TED-Ed

Chemist Lee Cronin is working on a 3D printer that, instead of objects, is able to print molecules. An exciting potential long-term application: printing your own medicine using chemical inks.

Talk by Lee Cronin.

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Five great revolutions have shaped political culture over the past 50 years, says theorist Ivan Krastev. He shows how each step forward -- from the cultural revolution of the '60s to recent revelations in the field of neuroscience -- has also helped erode trust in the tools of democracy. As he says, "What went right is also what went wrong." Can democracy survive?

Talk by Ivan Krastev.

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Thomas Jefferson was a founding father of the United States — but were his principles outweighed by his participation in slavery?

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Thomas Jefferson, founding father of the United States and primary author of the Declaration of Independence, was part of America’s fight for freedom and equality. But in his personal life, he held over 600 people in slavery. Are his enlightened principles outweighed by his participation in a greater injustice? Frank Cogliano puts this controversial figure on trial in History vs. Thomas Jefferson.

Lesson by Frank Cogliano, directed by Brett Underhill, PorkchopBob Studio.
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Explore how scientists define adulthood, and find out if there’s a specific age at which we reach maturity.

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Most countries recognize 18 as the start of adulthood by granting various freedoms and privileges. Yet there’s no exact age or moment in development that we can point to as having reached full maturity. If there’s no consensus on exactly when we reach maturity, when do we actually become adults? Shannon Odell shares how scientists define adulthood using stages of brain development.

Lesson by Shannon Odell, directed by Biljana Labović.

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It’s a bustling day in Pompeii. After a quick visit to the market, Fabia spots her brothers, Lucius and Marcus, crossing the Forum. The siblings begin discussing Lucius’ wedding — but a deafening boom interrupts them. They watch Vesuvius spew smoke, ash, and rock — and realize they’ve been living in the shadow of a volcano. Gary Devore follows the siblings as they attempt to survive the disaster.

Lesson by Gary Devore, directed by Totem Creat...

With the same humor and humanity he exuded in An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore spells out 15 ways that individuals can address climate change immediately, from buying a hybrid to inventing a new, hotter "brand name" for global warming.

Talk by Al Gore.

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View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/mysteries-of-vernacular-earwig-jessica-oreck-and-rachael-teel

An earwig is neither an ear nor a wig; it is an insect. Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel explain how folklore gave this bug its name, combining entomology with etymology.

Lesson by Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel, animation by Jessica Oreck.

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Explore the gruesome evolutionary strategy employed by parasitoid wasps where they feed off other animals to grow their offspring.

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A cockroach and jewel wasp are locked in battle. The wasp latches onto the cockroach and inserts her stinger into the cockroach's brain, where her venom blocks its fight-or-flight response. Now, the cockroach is essentially a zombie, and its carcass will be used to grow the wasp’s offspring. Miles Zhang explores the gruesome evolutionary strategy known as parasitoidism.

Lesson by Miles Zhang, directed by Denys Spolitak.

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Dig into the psychology of why rejection causes us pain, and explore strategies to cope with this common experience.

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Rejection hurts. It’s incredibly painful to feel like you’re not wanted — and we do mean painful. Researchers found that we relate rejection to being “hurt,” using terms like “crushed” or “broken-hearted.” So, why does rejection trigger such a strong response, and is there any way to cope with this unique kind of pain? Explore common strategies to help you process this emotional experience.

Directed by Caitlin McCarthy.

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View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-giant-sea-creatures-eat-tiny-sea-creatures-kelly-benoit-bird

It's a paradox of ocean life: The largest mammals, like dolphins and whales, survive on the tiniest food, like krill. (Picture trying to make a full meal out of flying kernels of popcorn!) So how do these big animals gather enough food to live? At TEDYouth 2012, Kelly Benoit-Bird discusses new research that shows large sea animals actually herding their tiny food into big, bitable chunks.

Talk by Kelly Benoit-Bird.

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The fabled Mirzakhani wand is the most powerful magical item ever created. And that’s why the evil wizard Moldevort is planning to use it to conquer the world. You and Drumbledrore have finally discovered its hiding place in a cave, but the wand is hidden by a system of 100 magical stones. Can you figure out how to get to the wand before Moldevort? Dan Finkel shows how.

Lesson by Dan Finkel, directed by Igor Coric, Artrake Studio.

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Joshua Prince-Ramus believes that if architects re-engineer their design process, the results can be spectacular. In his talk, he walks us through his fantastic re-creation of the local Wyly Theater as a giant "theatrical machine" that reconfigures itself at the touch of a button. (Filmed at TEDxSMU.)

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An insect's ability to fly is perhaps one of the greatest feats of evolution. Michael Dickinson looks at how a fruit fly takes flight with such delicate wings, thanks to a clever flapping motion and flight muscles that are both powerful and nimble. But the secret ingredient: the incredible fly brain. (Filmed at TEDxCaltech.)

Talk by Michael Dickinson.

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Explore how the technology of gene drives could lead to the eradication of mosquitoes and what that could mean for our ecosystems.

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Mosquitoes are responsible for more human deaths every year than any other animal, but very few of the 3,500 mosquito species actually transmit deadly diseases to humans. Scientists have been conducting experiments using engineered technologies called gene drives that could theoretically get rid of the most lethal mosquitoes. So, should we eradicate these pesky insects? Talya Hackett investigates.

Lesson by Talya Hackett, directed by Luísa M H Copetti, Hype CG.

This is one of five student perspectives featured in the PBS special "TED Talks Education" (#TEDTalksed.) Learn more here: https://www.ted.com/promos/TEDTalksEducation

Special thanks to our partners in this endeavor: WNET, PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

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Get to know the history of Juneteenth, a commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States after the Civil War.

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At the end of the Civil War, though slavery was technically illegal in all states, it still persisted in the last bastions of the Confederacy. This was the case when Union General Gordon Granger marched his troops into Galveston, Texas on June 19th and announced that all enslaved people there were officially free. Karlos K. Hill and Soraya Field Fiorio dig into the history of Juneteenth.

Lesson by Karlos K...

Get to know the legacy of Hisako Koyama, whose drawings of the Sun’s surface helped scientists reconstruct 400 years of sunspot activity.

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In 1944, amateur astronomer Hisako Koyama’s latest endeavor was sketching the Sun’s shifting surface. She spent weeks angling her telescope towards the Sun and tracking every change she saw with drawings. Little did she know, these drawings were the start of one of the most important records of solar activity in human history. Alex Gendler details the incredible legacy of Koyama's work.

Lesson by Alex Gendler, directed by Martina Meštro...

This is one of five student perspectives featured in the PBS special "TED Talks Education" (#TEDTalksed.) Learn more here: https://www.ted.com/promos/TEDTalksEducation

Special thanks to our partners in this endeavor: WNET, PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

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Get to know the story of David Walker, an abolitionist whose antislavery pamphlet made him an enemy of the US government.

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In 1830, David Walker sewed a pamphlet into the lining of a coat. The volume was thin enough to be hidden, but its content was far from insubstantial. At the time, many members of the US government considered this pamphlet to be one of the most dangerous documents in American history. But what was this incendiary document? And who exactly was the man who wrote it? Keenan Norris investigates.

Lesson by Keenan...

Is there a definitive line that divides crazy from sane? With a hair-raising delivery, Jon Ronson, author of The Psychopath Test, illuminates the gray areas between the two. (With live-mixed sound by Julian Treasure and animation by Evan Grant.)

Talk by Jon Ronson.

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Explore the physics of flight, and discover how aerodynamic lift generates the force needed for planes to fly.

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By 1917, Albert Einstein had explained the relationship between space and time. But, that year, he designed a flawed airplane wing. His attempt was based on an incomplete theory of how flight works. Indeed, insufficient and inaccurate explanations still circulate today. So, where did Einstein go wrong? And how exactly do planes fly? Raymond Adkins explains the concept of aerodynamic lift.

Lesson by Raymond Adkins, directed by Michael Kalopaidis, Zedem Media.

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In this funny and insightful talk, builder Dan Phillips tours us through a dozen homes he's built in Texas using recycled and reclaimed materials in wildly creative ways. Brilliant, low-tech design details will refresh your own creative drive. (Filmed at TEDxHouston.)

Talk by Dan Phillips.

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In this short talk, TED Fellow Sarah Parcak introduces the field of "space archeology" -- using satellite images to search for clues to the lost sites of past civilizations.

Talk by Sarah Parcak.

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Dig into the field of cryobiology and explore the possibility of humans being frozen and preserved for future resurrection.

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In 1967, James Bedford had a plan to cheat death. He was the first person to be cryogenically frozen. This process promised to preserve his body until a theoretical future when humanity could cure any illness, and essentially, reverse death. So is it possible to freeze a human, preserve them indefinitely, and then thaw them out? Shannon N. Tessier explores the challenges of human cryopreservation.

Lesson by Shannon N. Tessier, directed by Gavin Edwards...

Find out how a hatchetfish survives its daily journey from the depths of the ocean’s Twilight Zone to the resource-rich surface.

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You’re traveling deep beneath the ocean’s surface, where faint lights flicker and toothy grins flash. Your mission is to survive these depths and journey to the surface after sundown to feed. And as a hatchetfish, almost every other deep-sea creature is trying to eat you. Can you complete the quest? Philip Renaud and Kenneth Kostel share how to survive the ocean's Twilight Zone.

Lesson by Philip Renaud and Kennet...

In her talk, Rachel Botsman says we're "wired to share" -- and shows how websites like Zipcar and Swaptree are changing the rules of human behavior. (Filmed at TEDxSydney.)

Talk by Rachel Botsman.

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Why is 'x' the symbol for an unknown? In this short and funny talk, Terry Moore gives the surprising answer.

Talk by Terry Moore.

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Explore the framework known as the Process Model, a psychological tool to help you identify, understand, and regulate your emotions.

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After a week of studying, you feel confident that you'll ace your exam. But when you get your grade back, it's much lower than you expected. You’re devastated, and the disappointment is hard to shake. Should you be trying to look on the bright side? And is controlling your emotions even possible? Explore techniques to help you identify, understand, and regulate your emotions.

Directed by Daniel Stankler.

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Even a death-defying magician has to start somewhere. High-wire artist Philippe Petit takes you on an intimate journey from his first card trick at age 6 to his tightrope walk between the Twin Towers.

Talk by Philippe Petit.

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Explore why Maya Angelou’s memoir “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” became one of the most frequently banned books of all time.

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In 1998, a school district removed one of American literature’s most acclaimed works from its curriculum. Parents pushing for the ban said the book was both “sexually explicit” and “anti-white.” The book at the center of this debate was Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.” Why was the memoir so controversial? Mollie Godfrey digs into one of the most banned books of all time.

Lesson by Mollie Godfr...

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On Olympus, you’ve been waiting for an opportunity to bring the bloody Trojan War to its conclusion. The two sides have agreed to a brief truce, and when you consult the Fates, they advise: should the peace last for 10 days, all will end soon. But if the truce is broken, there will be 10 more devastating years of war. Can you help the Greeks and Trojans keep the peace? Dennis Shasha shows how.

Lesson by Dennis E. Shasha, directed by Igor Coric, Artrake Studio.

We've been to the moon, we've mapped the continents, we've even been to the deepest point in the ocean -- twice. What's left for the next generation to explore? Biologist and explorer Nathan Wolfe suggests this answer: Almost everything. And we can start, he says, with the world of the unseeably small.

Talk by Nathan Wolfe.

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Discover what scientists have found buried in the Arctic permafrost, and find out the far-reaching effects of its melting.

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In June 2022, a gold miner in the Canadian Yukon made a remarkable discovery. While working on the traditional lands of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation, he uncovered the exceptionally well-preserved, frozen remains of a wooly mammoth calf that died 30,000 years ago. And this find isn’t the only of its kind. Brendan Rogers and Jessica Howard uncover secrets buried in the Arctic permafrost.

Lesson by Brendan Rogers and Jessica Howard...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/historical-role-models-amy-bissetta

Many notable American historical figures are considered role models -- but why? George Washington was devilishly smart, and Abraham Lincoln was a brave leader, but have you heard of Sybil Ludington or Beriah Green? Amy Bissetta expounds on the lessons of character we can learn from these historical giants, whether you've heard of them or not.

Lesson by Amy Bissetta, animation by Mark Phillips.

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Examine the ethical stance known as longtermism, which is the idea that we should be doing more to protect future generations.

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Imagine that your life began as one of the planet’s first humans. After dying, you're reincarnated as the second human ever to live. You then return as the third person, the fourth, the fifth, and so on – living the lives of every human that’s ever walked the Earth. How will your actions in one life impact your future selves? Explore the ethics of the philosophy known as longtermism.

Directed by Jay...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/exploring-other-dimensions-alex-rosenthal-and-george-zaidan

Imagine a two-dimensional world -- you, your friends, everything is 2D. In his 1884 novella, Edwin Abbott invented this world and called it Flatland. Alex Rosenthal and George Zaidan take the premise of Flatland one dimension further, imploring us to consider how we would see dimensions different from our own and why the exploration just may be worth it.

Lesson by Alex Rosenthal and George Zaidan, animation by Cale Oglesby.

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Surprising, but true: More women now die of heart disease than men, yet cardiovascular research has long focused on men. Pioneering doctor C. Noel Bairey Merz shares what we know and don't know about women's heart health -- including the remarkably different symptoms women present during a heart attack (and why they're often missed). (Filmed at TEDxWomen.)

Talk by Noel Bairey Merz.

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Dig into the science of plate tectonics to find out when the next supercontinent will emerge— and how it could affect Earth’s environment.

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In the early 20th century, Alfred Wegener's theory of Continental Drift laid the foundation for our modern theory of plate tectonics. And today we know something even more exciting: Pangea was only the latest in a long lineage of supercontinents, and it won’t be the last. Jean-Baptiste P. Koehl explores when the next supercontinent will emerge — and what it might mean for Earth’s environment.

Lesson by Jean-Bapti...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-mathematics-of-history-jean-baptiste-michel

What can mathematics say about history? According to TED Fellow Jean-Baptiste Michel, quite a lot. From changes to language to the deadliness of wars, he shows how digitized history is just starting to reveal deep underlying patterns.

Talk by Jean-Baptiste Michel.

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Explore the 6 most common misconceptions about the Middle Ages, and find out what living in medieval times was actually like.

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Medieval Europe. Where unbathed, sword-wielding knights ate rotten meat, thought the Earth was flat, defended chastity-belt wearing maidens, and tortured their foes with grisly gadgets. Except… this is more fiction than fact. So, where do all the myths about the Middle Ages come from? And what were they actually like? Stephanie Honchell Smith debunks common misconceptions about the time period.

Lesson by Stephanie Honchell Smith, directed by Avi Ofer.

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