

TED Talks
Season 2020
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Where to Watch Season 2020
18 Episodes
- Pat Mitchell: Dangerous times call for dangerous womenE1
Pat Mitchell: Dangerous times call for dangerous womenPat Mitchell has nothing left to prove and much less to lose -- she's become a "dangerous woman." Not dangerous as in feared, she says, but fearless: a force to be reckoned with. In this powerful call to action, Mitchell invites all women, men and allies to join her in embracing the risks necessary to create a world where safety, respect and truth burn brighter than the darkness of our current times. - Ipsita Dasgupta: To challenge the status quo, find a "co-conspirator"E2
Ipsita Dasgupta: To challenge the status quo, find a "co-conspirator"In a complex and changing world, how can we make sure unconventional people and their ideas thrive? Business executive Ipsita Dasgupta introduces the concept of "co-conspirators" -- people willing to bend or break the rules to challenge the status quo -- and shows how they can help create new ways of thinking, acting and being. - Anindya Kundu: The "opportunity gap" in US public education -- and how to close itE3
Anindya Kundu: The "opportunity gap" in US public education -- and how to close itHow can we tap into the potential of all students, especially those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds? Sociologist Anindya Kundu invites us to take a deeper look at the personal, social and institutional challenges that keep students from thriving in the United States -- and shows how closing this "opportunity gap" means valuing public education for what it really is: the greatest investment in our collective future. - Risa Wechsler: The search for dark matter -- and what we've found so farE4
Risa Wechsler: The search for dark matter -- and what we've found so farRoughly 85 percent of mass in the universe is "dark matter" -- mysterious material that can't be directly observed but has an immense influence on the cosmos. What exactly is this strange stuff, and what does it have to do with our existence? Astrophysicist Risa Wechsler explores why dark matter may be the key to understanding how the universe formed -- and shares how physicists in labs around the world are coming up with creative ways to study it. - Leon Marchal: The urgent case for antibiotic-free animalsE5
Leon Marchal: The urgent case for antibiotic-free animalsThe UN predicts that antimicrobial resistance will be our biggest killer by 2050. "That should really scare the hell out of all of us," says bioprocess engineer Leon Marchal. He's working on an urgently needed solution: transforming the massive, global animal feed industry. Learn why the overuse of antibiotics in animal products, from livestock feed to everyday pet treats, has skyrocketed worldwide -- and how we can take common-sense measures to stave off a potential epidemic. - Anna Piperal: What a digital government looks likeE6
Anna Piperal: What a digital government looks likeWhat if you never had to fill out paperwork again? In Estonia, this is a reality: citizens conduct nearly all public services online, from starting a business to voting from their laptops, thanks to the nation's ambitious post-Soviet digital transformation known as "e-Estonia." One of the program's experts, Anna Piperal, explains the key design principles that power the country's "e-government" -- and shows why the rest of the world should follow suit to eradicate outdated bureaucracy and regain citizens' trust. - Colette Pichon Battle: Climate change will displace millions. Here's how we prepareE7
Colette Pichon Battle: Climate change will displace millions. Here's how we prepareScientists predict climate change will displace more than 180 million people by 2100 -- a crisis of "climate migration" the world isn't ready for, says disaster recovery lawyer and Louisiana native Colette Pichon Battle. In this passionate, lyrical talk, she urges us to radically restructure the economic and social systems that are driving climate migration -- and caused it in the first place -- and shares how we can cultivate collective resilience, better prepare before disaster strikes and advance human rights for all. - Suzanne Lee: Why "biofabrication" is the next industrial revolutionE9
Suzanne Lee: Why "biofabrication" is the next industrial revolutionWhat if we could "grow" clothes from microbes, furniture from living organisms and buildings with exteriors like tree bark? TED Fellow Suzanne Lee shares exciting developments from the field of biofabrication and shows how it could help us replace major sources of waste, like plastic and cement, with sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. - Tom Nash: The perks of being a pirateE10
Tom Nash: The perks of being a pirateIn this deeply charming and humorous talk, DJ and self-professed pirate Tom Nash meditates on how facing adversity due to disability invited patience, ambition and pragmatism into his life in enlightening, unexpected ways. "We all have unique weaknesses," he says. "If we're honest about what they are, we can learn how to best take advantage of them." - David J. Bier: How guest worker visas could transform the US immigration systemE11
David J. Bier: How guest worker visas could transform the US immigration systemThe United States can create a more humane immigration system; in fact, it's been done before, says policy analyst David J. Bier. Pointing to the historical success of the US guest worker program, which allows foreign workers to legally enter and work in the country, Bier shows why expanding the program to Central Americans could alleviate the border crisis and provide new opportunities for immigrants. - Markus Mutz: How supply chain transparency can help the planetE12
Markus Mutz: How supply chain transparency can help the planetGiven the option, few would choose to buy products that harm the earth — yet it's nearly impossible to know how most consumer goods are made or where they're sourced from. That's about to change, says supply chain innovator Markus Mutz. He shares how he used blockchain technology to track Patagonian toothfish on their journey from ocean to dinner plate — and proved it's possible to offer consumers a product they can trust. - Priti Krishtel: Why are drug prices so high? Investigating the outdated US patent systemE13
Priti Krishtel: Why are drug prices so high? Investigating the outdated US patent systemBetween 2006 and 2016, the number of drug patents granted in the United States doubled — but not because there was an explosion in invention or innovation. Drug companies have learned how to game the system, accumulating patents not for new medicines but for small changes to existing ones, which allows them to build monopolies, block competition and drive prices up. Health justice lawyer Priti Krishtel sheds light on how we've lost sight of the patent system's original intent — and offers five reforms for a redesign that would serve the public and save lives. - Rachel Kleinfeld: A path to security for the world's deadliest countriesE14
Rachel Kleinfeld: A path to security for the world's deadliest countriesYou are more likely to die violently if you live in a middle-income democracy with high levels of inequality and political polarization than if you live in a country at war, says democracy advisor Rachel Kleinfeld. This historical shift in the nature of violence presents an opportunity for everyday voters to act as a great force for change in their unbalanced societies. In this eye-opening talk, Kleinfeld unravels the causes of violence and offers a path to security for the world's deadliest countries. - Jen Gunter: Why can't we talk about periods?E15
Jen Gunter: Why can't we talk about periods?"It shouldn't be an act of feminism to know how your body works," says gynecologist and author Jen Gunter. In this revelatory talk, she explains how menstrual shame silences and represses — and leads to the spread of harmful misinformation and the mismanagement of pain. Declaring the era of the menstrual taboos over, she delivers a clear, much-needed lesson on the once-mysterious mechanics of the uterus. - Adam Garske: How designing brand-new enzymes could change the worldE16
Adam Garske: How designing brand-new enzymes could change the world"If DNA is the blueprint of life, enzymes are the laborers that carry out its instructions," says chemical biologist Adam Garske. In this fun talk and demo, he shows how scientists can now edit and design enzymes for specific functions — to help treat diseases like diabetes, create energy-efficient laundry detergent and even capture greenhouse gases — and performs his own enzyme experiment onstage.