Likes and Shares. Computer scientist Jennifer Golbeck explains how this came about, how some applications of the technology are not so cute — and why she thinks we should return the control of information to its rightful owners. - Lawrence Lessig: The unstoppable walk to political reform
E68Episode 68Lawrence Lessig: The unstoppable walk to political reformSeven years ago, Internet activist Aaron Swartz convinced Lawrence Lessig to take up the fight for political reform. A year after Swartz's tragic death, Lessig continues his campaign to free US politics from the stranglehold of corruption. In this fiery, deeply personal talk, he calls for all citizens to engage, and offers a heartfelt reminder to never give up hope. - Amanda Burden: How public spaces make cities work
E69Episode 69Amanda Burden: How public spaces make cities workMore than 8 million people are crowded together to live in New York City. What makes it possible? In part, it’s the city’s great public spaces — from tiny pocket parks to long waterfront promenades — where people can stroll and play. Amanda Burden helped plan some of the city’s newest public spaces, drawing on her experience as, surprisingly, an animal behaviorist. She shares the unexpected challenges of planning parks people love — and why it's important. - Christopher Emdin: Teach teachers how to create magic
E70Episode 70Christopher Emdin: Teach teachers how to create magicWhat do rap shows, barbershop banter and Sunday services have in common? As Christopher Emdin says, they all hold the secret magic to enthrall and teach at the same time — and it’s a skill we often don't teach to educators. The science advocate (and cofounder of Science Genius B.A.T.T.L.E.S. with the GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan) offers a vision to make the classroom come alive. - Louie Schwartzberg: Hidden miracles of the natural world
E71Episode 71Louie Schwartzberg: Hidden miracles of the natural worldWe live in a world of unseeable beauty, so subtle and delicate that it is imperceptible to the human eye. To bring this invisible world to light, filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg bends the boundaries of time and space with high-speed cameras, time lapses and microscopes. At TED2014, he shares highlights from his latest project, a 3D film titled "Mysteries of the Unseen World," which slows down, speeds up, and magnifies the astonishing wonders of nature. - David Sengeh: The sore problem of prosthetic limbs
E72Episode 72David Sengeh: The sore problem of prosthetic limbsWhat drove David Sengeh to create a more comfortable prosthetic limb? He grew up in Sierra Leone, and too many of the people he loves are missing limbs after the brutal civil war there. When he noticed that people who had prosthetics weren’t actually wearing them, the TED Fellow set out to discover why — and to solve the problem with his team from the MIT Media Lab. - Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly: Be passionate. Be courageous. Be your best.
E73Episode 73Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly: Be passionate. Be courageous. Be your best.On January 8, 2011, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was shot in the head while meeting constituents in her home town of Tucson, Arizona. Her husband, the astronaut Mark Kelly, immediately flew to be by her side. In this emotional conversation with Pat Mitchell, the pair describe their lives both before and after the accident — and describe their views on responsible gun ownership. - David Brooks: Should you live for your résumé ... or your eulogy?
E74Episode 74David Brooks: Should you live for your résumé ... or your eulogy?Within each of us are two selves, suggests David Brooks in this meditative short talk: the self who craves success, who builds a résumé, and the self who seeks connection, community, love — the values that make for a great eulogy. (Joseph Soloveitchik has called these selves "Adam I" and "Adam II.") Brooks asks: Can we balance these two selves? - Jennifer Senior: For parents, happiness is a very high bar
E75Episode 75Jennifer Senior: For parents, happiness is a very high barThe parenting section of the bookstore is overwhelming—it's "a giant, candy-colored monument to our collective panic," as writer Jennifer Senior puts it. Why is parenthood filled with so much anxiety? Because the goal of modern, middle-class parents—to raise happy children—is so elusive. In this honest talk, she offers some kinder and more achievable aims. - Norman Spack: How I help transgender teens become who they want to be
E76Episode 76Norman Spack: How I help transgender teens become who they want to bePuberty is an awkward time for just about everybody, but for transgender teens it can be a nightmare, as they grow overnight into bodies they aren't comfortable with. In a heartfelt talk, endocrinologist Norman Spack tells a personal story of how he became one of the few doctors in the US to treat minors with hormone replacement therapy. By staving off the effects of puberty, Spack gives trans teens the time they need. (Filmed at TEDxBeaconStreet.) - Jeremy Kasdin: The flower-shaped starshade that might help us detect Earth-like planets
E77Episode 77Jeremy Kasdin: The flower-shaped starshade that might help us detect Earth-like planetsAstronomers believe that every star in the galaxy has a planet, one fifth of which might harbor life. Only we haven't seen any of them — yet. Jeremy Kasdin and his team are looking to change that with the design and engineering of an extraordinary piece of equipment: a flower petal-shaped "starshade" positioned 50,000 km from a telescope to enable imaging of planets about distant stars. It is, he says, the "coolest possible science." - Matthew Carter: My life in typefaces
E78Episode 78Matthew Carter: My life in typefacesPick up a book, magazine or screen, and more than likely you'll come across some typography designed by Matthew Carter. In this charming talk, the man behind typefaces such as Verdana, Georgia and Bell Centennial (designed just for phone books — remember them?), takes us on a spin through a career focused on the very last pixel of each letter of a font. - Sarah Lewis: Embrace the near win
E79Episode 79Sarah Lewis: Embrace the near winAt her first museum job, art historian Sarah Lewis noticed something important about an artist she was studying: Not every artwork was a total masterpiece. She asks us to consider the role of the almost-failure, the near win, in our own lives. In our pursuit of success and mastery, is it actually our near wins that push us forward? - Michel Laberge: How synchronized hammer strikes could generate nuclear fusion
E80Episode 80Michel Laberge: How synchronized hammer strikes could generate nuclear fusionOur energy future depends on nuclear fusion, says Michel Laberge. The plasma physicist runs a small company with a big idea for a new type of nuclear reactor that could produce clean, cheap energy. His secret recipe? High speeds, scorching temperatures and crushing pressure. In this hopeful talk, he explains how nuclear fusion might be just around the corner. - Hamish Jolly: A shark-deterrent wetsuit (and it's not what you think)
E81Episode 81Hamish Jolly: A shark-deterrent wetsuit (and it's not what you think)Hamish Jolly, an ocean swimmer in Australia, wanted a wetsuit that would deter a curious shark from mistaking him for a potential source of nourishment. (Which, statistically, is rare, but certainly a fate worth avoiding.) Working with a team of scientists, he and his friends came up with a fresh approach — not a shark cage, not a suit of chain-mail, but a sleek suit that taps our growing understanding of shark vision. - James Patten: The best computer interface? Maybe ... your hands
E82Episode 82James Patten: The best computer interface? Maybe ... your hands"The computer is an incredibly powerful means of creative expression," says designer and TED Fellow James Patten. But right now, we interact with computers, mainly, by typing and tapping. In this nifty talk and demo, Patten imagines a more visceral, physical way to bring your thoughts and ideas to life in the digital world, taking the computer interface off the screen and putting it into your hands. - Elizabeth Gilbert: Success, failure and the drive to keep creating
E83Episode 83Elizabeth Gilbert: Success, failure and the drive to keep creatingElizabeth Gilbert was once an "unpublished diner waitress," devastated by rejection letters. And yet, in the wake of the success of 'Eat, Pray, Love,' she found herself identifying strongly with her former self. With beautiful insight, Gilbert reflects on why success can be as disorienting as failure and offers a simple — though hard — way to carry on, regardless of outcomes. - Wendy Chung: Autism — what we know (and what we don’t know yet)
E84Episode 84Wendy Chung: Autism — what we know (and what we don’t know yet)In this factual talk, geneticist Wendy Chung shares what we know about autism spectrum disorder — for example, that autism has multiple, perhaps interlocking, causes. Looking beyond the worry and concern that can surround a diagnosis, Chung and her team look at what we’ve learned through studies, treatments and careful listening. - David Epstein: Are athletes really getting faster, better, stronger?
E85Episode 85David Epstein: Are athletes really getting faster, better, stronger?When you look at sporting achievements over the last decades, it seems like humans have gotten faster, better and stronger in nearly every way. Yet as David Epstein points out in this delightfully counter-intuitive talk, we might want to lay off the self-congratulation. Many factors are at play in shattering athletic records, and the development of our natural talents is just one of them. - Andrew Bastawrous: Get your next eye exam on a smartphone
E86Episode 86Andrew Bastawrous: Get your next eye exam on a smartphoneThirty-nine million people in the world are blind, and the majority lost their sight due to curable and preventable diseases. But how do you test and treat people who live in remote areas, where expensive, bulky eye equipment is hard to come by? TED Fellow Andrew Bastawrous demos a smartphone app and cheap hardware that might help. - Gavin Schmidt: The emergent patterns of climate change
E87Episode 87Gavin Schmidt: The emergent patterns of climate changeYou can't understand climate change in pieces, says climate scientist Gavin Schmidt. It's the whole, or it's nothing. In this illuminating talk, he explains how he studies the big picture of climate change with mesmerizing models that illustrate the endlessly complex interactions of small-scale environmental events. - Sarah Jones: What does the future hold? 11 characters offer quirky answers
E88Episode 88Sarah Jones: What does the future hold? 11 characters offer quirky answersSarah Jones changes personas with the simplest of wardrobe swaps. In a laugh-out-loud improvisation, she invites 11 "friends" from the future on stage—from a fast-talking Latina to an outspoken police officer—to ask them questions supplied by the TED2014 audience. - Mellody Hobson: Color blind or color brave?
E89Episode 89Mellody Hobson: Color blind or color brave?The subject of race can be very touchy. As finance executive Mellody Hobson says, it's a "conversational third rail." But, she says, that's exactly why we need to start talking about it. In this engaging, persuasive talk, Hobson makes the case that speaking openly about race — and particularly about diversity in hiring — makes for better businesses and a better society. - Marco Tempest: And for my next trick, a robot
E90Episode 90Marco Tempest: And for my next trick, a robotMarco Tempest uses charming stagecraft to demo EDI, the multi-purpose robot designed to work very closely with humans. Less a magic trick than an intricately choreographed performance, Tempest shows off the robot’s sensing technology, safety features and strength, and makes the case for a closer human-robot relationship. (Okay, there’s a little magic, too.) - Stanley McChrystal: The military case for sharing knowledge
E91Episode 91Stanley McChrystal: The military case for sharing knowledgeWhen General Stanley McChrystal started fighting al Qaeda in 2003, information and secrets were the lifeblood of his operations. But as the unconventional battle waged on, he began to think that the culture of keeping important information classified was misguided and actually counterproductive. In a short but powerful talk McChrystal makes the case for actively sharing knowledge. - Randall Munroe: Comics that ask "what if?"
E92Episode 92Randall Munroe: Comics that ask "what if?"Web cartoonist Randall Munroe answers simple what-if questions ("what if you hit a baseball moving at the speed of light?") using math, physics, logic and deadpan humor. In this charming talk, a reader’s question about Google's data warehouse leads Munroe down a circuitous path to a hilariously over-detailed answer — in which, shhh, you might actually learn something. - Mark Ronson: The exhilarating creativity of remixing
E93Episode 93Mark Ronson: The exhilarating creativity of remixingSampling isn't about "hijacking nostalgia wholesale," says Mark Ronson. It's about inserting yourself into the narrative of a song while also pushing that story forward. In this mind-blowingly original talk, watch the DJ scramble 15 TED Talks into an audio-visual omelette, and trace the evolution of "La Di Da Di," Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick's 1984 hit that has been reimagined for every generation since. - William Black: How to rob a bank (from the inside, that is)
E94Episode 94William Black: How to rob a bank (from the inside, that is)William Black is a former bank regulator who’s seen firsthand how banking systems can be used to commit fraud — and how “liar's loans” and other tricky tactics led to the 2008 US banking crisis that threatened the international economy. In this engaging talk, Black, now an academic, reveals the best way to rob a bank — from the inside. - Deborah Gordon: What ants teach us about the brain, cancer and the Internet
E95Episode 95Deborah Gordon: What ants teach us about the brain, cancer and the InternetEcologist Deborah Gordon studies ants wherever she can find them — in the desert, in the tropics, in her kitchen ... In this fascinating talk, she explains her obsession with insects most of us would happily swat away without a second thought. She argues that ant life provides a useful model for learning about many other topics, including disease, technology and the human brain. - Kevin Briggs: The bridge between suicide and life
E96Episode 96Kevin Briggs: The bridge between suicide and lifeFor many years Sergeant Kevin Briggs had a dark, unusual, at times strangely rewarding job: He patrolled the southern end of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, a popular site for suicide attempts. In a sobering, deeply personal talk Briggs shares stories from those he’s spoken — and listened — to standing on the edge of life. He gives a powerful piece of advice to those with loved ones who might be contemplating suicide. - Tristram Wyatt: The smelly mystery of the human pheromone
E97Episode 97Tristram Wyatt: The smelly mystery of the human pheromoneDo our smells make us sexy? Popular science suggests yes — pheromones send chemical signals about sex and attraction from our armpits to potential mates. But, despite what you might have heard, there is no conclusive research confirming that humans have these smell molecules. In this eye-opening talk, zoologist Tristram Wyatt explains the fundamental flaws in current pheromone research, and shares his hope for a future that unlocks the fascinating, potentially life-saving knowledge tied up in our scent. - Rives: The Museum of Four in the Morning
E98Episode 98Rives: The Museum of Four in the MorningBeware: Rives has a contagious obsession with 4 a.m. At TED2007, the poet shared what was then a minor fixation with a time that kept popping up everywhere. After the talk, emails starting pouring in with an avalanche of hilarious references—from the cover of "Crochet Today!" magazine to the opening scene of "The Metamorphosis." A lyrical peek into his Museum of Four in the Morning, which overflows with treasures. - Simon Sinek: Why good leaders make you feel safe
E99Episode 99Simon Sinek: Why good leaders make you feel safeWhat makes a great leader? Management theorist Simon Sinek suggests, it's someone who makes their employees feel secure, who draws staffers into a circle of trust. But creating trust and safety -- especially in an uneven economy -- means taking on big responsibility. - Jackie Savitz: Save the oceans, feed the world!
E100Episode 100Jackie Savitz: Save the oceans, feed the world!What's a marine biologist doing talking about world hunger? Well, says Jackie Savitz, fixing the world's oceans might just help to feed the planet's billion hungriest people. In an eye-opening talk, Savitz tells us what’s really going on in our global fisheries right now — it’s not good — and offers smart suggestions of how we can help them heal, while making more food for all. - Andrew Solomon: How the worst moments in our lives make us who we are
E101Episode 101Andrew Solomon: How the worst moments in our lives make us who we areWriter Andrew Solomon has spent his career telling stories of the hardships of others. Now he turns inward, bringing us into a childhood of adversity, while also spinning tales of the courageous people he's met in the years since. In a moving, heartfelt and at times downright funny talk, Solomon gives a powerful call to action to forge meaning from our biggest struggles. - Chris Kluwe: How augmented reality will change sports ... and build empathy
E102Episode 102Chris Kluwe: How augmented reality will change sports ... and build empathyChris Kluwe wants to look into the future of sports and think about how technology will help not just players and coaches, but fans. Here the former NFL punter envisions a future in which augmented reality will help people experience sports as if they are directly on the field — and maybe even help them see others in a new light, too. - Wes Moore: How to talk to veterans about the war
E103Episode 103Wes Moore: How to talk to veterans about the warWes Moore joined the US Army to pay for college, but the experience became core to who he is. In this heartfelt talk, the paratrooper and captain--who went on to write "The Other Wes Moore--”explains the shock of returning home from Afghanistan. He shares the single phrase he heard from civilians on repeat, and shows why it's just not sufficient. It's a call for all of us to ask veterans to tell their stories -- and listen. www.ted.com/talks/view/id/2008 - Sebastian Junger: Why veterans miss war
E104Episode 104Sebastian Junger: Why veterans miss warCivilians don't miss war. But soldiers often do. Journalist Sebastian Junger shares his experience embedded with American soldiers at Restrepo, an outpost in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley that saw heavy combat. Giving a look at the "altered state of mind" that comes with war, he shows how combat gives soldiers an intense experience of connection. In the end, could it actually be "the opposite of war" that soldiers miss? www.ted.com/talks/view/id/1999 - Jon Mooallem: The strange story of the teddy bear, and what it reveals about our relationship to animals
E105Episode 105Jon Mooallem: The strange story of the teddy bear, and what it reveals about our relationship to animalsIn 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt legendarily spared the life of a black bear — and prompted a plush toy craze for so-called "teddy bears." Writer Jon Mooallem digs into this toy story and asks us to consider how the tales we tell about wild animals have real consequences for a species' chance of survival — and the natural world at large. - Kitra Cahana: A glimpse of life on the road
E106Episode 106Kitra Cahana: A glimpse of life on the roadAs a young girl, photojournalist and TED Fellow Kitra Cahana dreamed about running away from home to live freely on the road. Now as an adult and self-proclaimed vagabond, she follows modern nomads into their homes — boxcars, bus stops, parking lots, rest stop bathrooms — giving a glimpse into a culture on the margins. - Stephen Friend: The hunt for "unexpected genetic heroes"
E107Episode 107Stephen Friend: The hunt for "unexpected genetic heroes"What can we learn from people with the genetics to get sick — who don’t? With most inherited diseases, only some family members will develop the disease, while others who carry the same genetic risks dodge it. Stephen Friend suggests we start studying those family members who stay healthy. Hear about the Resilience Project, a massive effort to collect genetic materials that may help decode inherited disorders. - Sting: How I started writing songs again
E108Episode 108Sting: How I started writing songs againSting’s early life was dominated by a shipyard—and he dreamed of nothing more than escaping the industrial drudgery. But after a nasty bout of writer’s block that stretched on for years, Sting found himself channeling the stories of the shipyard workers he knew in his youth for song material. In a lyrical, confessional talk, Sting treats us to songs from his upcoming musical, and to an encore of “Message in a Bottle.” - Ray Kurzweil: Get ready for hybrid thinking
E109Episode 109Ray Kurzweil: Get ready for hybrid thinkingTwo hundred million years ago, our mammal ancestors developed a new brain feature: the neocortex. This stamp-sized piece of tissue (wrapped around a brain the size of a walnut) is the key to what humanity has become. Now, futurist Ray Kurzweil suggests, we should get ready for the next big leap in brain power, as we tap into the computing power in the cloud. - Dan Gilbert: The psychology of your future self
E110Episode 110Dan Gilbert: The psychology of your future self"Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they're finished." Dan Gilbert shares recent research on a phenomenon he calls the "end of history illusion," where we somehow imagine that the person we are right now is the person we'll be for the rest of time. Hint: that's not the case. - Stephen Burt: Why people need poetry
E111Episode 111Stephen Burt: Why people need poetry"We're all going to die — and poems can help us live with that." In a charming and funny talk, literary critic Stephen Burt takes us on a lyrical journey with some of his favorite poets, all the way down to a line break and back up to the human urge to imagine. - Robert Full: The secrets of nature's grossest creatures, channeled into robots
E112Episode 112Robert Full: The secrets of nature's grossest creatures, channeled into robotsHow can robots learn to stabilize on rough terrain, walk upside down, do gymnastic maneuvers in air and run into walls without harming themselves? Robert Full takes a look at the incredible body of the cockroach to show what it can teach robotics engineers. - Yoruba Richen: What the gay rights movement learned from the civil rights movement
E113Episode 113Yoruba Richen: What the gay rights movement learned from the civil rights movementAs a member of both the African American and LGBT communities, filmmaker Yoruba Richen is fascinated with the overlaps and tensions between the gay rights and the civil rights movements. She explores how the two struggles intertwine and propel each other forward — and, in an unmissable argument, she dispels a myth about their points of conflict. A powerful reminder that we all have a stake in equality. - Stella Young: I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much
E114Episode 114Stella Young: I’m not your inspiration, thank you very muchStella Young is a comedian and journalist who happens to go about her day in a wheelchair — a fact that doesn’t, she’d like to make clear, automatically turn her into a noble inspiration to all humanity. In this very funny talk, Young breaks down society's habit of turning disabled people into “inspiration porn.” - Keren Elazari: Hackers: the Internet's immune system
E115Episode 115Keren Elazari: Hackers: the Internet's immune systemThe beauty of hackers, says cybersecurity expert Keren Elazari, is that they force us to evolve and improve. Yes, some hackers are bad guys, but many are working to fight government corruption and advocate for our rights. By exposing vulnerabilities, they push the Internet to become stronger and healthier, wielding their power to create a better world. - Will Potter: The shocking move to criminalize nonviolent protest
E116Episode 116Will Potter: The shocking move to criminalize nonviolent protestIn 2002, investigative journalist and TED Fellow Will Potter took a break from his regular beat, writing about shootings and murders for the Chicago Tribune. He went to help a local group campaigning against animal testing: "I thought it would be a safe way to do something positive," he says. Instead, he was arrested, and so began his ongoing journey into a world in which peaceful protest is branded as terrorism. - Uri Alon: Why truly innovative science demands a leap into the unknown
E117Episode 117Uri Alon: Why truly innovative science demands a leap into the unknownWhile studying for his PhD in physics, Uri Alon thought he was a failure because all his research paths led to dead ends. But, with the help of improv theater, he came to realize that there could be joy in getting lost. A call for scientists to stop thinking of research as a direct line from question to answer, but as something more creative. It's a message that will resonate, no matter what your field. - AJ Jacobs: The world's largest family reunion … we're all invited!
E118Episode 118AJ Jacobs: The world's largest family reunion … we're all invited!You may not know it yet, but AJ Jacobs is probably your cousin (many, many times removed). Using genealogy websites, he’s been following the unexpected links that make us all, however distantly, related. His goal: to throw the world’s largest family reunion. See you there? - Kwame Anthony Appiah: Is religion good or bad? (This is a trick question)
E119Episode 119Kwame Anthony Appiah: Is religion good or bad? (This is a trick question)Plenty of good things are done in the name of religion, and plenty of bad things too. But what is religion, exactly — is it good or bad, in and of itself? Philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah offers a generous, surprising view. - Anne Curzan: What makes a word
E120Episode 120Anne Curzan: What makes a wordOne could argue that slang words like ‘hangry,’ ‘defriend’ and ‘adorkable’ fill crucial meaning gaps in the English language, even if they don't appear in the dictionary. After all, who actually decides which words make it into those pages? Language historian Anne Curzan gives a charming look at the humans behind dictionaries, and the choices they make. - Ruth Chang: How to make hard choices
E121Episode 121Ruth Chang: How to make hard choicesHere's a talk that could literally change your life. Which career should I pursue? Should I break up — or get married?! Where should I live? Big decisions like these can be agonizingly difficult. But that's because we think about them the wrong way, says philosopher Ruth Chang. She offers a powerful new framework for shaping who we truly are. - Jamila Lyiscott: 3 ways to speak English
E122Episode 122Jamila Lyiscott: 3 ways to speak EnglishJamila Lyiscott is a “tri-tongued orator;” in her powerful spoken-word essay “Broken English,” she celebrates — and challenges — the three distinct flavors of English she speaks with her friends, in the classroom and with her parents. As she explores the complicated history and present-day identity that each language represents, she unpacks what it means to be “articulate.” - Billy Collins: Two poems about what dogs think (probably)
E123Episode 123Billy Collins: Two poems about what dogs think (probably)What must our dogs be thinking when they look at us? Poet Billy Collins imagines the inner lives of two very different companions. It’s a charming short talk, perfect for taking a break and dreaming… - Shaka Senghor: Why your worst deeds don’t define you
E124Episode 124Shaka Senghor: Why your worst deeds don’t define youIn 1991, Shaka Senghor shot and killed a man. He was, he says, "a drug dealer with a quick temper and a semi-automatic pistol." Jailed for second degree murder, that could very well have been the end of the story. But it wasn't. Instead, it was the beginning of a years-long journey to redemption, one with humbling and sobering lessons for us all. - Lorrie Faith Cranor: What’s wrong with your pa$$w0rd?
E125Episode 125Lorrie Faith Cranor: What’s wrong with your pa$$w0rd?Lorrie Faith Cranor studied thousands of real passwords to figure out the surprising, very common mistakes that users — and secured sites — make to compromise security. And how, you may ask, did she study thousands of real passwords without compromising the security of any users? That's a story in itself. It's secret data worth knowing, especially if your password is 123456 ... - Naomi Oreskes: Why we should trust scientists
E126Episode 126Naomi Oreskes: Why we should trust scientistsMany of the world's biggest problems require asking questions of scientists — but why should we believe what they say? Historian of science Naomi Oreskes thinks deeply about our relationship to belief and draws out three problems with common attitudes toward scientific inquiry — and gives her own reasoning for why we ought to trust science. - Ge Wang: The DIY orchestra of the future
E127Episode 127Ge Wang: The DIY orchestra of the futureGe Wang makes computer music, but it isn’t all about coded bleeps and blips. With the Stanford Laptop Orchestra, he creates new instruments out of unexpected materials - like an Ikea bowl - that allow musicians to play music that’s both beautiful and expressive. - Julian Treasure: How to speak so that people want to listen
E128Episode 128Julian Treasure: How to speak so that people want to listenHave you ever felt like you're talking, but nobody is listening? Here's Julian Treasure to help. In this useful talk, the sound expert demonstrates the how-to's of powerful speaking — from some handy vocal exercises to tips on how to speak with empathy. A talk that might help the world sound more beautiful. - Chris Domas: The 1s and 0s behind cyber warfare
E129Episode 129Chris Domas: The 1s and 0s behind cyber warfareChris Domas is a cybersecurity researcher, operating on what’s become a new front of war, "cyber." In this engaging talk, he shows how researchers use pattern recognition and reverse engineering (and pull a few all-nighters) to understand a chunk of binary code whose purpose and contents they don't know. - Sara Lewis: The loves and lies of fireflies
E130Episode 130Sara Lewis: The loves and lies of firefliesBiologist Sara Lewis has spent the past 20 years getting to the bottom of the magic and wonder of fireflies. In this charming talk, she tells us how and why the beetles produce their silent sparks, what happens when two fireflies have sex, and why one group of females is known as the firefly vampire. (It's not pretty.) Find out more astonishing facts about fireflies in Lewis' footnotes, below. - Simon Anholt: Which country does the most good for the world?
E131Episode 131Simon Anholt: Which country does the most good for the world?It's an unexpected side effect of globalization: problems that once would have stayed local—say, a bank lending out too much money—now have consequences worldwide. But still, countries operate independently, as if alone on the planet. Policy advisor Simon Anholt has dreamed up an unusual scale to get governments thinking outwardly: The Good Country Index. In a riveting and funny talk, he answers the question, "Which country does the most good?" The answer may surprise you (especially if you live in the US or China). - Paul Bloom: Can prejudice ever be a good thing?
E132Episode 132Paul Bloom: Can prejudice ever be a good thing?We often think of bias and prejudice as rooted in ignorance. But as psychologist Paul Bloom seeks to show, prejudice is often natural, rational ... even moral. The key, says Bloom, is to understand how our own biases work — so we can take control when they go wrong. - George Takei: Why I love a country that once betrayed me
E133Episode 133George Takei: Why I love a country that once betrayed meWhen he was a child, George Takei and his family were forced into an internment camp for Japanese-Americans, as a “security" measure during World War II. 70 years later, Takei looks back at how the camp shaped his surprising, personal definition of patriotism and democracy. - Joi Ito: Want to innovate? Become a "now-ist"
E134Episode 134Joi Ito: Want to innovate? Become a "now-ist"“Remember before the internet?” asks Joi Ito. “Remember when people used to try to predict the future?” In this engaging talk, the head of the MIT Media Lab skips the future predictions and instead shares a new approach to creating in the moment: building quickly and improving constantly, without waiting for permission or for proof that you have the right idea. This kind of bottom-up innovation is seen in the most fascinating, futuristic projects emerging today, and it starts, he says, with being open and alert to what’s going on around you right now. Don’t be a futurist, he suggests: be a now-ist. - Nicholas Negroponte: A 30-year history of the future
E135Episode 135Nicholas Negroponte: A 30-year history of the futureMIT Media Lab founder Nicholas Negroponte takes you on a journey through the last 30 years of tech. The consummate predictor highlights interfaces and innovations he foresaw in the 1970s and 1980s that were scoffed at then but are ubiquitous today. And he leaves you with one last (absurd? brilliant?) prediction for the coming 30 years. - Renata Salecl: Our unhealthy obsession with choice
E136Episode 136Renata Salecl: Our unhealthy obsession with choiceWe face an endless string of choices, which leads us to feel anxiety, guilt and pangs of inadequacy that we are perhaps making the wrong ones. But philosopher Renata Salecl asks: Could individual choices be distracting us from something bigger—our power as social thinkers? A bold call for us to stop taking personal choice so seriously and focus on the choices we're making collectively. - Karima Bennoune: When people of Muslim heritage challenge fundamentalism
E137Episode 137Karima Bennoune: When people of Muslim heritage challenge fundamentalismKarima Bennoune shares four powerful stories of real people fighting against fundamentalism in their own communities — refusing to allow the faith they love to become a tool for crime, attacks and murder. These personal stories humanize one of the most overlooked human-rights struggles in the world. - David Chalmers: How do you explain consciousness?
E139Episode 139David Chalmers: How do you explain consciousness?Our consciousness is a fundamental aspect of our existence, says philosopher David Chalmers: “There’s nothing we know about more directly…. but at the same time it’s the most mysterious phenomenon in the universe.” He shares some ways to think about the movie playing in our heads. - Nikolai Begg: A tool to fix one of the most dangerous moments in surgery
E140Episode 140Nikolai Begg: A tool to fix one of the most dangerous moments in surgerySurgeons are required every day to puncture human skin before procedures — with the risk of damaging what's on the other side. In a fascinating talk, find out how mechanical engineer Nikolai Begg is using physics to update an important medical device, called the trocar, and improve one of the most dangerous moments in many common surgeries. - Shih Chieh Huang: Sculptures that’d be at home in the deep sea
E141Episode 141Shih Chieh Huang: Sculptures that’d be at home in the deep seaWhen he was young, artist Shih Chieh Huang loved taking toys apart and perusing the aisles of night markets in Taiwan for unexpected objects. Today, this TED Fellow creates madcap sculptures that seem to have a life of their own—with eyes that blink, tentacles that unfurl and parts that light up like bioluminescent sea creatures. - Heather Barnett: What humans can learn from semi-intelligent slime
E142Episode 142Heather Barnett: What humans can learn from semi-intelligent slimeInspired by biological design and self-organizing systems, artist Heather Barnett co-creates with physarum polycephalum, a eukaryotic microorganism that lives in cool, moist areas. What can people learn from the semi-intelligent slime mold? Watch this talk to find out. - Shai Reshef: An ultra-low-cost college degree
E144Episode 144Shai Reshef: An ultra-low-cost college degreeAt the online University of the People, anyone with a high school diploma can take classes toward a degree in business administration or computer science — without standard tuition fees (though exams cost money). Founder Shai Reshef hopes that higher education is changing "from being a privilege for the few to a basic right, affordable and accessible for all." - Margaret Gould Stewart: How giant websites design for you (and a billion others, too)
E145Episode 145Margaret Gould Stewart: How giant websites design for you (and a billion others, too)Facebook’s “like” and “share” buttons are seen 22 billion times a day, making them some of the most-viewed design elements ever created. Margaret Gould Stewart, Facebook’s director of product design, outlines three rules for design at such a massive scale—one so big that the tiniest of tweaks can cause global outrage, but also so large that the subtlest of improvements can positively impact the lives of many. - Hubertus Knabe: The dark secrets of a surveillance state
E146Episode 146Hubertus Knabe: The dark secrets of a surveillance stateTour the deep dark world of the East German state security agency known as Stasi. Uniquely powerful at spying on its citizens, until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 the Stasi masterminded a system of surveillance and psychological pressure that kept the country under control for decades. Hubertus Knabe studies the Stasi — and was spied on by them. He shares stunning details from the fall of a surveillance state, and shows how easy it was for neighbor to turn on neighbor. - Janet Iwasa: How animations can help scientists test a hypothesis
E147Episode 147Janet Iwasa: How animations can help scientists test a hypothesis3D animation can bring scientific hypotheses to life. Molecular biologist (and TED Fellow) Janet Iwasa introduces a new open-source animation software designed just for scientists. - Megan Washington: Why I live in mortal dread of public speaking
E148Episode 148Megan Washington: Why I live in mortal dread of public speakingMegan Washington is one of Australia's premier singer/songwriters. And, since childhood, she has had a stutter. In this bold and personal talk, she reveals how she copes with this speech impediment—from avoiding the letter combination “st” to tricking her brain by changing her words at the last minute to, yes, singing the things she has to say rather than speaking them. - Talithia Williams: Own your body's data
E149Episode 149Talithia Williams: Own your body's dataThe new breed of high-tech self-monitors (measuring heartrate, sleep, steps per day) might seem targeted at competitive athletes. But Talithia Williams, a statistician, makes a compelling case that all of us should be measuring and recording simple data about our bodies every day — because our own data can reveal much more than even our doctors may know. - Nick Hanauer: Beware, fellow plutocrats, the pitchforks are coming
E150Episode 150Nick Hanauer: Beware, fellow plutocrats, the pitchforks are comingNick Hanauer is a rich guy, an unrepentant capitalist — and he has something to say to his fellow plutocrats: Wake up! Growing inequality is about to push our societies into conditions resembling pre-revolutionary France. Hear his argument about why a dramatic increase in minimum wage could grow the middle class, deliver economic prosperity ... and prevent a revolution. - Dan Pacholke: How prisons can help inmates live meaningful lives
E151Episode 151Dan Pacholke: How prisons can help inmates live meaningful livesIn the United States, the agencies that govern prisons are often called ‘Department of Corrections.’ And yet, their focus is on containing and controlling inmates. Dan Pacholke, Deputy Secretary for the Washington State Department of Corrections, shares a different vision: of prisons that provide humane living conditions as well as opportunities for meaningful work and learning. - Eric Liu: Why ordinary people need to understand power
E152Episode 152Eric Liu: Why ordinary people need to understand powerFar too many Americans are illiterate in power — what it is, how it operates and why some people have it. As a result, those few who do understand power wield disproportionate influence over everyone else. “We need to make civics sexy again,” says civics educator Eric Liu. “As sexy as it was during the American Revolution or the Civil Rights Movement.” - Clint Smith: The danger of silence
E153Episode 153Clint Smith: The danger of silence"We spend so much time listening to the things people are saying that we rarely pay attention to the things they don't," says poet and teacher Clint Smith. A short, powerful piece from the heart, about finding the courage to speak up against ignorance and injustice. - Tim Berners-Lee: A Magna Carta for the web
E154Episode 154Tim Berners-Lee: A Magna Carta for the webSir Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web 25 years ago. So it’s worth a listen when he warns us: There’s a battle ahead. Eroding net neutrality, filter bubbles and centralizing corporate control all threaten the web’s wide-open spaces. It’s up to users to fight for the right to access and openness. The question is, What kind of Internet do we want? - Aziza Chaouni: How I brought a river, and my city, back to life
E155Episode 155Aziza Chaouni: How I brought a river, and my city, back to lifeThe Fez River winds through the medina of Fez, Morocco—a mazelike medieval city that’s a World Heritage site. Once considered the “soul” of this celebrated city, the river succumbed to sewage and pollution, and in the 1950s was covered over bit by bit until nothing remained. TED Fellow Aziza Chaouni recounts her 20 year effort to restore this river to its former glory, and to transform her city in the process. - Jarrett Krosoczka: Why lunch ladies are heroes
E156Episode 156Jarrett Krosoczka: Why lunch ladies are heroesChildren’s book author Jarrett Krosoczka shares the origins of the Lunch Lady graphic novel series, in which undercover school heroes serve lunch…and justice! His new project, School Lunch Hero Day, reveals how cafeteria lunch staff provide more than food, and illustrates how powerful a thank you can be. - Laurel Braitman: Depressed dogs, cats with OCD — what animal madness means for us humans
E157Episode 157Laurel Braitman: Depressed dogs, cats with OCD — what animal madness means for us humansBehind those funny animal videos, sometimes, are oddly human-like problems. Laurel Braitman studies non-human animals who exhibit signs of mental health issues — from compulsive bears to self-destructive rats to monkeys with unlikely friends. Braitman asks what we as humans can learn from watching animals cope with depression, sadness and other all-too-human problems. - Ziyah Gafić: Everyday objects, tragic histories
E158Episode 158Ziyah Gafić: Everyday objects, tragic historiesZiyah Gafić photographs everyday objects—watches, shoes, glasses. But these images are deceptively simple; the items in them have been exhumed from the mass graves of the Bosnian War. Gafić, a TED Fellow and Sarajevo native, is photographing every item from these graves in order to create a living archive of the identities of those lost. - Martin Rees: Can we prevent the end of the world?
E159Episode 159Martin Rees: Can we prevent the end of the world?A post-apocalyptic Earth, emptied of humans, seems like the stuff of science fiction TV and movies. But in this short, surprising talk, Lord Martin Rees asks us to think about our real existential risks — natural and human-made threats that could wipe out humanity. As a concerned member of the human race, he asks: What’s the worst thing that could possibly happen? - Rose Goslinga: Crop insurance, an idea worth seeding
E160Episode 160Rose Goslinga: Crop insurance, an idea worth seedingAcross sub-Saharan Africa, small farmers are the bedrock of national and regional economies—unless the weather proves unpredictable and their crops fail. The solution is insurance, at a vast, continental scale, and at a very low, affordable cost. Rose Goslinga and the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture pioneered an unconventional way to give farmers whose crops fail early a second chance at a growing season. - Meera Vijayann: Find your voice against gender violence
E161Episode 161Meera Vijayann: Find your voice against gender violenceThis talk begins with a personal story of sexual violence that may be difficult to listen to. But that’s the point, says citizen journalist Meera Vijayann: Speaking out on tough, taboo topics is the spark for change. Vijayann uses digital media to speak honestly about her experience of gender violence in her home country of India — and calls on others to speak out too. - Sally Kohn: Don't like clickbait? Don't click
E162Episode 162Sally Kohn: Don't like clickbait? Don't clickDoesn't it seem like a lot of online news sites have moved beyond reporting the news to openly inciting your outrage (and your page views)? News analyst Sally Kohn suggests — don't engage with news that looks like it just wants to make you mad. Instead, give your precious clicks to the news sites you truly trust. - Jill Shargaa: Please, please, people. Let's put the 'awe' back in 'awesome'
E163Episode 163Jill Shargaa: Please, please, people. Let's put the 'awe' back in 'awesome'Which of the following is awesome: your lunch or the Great Pyramid of Giza? Comedian Jill Shargaa sounds a hilarious call for us to save the word "awesome" for things that truly inspire awe. - Jim Holt: Why does the universe exist?
E164Episode 164Jim Holt: Why does the universe exist?Why is there something instead of nothing? In other words: Why does the universe exist (and why are we in it)? Philosopher and writer Jim Holt follows this question toward three possible answers. Or four. Or none. - Isabel Allende: How to live passionately—no matter your age
E165Episode 165Isabel Allende: How to live passionately—no matter your ageAuthor Isabel Allende is 71. Yes, she has a few wrinkles—but she has incredible perspective too. In this candid talk, meant for viewers of all ages, she talks about her fears as she gets older and shares how she plans to keep on living passionately. - Shubhendu Sharma: How to grow a tiny forest anywhere
E166Episode 166Shubhendu Sharma: How to grow a tiny forest anywhereA forest planted by humans, then left to nature’s own devices, typically takes at least 100 years to mature. But what if we could make the process happen ten times faster? In this short talk, eco-entrepreneur (and TED Fellow) Shubhendu Sharma explains how to create a mini-forest ecosystem anywhere. - Colin Grant: How our stories cross over
E167Episode 167Colin Grant: How our stories cross overColin Grant has spent a lifetime navigating the emotional landscape between his father’s world and his own. Born in England to Jamaican parents, Grant draws on stories of shared experience within his immigrant community — and reflects on how he found forgiveness for a father who rejected him. - Zak Ebrahim: I am the son of a terrorist. Here's how I chose peace.
E168Episode 168Zak Ebrahim: I am the son of a terrorist. Here's how I chose peace.If you’re raised on dogma and hate, can you choose a different path? Zak Ebrahim was just seven years old when his father helped plan the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. His story is shocking, powerful and, ultimately, inspiring. - Dan Barasch: A park underneath the hustle and bustle of New York City
E169Episode 169Dan Barasch: A park underneath the hustle and bustle of New York CityDan Barasch and James Ramsey have a crazy plan — to create a park, filled with greenery, underneath New York City. The two are developing the Lowline, an underground greenspace the size of a football field. They're building it in a trolley terminal abandoned in 1948, using technology that harvests sunlight above-ground and directs it down below. It's a park that can thrive, even in winter. - Hans and Ola Rosling: How not to be ignorant about the world
E170Episode 170Hans and Ola Rosling: How not to be ignorant about the worldHow much do you know about the world? Hans Rosling, with his famous charts of global population, health and income data (and an extra-extra-long pointer), demonstrates that you have a high statistical chance of being quite wrong about what you think you know. Play along with his audience quiz — then, from Hans’ son Ola, learn 4 ways to quickly get less ignorant. - Uldus Bakhtiozina: Wry photos that turn stereotypes upside down
E171Episode 171Uldus Bakhtiozina: Wry photos that turn stereotypes upside downArtist Uldus Bakhtiozina uses photographs to poke fun at societal norms in her native Russia. A glimpse into Russian youth culture and a short, fun reminder not to take ourselves too seriously. - Rishi Manchanda: What makes us get sick? Look upstream.
E172Episode 172Rishi Manchanda: What makes us get sick? Look upstream.Rishi Manchanda has worked as a doctor in South Central Los Angeles for a decade, where he’s come to realize: His job isn’t just about treating a patient’s symptoms, but about getting to the root cause of what is making them ill—the “upstream" factors like a poor diet, a stressful job, a lack of fresh air. It’s a powerful call for doctors to pay attention to a patient's life outside the exam room. - Andrew Connolly: What's the next window into our universe?
E173Episode 173Andrew Connolly: What's the next window into our universe?Big Data is everywhere — even the skies. In an informative talk, astronomer Andrew Connolly shows how large amounts of data are being collected about our universe, recording it in its ever-changing moods. Just how do scientists capture so many images at scale? It starts with a giant telescope … - Mac Barnett: Why a good book is a secret door
E174Episode 174Mac Barnett: Why a good book is a secret doorChildhood is surreal. Why shouldn't children's books be? In this whimsical talk, award-winning author Mac Barnett speaks about writing that escapes the page, art as a doorway to wonder — and what real kids say to a fictional whale. - Avi Reichental: What’s next in 3D printing
E175Episode 175Avi Reichental: What’s next in 3D printingJust like his beloved grandfather, Avi Reichental is a maker of things. The difference is, now he can use 3D printers to make almost anything, out of almost any material. Reichental tours us through the possibilities of 3D printing, for everything from printed candy to highly custom sneakers. - Antonio Donato Nobre: The magic of the Amazon: A river that flows invisibly all around us
E176Episode 176Antonio Donato Nobre: The magic of the Amazon: A river that flows invisibly all around usThe Amazon River is like a heart, pumping water from the seas through it, and up into the atmosphere through 600 billion trees, which act like lungs. Clouds form, rain falls and the forest thrives. In a lyrical talk, Antonio Donato Nobre talks us through the interconnected systems of this region, and how they provide environmental services to the entire world. A parable for the extraordinary symphony that is nature. - Lord Nicholas Stern: The state of the climate — and what we might do about it
E177Episode 177Lord Nicholas Stern: The state of the climate — and what we might do about itHow can we begin to address the global, insidious problem of climate change — a problem that’s too big for any one country to solve? Economist Nicholas Stern lays out a plan, presented to the UN’s Climate Summit in 2014, showing how the world’s countries can work together on climate. It’s a big vision for cooperation, with a payoff that goes far beyond averting disaster. He asks: How can we use this crisis to spur better lives for all? - Kenneth Cukier: Big data is better data
E178Episode 178Kenneth Cukier: Big data is better dataSelf-driving cars were just the start. What's the future of big data-driven technology and design? In a thrilling science talk, Kenneth Cukier looks at what's next for machine learning — and human knowledge. - Eman Mohammed: The courage to tell a hidden story
E179Episode 179Eman Mohammed: The courage to tell a hidden storyEman Mohammed is one of the few female photojournalists in the Gaza Strip. Though openly shunned by many of her male colleagues, she is given unprecedented access to areas denied to men. In this short, visual talk, the TED Fellow critiques gender norms in her community by bringing light to hidden stories. - Matthew O'Reilly: “Am I dying?” The honest answer.
E180Episode 180Matthew O'Reilly: “Am I dying?” The honest answer.Matthew O’Reilly is a veteran emergency medical technician on Long Island, New York. In this talk, O’Reilly describes what happens next when a gravely hurt patient asks him: “Am I going to die?” - Moshe Safdie: How to reinvent the apartment building
E181Episode 181Moshe Safdie: How to reinvent the apartment buildingIn 1967, Moshe Safdie reimagined the monolithic apartment building, creating “Habitat ’67,” which gave each unit an unprecedented sense of openness. Nearly 50 years later, he believes the need for this type of building is greater than ever. In this short talk, Safdie surveys a range of projects that do away with the high-rise and let light permeate into densely-packed cities. - Francis de los Reyes: Sanitation is a basic human right
E182Episode 182Francis de los Reyes: Sanitation is a basic human rightWarning: This talk might contain much more than you’d ever want to know about the way the world poops. But as sanitation activist (and TED Fellow) Francis de los Reyes asks — doesn’t everyone deserve a safe place to go? - Susan Colantuono: The career advice you probably didn’t get
E183Episode 183Susan Colantuono: The career advice you probably didn’t getYou’re doing everything right at work, taking all the right advice, but you’re just not moving up. Why? Susan Colantuono shares a simple, surprising piece of advice you might not have heard before quite so plainly. This talk, while aimed at an audience of women, has universal takeaways — for men and women, new grads and midcareer workers. - Gail Reed: Where to train the world's doctors? Cuba.
E184Episode 184Gail Reed: Where to train the world's doctors? Cuba.Big problems need big solutions, sparked by big ideas, imagination and audacity. In this talk, journalist Gail Reed profiles one big solution worth noting: Havana’s Latin American Medical School, which trains global physicians to serve the local communities that need them most. - Nancy Kanwisher: A neural portrait of the human mind
E185Episode 185Nancy Kanwisher: A neural portrait of the human mindBrain imaging pioneer Nancy Kanwisher, who uses fMRI scans to see activity in brain regions (often her own), shares what she and her colleagues have learned: The brain is made up of both highly specialized components and general-purpose "machinery." Another surprise: There's so much left to learn. - Daria van den Bercken: Why I take the piano on the road … and in the air
E186Episode 186Daria van den Bercken: Why I take the piano on the road … and in the airPianist Daria van den Bercken fell in love with the baroque keyboard music of George Frideric Handel. Now, she aims to ignite this passion in others. In this talk, she plays us through the emotional roller coaster of his music — while sailing with her piano through the air, driving it down the street, and of course playing on the stage. - Thomas Piketty: New thoughts on capital in the twenty-first century
E187Episode 187Thomas Piketty: New thoughts on capital in the twenty-first centuryFrench economist Thomas Piketty caused a sensation in early 2014 with his book on a simple, brutal formula explaining economic inequality: r > g (meaning that return on capital is generally higher than economic growth). Here, he talks through the massive data set that led him to conclude: Economic inequality is not new, but it is getting worse, with radical possible impacts. - Meaghan Ramsey: Why thinking you're ugly is bad for you
E188Episode 188Meaghan Ramsey: Why thinking you're ugly is bad for youAbout 10,000 people a month Google the phrase, “Am I ugly?” Meaghan Ramsey of the Dove Self-Esteem Project has a feeling that many of them are young girls. In a deeply unsettling talk, she walks us through the surprising impacts of low body and image confidence—from lower grade point averages to greater risk-taking with drugs and alcohol. And then shares the key things all of us can do to disrupt this reality. - Pia Mancini: How to upgrade democracy for the Internet era
E189Episode 189Pia Mancini: How to upgrade democracy for the Internet eraPia Mancini and her colleagues want to upgrade democracy in Argentina and beyond. Through their open-source mobile platform they want to bring citizens inside the legislative process, and run candidates who will listen to what they say. - Dilip Ratha: The hidden force in global economics: sending money home
E190Episode 190Dilip Ratha: The hidden force in global economics: sending money homeIn 2013, international migrants sent $413 billion home to families and friends — three times more than the total of global foreign aid (about $135 billion). This money, known as remittances, makes a significant difference in the lives of those receiving it and plays a major role in the economies of many countries. Economist Dilip Ratha describes the promise of these “dollars wrapped with love” and analyzes how they are stifled by practical and regulatory obstacles. - Glenn Greenwald: Why privacy matters
E191Episode 191Glenn Greenwald: Why privacy mattersGlenn Greenwald was one of the first reporters to see — and write about — the Edward Snowden files, with their revelations about the United States' extensive surveillance of private citizens. In this searing talk, Greenwald makes the case for why you need to care about privacy, even if you’re “not doing anything you need to hide." - Jeff Iliff: One more reason to get a good night’s sleep
E192Episode 192Jeff Iliff: One more reason to get a good night’s sleepThe brain uses a quarter of the body's entire energy supply, yet only accounts for about two percent of the body's mass. So how does this unique organ receive and, perhaps more importantly, rid itself of vital nutrients? New research suggests it has to do with sleep. - Myriam Sidibe: The simple power of hand-washing
E193Episode 193Myriam Sidibe: The simple power of hand-washingMyriam Sidibe is a warrior in the fight against childhood disease. Her weapon of choice? A bar of soap. For cost-effective prevention against sickness, it’s hard to beat soapy hand-washing, which cuts down risk of pneumonia, diarrhea, cholera and worse. Sidibe, a public-health expert, makes a smart case for public-private partnerships to promote clean hands — and local, sustainable entrepreneurship. - Jorge Soto: The future of early cancer detection?
E194Episode 194Jorge Soto: The future of early cancer detection?Along with a crew of technologists and scientists, Jorge Soto is developing a simple, noninvasive, open-source test that looks for early signs of multiple forms of cancer. Onstage at TEDGlobal 2014, he demonstrates a working prototype of the mobile platform for the first time. - Melissa Fleming: Let’s help refugees thrive, not just survive
E195Episode 195Melissa Fleming: Let’s help refugees thrive, not just survive50 million people in the world today have been forcefully displaced from their home — a level not seen since WWII. Right now, more than 3 million Syrian refugees are seeking shelter in neighboring countries. In Lebanon, half of these refugees are children; only 20% are in school. Melissa Fleming of the UN's refugee agency calls on all of us to make sure that refugee camps are healing places where people can develop the skills they’ll need to rebuild their hometowns. - Kitra Cahana: My father, locked in his body but soaring free
E196Episode 196Kitra Cahana: My father, locked in his body but soaring freeIn 2011 Ronnie Cahana suffered a severe stroke that left him with locked-in syndrome: completely paralyzed except for his eyes. While this might shatter a normal person’s mental state, Cahana found peace in “dimming down the external chatter,” and “fell in love with life and body anew.” In a somber, emotional talk, his daughter Kitra shares how she documented her father's spiritual experience, as he helped guide others even in a state of seeming helplessness. - Susan Etlinger: What do we do with all this big data?
E197Episode 197Susan Etlinger: What do we do with all this big data?Does a set of data make you feel more comfortable? More successful? Then your interpretation of it is likely wrong. In a surprisingly moving talk, Susan Etlinger explains why, as we receive more and more data, we need to deepen our critical thinking skills. Because it's hard to move beyond counting things to really understanding them. - Fred Swaniker: The leaders who ruined Africa, and the generation who can fix it
E198Episode 198Fred Swaniker: The leaders who ruined Africa, and the generation who can fix itBefore he hit eighteen, Fred Swaniker had lived in Ghana, Gambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. What he learned from a childhood across Africa was that while good leaders can't make much of a difference in societies with strong institutions, in countries with weak structures, leaders could make or break a country. In a passionate talk the entrepreneur and TED Fellow looks at different generations of African leaders and imagines how to develop the leadership of the future. - Fabien Cousteau: What I learned from spending 31 days underwater
E200Episode 200Fabien Cousteau: What I learned from spending 31 days underwaterIn 1963, Jacques Cousteau lived for 30 days in an underwater laboratory positioned on the floor of the Red Sea, and set a world record in the process. This summer, his grandson Fabien Cousteau broke that record. Cousteau the younger lived for 31 days aboard the Aquarius, an underwater research laboratory nine miles off the coast of Florida. In a charming talk he brings his wondrous adventure to life. - Marc Abrahams: A science award that makes you laugh, then think
E201Episode 201Marc Abrahams: A science award that makes you laugh, then thinkAs founder of the Ig Nobel awards, Marc Abrahams explores the world’s most improbable research. In this thought-provoking (and occasionally side-splitting) talk, he tells stories of truly weird science — and makes the case that silliness is critical to boosting public interest in science. - Kimberley Motley: How I defend the rule of law
E202Episode 202Kimberley Motley: How I defend the rule of lawEvery human deserves protection under their country’s laws — even when that law is forgotten or ignored. Sharing three cases from her international legal practice, Kimberley Motley, an American litigator practicing in Afghanistan and elsewhere, shows how a country’s own laws can bring both justice and “justness”: using the law for its intended purpose, to protect. - Sergei Lupashin: A flying camera ... on a leash
E203Episode 203Sergei Lupashin: A flying camera ... on a leashLet's admit it: aerial photo drones and UAVs are a little creepy, and they come with big regulatory and safety problems. But aerial photos can be a powerful way of telling the truth about the world: the size of a protest, the spread of an oil spill, the wildlife hidden in a delta. Sergei Lupashin demos Fotokite, a nifty new way to see the world from on high, safely and under control. - Frans Lanting: Photos that give voice to the animal kingdom
E204Episode 204Frans Lanting: Photos that give voice to the animal kingdomNature photographer Frans Lanting uses vibrant images to take us deep into the animal world. In this short, visual talk he calls for us to reconnect with other earthly creatures, and to shed the metaphorical skins that separate us from each other. - Debra Jarvis: Yes, I survived cancer. But that doesn't define me
E205Episode 205Debra Jarvis: Yes, I survived cancer. But that doesn't define meDebra Jarvis had worked as a hospital chaplain for nearly 30 years when she was diagnosed with cancer. And she learned quite a bit as a patient. In a witty, daring talk, she explains how the identity of “cancer survivor” can feel static. She asks us all to claim our hardest experiences, while giving ourselves room to grow and evolve. - Jeremy Heimans: What new power looks like
E206Episode 206Jeremy Heimans: What new power looks likeWe can see the power of distributed, crowd-sourced business models every day — witness Uber, Kickstarter, Airbnb. But veteran online activist Jeremy Heimans asks: When does that kind of "new power" start to work in politics? His surprising answer: Sooner than you think. It’s a bold argument about the future of politics and power; watch and see if you agree. - Alessandra Orofino: It’s our city. Let’s fix it
E207Episode 207Alessandra Orofino: It’s our city. Let’s fix itToo often, people feel checked out of politics — even at the level of their own city. But urban activist Alessandra Orofino thinks that can change, using a mix of tech and old-fashioned human connection. Sharing examples from her hometown of Rio, she says: "It is up to us to decide whether we want schools or parking lots, recycling projects or construction sites, cars or buses, loneliness or solidarity." - Ameenah Gurib-Fakim: Humble plants that hide surprising secrets
E208Episode 208Ameenah Gurib-Fakim: Humble plants that hide surprising secretsIn this intriguing talk, biologist Ameenah Gurib-Fakim introduces us to rare plant species from isolated islands and regions of Africa. Meet the shape-shifting benjoin; the baume de l'ile plate, which might offer a new treatment for asthma; and the iconic baobab tree, which could hold the key to the future of food. Plus: monkey apples. - Kare Anderson: Be an opportunity maker
E209Episode 209Kare Anderson: Be an opportunity makerWe all want to use our talents to create something meaningful with our lives. But how to get started? (And ... what if you're shy?) Writer Kare Anderson shares her own story of chronic shyness, and how she opened up her world by helping other people use their own talents and passions. - Alejandro Aravena: My architectural philosophy? Bring the community into the process
E210Episode 210Alejandro Aravena: My architectural philosophy? Bring the community into the processWhen asked to build housing for 100 families in Chile ten years ago, Alejandro Aravena looked to an unusual inspiration: the wisdom of favelas and slums. Rather than building a large building with small units, he built flexible half-homes that each family could expand on. It was a complex problem, but with a simple solution — one that he arrived at by working with the families themselves. With a chalkboard and beautiful images of his designs, Aravena walks us through three projects where clever rethinking led to beautiful design with great benefit. - Haas&Hahn: How painting can transform communities
E211Episode 211Haas&Hahn: How painting can transform communitiesArtists Jeroen Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn create community art by painting entire neighborhoods, and involving those who live there — from the favelas of Rio to the streets of North Philadelphia. What's made their projects succeed? In this funny and inspiring talk, the artists explain their art-first approach — and the importance of a neighborhood barbecue. - Ramanan Laxminarayan: The coming crisis in antibiotics
E212Episode 212Ramanan Laxminarayan: The coming crisis in antibioticsAntibiotic drugs save lives. But we simply use them too much — and often for non-lifesaving purposes, like treating the flu and even raising cheaper chickens. The result, says researcher Ramanan Laxminarayan, is that the drugs will stop working for everyone, as the bacteria they target grow more and more resistant. He calls on all of us (patients and doctors alike) to think of antibiotics — and their ongoing effectiveness — as a finite resource, and to think twice before we tap into it. It’s a sobering look at how global medical trends can strike home. - Michael Green: What the Social Progress Index can reveal about your country
E213Episode 213Michael Green: What the Social Progress Index can reveal about your countryThe term Gross Domestic Product is often talked about as if it were “handed down from god on tablets of stone.” But this concept was invented by an economist in the 1930s. We need a more effective measurement tool to match 21st century needs, says Michael Green: the Social Progress Index. With charm and wit, he shows how this tool measures societies across the three dimensions that actually matter. And reveals the dramatic reordering of nations that occurs when you use it. - Ethan Nadelmann: Why we need to end the War on Drugs
E214Episode 214Ethan Nadelmann: Why we need to end the War on DrugsIs the War on Drugs doing more harm than good? In a bold talk, drug policy reformist Ethan Nadelmann makes an impassioned plea to end the "backward, heartless, disastrous" movement to stamp out the drug trade. He gives two big reasons we should focus on intelligent regulation instead. - Leana Wen: What your doctor won’t disclose
E215Episode 215Leana Wen: What your doctor won’t discloseWouldn’t you want to know if your doctor was a paid spokesman for a drug company? Or held personal beliefs incompatible with the treatment you want? Right now, in the US at least, your doctor simply doesn’t have to tell you about that. And when physician Leana Wen asked her fellow doctors to open up, the reaction she got was … unsettling. - Vincent Moon and Naná Vasconcelos: Hidden music rituals around the world
E216Episode 216Vincent Moon and Naná Vasconcelos: Hidden music rituals around the worldVincent Moon travels the world with a backpack and a camera, filming astonishing music and ritual the world rarely sees — from a powerful Sufi ritual in Chechnya to an ayahuasca journey in Peru. He hopes his films can help people see their own cultures in a new way, to make young people say: "Whoa, my grandfather is as cool as Beyoncé." Followed by a mesmerizing performance by jazz icon Naná Vasconcelos. - David Grady: How to save the world (or at least yourself) from bad meetings
E217Episode 217David Grady: How to save the world (or at least yourself) from bad meetingsAn epidemic of bad, inefficient, overcrowded meetings is plaguing the world’s businesses — and making workers miserable. David Grady has some ideas on how to stop it. - Will Marshall: Tiny satellites show us the Earth as it changes in near-real-time
E218Episode 218Will Marshall: Tiny satellites show us the Earth as it changes in near-real-timeSatellite imaging has revolutionized our knowledge of the Earth, with detailed images of nearly every street corner readily available online. But Planet Labs' Will Marshall says we can do better and go faster — by getting smaller. He introduces his tiny satellites — no bigger than 10 by 10 by 30 centimeters — that, when launched in a cluster, provide high-res images of the entire planet, updated daily. - Nancy Frates: Meet the mom who started the Ice Bucket Challenge
E219Episode 219Nancy Frates: Meet the mom who started the Ice Bucket ChallengeRemember the Ice Bucket Challenge craze this summer? Meet the mom who started it all. When Nancy Frates's son Pete hurt his wrist in a baseball game, he got an unexpected diagnosis: it wasn’t a broken bone, it was ALS, and there is no cure. In this inspiring talk, Nancy tells the story of what happened next. - Joe Landolina: This gel can make you stop bleeding instantly
E220Episode 220Joe Landolina: This gel can make you stop bleeding instantlyForget stitches — there's a better way to close wounds. In this talk, TED Fellow Joe Landolina talks about his invention — a medical gel that can instantly stop traumatic bleeding without the need to apply pressure. (Contains medical images.) - Rosie King: How autism freed me to be myself
E221Episode 221Rosie King: How autism freed me to be myself“People are so afraid of variety that they try to fit everything into a tiny little box with a specific label,” says 16-year-old Rosie King, who is bold, brash and autistic. She wants to know: Why is everyone so worried about being normal? She sounds a clarion call for every kid, parent, teacher and person to celebrate uniqueness. It’s a soaring testament to the potential of human diversity. - Mark Plotkin: What the people of the Amazon know that you don’t
E222Episode 222Mark Plotkin: What the people of the Amazon know that you don’t"The greatest and most endangered species in the Amazon rainforest is not the jaguar or the harpy eagle," says Mark Plotkin, "It's the isolated and uncontacted tribes." In an energetic and sobering talk, the ethnobotanist brings us into the world of the forest's indigenous tribes and the incredible medicinal plants that their shamans use to heal. He outlines the challenges and perils that are endangering them — and their wisdom — and urges us to protect this irreplaceable repository of knowledge. - Emily Balcetis: Why some people find exercise harder than others
E223Episode 223Emily Balcetis: Why some people find exercise harder than othersWhy do some people struggle more than others to keep off the pounds? Social psychologist Emily Balcetis shows research that addresses one of the many factors: Vision. In an informative talk, she shows how when it comes to fitness, some people quite literally see the world differently from others — and offers a surprisingly simple solution to overcome these differences. - Pico Iyer: The art of stillness
E224Episode 224Pico Iyer: The art of stillnessThe place that travel writer Pico Iyer would most like to go? Nowhere. In a counterintuitive and lyrical meditation, Iyer takes a look at the incredible insight that comes with taking time for stillness. In our world of constant movement and distraction, he teases out strategies we all can use to take back a few minutes out of every day, or a few days out of every season. It’s the talk for anyone who feels overwhelmed by the demands for our world. - Oren Yakobovich: Hidden cameras that film injustice in the world’s most dangerous places
E225Episode 225Oren Yakobovich: Hidden cameras that film injustice in the world’s most dangerous placesTo see is to believe, says Oren Yakobovich — which is why he helps everyday people use hidden cameras to film dangerous situations of violence, political fraud and abuse. His organization, Videre, uncovers, verifies and publicizes human-rights abuses that the world needs to witness. - Ben Saunders: To the South Pole and back — the hardest 105 days of my life
E226Episode 226Ben Saunders: To the South Pole and back — the hardest 105 days of my lifeThis year, explorer Ben Saunders attempted his most ambitious trek yet. He set out to complete Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s failed 1912 polar expedition — a four-month, 1,800-mile round trip journey from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole and back. In the first talk given after his adventure, just five weeks after his return, Saunders offers a raw, honest look at this “hubris”-tinged mission that brought him to the most difficult decision of his life. - Rainer Strack: The workforce crisis of 2030 -- and how to start solving it now
E227Episode 227Rainer Strack: The workforce crisis of 2030 -- and how to start solving it nowIt sounds counterintuitive, but by 2030, many of the world's largest economies will have more jobs than adult citizens to do those jobs. In this data-filled — and quite charming — talk, human resources expert Rainer Strack suggests that countries ought to look across borders for mobile and willing job seekers. But to do that, they need to start by changing the culture in their businesses. - Barbara Natterson-Horowitz: What veterinarians know that doctors don't
E228Episode 228Barbara Natterson-Horowitz: What veterinarians know that doctors don'tWhat do you call a veterinarian who can only take care of one species? A physician. In a fascinating talk, Barbara Natterson-Horowitz shares how a species-spanning approach to health can improve medical care of the human animal — particularly when it comes to mental health. - Aakash Odedra: A dance in a hurricane of paper, wind and light
E229Episode 229Aakash Odedra: A dance in a hurricane of paper, wind and lightChoreographer Aakash Odedra is dyslexic and has always felt that his best expression comes through movement. “Murmur” is his ode to that experience, teaming up with co-creators Lewis Major and Ars Electronica Futurelab. Watch him spin his way through the center of a storm, as pages of books take flight all around him. - Jose Miguel Sokoloff: How Christmas lights helped guerrillas put down their guns
E230Episode 230Jose Miguel Sokoloff: How Christmas lights helped guerrillas put down their guns“In my lifetime, I have never lived one day of peace in my country,” says Jose Miguel Sokoloff. This ad executive from Colombia saw a chance to help guerrilla fighters choose to come home — with smart marketing. He shares how some creative, welcoming messages have helped thousands of guerrillas decide to put down their weapons — and the key insights behind these surprising tactics. - Anastasia Taylor-Lind: Fighters and mourners of the Ukrainian revolution
E231Episode 231Anastasia Taylor-Lind: Fighters and mourners of the Ukrainian revolution“Men fight wars, and women mourn them,” says documentary photographer Anastasia Taylor-Lind. With stark, arresting images from the Maidan protests in Ukraine, the TED Fellow shows us intimate faces from the revolution. A grim and beautiful talk. - Thomas Hellum: The world's most boring television ... and why it's hilariously addictive
E232Episode 232Thomas Hellum: The world's most boring television ... and why it's hilariously addictiveYou've heard about slow food. Now here's slow ... TV? In this very funny talk, Norwegian television producer Thomas Hellum shares how he and his team began to broadcast long, boring events, often live — and found a rapt audience. Shows include a 7-hour train journey, an 18-hour fishing expedition and a 5.5-day ferry voyage along the coast of Norway. The results are both beautiful and fascinating. Really. - Catherine Crump: The small and surprisingly dangerous detail the police track about you
E233Episode 233Catherine Crump: The small and surprisingly dangerous detail the police track about youA very unsexy-sounding piece of technology could mean that the police know where you go, with whom, and when: the automatic license plate reader. These cameras are innocuously placed all across small-town America to catch known criminals, but as lawyer and TED Fellow Catherine Crump shows, the data they collect in aggregate could have disastrous consequences for everyone the world over. - Dave Troy: Social maps that reveal a city's intersections — and separations
E234Episode 234Dave Troy: Social maps that reveal a city's intersections — and separationsEvery city has its neighborhoods, cliques and clubs, the hidden lines that join and divide people in the same town. What can we learn about cities by looking at what people share online? Starting with his own home town of Baltimore, Dave Troy has been visualizing what the tweets of city dwellers reveal about who lives there, who they talk to — and who they don’t. - Vernā Myers: How to overcome our biases? Walk boldly toward them
E235Episode 235Vernā Myers: How to overcome our biases? Walk boldly toward themOur biases can be dangerous, even deadly — as we've seen in the cases of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner, in Staten Island, New York. Diversity advocate Vernā Myers looks closely at some of the subconscious attitudes we hold toward out-groups. She makes a plea to all people: Acknowledge your biases. Then move toward, not away from, the groups that make you uncomfortable. In a funny, impassioned, important talk, she shows us how. - Jeremy Howard: The wonderful and terrifying implications of computers that can learn
E236Episode 236Jeremy Howard: The wonderful and terrifying implications of computers that can learnWhat happens when we teach a computer how to learn? Technologist Jeremy Howard shares some surprising new developments in the fast-moving field of deep learning, a technique that can give computers the ability to learn Chinese, or to recognize objects in photos, or to help think through a medical diagnosis. (One deep learning tool, after watching hours of YouTube, taught itself the concept of “cats.”) Get caught up on a field that will change the way the computers around you behave … sooner than you probably think. - Carol Dweck: The power of believing that you can improve
E237Episode 237Carol Dweck: The power of believing that you can improveCarol Dweck researches “growth mindset” — the idea that we can grow our brain's capacity to learn and to solve problems. In this talk, she describes two ways to think about a problem that’s slightly too hard for you to solve. Are you not smart enough to solve it … or have you just not solved it yet? A great introduction to this influential field. - Bruno Torturra: Got a smartphone? Start broadcasting
E238Episode 238Bruno Torturra: Got a smartphone? Start broadcastingIn 2011, journalist Bruno Torturra covered a protest in São Paulo which turned ugly. His experience of being teargassed had a profound effect on the way he thought about his work, and he quit his job to focus on broadcasting raw, unedited experiences online. In this fascinating talk, he shares some of the ways in which he's experimented with livestreaming on the web, and how in the process he has helped to create a very modern media network. - Mundano: Pimp my ... trash cart?
E239Episode 239Mundano: Pimp my ... trash cart?In Brazil, "catadores" collect junk and recyclables. But while they provide a vital service that benefits all, they are nearly invisible as they roam the streets. Enter graffiti artist Mundano, a TED Fellow. In a spirited talk, he describes his project "Pimp My Carroça," which has transformed these heroic workers' carts into things of beauty and infused them with a sense of humor. It's a movement that is going global. - Erin McKean: Go ahead, make up new words!
E240Episode 240Erin McKean: Go ahead, make up new words!In this fun, short talk from TEDYouth, lexicographer Erin McKean encourages — nay, cheerleads — her audience to create new words when the existing ones won’t quite do. She lists out 6 ways to make new words in English, from compounding to “verbing,” in order to make language better at expressing what we mean, and to create more ways for us to understand one another. - Michael Rubinstein: See invisible motion, hear silent sounds. Cool? Creepy? We can't decide
E241Episode 241Michael Rubinstein: See invisible motion, hear silent sounds. Cool? Creepy? We can't decideMeet the “motion microscope,” a video-processing tool that plays up tiny changes in motion and color impossible to see with the naked eye. Video researcher Michael Rubinstein plays us clip after jaw-dropping clip showing how this tech can track an individual’s pulse and heartbeat simply from a piece of footage. Watch him re-create a conversation by amplifying the movements from sound waves bouncing off a bag of chips. The wow-inspiring and sinister applications of this tech you have to see to believe.
