TED Talks Daily
TEDTED Talks Daily
Want TED Talks on the go? Everyday, this feed brings you our latest talks in audio format. Hear thought-provoking ideas on every subject imaginable – from Artificial Intelligence to Zoology, and everything in between – given by the world's leading thinkers and doers. This collection of talks, given at TED and TEDx conferences around the globe, is also available in video format.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
© TED: https://www.ted.com/about/our-organization/our-policies-terms/ted-com-terms-of-use#h2--copyright-issues-and-licenses
Want TED Talks on the go? Everyday, this feed brings you our latest talks in audio format. Hear thought-provoking ideas on every subject imaginable – from Artificial Intelligence to Zoology, and everything in between – given by the world's leading thinkers and doers. This collection of talks, given at TED and TEDx conferences around the globe, is also available in video format.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
© TED: https://www.ted.com/about/our-organization/our-policies-terms/ted-com-terms-of-use#h2--copyright-issues-and-licenses
US Congresswoman Lucy McBath has made it her mission to seek bipartisan solutions for gun safety, leading the way in sponsoring so-called “red flag” laws that prevent gun violence and mass shootings. In a searing and timely talk, she shares the personal story that led her to this work — and a message for why comprehensive, common-sense gun legislation in the US is more urgent than ever.
In this episode of Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter, Dr. Jen outlines what science knows about this process and why the myths and misunderstandings about our metabolism.
This is an episode of ReThinking with Adam Grant.
Today, an episode of The TED AI Show.
This week on TED Health, Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider is taking you on a special journey to embrace your healthiest self.
Why do so many of us get nervous when public speaking?
How many relationships should we maintain, and what are the different kinds of friendships we need anyway?
In this episode of ReThinking with Adam Grant, Adam and Yuval examine the power of stories in shaping humanity’s success
Will progress in artificial intelligence continue to accelerate, or have we already hit a plateau?
In this special episode of Fixable, another podcast in the TED Audio Collective, Anne and Frances share their thoughts on how the Democratic Party failed to understand what voters needed most.
Our bodies and minds are deeply intertwined, yet we often overlook this vital connection in our daily lives.
What if we could hear nature's ultrasonic communication -- and talk back?
In this episode of WorkLife with Adam Grant, Adam brings in an education change agent, a business turnaround specialist, and a bestselling author to identify what you can do to improve the status quo.
Does AI pose a threat to democracy?
In this episode of How to Be a Better Human, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective, Julie shares wisdom for parents and anyone who has been parented on why it’s crucial to question societal expectations
Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you… by us.
In this special "Unsolicited Advice" episode of Fixable, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective, Fixable hosts Anne Morriss and Frances Frei debate what Amazon’s new return-to-office mandate means for the company’s future.
Lots of people talk about the need to be physically fit, but mentally fit?
When monarch butterflies migrate, they produce one of the most iconic wildlife spectacles in the world — and provide us with an important indicator of ecological health, says photographer Jaime Rojo.
This episode features music and interviews from Liberato Kani, Renata Flores, Kayfex, and Uchpa's guitarist and songwriter Marcos Maizel. Listen to more from these artists on TED's Spotify playlist, "Quechua es Resistencia.”
Can we design cities to be wildlife refuges?
So what's going on with world governments?
What's the connection between long-term health and financial stability?
Today we're sharing a special collaboration with Vibe Check, a podcast hosted by Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones, and Zach Stafford.
What does food mean to you, your community and our planet?
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt's latest book, "The Anxious Generation," is shaping cultural conversations and sparking fierce debates about the role of smartphones in society.
Social psychologist Brian S. Lowery and AI technologist Kylan Gibbs dive into the ramifications of emerging technologies on people's mental health and social dynamics.
Today we're sharing a special episode of The TED AI Show, our newest podcast about the technology that's changing our lives.
What does it actually take to make meaningful change?
How do you get what you want out of a negotiation? United Nations negotiation trainer Alex Carter says the best methods center on recruitment, not rivalry. Whether you're asking for a raise or resolving a family dispute, she offers five simple tips for a successful discussion — starting with one powerful question.
In the United States and Canada, the first Monday of September is a federal holiday, Labor Day. Originally celebrated in New York City’s Union Square in 1882, Labor Day was organized by unions as a rare day of rest for the overworked during the Industrial Revolution. Kenneth C. Davis illustrates the history of Labor Day from Union Square to today.
Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you… by us. Today we're sharing a special episode of Fixable, TED's business advice call-in show, hosted by Anne Morriss and Frances Frei. Where do bullies go when they grow up? New research shows they just move from the playground to the workplace. This week, Master Fixer and social psychologist Amy Cuddy joins Anne and Frances to walk us through the strikingly stable patterns bullies follow to undermine and ostracize their targets – patterns that are way more common than you might think. Get part two of this conversation where Cuddy details actions you can take to stop bullies -- and other ways to fix your problems at work -- by finding Fixable wherever you get your podcasts.
What can acting reveal about the mystery of consciousness? Actor and producer Yara Shahidi and cognitive neuroscientist Anil Seth unpack the surprising ways that portraying different characters can reveal insights about our authentic selves — even if we're not actually performing onstage or onscreen. Explore the intersection of consciousness and identity and discover how our brains and bodies work in tandem to form our understanding of ourselves. (This conversation is part of “TED Intersections,” a series featuring thought-provoking conversations between experts navigating the ideas shaping our world.)
Join Elise as she interviews TED speakers about their latest books and delves deep into their ideas.
Today we're sharing a special episode of How to Be a Better Human, a podcast hosted by comedian Chris Duffy about the big ideas and small ways we can improve our lives.
Today we're sharing a special episode of Good Sport, a podcast hosted by Jody Avirgan about understanding our world through sports.
Today we're sharing a special episode of ReThinking with Adam Grant, a podcast about what makes the greatest minds tick.
As a sex educator and author, Emily Nagoski is renowned for dismantling the sexual myths that surround us, and replacing them with healthy ideas, backed by science.
Quantum computers obtain superpowers by tapping into parallel universes, says Hartmut Neven, the founder and lead of Google Quantum AI. He explains how this emerging tech can far surpass traditional computers by relying on quantum physics rather than binary logic, and shares a roadmap to build the ultimate quantum computer. Learn how this fascinating and powerful tech can help humanity take on seemingly unsolvable problems in medicine, sustainable energy, AI, neuroscience and more.
In this urgent conversation, president and founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media Ian Bremmer joins TED’s Helen Walters to discuss the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump and its profound implications for American politics and democracy. Listen for the latest on the shooting’s political ramifications, the heightened polarization and disinformation in the US electoral cycle and answers to broader questions about leadership and unity in a divided nation.
Why have we not yet found proof of alien life? According to astrophysicist Avi Loeb, we simply haven't dedicated the proper resources. Diving into unidentified phenomena such as the Oumuamua asteroid, he explores his scientific search for extraterrestrial technology, envisioning a future where a higher interstellar intelligence helps us improve life here on Earth.
Today we're sharing a special episode of Far Flung with Saleem Reshamwala.
This is our first episode of a new series — the TED Talks Daily Book Club.
Today we're sharing a special episode of Fixable, hosted by top leadership coaches Anne Morriss and Frances Frei.
Can conflict actually bring you and your partner closer?
Today we're sharing an episode Design Matters with Debbie Millman.
What's the relationship between physical and mental pain, and how can you ease both?
Today we're sharing an episode from our brand new podcast, The TED AI Show.
Today we're sharing an episode from Good Sport.
Today: an episode from TED Tech.
We're programmed to think every issue is binary: "us vs. them."
Bill Ackman has made billions of dollars — and a name for himself — as an activist investor, buying up stock to push for change at companies.
Today: in celebration of Mother's Day , we're sharing an episode we think you'll enjoy from How to Be a Better Human.
There's a reliable indicator of a woman's future likelihood of cardiovascular disease — but it rarely gets asked about, says obstetrician and researcher Meryam Sugulle.
The political system in the United States needs a redesign, says political reformer Andrew Yang.
How much should we invest in teachers, and what should new investment actually involve? Education innovator Randy Seriguchi Jr. suggests the US should create a "G.I. Bill" for teachers, with a particular emphasis on uplifting Black male professionals. He shares a model of this idea in action through community partnerships in San Francisco, which provide aspiring teachers with graduate school tuition, subsidized housing, personalized fit assessments and more. "If we truly want to elevate this profession to inspire new, diverse talent to join us, we have to improve both the personal and professional experiences associated with teaching," says Seriguchi.
Learn how Jar Jar Binks became one of the most polarizing figures in cinematic history when he made his debut in Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace.
When it comes to climate, what are we doing right and where should we focus our efforts next?
Marrying for love is a relatively recent phenomenon for humanity, and we still don't fully understand what it means for building successful relationships, says author and psychiatrist George Blair-West.
Scott Galloway dissects the data showing that, by many measures, young people in the US are worse off financially than ever before.
No one truly understands AI, not even experts, says Helen Toner, an AI policy researcher and former board member of OpenAI. But that doesn't mean we can't govern it.
What challenges lie ahead of a staggering 12,700-kilometer paddle around the entire continent of Australia? Crocodiles and sharks were just the beginning, says Ironwoman Bonnie Hancock. Reflecting on her remarkable feat of becoming the fastest person to paddle around Australia, she shares lessons on perseverance, resilience and finding meaning in life's toughest moments.
Can AI help us answer life's biggest questions? In this visionary conversation, Google DeepMind cofounder and CEO Demis Hassabis delves into the history and incredible capabilities of AI with head of TED Chris Anderson. Hassabis explains how AI models like AlphaFold — which accurately predicted the shapes of all 200 million proteins known to science in under a year — have already accelerated scientific discovery in ways that will benefit humanity. Next up? Hassabis says AI has the potential to unlock the greatest mysteries surrounding our minds, bodies and the universe.
Today: an episode from WorkLife with Adam Grant
Louise Mabulo grew up on seemingly strange farming tips from her parents and grandparents — like planting crops during a full moon or burying a rock beneath them.
Too often, employees are unmotivated and unhappy, with no real incentive to invest much of anything into their place of work.
Uncontrolled fire threatens nature — but the right kind of fire can maintain the health and balance of the land, says fire management expert Oral McGuire.
Welcome to the "Auntieverse" — a surreal tribute to "auntie culture" by artist Niceaunties, inspired by the spirit of the women who care for each other and their families.
"Storytelling is one of the most powerful marketing and leadership tools there is,"
When it comes to artificial intelligence, what are we actually creating?
Today: an episode from Fixable
Can cannabis actually treat insomnia?
The convergence of AI and robotics will unlock a wonderful new world of possibilities in everyday life.
What does it mean to be an active citizen?
How can Israel and Palestine achieve peace?
Economic crime is all around us — from drug trafficking and fraud to cybercrimes, tax evasion and more.
Learn more about TED's enduring legacy, its path forward for the decades ahead and how you can join us in sparking a brighter future.
Today: an episode from The TED Interview.
We can all play a role in the climate movement by tapping into our skills, resources and networks in ways that bring us satisfaction, says climate leader Ayana Elizabeth Johnson.
There's a mistaken belief in today's working world that leaders need to be serious all the time to be taken seriously.
When filmmaker Desiree Akhavan told her Iranian immigrant parents she was in love with a woman, she knew they would object. She explains why it's worth the risk to let people get to know the real you.
Our memories and bodies give us clues about who we are, but what happens when this guidance shifts?
In a part of the United States with more than 17,000 years of human history, cultural preservation advocate Tracie Revis is working to turn the Ocmulgee Mounds into Georgia's first national park and preserve.
Can AI help catch oceanic outlaws?
Today: an episode from TED Health, a podcast that shares ideas about your well-being -- from smart daily habits to new medical breakthroughs.
Our culture is obsessed with happiness, but what if there's a more fulfilling path?
Menopause isn't just hot flashes, says gynecologist and sexual medicine specialist Maria Sophocles.
What would Latin America look like if colonization hadn't interrupted its ancient civilizations?
Nobody joins a cult on purpose, says Sarah Edmondson, a former member of the infamous NXIVM cult and one of the three whistleblowers that led to its downfall.
Anthony Tan — the CEO of Grab, Southeast Asia's leading super-app — talks about launching a business that not only turns a profit but also helps people and the environment.
Conversation is a battlefield with only one winner. Or is it? Comedian and author Jordan Klepper believes we can get better at talking to each other (and perhaps save democracy) by learning how to lose.
Today: an episode from How to Be a Better Human, a podcast that shares the small ways and big ideas that can change your life for the better.
Sex is as much mental as it is physical — and imagination is the most powerful tool we have to expand our personal agency and capacity for pleasure.
Each year, more than a billion tons of coal are dug out of Shanxi's mountains, and the impacts are devastating.
Economic crises can and do happen. But for every true crisis, there are many false alarms.
Many gardeners work hard to maintain clean, tidy environments ... which is the exact opposite of what wildlife wants
Why hasn't the dream of having a robot at home to do your chores become a reality yet?
How can you effectively support people at work and in your community, especially when they're different from you?
Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you… by us. Today: an episode from Am I Normal?
In a wise, funny talk, Dan Harris shares his years-long quest to improve his relationships with everyone (starting with himself)
How much should business leaders speak out about threats to democracy?
Buying cheap clothing online can be satisfying, but it comes with not-so-hidden environmental costs.
As companies introduce AI into the workplace to increase productivity, an uncomfortable paradox is emerging: people are often responsible for training the very systems that might displace them.
Singer-songwriter Mike Posner took a break from his music to take a walk — a very long walk, across the entire United States.
Chantale Zuzi Leader's story of resilience that speaks to today's refugee crisis.
Dr. Jen tells us why while taking us through the complex history of how we got here, giving hot tips on managing hot flashes, and sharing why menopause shouldn't be viewed as the end of the race, but a victory lap.
Great ideas are like electricity -- they snap into sharp focus and sprint from place to place. What's the best way to capture them?
Organ transplants save lives, but they come with challenges: every minute a healthy donated organ is on ice increases risk.
Working to brighten the future in her home country of Malawi and beyond, energy access innovator Tombo Banda makes the case for mini-grids.
After bringing her son to a summer camp for gender-nonconforming children, photographer Lindsay Morris launched a project to share the campers' stories with the world.
Hundreds of millions of migrant workers travel within their countries to seek out means of survival — often leaving behind all they know for months or even years.
We're still in the dark about what 95 percent of our universe is made of — and the standard model for understanding particle physics has hit a limit. What's the next step forward?
Have you ever felt like something about your identity was getting in the way of your success?
"How can you say what you mean without being mean?" asks CEO coach and author Kim Scott.
Women are routinely underestimated, overlooked, interrupted, talked over or mistaken for someone more junior at the workplace
The pastoralists in Africa sustainably produce meat and milk to help feed the continent. But their way of life — and work — is under threat.
How can you find strength during life's most difficult moments?
Law professor Samar Ali and public affairs strategist Clint Brewer talk about how to address deepening divides in the US and around the globe.
"Sustainability has become more marketing than action," says environmental business journalist Esha Chhabra.
Most of us get that climate change is a global problem we need to solve, fast. But that can feel incredibly overwhelming when most of us don't even know where to start.
Standardized testing is deeply woven into the fabric of US education, but does it foster genuine learning?
We don't have to sacrifice our freedom for the sake of technological progress, says social technologist Divya Siddarth.
In an ode to the Persian language, author Leili Anvar unfurls the work of 13th-century mystic poet Rumi and reflects on how poetry gives meaning to our lives.
What if you could own more clothes without crowding your closet or growing your carbon footprint?
Did you know the world's largest tropical forest is partly formed by seeds emerging from poop?
Is cybercrime getting easier?
The Bean needs to move over — there's a new art movement in Chicago, and it's led by artists who are completely reimagining how residents think about the spaces around them.
A supportive community is the key to cultivating resilience and unlocking healing.
To celebrate TED's 40th anniversary, Head of TED Chris Anderson and TED's founder Richard Saul Wurman reflect on the conference's transformative journey.
Nanomaterials chemist Christy Haynes describes her team's work designing nanoparticles that could protect plants from disease and crop loss, helping farmers reap abundant harvests and grow food that will make its way to markets and dinner tables.
Ocean waters are constantly on the move, traveling far distances in complex currents that regulate Earth's climate and weather patterns. How might climate change impact this critical system?
What happens when architecture meets empathy?
Theater has the power to transform the most pressing issues of our time from news stories into human stories, says director and playwright Amir Nizar Zuabi.
In this episode of ReThinking with Adam Grant, another episode from the TED Audio Collective, Margot and Adam talk about the process of finding and researching the story behind 'Hidden Figures,"
In this profound TED Membership conversation, Palestinian peace activist Ali Abu Awwad and Israeli founder of Idealist.org Ami Dar envision a future built on mutual respect, recognition and nonviolent activism, where both identities coexist harmoniously.
“A flourishing democracy next door is a scary thing for an autocrat,” says Ukrainian historian Olesya Khromeychuk.
Access to information is the key to unlocking human rights for all, says equality champion Paige Alexander.
"The fairytale industrial complex has been lying to you," says love coach and podcast host Francesca Hogi.
Political economist Zainab Usman thinks present-day power struggles may seriously hinder the world’s ability to fight climate change, with similarly disastrous results.
"Instead of seeing life's challenges as obstacles, I see them as an obstacle course — a fascinating array of tests that I'm curious to see if I can pass," says community builder Maryam Banikarim.
. Stadiums are important. So why does it seem that instead of enjoying them, cities end up dealing with the mess (and the bill) that dealmakers leave behind?
Former NFL quarterback Alex Smith almost died after a particularly rough tackle snapped his leg in 2018 -- yet he was back on the field just two years later.
Researcher Jim Fan presents the next grand challenge in the quest for AI: the "foundation agent," which would seamlessly operate across both the virtual and physical worlds.
When it comes to climate solutions, "now is better than new, and time is more important than tech," says scientist Jonathan Foley.
Sometimes, you need to break the rules to innovate — but which ones?
Our brains are hardwired to crave community and belonging — a tribal instinct that drives politics in the United States, says political strategist Sarah Longwell.
Artist Laetitia Ky has a unique medium: using the hair on her head (and some wire), she creates incredible sculptures of objects, animals, people and more, promoting messages of bodily autonomy and self-acceptance.
In this episode of How to Be a Better Human, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective, Ikard talks to host Chris Duffy about the societal and personal dangers of inaccurate narratives
"You are constantly becoming a new person," says journalist Shankar Vedantam.
Are babies oblivious to danger? It's not that simple, says cognitive scientist Shari Liu.
Laprisha Berry Daniels' grandparents left the Southern United States and migrated north to Detroit in the 1950s — a move that could be considered a big "climate change."
In conversation with TED's Lindsay Levin, CEO Paul Hudson shares how AI eliminates "unglamorous work" and speeds up operations while collaborations across competitors can dramatically boost sustainability.
Gary Barker shares three insights on fostering a culture of care, compassion and connection among men.
Catching cancer at its earliest stages saves lives. But in a body made up of trillions of cells, how do you spot a small group of rogue cancer cells?
What if a robot could find and deliver your lost phone?
The world relies on manufacturing, and manufacturing relies on heat — a massive contributor to global carbon emissions, responsible for a quarter of the world's fossil fuel use.
Google's chief diversity officer Melonie D. Parker joins journalist and host of the "TED Tech" podcast Sherrell Dorsey for a conversation on fostering belonging and opportunity in the workplace.
"Democracy is more fun and inviting when you take it into your own hands," says creator and activist Sofia Ongele.
Biologist Kathleen McAuliffe dives into new research that suggests certain bacteria in your gut can influence major parts of who you are, from your personality to life-changing neurological disorders.
"I think of my paintings as alarm clocks," says artist Isabella Kirkland. "They're reminders of what's at stake; the only problem is we keep pushing the snooze button."
"People told me this was an unadaptable book, so the only logical thing to do was to try to adapt it," says writer, producer and filmmaker Ava DuVernay of her work taking the award-winning title "Caste" from page to screen.
Storyteller Golriz Lucina recounts how the historic sacrifice of Iranian 19th-century poet and mystic Táhirih planted the seeds for the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests today.
After years of brand building, marketing veteran Sylvester Chauke realized that his industry had sold the world on overconsumption, with devastating consequences.
Don't second-guess what "distracts" you, says actor-producer Yara Shahidi
"The world's most important advanced technology is nearly all produced in a single facility," says AI expert Rob Toews.
Hosted by Manoush Zomorodi of the TED Radio Hour, this special TED documentary examines the rapid technological revolution underway — and the real possibility of a better future for all.
"Today, Hungary is in the gray zone between a dictatorship and a democracy," says activist Tessza Udvarhelyi. "This did not happen overnight."
How does getting an abortion — or not — influence a woman's life?
2024 will be a dangerous year for the world, says Ian Bremmer, president and founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media.
What would happen to humanity if generosity went viral?
Impact investor Tao Zhang shows why getting Chinese consumers to switch to plant-based alternatives is vital to tackling climate change and explores how it's also a massive business opportunity to bring tasty, affordable new proteins to market.
Climate innovation leader Rich Powell dives into the bureaucracy, bottlenecks and not-in-my-backyard attitude preventing the US from achieving its green energy goals.
All jobs, especially those held by frontline workers, should have dignity and the ability to turn into great careers, says change management expert Adriann Negreros.
"Everybody pees and poops — and we know that urine and stool contain a rich source of information on our health," says data detective Newsha Ghaeli.
Instead of focusing on leadership style, Rosita Najmi makes the case for becoming fluent in the languages of leadership,
Cartoonist Liana Finck's drawings hold our hands through life's predicaments, big and small: dating, breakups, what to make for dinner, how to leave a party without being rude, how to think about our relationship with God. In a funny, moving talk, she shares some of her drawings and shows how she uses creativity to navigate false starts and cluelessness in the search for belonging.
From "elite" pickles to "premium" baby diapers, marketers are constantly telling us to seek superiority — but "by the simple law of averages, most of us have to live a life more ordinary," says sociolinguist Crispin Thurlow.
The phrase "comparison is the thief of joy" might be the kind of cliché that makes you roll your eyes — and yet, it's an idea that is, scientifically, pretty accurate.
In this special series on the TED Radio Hour, we explore fresh ideas on how we think, move and feel.
Exploring Rick Rubin's production discography is like taking a tour through the commanding heights of American music over the past few decades.
ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot capable of generating human-like text, seems to be everywhere. But how trustworthy are these tools.
In this episode of Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective, guest host Saleem Reshamwala meets Amanda, a Dominican woman who was adopted by a white couple in Connecticut.
Scientist Max Tegmark describes an optimistic vision for how we can keep AI under control and ensure it's working for us, not the other way around.
Beth Viner lays out a practical blueprint for harnessing the dreamer's out-of-the-box thinking and the doer's practicality, showing why it's the key to building, growing and innovating in any relationship or organization.
We're fast approaching a world where widespread, hyper-realistic deepfakes lead us to dismiss reality, says technologist and human rights advocate Sam Gregory.
Legendary actor and mental health advocate Glenn Close is on a quest to change how we think about mental health, starting with her decision to speak out about her own family's struggles
Investor Cathie Wood explores this unique moment in technology, which she sees as being marked by the simultaneous evolution of five pivotal innovation platforms — a scenario unparalleled in history.
Have we lost the practical wisdom of what happens as people die? With lessons from a career witnessing thousands of people's final breaths, palliative care expert Kathryn Mannix urges us to demystify the experience of death, sharing how a better understanding of what actually happens can reduce fear in the final days, for you and your loved ones.
Taking a stand against predatory and opportunist authoritarian forces, freedom advocate Yordanos Eyoel shares how to reimagine, accelerate and protect the pro-democracy movement — to build societies that are both functional and inclusive.
"We underestimate the power of our own generous actions," says Asha Curran, CEO of the global generosity movement GivingTuesday. Sharing stories of people making a difference through simple acts of kindness, she shows how generosity, even in its simplest forms, can be a transformative force — and explains why we all benefit from a world grounded in giving.
The metaverse could be our key to making real progress in the fight against climate change, says engineer Cedrik Neike. He examines how AI-powered modeling eliminates the trial and error of wasteful industries.
As the cofounder of Google DeepMind, Shane Legg is driving one of the greatest transformations in history: the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI).
Legendary conductor Benjamin Zander explains his view on the difference between "positive thinking" and "possibility"
Do you ever feel extra forgetful? Stress could be the culprit.
Poker champion and science communicator Liv Boeree introduces us to "Moloch's trap" — the dark force of game theory driving many of humanity's biggest social problems, which is now threatening to derail the AI industry.
Generative AI is poised to transform the workplace, but we still need human brains for new ideas, says marketing expert Jessica Apotheker.
With levity and profound insight, artist Maira Kalman reflects on life, death, dinner parties, not knowing the right answers, the joys of eating a hot dog from a street vendor and more.
Clearing tropical forests isn't just dangerous to the natural world — it's also a threat to human health and wellbeing, says physician Neil Vora.
South Africa transitioned to democracy in the 1990s with a visionary constitution, but the promises of that constitution are largely unfulfilled to this day.
Nili Gilbert and David Blood discuss where progress is being made on climate solutions, where capital still needs to move faster and why this is an unprecedented opportunity for sustainable growth.
Your immune system is more socially aware than you think, says social neuroscientist and psychology professor Keely Muscatell.
We can produce abundant, sustainable and cheap energy — for everyone, says physicist Julio Friedmann.
Steve Long shows how hacking photosynthesis could help feed the world all while reducing climate change.
Covering global war stories can be hard and thankless — but it's critical work if the rest of us are to understand what's really going on in the world.
Christina Costa goes beyond the "fight" narrative of cancer — or any formidable personal journey — to highlight the brain benefits of an empowering alternative to fostering resilience in the face of unexpected challenges: gratitude.
In this spirited talk, writer Charles M. Blow makes the case that history, inverted, suggests a potential path forward.
n a talk that will make you better aware of yourself, experimental psychologist Robin Kramer delves into the Dunning-Kruger effect.
Are you actually bored, or is something else going on?
Ilya Sutskever explored the transformative potential of artificial general intelligence (AGI), highlighting how it could surpass human intelligence and profoundly transform every aspect of life.
Geopolitical expert Ian Bremmer explains the implications of the meeting, sharing context and insight on areas where the pair agree -- and flagging key areas where tensions might yet arise.
You don't need political power to make real change, says activist Katie Fahey.
Biochemical engineer Marcelo Mena explains the source of this sneaky pollutant, why its emissions need to be cut in half by 2050 — and what you can do to help.
Drawing on his decades-long mission to formulate the world in computational terms, Stephen Wolfram delivers a profound vision of computation and its role in the future of AI.
Electric vehicles need to be more than just eco-friendly — they have to be more chic, convenient and affordable than their gas-powered alternatives, says sustainability leader Cynthia Williams.
Writer and podcast host Coleman Hughes makes a case in favor of the idea, sharing why he thinks the key to reducing inequality and easing racial tensions is replacing race-based policies with class-based ones.
The vast majority of our time at work is spent trudging through redundant and outdated workflows, says operations visionary Salvatore Cali.
In the US, people spend the overwhelming majority of their time inside buildings that burn fossil fuels, which are bad for both the environment and human health.
Clean energy advocate Kala Constantino highlights how people across the country are coming together to transform policies, power and the economy as the island nation maps out its green revolution.
Are you thinking of returning to school? Educator Candice Neveu shares three challenges you might face continuing your education mid-career — and three mindset shifts to speed up your learning, improve your confidence and achieve the results you want.
Environmental activist Gopal D. Patel thinks the climate movement could learn a lot from one of the longest-standing social initiatives in human history: religion.
Irina Karamanos Adrian didn't plan on becoming Chile's First Lady — but she set out to transform the role all the same.
"smart skin" — artificial skin technology that responds to touch, temperature and humidity like your very own.
Artist Doris Mitsch invites us to revel in the wonders of nature through her dazzling photography: stacked images of starlings in flight, hawks surfing thermal updrafts, bats echolocating through the night sky and more.
When it comes to technology, we're often presented with two contrasting visions of the future: one where technology fulfills all our desires, and another where it leads to chaos and conflict.
A frog and a mockingbird changed Paul Hawken's life, kindling a devotion to protect and restore nature. Now, as one of the world's preeminent environmentalists, he advocates for regeneration — a calling and action plan for the world to come together to end the climate crisis in one generation and put life at the center of every decision we make.
The world has plenty of clean energy. The problem is storing that energy and getting it where we need it, when we need it, says battery recycling pioneer Emma Nehrenheim.
From World War II to the 2008 economic collapse and beyond, history shows that economists don’t always see the future as clearly as they think they do, says David McWilliams.
AI won't kill us all — but that doesn't make it trustworthy.
Comedian, journalist and actor Roy Wood Jr. has spent his career finding the silly in the serious and using this tactic to influence real change.
Using paychecks, perks and carefully worded mission statements plastered on posters, companies are on a never-ending quest to find what drives morale at work. An underappreciated solution lies in the answer to one simple question, says management researcher David Burkus. With notable examples backed by decades of success, he presents a clear path to inspiring your team — and finding your purpose at work.
When technologist Luis von Ahn was building the popular language-learning platform Duolingo, he faced a big problem: Could an app designed to teach you something ever compete with addictive platforms like Instagram and TikTok? He explains how Duolingo harnesses the psychological techniques of social media and mobile games to get you excited to learn — all while spreading access to education across the world.
For some of us it's easy to lose ourselves in our work. But a lack of boundaries between your personal and work life is something mental wellness educator Gloria Chan Packer would warn you twice about. Gloria speaks about the perils of gaining your sense of self-worth from your job, discusses her experience with burnout and stress and shares empowering insights on how to shift our perspectives to create – and maintain – a healthy distance. This is an episode of the podcast How to Be a Better Human, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective. Listen to How to Be a Better Human wherever you are listening to this.
Rice is the world's largest food source — and it's also a massive emitter of methane gas, a key contributor to climate change. Fifth-generation rice farmer Jim Whitaker and his daughter, farmer and conservationist Jessica Whitaker Allen, are working to slash rice's environmental impacts with innovative, sustainable farming practices. They share how they're keeping their family farm in Arkansas profitable while also spreading green farming practices to their neighbors — and, eventually, the rest of the world. "If you take care of the planet, it will take care of you," says Whitaker Allen.
How do we defend people's freedom and dignity against authoritarianism, when the "law of war" doesn't seem to apply anymore? In the face of the Russian occupation of Ukraine, human rights lawyer and Nobel laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk considers this question every day. Exposing the failures of the international system of peace and security, she highlights the capabilities of ordinary people during extraordinary times — and urges us all to take an active position in the struggle for freedom. (This talk contains graphic descriptions.)
Writer Annie Rauwerda makes a habit of getting lost among the seemingly endless digital archives of Wikipedia, discovering fake towns, promiscuous tortoises, 19th-century fangirls and so much more.
Cancel culture launched a reckoning that was long overdue — but that doesn't mean it's getting everything right.
What do people really need to feel supported at work? Organizational strategist Gabrielle Novacek offers an answer that could transform the traditional approach to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts and change how companies help caregivers balance the demands of work with the responsibilities of home.
Anne and Frances talk about the art and mindset of self-promotion and the ways YOU can rethink your online presence so it feels more aligned with what you stand for.
For people living in poverty, a guaranteed income can mean finally having the space to dream of a comfortable life.
From exoskeletons and robotic arms to the mass adoption of remote work, economist Piyachart Phiromswad explores what seniors need to overcome the physical, mental and societal barriers to employment, a necessary shift in our rapidly aging world. Learn more about how these tools could empower elderly workers and better the world — for everyone.
Dasha Navalnaya is the daughter of Alexey Navalny, the politician and leader of the Russian opposition to Vladimir Putin.
How is the US going to reach net zero by 2050? That's the question Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, director of the Office of Science for the US Department of Energy, is urgently trying to answer.
Meetings often drain our joy and sap our focus-–and meeting overload kills productivity. So why do we have so many of them– and is a better world possible?
The Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023 stunned the world. In this timely conversation, political scientist Ian Bremmer explains the historical context of the conflict, how Israel might respond and what it means for Jews, Palestinians and the world at large.
Resumes are a mainstay of the job application process -- despite little to no evidence that they actually help job-seekers or employers get what they want. So why are we still so preoccupied with them?
Driven by the belief that businesses can — and should — invest in the communities around them, Intercorp founder and philanthropist Carlos Rodríguez-Pastor has built schools, pharmacies and a literal bridge to better serve Peru's growing middle class. In
From the field to your closet, your clothes go on a long journey before they enter your life. Designer Amy Powney explores the fashion industry's brutal impact on the environment and human health, modeling what ethical, planet-friendly clothing can look like — and inviting us all to think beyond the label.
Tavares Strachan presents his latest creation, the Encyclopedia of Invisibility: a 3,000-page tome filled with more than 17,000 entries on people, places and events often left out of the history books -- and encourages us all to unearth hidden stories before they disappear to the passage of time.
Stay tuned after the talk as TED business host Modupe Akinola shares a clear-eyed and empowering perspective on your future self's feelings. This is an episode of TED Business, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective.
Are you super devoted to a sports team, superhero or perhaps "Star Wars"? You’re part of a fandom, just like storyteller Jordan Dinwiddie. She shares 10 lessons she’s learned nerding out on all kinds of things and unpacks the joy, creativity and community that comes from being a fan. (Note: This talk contains graphic language.)
With birth rates falling, the worldwide human population is getting older and smaller. According to traditional thinking, this spells a future of labor shortages, bankrupt social security systems and overall economic collapse.
Fifteen years ago, Uruguay was experiencing an energy crisis brought on by its reliance on fossil fuels; today, the nation produces 98 percent of its electricity from renewable sources (and even exports extra energy to neighboring countries).
Physician-scientist Anna Greka investigates the world's rarest genetic diseases, decoding the secrets of our cells through "molecular detective work."
"Why does a vibrator make us uncomfortable, but Viagra does not?" asks cognitive-behavioral coach Robin Buckley.
You've probably heard of CRISPR, the revolutionary technology that allows us to edit the DNA in living organisms. Biochemist and 2023 Audacious Project grantee Jennifer Doudna earned the Nobel Prize for her groundbreaking work in this field -- and now she's here to tell us about its next world-changing advancement.
Ever think you'd hear Sandra Bullock, Britney Spears and Dolly Parton in one TED Talk? Here they are, courtesy of "Saturday Night Live" star Melissa Villaseñor. She shares the life lessons of a comedian -- complete with celebrity impressions -- and reminds us to embrace all of our voices, even if they’re a little silly.
The word "sustainability" gets thrown around a lot these days. But what does it actually mean for humanity to be sustainable?
Your favorite pair of jeans -- the ones you refuse to throw out -- are actually a part of a global climate solution, says fashion entrepreneur Josephine Philips.
"AI can be a transformational tool in our fight against climate change," says Sims Witherspoon, a leader at the AI research lab Google DeepMind.
In conversation with TED's David Biello, Rebecca Collyer introduces a new coalition of governments, businesses and communities that aims to drastically scale wind and solar capacity in the 30 highest-emitting countries.
Climate change doesn't care about ideological divides, says policy analyst and China expert Changhua Wu. Here's what she says the US can learn from the progress China has made on the clean energy revolution -- and why collaboration instead of competition is the key to avoiding climate catastrophe.
"America's weatherman," Al Roker, who's spent decades reporting live from some of the worst storms and natural disasters in history. He explains how we can each take action to address climate change and work towards a more sustainable, hopeful future for generations to come.
Sometimes the world's biggest issues can seem so intractable that meaningful change feels impossible. But what if the answer has been right in front of us all along?
Clinical psychologist and renowned parenting whisperer Becky Kennedy is here to help. Not only does she have practical advice to help parents manage the guilt and shame of their not-so-great moments but she also models the types of conversations you can have to be a better parent.
Peter McIndoe isn't a fan of birds. In fact, he has a theory about them that might shock you. Listen along to this eye-opening talk as it takes a turn and makes a larger point about conspiracies, truth and belonging in divisive times.
The flexibility to work from anywhere won't necessarily make you love your job, says HR leader Sarah Aviram. Sharing practical wisdom from research conducted while working remotely in 12 different countries, she reveals the real challenges that hybrid work policies can't fix -- and shows how to truly thrive at your job no matter where you get it done.
K Allado-McDowell has co-written three books with AI, so they speak from experience when they say that nurturing a creative relationship with these systems can open minds and make new worlds possible.
At its worst, "business speak" -- or the particular language we use at work -- can be jargony, confusing and even exclusionary. But it doesn't have to be, says journalist and comedian Bob Wiltfong.
In athletics, in business, in life, everyone sets goals. But that's not the way to excel, according to former NFL player Emmanuel Acho, now an author and TV sports analyst. Here's what he says to do instead.
Have we misunderstood pain? Researcher and physician Amy Baxter unravels the symphony of connections that send pain from your body to your brain, explaining practical neuroscience hacks to quickly block those signals. Her groundbreaking research offers alternatives for immediate pain relief -- without the need for addictive opioids. (Followed by a Q&A with TED current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers)
In this episode, political scientist Margaret Levi shares the long history of organizing labor and explains how unions create equality and protect worker rights. S
From health-tracking wearables to smartphones and beyond, data collection and computer modeling have become a ubiquitous part of everyday life. Advancements in these areas have given birth to "digital twins," or virtual models that evolve alongside real-world data. Aerospace engineer Karen Willcox explores the incredible possibilities these systems offer across engineering, climate studies and medicine, sharing how they could lead to personalized medicine, better decision-making and more.
How is AI changing the nature of human imagination and creativity? Through a mind-bending tour of new techniques he's been tinkering with, creative technologist Bilawal Sidhu shows how anyone can use AI-powered tools to expand the possibilities of artistic expression, often within just minutes.
What would it take to make global supply chains cleaner and greener? Bo Cerup-Simonsen -- who's helping decarbonize the maritime industry as CEO of the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping -- discusses why tenacious collaboration is key to orchestrating systemic change. In conversation with TED's Lindsay Levin, he shares important lessons on collective problem-solving and decision-making that could benefit any industry making a green transition.
The shipping industry is vital to the global economy, but it's also a huge contributor to the climate crisis. Morten Bo Christiansen, a leader of the energy transition for the global shipping company A.P. Moller – Maersk, talks to TED's Lindsay Levin about the launch of the first-ever cargo ship powered by green methanol, the industry's urgent need to shift away from fossil fuels -- and what it could all mean for people's pockets.
Technologist Yat Siu believes the "open metaverse" -- a decentralized version of the internet also known as web3 -- is laying the foundation for a freer, fairer, more prosperous society.
From the evolutionary advances in the Cambrian period to today's computing revolution, theoretical biologist Stuart Kauffman believes he can explain the trend of explosive growth after periods of stability with his theory of the "adjacent possible."
With data as his paintbrush, media artist Refik Anadol trains AI algorithms to visualize the disappearing wonders of nature.
Artist Ersin Han Ersin invites us to step inside a giant sequoia tree, peering through the bark into the tapestry of life within.
The key to revolutionizing the world's energy landscape may lie in an unlikely love story, says energy innovator Olivia Breese.
Yvonne Newbold's son, Toby, is one of the millions of young people living with a disability. Parenting Toby has offered her some lessons on how to help children move from anxiety-led behavior towards happier times.
The deadliest severe weather phenomenon is something you might not realize: extreme heat.
The world's smallest countries, often tropical places, are the first to feel the effects of global climate change, but they lack the funds to fight it. Economist Avinash Persaud is working on a plan to change that.
Whether it's dandelions blooming in your backyard or purslane sprouting from the sidewalk, vegan forager Alexis Nikole Nelson is on a mission to show how freely growing flora could make its way to your plate.
What can we make of a design that shows up over and over in disparate cultures throughout history? Theorist Terry Moore explores "Penrose tiling" -- two shapes that fit together in infinite combinations without ever repeating -- and ponders what it might mean.
Political scientist Barbara F. Walter examines the rise in extremism and threats to democracies around the globe.
In a talk packed with wry wisdom, pop culture queen Bevy Smith shares hard-earned lessons about authenticity, confidence, mature success and why, if you put in the work, "life gets greater later."
Making the case for a four-day, 32-hour work week (with five days of pay), Schor explains how this model for the future of work could address major challenges like burnout and the climate crisis.
Could the tech industry's complex algorithms support people during their darkest times, rather than just deliver targeted ads?
What happens when human and machine creativity meet?
In a blistering talk, Nobel Laureate Al Gore looks at the two main obstacles to climate solutions and gives his view of how we might actually solve the environmental crisis in time.
The city of Port Talbot in South Wales is known for a few things: a steel mill, a proudly working class population and a passionate commitment to the arts that produced Hollywood superstars Richard Burton and Anthony Hopkins.
Climate action is speeding up -- and we each have the power to push that transformation forward.
Experiential artist Lucas Rizzotto was going through a tough breakup, so he did what anyone would do: he built a personal time machine.
Misan Harriman shares his journey as a self-taught photographer
What if we could use waste to create resilient and sustainable buildings?
When does vision loss become blindness? Writer, audio producer and editor Andrew Leland explains how his gradual loss of vision revealed a paradoxical truth about blindness -- and shows why it might have implications for how all of us see the world.
Sharing the inside scoop on how the world's largest food company aims to reach net zero by 2050.
What if we could harness the power and value of all that we discard?
Unexpected change like an accident, an illness, or a relationship that suddenly ends is inevitable -- and disorienting. With a heartfelt and optimistic take on life's curveballs, cognitive scientist Maya Shankar shares how these challenging moments can inspire transformation.
It's 1999, and sixteen years after its original release, a new Star Wars is finally coming. Fans have been camping out in front of theaters across the country just to be the first to see it. The beloved intergalactic saga is set to debut a slew of brand new characters, one of whom is a revolutionary CGI creation named Jar Jar Binks.
2023 Audacious Project grantee Wanjira Mathai is at the forefront of re-greening the planet. Through the forest restoration initiative Restore Local, she's working to help both Africa's people and its landscapes flourish.
Climate justice is taking center stage -- geopolitically, socially and morally.
Megafires, or fires that burn more than 100,000 acres, are becoming more frequent worldwide, wreaking havoc on landscapes and communities -- and fire experts say the problem is only going to get worse.
Opinions about remote work are plentiful and conflicting -- but what does the research say? Organizational design expert Mark Mortensen identifies the challenges of navigating the hybrid work debate and shares three conversation topics every workplace should explore as people change the way they show up on the job.
If we're going to solve the climate crisis, we need to talk about supply chains, says biodiversity champion and 2023 Audacious grantee Nicole Rycroft.
How can cities become resilient to the shocks of climate change? As a leading force behind Detroit's ongoing revitalization, Anika Goss spends a lot of time thinking about this question.
What's it like keeping the lights on during war? Ukrainian energy executive Maxim Timchenko shares how his company has diversified Ukraine's power structures to survive Russian attacks, highlighting the resilience of renewable energy.
Decision theorist Eliezer Yudkowsky has a simple message: superintelligent AI could probably kill us all. So the question becomes: Is it possible to build powerful artificial minds that are obedient, even benevolent?
Lethal drones with facial recognition, armed robots, autonomous fighter jets: we're at the dawn of a new age of AI-powered warfare, says technologist Alexandr Wang.
Education activist and 2023 Audacious Project grantee Angeline Murimirwa knows the power of educating girls, especially in places where they may not have easy access to schooling.
"What must I do to be at peace with myself so that I may live presently and die gracefully?"
Evolutionary biologist Shane Campbell-Staton says nature is now changing at breakneck speed to keep up with the world humanity has built.
Elise and Chris talk about the real stakes of placing a premium on our looks, why a more inclusive version of "beauty" is worth pursuing.
If a diverse workforce makes a better company, why don’t more businesses hire internationally? Innovation and migration strategist Johann Daniel Harnoss details the advantage of global talent and how to best build the systems and culture to welcome immigrants to your staff.
Tapping into the transformational power of costume, concept artist Machine Dazzle takes us on a maximalist journey through art, history and fashion.
How can we move past society's inclination to box people in with binary thinking and labels? Social work professor Jioji Ravulo believes we need to embrace multiplicity, exploring how Indigenous perspectives can help create more welcoming, collective communities for everyone.
Is there a way to give back that benefits everyone? Citing the success of collective giving practices from around the world, philanthropic advisor Rebecca Darwent asks donors to let communities lead decision-making, ushering in a new era of philanthropy that's rooted in interconnected humanity.
In an astonishing talk and tech demo, neurotechnologist Conor Russomanno shares his work building brain-computer interfaces that could enable us to control the external world with our minds. He discusses the quickly advancing possibilities of this field -- including the promise of a "closed-loop system" that could both record and stimulate brain activity -- and invites neurohacker Christian Bayerlein onto the TED stage to fly a mind-controlled drone by using a biosensing headset.
Why do we prioritize human rights over those of other species? Philosopher Peter Singer dives into what he calls "speciesism," the root of the widely ignored mistreatment of animals around the world, from factory farms to product-testing facilities. He makes the case for ending the commercial exploitation of animals for food and invites everyone to reexamine the environmental and moral weight of the status quo. This conversation, hosted by head of TED Chris Anderson, was part of an exclusive TED Membership event. Visit ted.com/membership to become a TED Member. (Warning: this conversation contains images of animal cruelty.)
Do you feel overwhelmed by the complex issues facing our world, not to mention your own personal problems? Spirituality is the key to staying grounded and hopeful
Filmmaker Sahar Zand vividly explores the ongoing struggle women face at the hands of Iranian morality police -- like living as second-class citizens with no right to travel, divorce or wear their hair uncovered -- and points to new hope as protests against this unfair treatment continue across the country and around the world. She urges us all to stand in solidarity with the fight for "Woman, Life, Freedom" and shows why hope is so dangerous to authoritarian regimes.
Why is good news so rare? In a special broadcast from the TED stage, journalist Angus Hervey sheds light on some of the incredible progress humanity has made across environmental protection, public health and more in the last year, making the case that if we want to change the story of humanity this century, we have to start changing the stories we tell ourselves. "When we only tell the stories of doom, we fail to see the stories of possibility," says Hervey.
While studying inequality and social mobility, Richard Reeves made a surprising discovery: in some countries, like the US and UK, boys are drastically lagging behind girls across many academic measures. He explains why these struggles in school are indicative of the larger crises facing boys and men -- and outlines how society could thoughtfully tackle these challenges to work towards a more inclusive, equitable future. (Followed by a Q&A with head of TED Chris Anderson)
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. [Directed by Rémi Cans, Atypicalist, narrated by Christina Greer, music by Jarrett Farkas].
Uninvited hair touching, an issue that primarily affects Black women and girls, is an invasion of personal space. To raise awareness of "hair attacks," activist Mena Fombo started the "No, You Cannot Touch My Hair" campaign, showing how unwanted hair touching is an issue that has been and still is rooted in racism. She shares three steps to end this invasive behavior and move toward a world that respects everyone's bodily autonomy.
"I think of legacy as the weaving together of our stories passed on as a whole," says Haida storyteller Cohen Bradley. Highlighting the significance of potlatch ceremonies (or gift-giving feasts) and other Indigenous traditions of the Haida Nation, Bradley shares why we all should prioritize our collective legacies -- and how they live on through the stories we tell."I think of legacy as the weaving together of our stories passed on as a whole," says Haida storyteller Cohen Bradley. Highlighting the significance of potlatch ceremonies (or gift-giving feasts) and other Indigenous traditions of the Haida Nation, Bradley shares why we all should prioritize our collective legacies -- and how they live on through the stories we tell.
Who runs the world? Political scientist Ian Bremmer argues it's not as simple as it used to be. With some eye-opening questions about the nature of leadership, he asks us to consider the impact of the evolving global order and our choices as participants in the future of democracy.
In between two songs that showcase her raw vocal powers, singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez delivers an inspiring talk about how she's turned wins into losses -- and reminds us we're all capable of magic. (This talk contains mature language.)
Nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, the result of millions of people being unable to get the birth control method that works best for them. Reproductive health advocate and 2023 Audacious Project grantee Mark Edwards discusses Upstream USA's nationwide effort to expand access to high-quality contraceptive care by integrating it into primary health-care settings -- a crucial shift towards increasing equal health opportunities and empowering people to decide when and if they want to start families. (This ambitious idea is a part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.)
If we're going to solve the climate crisis, we need to talk about construction. The four main building materials that humans currently use -- concrete, steel, masonry and wood -- have a heavy environmental impact, but what if we had a fifth option? Architect Michael Green proposes an entirely new, natural medium inspired by the structure of trees and plants. Learn more about the carbon-sequestering solution to our construction conundrum that's laying the groundwork for a truly sustainable future.
Pirate fishing, oil spills and other undetected crimes are destroying ocean ecosystems -- but we can't stop what we can't see. Harnessing the power of satellite data and AI to catch maritime offenders in the act, ocean conservation expert and 2023 Audacious Project grantee Tony Long introduces the first-ever live map of all industrial human activity at sea.
Our bodies instinctually respond to the movements and rhythms of nature, like the uplifting feeling you get when walking in a forest. Can art evoke the same emotions? Experiential artist Lonneke Gordijn takes us through her studio's stunning, nature-inspired work -- flowering lights, murmurating drones -- and reveals a mysterious piece hiding in the shadows of the TED Theater that just might change your relationship with concrete.
Modern life runs on wireless technology. What if the energy powering our devices could also be transmitted without wires? Electrical engineer Ali Hajimiri explains the principles behind wireless energy transfer and shares his far-out vision for launching flexible solar panels into space in order to collect sunlight, convert it to electrical power and then beam it down to Earth. Learn how this technology could power everything -- and light up our world from space.
Drawing on his work reconstructing the vocal tract of an ancient Egyptian priest, speech scientist David M. Howard shares three evolutionary wonders of human speech -- and the importance of nurturing your own voice in an increasingly noisy world.
In all the conversations about improving education for children, the voices of students, teachers and community members are often left out. Educational designer Punya Mishra offers a method to shift that paradigm, taking us through new thinking on the root of success (and failure) at school -- and how a totally new, different kind of educational system could better meet students' needs.
In a captivating, poetic ode to the beauty and strength of mixed languages, writer Julián Delgado Lopera paints a picture of immigrant and queer communities united not by their refinement of language but by the creative inventions that spring from their mouths. They invite everyone to reconsider what "proper" English sounds like – and imagine a blended future where those on the margins are able to speak freely.
In a practical, playful talk, leadership visionary Anne Morriss reinvents the playbook for how to lead through change -- with a radical, one-week plan to build trust and fix problems by following a step per day.
Neurotechnology, or devices that let you track your own brain activity, could help you deeply understand your health. But without privacy protections, your innermost thoughts, emotions and desires could be at risk of exploitation, says neurotech and AI ethicist Nita Farahany. She details some of the field's promising potential uses -- like tracking and treating diseases from depression to epilepsy -- and shares concerns about who collects our brain data and how they plan to use it, ultimately calling for the legal recognition of "cognitive liberty" as we connect our brains and minds to technology.
What if we could use brain waves to treat Alzheimer's? Professor and neuroscientist Li-Huei Tsai details a promising new approach to artificially stimulate gamma brain waves using light and sound therapy, to increase connectivity and synchrony and delay the onset of this deadly disease. This non-invasive therapy has already been shown to work in mice -- now it's on to human clinical trials, with the potential to usher in a brighter future for everyone. (Followed by a Q&A with head of TED Chris Anderson)
Dinosaur tracks can teach us more about the day-to-day behavior of creatures like T. rex or the Stegosaurus than their skeletons ever could, says paleontologist Martin Lockley. From a "dinosaur's lover's lane" in Colorado to the rocky shores of South Korea, Lockley explores what we can learn from the traces of some of the most impressive creatures ever to walk the Earth.
Could the next wonder drug be somewhere in Canada's snowy north? Take a trip to this beautiful, frigid landscape as chemist Normand Voyer explores the mysterious molecular treasures found in plants thriving in the cold. These scarcely investigated organisms could hold immense medical promise, he says – so long as we work quickly enough to discover them.
In the US, youth in foster care are nearly twice as likely as war veterans to suffer from PTSD. Placed in foster care at just 11 months old, 2023 Audacious Project grantee Sixto Cancel experienced the faults of the system firsthand. Now, he's the founder of Think of Us, an organization working to reform child welfare by centering kinship care, or placing a child with an extended family member or a familiar adult.
Using found materials and mesmerizing structures that unearth deep-rooted emotions, Wangechi Mutu's visual creations explore and celebrate women's role in our collective history. From ancient rock carvings in the Sahel to her own chimeric abstractions, she shares her journey of self-discovery and reminds us all that we already speak the most ancient language of all: art.
AI-generated media that looks and sounds exactly like the real world will soon permeate our lives. How should we prepare for it? AI developer Tom Graham discusses the extraordinary power of this rapidly advancing technology, demoing cutting-edge examples -- including real-time face swaps and voice cloning -- live from the TED stage.
Why are "good colleges" often the ones that accept the fewest students? Exposing the harmful consequences of society's obsession with highly rejective (and expensive) universities, educator Cecilia M. Orphan asks us to rethink what makes institutions "prestigious" and consider directing funds and attention to where they're needed most: regional public universities that serve all students. A call for schools to be judged by the opportunities they create -- not the ones they stifle.
Neurodiversity and innovation often go hand in hand, but does that mean visionary entrepreneurs get a free pass to say and do anything they want?
What if we could solve the climate and housing crises at the same time? Financial institutions have pledged trillions to transform the economy and accelerate climate action -- but right now, that money is not flowing at the speed it needs to, says sustainable investing expert Veronica Chau.
Keyu Jin is a fierce advocate for the coexistence of divergent worldviews, urging leaders to look beyond their own borders at different systems that might help bolster their own economies.
Will truth and reason survive the evolution of artificial intelligence? AI researcher Gary Marcus says no, not if untrustworthy technology continues to be integrated into our lives at such dangerously high speeds.
Around the world, people who work hard are often seen as morally good -- even if they produce little to no results. Social psychologist Azim Shariff analyzes the roots of this belief and suggests a shift towards a more meaningful way to think about effort, rather than admiring work for work's sake.
More than 30 million people in the US are eligible to have their arrest and conviction records cleared -- but most people who qualify either can't afford it or simply don't know it's an option.
Imran Chaudhri spent more than 20 years at Apple creating some of the world's most beloved consumer products. Now he's using AI to rethink and reshape the role of technology in our lives.
Learning how to have productive conversations about race is a necessary part of the human experience.
In this poetic and moving reflection, actor, musician and activist Golshifteh Farahani honors those who have fought for "Woman, Life, Freedom" following Mahsa Amini's death at the hands of Iran's religious morality police.
Keenan Scott Il's passion for words, stories and superheroes fueled his journey to becoming a celebrated playwright, producer, director and actor.
Scam artists know something about money that you don't -- and artist J Mase III is here to shed some light.
Parents, take a deep breath: how your kids turn out isn't fully on you.
Sal Khan, the founder and CEO of Khan Academy, thinks artificial intelligence could spark the greatest positive transformation education has ever seen.
Computer scientist Yejin Choi is here to demystify the current state of massive artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT, highlighting three key problems with cutting-edge large language models (including some funny instances of them failing at basic commonsense reasoning.
Are we separate and superior to nature? This question has been a driving force behind humanity's industrialization and economic progress for centuries -- but it's brought us to the brink of an ecological crisis, says filmmaker Damon Gameau.
Nadya Tolokonnikova, founding member of the anti-Putin resistance group Pussy Riot, was named a top enemy of Russia for speaking out against Vladimir Putin's dictatorship throughout the last decade.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew dives into how the trend-setting video app and cultural phenomenon works — from what distinguishes its algorithm and drives virality to the challenges of content moderation and digital addiction.
Some works of art stand the test of time; others don't age as well.
Kelli is a nurse at a leading teaching hospital where communication issues are not only leading to resentment – they could also be affecting patient care.
Is it possible for taking action on climate change to make you feel happy?
In a talk from the cutting edge of technology, OpenAI cofounder Greg Brockman explores the underlying design principles of ChatGPT and demos some mind-blowing new plug-ins for the chatbot that sent shockwaves across the world.
What can we do to make workplaces more welcoming to people living with disabilities? Representation advocate Tiffany Yu shares three ways that employers can change and tap into every worker's skills and gifts.
Nearly 40 percent of humanity lives near a coast -- and no two coasts are the same. How can these communities build resilience to the increasing risks of climate change?
To truly savor life, pursue "powerful first experiences," says storyteller and nonprofit founder Kenneth Chabert.
Regret is one of our most powerful emotions -- and also one of the most misunderstood. Over the past two years, author Daniel H. Pink has collected a trove of more than 16,000 regrets from people in 105 countries in an effort to better understand this mysterious emotion.
Most scientific literature is written only in English, creating an alarming knowledge gap for the 75 percent of the world who don't speak it. That's a big problem for climate change -- because it's hard to take action on something you don't understand.
How can we rethink hybrid work so it brings out the best in both in-person and distributed employees?
As Arctic ice melts, polar bears are being forced on land -- and they're hungry. With the apex predators frequently turning to human junkyards for a snack, northern towns have had to get creative in order to keep both their people and wildlife safe.
From the Salem witch trials to Jack the Ripper, humanity's historic fascination for true crime content can be traced back to the Middle Ages. But is it ethical to consume these real-life dramas in the way we do?
As if college applications aren't stressful enough, disadvantaged youth are often encouraged to write about their darkest traumas in their admissions essays, creating a marketable story of resilience that turns "pain into progress," says politics student Tina Yong.
Fasten your seat belt as software engineer Alex Koster takes us on a journey in what he calls the "software dream car" of the future.
Whether you realize it or not, you have a personal brand, says social entrepreneur Marcos Salazar -- and you have the power to shape what it is.
When it comes to cost, clean energy is bound to beat out fossil fuels, says technologist Ramez Naam.
Every moment of movement is a chance to become more aware of yourself and the world around you, says Zen Buddhist nun Sister True Dedication.
Women and girls with autism spectrum disorder often don't display the behaviors people typically associate with neurodivergence, greatly impacting when, how -- and if -- they are diagnosed.
Is AI as smart as it seems?
Ever wished you could stop procrastinating and just be as efficient as a machine? Since you're a human, that's not going to happen -- but that's OK, says entrepreneur Dan Shipper.
Music can act as a guide, says cellist Steven Sharp Nelson. It has the power to unlock the mind, tap into the heart and bring light in the darkest times.
What are the realistic pathways off of fossil fuels and towards a world of abundant clean energy?
Canine cognition expert Alexandra Horowitz offers a peek inside the mind of your dog, sharing solutions to common "misbehaviors" that are often simply the result of a pup's attempt to communicate in a world that's very different from their own.
"My very first film was about a town that disappeared," says documentarian John Paget.
What if you could transform your anxiety into something you can actually use during your work day?
When the world goes fully electric, what happens to the cars, tools and livelihoods that rely on fossil fuels?
A self-declared "repair geek," Gay Gordon-Byrne is a driving force behind the right-to-repair movement, which aims to empower people to fix their stuff.
We all experience it: that desire to do something wrong just for the sake of it.
Know you should establish clear limits at work but not sure how to do it?
The emergence of data-driven mass surveillance "is threatening to turn privacy into a relic of the 20th century," says the anonymous YouTube creator known as Ordinary Things.
What comes to mind when you think about the most fun moments of your life?
Collaboration in the workplace is more important than ever -- but it's making us less productive in some ways. Here's what collaboration pioneer Rob Cross says is driving us to take on way too much -- and how we can reclaim our time and our peace of mind.
What does an in-flight meal look like when you're traveling to Mars?
Video games naturally tap into the way we learn: they focus our attention and track our progress as we head toward a clear goal.
Only four percent of construction workers are female -- that's totally unacceptable, but it's also a huge opportunity both for women and for the trades, says youth educator and builder Emily Pilloton-Lam.
Why aren't more people investing in Africa's green energy?
Meet the fantastically colorful and astonishingly adaptable sea slugs that found a way to photosynthesize (or create energy from sunlight) like plants.
Stuck in an unfulfilling or stagnant job?
When programmer Tiffani Ashley Bell learned that thousands of people in Detroit were facing water shutoffs because they couldn't afford to pay their bills, she decided to take action -- in the simplest, most obvious way possible.
Some days, it's hard to be optimistic. But cynicism -- the idea that people are inherently selfish, greedy and dishonest -- is making humanity lonelier and more divided, says psychologist Jamil Zaki.
As a proud and passionate restaurant owner, Vincent Yeow Lim takes after his father and grandfather in the family tradition of Chinese cooking.
Scientist Saad Bhamla is on a mission to answer a question most people don't think to ask: How do insects pee?
We negotiate all the time at work -- for raises, promotions, time off -- and we usually go into it like it's a battle.
Kate Ackerman understands that women athletes need more than pretty sports bras or new sneakers to achieve peak performance.
There's something simple we can all do to help the planet -- and it's probably not what you think.
You've got a long list of things you want to do, but there's just one problem: you can't seem to get -- or stay -- motivated.
To restrain global warming, we know we need to drastically reduce pollution.
Have an idea you're yearning to turn into a business?
What do we say to kids when intensely traumatic events interrupt everyday life?
Buildings are bad news for the climate -- but they don't have to be.
A few words can change the course of a life; they have the power to shrink, expand or transform someone's identity -- even your own.
Love is often described as heartwarming, heart-wrenching, or even heartbreaking— and your brain is responsible for all these feelings.
Anxiety is a normal part of life, so why are we so afraid of it? Psychologist Lisa Damour breaks down how to recognize when anxiety is helpful and when it's harmful, offering simple solutions for calming yourself and taking back control when you feel it slipping away. (This conversation, hosted by TED science curator David Biello, was part of an exclusive TED Membership event. Visit ted.com/membership to become a TED Member.)
What if we started treating parenting like the real work it is?
Today on TED Talks Daily we’re excited to introduce TED’s newest podcast, Good Sport, hosted by veteran sports producer Jody Avirgan. What can sports teach us about life – and each other?
If you think democracy is some kind of inevitable, default setting for the world, then you aren't going to have it for very long, says historian and author Timothy Snyder.
How can nonprofits accelerate their impact and move the needle on intractable problems? Looking to bring the urgency of a profit motive to every initiative, inclusive finance promoter Tolu Oyekan shows how scalable, data-driven solutions are expanding access to banking and financial services across Africa -- and shares the mindset that can help any business meet its goals with speed and precision.
Could this meeting have been an email? The phenomenon of "calendar creep," where meetings completely take over your work days, is wasting time, energy and productivity -- but you can take back control.
After a billion years of evolution, fungi are masters of invention and resilience. What wisdom can we draw from their long, remarkable existence?
Making friends as an adult can feel like a baffling obstacle course. Why was it so much easier to connect as kids?
Names like Bayard Rustin, Frances Thompson and William Dorsey Swann have been largely erased from US history, but they and other Black queer leaders played central roles in monumental movements like emancipation, civil rights and LGBTQ+ pride, among others.
The fossil fuel industry is a factory of fairy tales, says activist and school strike for climate organizer Luisa Neubauer.
Lawyers are advocates for their clients -- and, in court, they're usually the ones who do the talking.
Indigenous wisdom can help solve the planetary crises that colonialism started, says lawyer Jennifer "Jing" Corpuz.
By mastering the Eskista, an ancient Ethiopian dance, TED Fellow Melaku Belay survived a childhood on the streets and became a voice for his country.
Global consumer strategist Aparna Bharadwaj shares a fascinating glimpse at under-the-radar affinities that transcend cultures and borders -- from the way people snack in China and Saudi Arabia to how people shop for clothes in the US and Russia.
Millennials and Gen Z will inherit 30 trillion dollars of wealth in the coming decades, and what they do with their money will have an incredible impact on the future of the planet, says impact investor Miguel Goncalves.
What does inclusive leadership look like?
Several crises are set to define the next century -- but journalist Aaron Bastani believes we have the technological ability to meet our biggest challenges and create unprecedented levels of prosperity for all.
Farming is the worst thing humanity has ever done to the planet, says journalist George Monbiot.
Depending on your lot in life, you may see the status quo as a result of unearned privilege or a simple reflection of merit.
For anyone who believes poetry is stuffy or elitist, Amanda Gorman -- the youngest inaugural poet in US history -- has some characteristically well-chosen words.
Right now, hundreds of thousands of people are "stuck" in the US criminal justice system.
When human rights advocate Manu Peni returned to Papua New Guinea from abroad, he built a home for himself using modern techniques -- and promptly learned a harsh lesson on how the newest ideas aren't always the best ideas.
Nurses represent the front line of health care -- from first breaths to last moments, and everything in between.
The happiest and healthiest people are those who have warm connections with others, says psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, who leads the Harvard Study of Adult Development -- one of the longest-running studies of adult life ever conducted.
What are the planets outside our solar system like? Astrophysicist and TED Fellow Jessie Christiansen has helped find thousands of them (and counting), and the variety is more wonderful and wild than you might imagine.
If we want to better understand the environment and combat climate change, we need to look deep underground, where diverse microscopic fungal networks mingle with tree roots to form symbiotic partnerships, says microbiologist Colin Averill.
Paul Catchlove believes strongly in the power of reflection.
Architecture can't ignore the realities of climate change.
Why do so many of us wait until a new calendar year to start setting our goals?
To close out the year on TED Talks Daily, we wanted to leave you with something special. It's an immersive sound journey through the history of Earth, as told by ecologist and author Stephan Harding.
For someone who doesn't believe in goal-setting, Emmanuel Acho is highly accomplished.
Your money habits reveal a lot about you: your hopes, fears, dreams and other deep personal truths you may not even be aware of, says accountant Robert A. Belle.
Future forecaster and game designer Jane McGonigal ran a social simulation game in 2008 that had players dealing with the effects of a respiratory pandemic set to happen in the next decade.
This episode is part of the TED Talks Daily end-of-year wrap-up.
A little bit of playtime can have big benefits for a child's developing brain, like a superfood -- but adult participation is a crucial ingredient for best results.
A lack of infrastructure in parts of Africa has made unregulated, gas-powered motorcycle taxis widespread -- a system that gets people where they need to be, but heavily pollutes the air and excludes drivers from the formal economy.
The internet provides access to knowledge for billions across the world, but how accessible is it really?
Going to school in a refugee camp can be complicated: students encounter crowded classrooms, rigid curricula and limited access to teachers.
Are insects the key to brain-inspired computing? Neuroscientist Frances S. Chance thinks so.
With infectious energy, singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo ties together the threads of her legendary career as a creative force and global activist. In conversation with journalist Femi Oke.
When he learned of the threat that rising sea levels posed to his coastal hometown of Miami, Florida, eco-artist Xavier Cortada founded a movement around beautifully designed elevation markers highlighting the risk of flood damage.
To keep up with a rapidly evolving job market, hiring practices need to change, too.
Technologist and TED Fellow Gautam Shah invites us to imagine how the metaverse could redefine the relationships between humans and other species.
Could the same mechanism used to accelerate vaccine development work for spurring solutions to the climate crisis?
Remote work, while redefining the workplace landscape, seems stuck behind endless video conference calls that hinder free-flowing conversation and collaboration.
In a constantly changing world, it's impossible for leaders to provide employees with the assurance they want, says Vimeo CEO Anjali Sud.
"If we take care of the land, the land takes care of us," says Indigenous leader Valérie Courtois
Meditation asks you to slip into a state of serene presence. But why does something that sounds effortless often feel so difficult?
As oil and gas companies continue to make record profits off of the same forces driving climate chaos, war and soaring energy bills, it's become clear that boom times for the fossil fuel industry are bad times for the rest of us.
One billion people worldwide are living with a disability, and too many of them are left unemployed or feeling like they need to hide their conditions due to discriminatory hiring practices, says social innovator Ryan Gersava.
After his HIV diagnosis, former pro rugby player Gareth Thomas set out on a mission to tackle the stigma and shame that prevent people from getting the testing and care they need.
In crowds, at parties, meetings, get-togethers with friends, everyday interactions: social anxiety can show up as an unwelcome guest at any time. But why?
We currently have enough fossil fuels to progressively transition off of them, says climate campaigner Tzeporah Berman, but the industry continues to expand oil, gas and coal production and exploration.
Neutrality isn't an option when it comes to the fight for personal and political freedom, says world-trotting journalist Christiane Amanpour.
How much is one living blue whale worth in the fight against climate change?
Land thrives in Indigenous hands, and there are real, tangible ways you can help return what was stolen by colonizers from tribes across North America.
Computer skills aren't what's stopping people from breaking into the tech industry, says social entrepreneur Irma L. Olguin Jr. More often, the biggest hurdles are things like access to childcare, transportation and financial stability.
As the child of Holocaust survivors and a World War II refugee herself, peace builder Georgette Bennett was stunned by the human toll and tragedy of the Syrian civil war.
The "aliens" of Earth live in the deepest parts of the ocean, and marine biologist Alan Jamieson has the photographs to prove it.
Sure, sports are about athleticism -- but what actually keeps fans invested?
The women of Afghanistan are being persecuted under Taliban rule, but they're not standing down.
Actor and activist Fehinti Balogun pieces together multiple complex issues -- climate change, colonialism, systemic racism -- in a talk that's part spoken-word poem, part diagnosis of entrenched global problems.
What if leadership at work wasn't for a select few, but rather shared among many?
When you can't sleep, you're desperate for help. And there's a booming industry waiting to tell you all the ways a lack of sleep can ruin your health -- and to sell you fancy gadgets to help you finally doze off. Shedding light on this flawed doomsday messaging, Dr. Jen Gunter explains why you shouldn't lose sleep over sleep -- and what to do instead. (For more on how your body works, tune in to her podcast, Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter, from the TED Audio Collective.)
Have you ever been forced to limit your identity to a single box on an application, survey or census questionnaire?
Climate justice activist Vanessa Nakate sits down with former president of Ireland Mary Robinson for an enlightening, intergenerational conversation about the state of the climate crisis.
How do we make historically exclusive fields like classical music, fine arts or academic research more accessible to everyone?
Imagine a boat that propels by moving its "tail" from side to side, just like a fish.
Confronting climate change makes for better cities and a better quality of life, says Heidi Sørensen, director of the climate agency for the city of Oslo, Norway.
In June 2022, TED's climate initiative, Countdown, launched its Dilemma Series: events designed to look at some of the "knots" in the climate change space, where diverging positions have stalled progress and solidified into an inability to collaborate across differences.
We know capitalism exacerbates injustice and inequality worldwide. So how can we fix it?
What if we could use the power of DNA to create a sustainable, circular economy?
From favorite moons to the search for alien life, astronomer Heidi Hammel discusses the latest in astronomy and the breakthrough innovations behind her work with NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.
Every conversation has the potential to open up and reveal all the layers and layers within it, all those rooms within rooms," says podcaster and musician Hrishikesh Hirway.
Actor and activist Jane Fonda discusses her frontline work fighting for climate action, including recent efforts to support climate-minded candidates running for office in the US and to break the fossil fuel industry's stranglehold on the country's government.
Does success come from luck or skill, and how do you tell the difference? One way to find an answer: think like a pro gambler does, says football executive Rasmus Ankersen.
Youth leader Shreya Joshi diagnoses a key source of political polarization in the US and shows why having "uncomfortable conversations" with people you disagree with is crucial to bridging the divide.
Pakistan contributes less than one percent to the global greenhouse gas emissions perpetrating climate change, yet one-third of the country was recently inundated with “biblical” floods that killed hundreds and displaced millions.
Eighty percent of the world's biodiversity is within Indigenous territories, yet these communities often don't have a say when it comes to protecting the lands they inhabit.
We know diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) boosts creativity and profits, but progress has been slow: today, nearly 90 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are white males.
Eating pizza with a stuffy nose just isn't as satisfying -- and there's a reason for that. Dr. Jen Gunter explains how our ability to smell and taste work together to give us a full sensory experience.
If you think social media is powerful, keep an eye on immersive video games, says futurist Noah Raford.
Whose pleasure is prioritized during sex, and why?
"You don't predict the future -- you imagine the future," says sci-fi writer Charlie Jane Anders.
Despite common belief, retirement takes more than financial planning. And while you may be beyond ready to go on permanent vacation, you also have to psychologically prepare for when the novelty wears off.
In an invitation to slow down and look at the world around you, graphic journalist Wendy MacNaughton illustrates how drawing can spark deeply human, authentic connections.
Nearly fifteen percent of the world's population lives with a disability, yet this massive chunk of humanity is still routinely excluded from opportunities.
Climate action has historically had a gender-neutral lens, but this lack of intentionality allows underlying biases to sneak in and negatively impact women, says gender and climate researcher Zineb Sqalli.
To get young kids to thrive in school, we need to do more than teach them how to read and write -- we need to teach them how to manage their emotions, says educator Olympia Della Flora.
Conservation champion and TED Fellow Adjany Costa is on a mission to empower Indigenous communities.
How do you raise kids to step outside of their comfort zones and unlock their inner potential? It all starts with helping them develop a resilient mindset.
The housing market can be vexing: while some neighborhoods get ridiculously expensive and price out longtime residents, others have historic homes sitting vacant without demand.
Feeling safe is a human right -- but in many African countries, colonial-era laws make it dangerous for LGBTQIA+ people to gather and share their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
You may need to hear this (if you haven't already): your job is not your family. While you can develop meaningful relationships with your colleagues, calling work your family can actually breed burnout and be detrimental to your mental and emotional health.
Expensive to build and often needing highly skilled engineers to maintain, artificial intelligence systems generally only pay off for large tech companies with vast amounts of data. But what if your local pizza shop could use AI to predict which flavor would sell best each day of the week?
We’re going to be building on the Moon this decade -- and next will be Mars, says space architect Melodie Yashar.
Does the key to stopping cancer lie in the heart? Cardiologist Nicholas Leeper digs into emerging scientific research on the link between the world's two leading causes of death, heart disease and cancer, sharing how their biological origins may be connected -- and treatable with the same therapeutics.
“Be spreaders of facts and truths,” says scientist and immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci. Having advised seven US presidents on various disease outbreaks including COVID-19, he shares insights on the present and future of pandemics, backed up by decades of experience in public health.
Low-status neighborhoods in the US are often stuck between stagnating assistance from the government and gentrification at the hands of real estate developers. The result is that the brightest minds are convinced that "success" means leaving town.
Philanthropy disruptor Sara Lomelin thinks communities can build power through collective giving, or what she calls “giving circles”: groups of people with shared values who come together to make change, strengthen their social fabric and help diverse solutions get funded.
Nuclear power is one of the safest, cleanest forms of energy -- yet to most people, it might not feel that way. Why is that?
“We all have our own beautiful ways of moving, and this is worth celebrating,” says dancer and choreographer Ryan Heffington.
Is art worth it? "Hell yeah," says graphic novelist R. Alan Brooks -- art has the power to scare dictators, inspire multitudes and change hearts and minds across the world.
Megan Reitz offers a four-point crash course on what employees want from their organizations and how leaders can rise to the challenge of building proactive and productive workplaces where every voice and perspective has the chance to make a difference.
Creating functional prosthetics at a fraction of the cost of imported tech, bionic innovator and TED Fellow Enzo Romero shares a groundbreaking model for designing 3D-printed assistive technology sourced from recycled materials -- built in and for his native Peru.
Mass surveillance is worse than you think, but the solutions are simpler than you realize, says lawyer, technologist and TED Fellow Albert Cahn.
How do you rediscover a happier, more purpose-driven (and less productivity-obsessed) self in the wake of the pandemic? Quiz yourself alongside work futurist Dominic Price.
As climate change accelerates, finding clean alternatives to fossil fuels is more urgent than ever. Social entrepreneur Vaitea Cowan believes green hydrogen is the answer.
What if you could create new music using your favorite musician's voice?
Among the dinosaurs, giant sea dragons roamed the ancient ocean. Millions of years later, paleontologist Dean R. Lomax and his team freed the remains of one of these colossal creatures from the Earth.
We're so used to narratives out of Africa being about war, poverty and devastation, says TED Fellow Wanuri Kahiu.
Is capitalism a good thing? Journalist Katherine Mangu-Ward asks us to reconsider our qualms about capitalism.
Reflecting on moments that shaped his life, actor Ethan Hawke examines how courageous expression promotes healing and connection with one another -- and invites you to discover your own unabashed creativity. "There is no path till you walk it," he says.
Physician Sheetal DeCaria explains how perception impacts the medical care and treatment of chronic pain -- and calls for health care professionals to check in with how they do their patient checkups.
"When teachers and families work together, everyone wins," says education technology entrepreneur and TED Fellow Heejae Lim
Chemical plants create many of the materials found in everyday items, from the shoes you wear to the car you drive to the cell phone in your pocket. But the massive carbon footprint from chemical manufacturing is leading to climate breakdown.
Over time, Dylan Marron has developed an unexpected coping mechanism: calling the people who leave him insensitive comments and asking a simple question: "Why did you write that?"
Diabetes advocate Brooke Bennett shares her own struggles living with type 1 diabetes and how the astronomical cost of a life-saving drug leaves millions struggling to survive.
Neuroscientist Sergiu P. Pasca has made it his life's work to understand how the human brain builds itself -- and what makes it susceptible to disease.
With quick wit and sharp insight, writer Jeanette Winterson lays out a vision of the future where human and machine intelligence meld.
"The metaverse is already on fire, and we haven't even built it yet," says TED Fellow and video game lawyer Micaela Mantegna.
Taking cues from soft robotics and the natural world, conceptual artist Anicka Yi builds lighter-than-air machines that roam and react like autonomous life forms.
Everyone has the right to a clean environment -- but major disparities exist when it comes to who faces the consequences of pollution.
What can you hear in silence?
Today, the total mass of plastic is twice the total mass of all living organisms on the planet, and it's starting to change the processes that allow the Earth's climate system to work.
What can you do to build a better world?
On a list of the least funny topics imaginable, the global refugee crisis, border disputes and questions of citizenship are probably close to the top. And yet comedian Maeve Higgins has spent her career finding ways to make jokes about (and make sense of) the ways we draw lines across the globe.
Have you ever wondered why you like sad music?
Using a unique format -- including a whole chapter told through Powerpoint -- Jennifer Egan nimbly explores the mystery and complexity of human life in the digital age.
Who are you, really?
"From populist demagogues, we will learn the indispensability of democracy," says novelist Elif Shafak.
With the digital age, and the strict rules surrounding its grammar, Icelandic is losing ground all over the country -- specifically to English.
There are only two mammals who have evolved to survive after their childbearing years: toothed whales and humans. This stage of life is called menopause, and it makes humans an evolutionary wonder!
In this excerpt of a conversation she had with Debbie Millman on the podcast Design Matters, Woodson talks about how she discovered her deep love of reading and writing and how she went from struggling with words as a child to becoming an illustrious writer as an adult.
By loading kids with high expectations and micromanaging their lives at every turn, parents aren't actually helping. At least, that's how Julie Lythcott-Haims sees it. With passion and wry humor, the former Dean of Freshmen at Stanford makes the case for parents to stop defining their children's success via grades and test scores. Instead, she says, they should focus on providing the oldest idea of all: unconditional love. After the talk, stick around for a discussion on how you can be a grown-up, too, as Elise and Julie discuss her new book, "Your Turn: How to Be an Adult." This episode is part of the TED Talks Daily summer book club, a series featuring talks and interviews to inspire your next great read. And if you'd like to learn more from Julie, you can enroll in her new TED Course, which builds off the ideas from her book. Whether you're just launching your adult life or finally giving yourself permission to question what adulthood even is, you'll learn practical strategies to build a future that fits you. Enroll at tedtalks.social/bestself.
Exposing what life looks like in Afghanistan after a 20-year US occupation and the Taliban's stunning and rapid takeover, TED Fellow and documentary photographer Kiana Hayeri captures harrowing glimpses and multifaceted realities of a war-torn country. Through the lens of her camera, she documents devastation and deferred dreams -- but also resilient hope and spirit.
Welcome to the TED Talks Daily summer book club, a series featuring talks and interviews to inspire your next great read. Up first, a meditation on the meaning of home, the joy of traveling and the serenity of standing still from writer Pico Iyer.
The pandemic brought into sharp focus the crisis in caregiving in the United States, which woefully under provides support for parents.
In place of investing in more steel doors and barbed wire, what if immigration law was infused with support and justice?
Could DAOs, or "decentralized autonomous organizations", be the key to building the next great city?
Your closet is likely full of all kinds of materials -- leather, cotton, nylon and polyester, to name a few -- that contribute to fashion’s sustainability crisis.
What if the commonly accepted narratives about the foundation of civilization are all wrong?
Forget home economics and standardized tests, education visionary Trish Millines Dziko has a much more engaging and fulfilling way for students to develop real-world skills.
Have you had your daily dose of fun?
Music can amplify social issues and inspire people to care about new (and sometimes unexpected) topics. But can it take something as dire as climate change and make it mainstream?
The deadliest severe weather phenomenon is something you might not realize: extreme heat.
As the saying goes, less is more. The same goes for words.
Why do we often wait so long to recognize each other's gifts?
From the return of nomadic living to a climate-disrupted world, author and global strategist Parag Khanna has some predictions for humanity.
"Climate doom-ism," or a pessimistic outlook on the future of the planet, rivals climate denialism in holding up the fight against climate change, says activist Zahra Biabani.
The universe that we know, with its luminous stars and orbiting planets, is largely made up of elements we can’t actually see -- like dark energy and dark matter -- and therefore don’t fully understand.
Sharing his experience of being held captive in a Taliban prison for 105 days, humanitarian Safi Rauf talks about his life's mission to get food, medicine and other critical supplies to Afghans in need.
What would Immanuel Kant say about a fender bender?
Where did all the lumps and bumps on buildings go? When did city architecture become so ... dull?
During the Soviet Union era, therapy was often used as a tool of political oppression. Since then, Russia has seen major reforms in mental health care -- but stigmas and distrust for the practice still live on.
The world needs clean power, but decarbonization calls for a massive increase in the mining and extraction of minerals like lithium, graphite and cobalt.
We all know that information is power, but what if you live in a country without a free press or regular access to the internet?
A blank spot on a digital map can signal much more than a gap in data -- it can mean something is being intentionally hidden.
How does a nation reconcile when its identity is at odds with its policies?
From nourishing our foods to storing massive amounts of carbon, soil is teeming with diverse microbial life that could slow global warming.
Before entering the world of financial journalism, Gillian Tett was a cultural anthropologist who studied how the past influences our present thoughts and behaviors.
Art can move us in deep, meaningful ways. A beautiful song, a good book, or a great film can change our perspectives and attitudes toward ideas, and sometimes people. Where does that magic come from–and how can we channel it when we're creating?
Our lives depend on curbing climate change, but so many priorities seem to be in competition. What’s the most urgent thing humanity can do right now? Social entrepreneur James Irungu Mwangi tells us why Africa could be the ideal home for scaling the latest and most ambitious climate technologies -- including in places like Kenya’s Hell’s Gate National Park, which could become part of what he calls the “Great Carbon Valley.”
SpaceX's Starship launch vehicle has the potential to explore the solar system in a bold, new -- and super-sized -- way. Planetary scientist Jennifer Heldmann talks about how reusable, large-scale spacecraft like Starship could help humanity achieve its next galactic leaps and usher in a new era of space exploration, from investigating the solar system's many ocean worlds to launching bigger telescopes that can see deeper into the universe.
Today, there are many ways to conceive a child, thanks to assisted reproductive technologies like IVF and egg-freezing. But the law lags behind these advancements, says attorney Ellen Trachman, troubling parents-to-be with stranger-than-fiction mix-ups and baffling lawsuits. Trachman makes the case for legality to reflect the realities of reproductive innovation -- and prompts you to reconsider what could happen to your own genetic material.
We can all play a role in the climate movement by tapping into our skills, resources and networks in ways that bring us satisfaction, says climate leader Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. She suggests drawing a Venn diagram to map these questions: What are you good at? What is the work that needs doing? And what brings you joy? Where your answers intersect is where you should put your climate action effort. “Averting climate catastrophe: this is the work of our lifetimes,” Johnson says.
Black history in the US is rich, profound -- and at risk of being lost forever, if not for the monumental efforts of Julieanna L. Richardson.
Nobody really knows how much it would cost to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Yet historian Yuval Noah Harari’s analysis, based on the work of scientists and economists, indicates that humanity might avert catastrophe.
Sex is as much mental as it is physical -- and imagination is the most powerful tool we have to expand our personal agency and capacity for pleasure, says sexual wellness storyteller Gina Gutierrez.
Over the last decade, humanitarian organizations have digitized many of their systems, from registering refugees with biometric IDs to transporting cargo via drones. This has helped deliver aid around the world, but it's also brought new risks to the people it's meant to protect.
How does music shape us?
As the line between the physical and digital worlds blur, so does the line between real-world and virtual sports.
"The world is a living tapestry ... As the weave of life is torn apart in one place, the threads unravel in another," says author and physics professor Vandana Singh.
A curious, quiet revolution of sound has taken over the internet. Physiologist Craig Richard explains the soothing brain science of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR).
Growing up in the public eye, multi-hyphenate creator Bryce Dallas Howard experienced the familiar pressure to share her life with the world on social media.
Life is a constant state of both joy and sorrow, dark and light, bitter and sweet.
In the multitude of metaverses that exist there are infinite possibilities for inclusivity and creativity.
How do you navigate life's growing number of transitions with meaning, purpose and skill?
What if you could control digital devices using just the power of thought?
Social entrepreneur Bernhard Kowatsch shares real-life examples of how a business approach focused on accelerating tech (like a blockchain-supported way to bring food to refugees or a machine that fortifies flour at small mills in Africa) can help make an impact on big, seemingly intractable problems.
Even with public trust at an all-time low, Wikipedia continues to maintain people's confidence. How do they do it?
How do doctors in the emergency room stay calm and focused amidst the chaos? Drawing on years of experience, ER doctor Darria Long shares a straightforward framework to help you take back control and feel less overwhelmed when life starts to get "crazy busy."
Linking together the histories of Henrietta Swan Leavitt, Edwin Hubble and Tracy K. Smith, poet and thinker Maria Popova crafts an astonishing story.
The recent leak of the US Supreme Court’s draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade -- the nearly 50-year-old ruling to legalize abortion nationwide -- has left many wondering what happens next for reproductive rights in the country.
Whether it’s dandelions blooming in your backyard or purslane sprouting from the sidewalk, vegan forager Alexis Nikole Nelson is on a mission to show how freely growing flora could make its way to your plate.
Air travel opens our eyes to the world, but it also comes at a high cost to the environment. Piloting us into a future of green aviation, innovator Ryah Whalen shares three ways to lower the industry's carbon footprint.
“If we can unlock the full potential of our cities, we can minimize the price the planet pays for hosting us in our growing numbers,” says Marvin Rees, the Mayor of Bristol, UK, who understands deeply how cities can help (or hurt) the environment.
The weekend. Social security. Health insurance. What do these things have in common?
Perfectionism is on the rise -- and not just in job interviews when people claim it's their greatest weakness. But the desire to be flawless is not always productive or healthy.
These days, almost all of us feel pressed for time. Leadership expert Dorie Clark shares three hidden reasons people fall into an endless loop of feeling constantly busy.
In a talk packed with wry wisdom, pop culture queen Bevy Smith shares hard-earned lessons about authenticity, confidence, mature success and why, if you put in the work, “life gets greater later.”
In times of uncertainty, leaders have a responsibility to inspire hope. Sharing hard-won wisdom, business leader Ken Chenault talks about what it takes to enact positive, enduring change.
Corporate inclusion visionary Deepa Purushothaman shares how women of color can advocate for themselves in workplace settings where they are undervalued, discriminated against and overlooked.
As digital assets like cryptocurrency and NFTs become more mainstream, design thinker and head of Instagram Adam Mosseri believes that creators are uniquely positioned to benefit.
Conservation efforts in Africa have typically been led by “parachute conservationists” -- outsiders who drop in thinking they have all the answers, hire locals to implement them and then disappear. But conservationist Resson Kantai Duff has a better way to save wildlife in Africa.
Can you really boost your metabolism? Is blue light actually ruining your sleep? How much vaginal yeast is healthy, and when is it ... too much? Body Stuff is back for a second season to bust the lies you're told -- and sold -- about your personal health.
Many people across the world don't have access to healthy food -- while in other places tons of food go to waste. Social entrepreneur Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli thinks we can take bold steps to fix this problem.
TED Fellow Bektour Iskender gives the inside scoop on his efforts to unveil secret, insidious operations in his home country of Kyrgyzstan, and how he worked with a team of journalists to uncover corruption and spark a national movement.
Money is pollution's biggest driving force -- particularly, the cash invested in dirty energy projects, says financial responsibility campaigner Lucie Pinson. She shares a three-pronged approach to stop banks from funding fossil fuel companies, including what she calls "collaborative blackmailing" (it's more ethical than it sounds). By demanding more accountability from polluting companies and encouraging ethical banking, Pinson shows how to cut off the problem at its source.
There are 600 million women in India -- yet they are rarely seen outdoors after sunset because of safety concerns like harassment and catcalls.
Whether we're rushing a child to the emergency room after a fall or making chicken soup for a feverish spouse, love inspires us to act when a family member gets sick. Global health activists Edith Elliott and Shahed Alam believe we can harness this power to create better health outcomes for everyone.
Digital public servant Amanda Renteria has seen that the millions of people who rely on government welfare services are often discouraged from seeking them out, frustrated and discouraged by long lines and unnecessarily complicated processes.
A safe space to save money is life-changing -- especially for the 60 million smallholder farmers in West Africa (the majority being women) who often live on less than two dollars a day. Poverty fighter Anushka Ratnayake introduces her non-profit myAgro.
Election infrastructure in the United States is crumbling, says technologist Tiana Epps-Johnson, and, even worse, election officials are increasingly being attacked simply for doing their jobs. How can the country rebuild trust in its local and national elections?
In Latin American countries like El Salvador, where local changemaker Celina de Sola lives, homicide rates are alarmingly high due to a vicious cycle of violence where people don't have an opportunity to heal from individual and collective trauma.
What will happen to the planet if climate change melts what's left of Arctic permafrost?
Indigenous communities have looked after their ancestral forests for millennia, cultivating immense amounts of knowledge on how to protect, nourish and heal these vital environments. Today, 470 million Indigenous people care for and manage 80 percent of the world's biodiversity -- yet their legal rights to these lands are inexplicit and subject to exploitation by illegal loggers, miners and companies.
“Human migration is both inevitable and growing. What are we as a global community doing to address it?” asks human rights lawyer Becca Heller, who believes that every refugee and migrant deserves a safe pathway to resettlement.
What happens when the data-driven capabilities of AI are combined with human creativity and ingenuity?
Tattoos can transform and empower people, with some seeking them out to reconnect with their bodies due to scarring, physical abnormalities or the aftermath of a procedure or illness.
The secret behind medicines that use messenger RNA (or mRNA) is that they "teach" our bodies how to fight diseases on their own, leading to groundbreaking treatments for COVID-19 and, potentially one day, cancer, the flu and other ailments that have haunted humanity for millennia.
“It is time to close the funding gap for Black female-led start-ups the world over,” says entrepreneur Temie Giwa-Tubosun, whose company LifeBank delivers life-saving medical supplies to remote areas in Africa.
What's on Elon Musk's mind? In conversation with head of TED Chris Anderson, Musk details how the radical new innovations he's working on could help maximize the lifespan of humanity and create a world where goods and services are abundant and accessible for all.
Building a pandemic-free future won’t be easy, but Bill Gates believes that we have the tools and strategies to make it possible -- now we just have to fund them.
To solve the climate crisis, we need to make tropical forests worth more alive than dead, says environmental economist Nat Keohane.
Getting pregnant as a track and field athlete is often called the "kiss of death" -- a sign your athletic career will soon end.
Africa needs new energy sources to fuel its development, but the continent should invest in renewable energy instead of cheap, polluting alternatives like coal, says climate inclusion activist Chibeze Ezekiel.
In this unedited conversation with head of TED Chris Anderson, Elon Musk digs into the recent news around his bid to purchase Twitter.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has destroyed so much -- including hundreds of schools, where the country's children were forging their futures -- but it has not stopped Ukrainians from pursuing knowledge and curiosity.
When women lead, bias often follows. Documentarian Robin Hauser dives into the dilemma between competence and likeability faced by women leaders, detangling the unconscious beliefs and gendered thinking that distort what it means to be a good leader.
Ukraine is on the front line of a war between freedom and tyranny, says chess grandmaster and human rights advocate Garry Kasparov.
"Life makes our planet an incredibly exotic place compared to the rest of the known universe," says astrobiologist Betül Kaçar, whose research uses statistics and mathematical models to simulate ancient environments and gather insights into the origins of existence.
WorkLife with Adam Grant, a TED Audio Collective podcast, is back for a fifth season!
"Music can unlock a frozen memory that melts into the seeds of our creativity," says musician Rosanne Cash.
In need of a brief yet illuminating lesson on the obsession with NFTs?
Given the scale of the challenge, the conversation around climate change is often tinged with doom and gloom. But climate tech investor Gabriel Kra thinks we need to reframe the crisis as a source of tremendous opportunity.
Under the sea, untold wonders await in the form of untapped medicinal potential.
In this live drawing performance and poignant autobiographical journey, author and illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka sketches some life-shaping moments.
Living under the constant threat of violence has a lasting effect -- even after you escape from danger, says writer and refugee advocate Zarlasht Halaimzai.
Performing two original songs, stand-up comedian, writer and musician Marcia Belsky shares comical commentary on some peculiar aspects of our culture.
After leading a well-established life as a pastor, father and husband, Paula Stone Williams could no longer deny her truth and transitioned.
Pop culture is changing thanks to a different kind of storytelling, says digital strategist Hyeonmi Kim.
It can be hard to remain hopeful during seemingly hopeless times. Sharing hard-won wisdom on how to not give up when the going gets tough, writer Wajahat Ali talks about the challenges he faced with his daughter's cancer diagnosis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
What if smallholder farmers could use their produce and livestock to pay for goods and services?
The meta-crisis is so vast: climate change, exponential technology, addiction, polarization and more. How do we grasp it, let alone take steps to address it?
The wildly diverse, thoughtful and hilarious world of fanfiction -- where writers reimagine favorite stories like "Harry Potter," "Pokémon," "My Little Pony" and more -- is ever-growing and becoming a vital social and learning tool.
Evoke a familiar tune in a song and get slapped with a lawsuit ... it's a tale almost as old as copyright itself.
The peatlands of Africa's Congo Basin are a vast expanse of swamp and greenery that act as one of the world's most effective carbon sinks -- and they're under threat of environmental destruction.
"Every great and difficult thing has required a strong sense of optimism," says editor and author Kevin Kelly, who believes that we have a moral obligation to be optimistic.
Have you ever wondered why you like sad music? Do you find comfort or inspiration in rainy days?
In some parts of the world, girls are as likely to be married off or trafficked as they are to be educated.
The real reason you buy insurance may have as much to do with pleasing your psyche as it does protecting your wallet.
“To see and understand the countryside is a crucial part of moving towards a more livable future for everyone,” says coder, artist and organizer Xiaowei R. Wang.
What’s a company’s purpose? It’s not the same as mission or vision, which change when leadership changes.
Every year, ocean levels rise and high tides flood the low-lying Marshall Islands in the Pacific, destroying homes, salinating water supplies and disrupting livelihoods.
“It is time for a gender reckoning, beginning with men authentically confronting our internal selves and each other,” says essayist and intersectional justice advocate Jimmie Briggs.
What if robots could build and optimize themselves -- with little to no help from humans?
As cities adopt greener, more sustainable designs, there's risk of a dangerous and unwelcome tenant moving in: mosquitoes.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has created previously unthinkable changes in geopolitics, seemingly overnight. In this vital conversation, political analyst Ian Bremmer takes a closer look.
Throughout US history, the stories of influential Black mothers have been purposefully obscured -- at a high cost to us all.
"We have the right to demand budgets to be equitable, to be fair," says economist Maja Bosnic.
Women and girls are conditioned to believe success is "a seat at the table."
From helping build smart cities to supporting the sustainable energy sector, the possibilities of big data are endless. But many companies are still wary of sharing data that could expose them to risk and diminish their competitive advantage. What if uniting towards a common goal could help them overcome these fears?
The climate crisis has been largely caused by irresponsible adults in developed countries, but it's the children of developing nations -- like Zimbabwean environmental activist Nkosilathi Nyathi -- that suffer from the most disastrous consequences.
Scientists have long known that cows are a huge source of the greenhouse gas methane, contributing up to four percent of emissions globally. But could there be a way to make cattle less -- ahem -- gassy?
Concerned about the war Ukraine? You're not alone.
In an infectiously joyous talk, Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi shares the sugary jolt of her first food memory and behind-the-scenes stories of her bakery's famously inventive cakes, cookies and treats.
Every day, tens of thousands of cargo ships, filled to the brim with goods, release heavy pollution into the air as they make their way across the ocean.
A young trans man and his mother speak about her struggle to accept his gender identity.
An unnoticed industry worth two trillion dollars a year is influencing almost every carbon emission. Sustainability solution seeker Solitaire Townsend calls this sector the "X industry" (where "X" stands for influence), and it includes professional services like advertising and PR firms, management consultancies, corporate law firms, lobbyists and more.
For smallholder farmers in India, agriculture has long been an unreliable source of income -- crops that flourish one season can fail the next, thanks to heat, pests and disease. But climate risk is now making the profession nearly impossible.
Alzheimer's doesn't have to be your brain's destiny, says neuroscientist and author of "Still Alice," Lisa Genova.
As kids, play comes naturally. But over time, it gets replaced by work. This hour, TED speakers explore how to reconnect with play -- to spark creativity, combat despair and find our way in the world.
We can’t rely on those who created climate change to fix it, says climate justice organizer Ozawa Bineshi Albert.
To thrive in today's competitive economy, you need to constantly reimagine your business. So what's the secret to sustained success?
Why is China appointing thousands of judges to environmental courts and training prosecutors to bring cases to them -- even if it means suing the government?
"Breathing clean air is every child's human right," says grassroots campaigner Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, sharing the heartbreaking story of her seven-year-old daughter, Ella Roberta, whose asthma was triggered to a fatal point by air pollution.
Debbie Millman talks to therapist and author Esther Perel about marriage, polyamory and adultery.
When Lebanon was rocked by a massive explosion at the port of Beirut, filmmaker Mounia Akl came face-to-face with chaos -- and the power of art to create some sense of order.
Lucas Joppa, Microsoft's first chief environmental officer, thinks about climate change through the lens of coding, and he says the world's current net-zero approach simply won't compute.
The ocean is often thought of as a victim of climate change, in need of human protection. But ocean expert Susan Ruffo says that mindset needs to shift.
If you're wondering why blackface -- mimicking people of African descent via stereotypes and makeup-darkened skin -- is a big deal, then perhaps a little history lesson can help demystify the outcry.
From “got milk?” to “avocados from Mexico”, marketing influences what you eat more than you may realize.
Over the last two decades, the wind power industry has grown at a dizzying pace.
In an engaging, insightful conversation, criminal justice reformer Nick Turner breaks down the ways the US criminal legal system perpetuates centuries-old racial and economic inequality.
Consent can be a tricky topic to talk about in sex education curriculums, but it doesn’t have to be.
“The way we cool things down is heating the planet even more,” says sustainable development expert Rachel Kyte -- and the solutions go well beyond just fixing air-conditioning.
Short-sightedness may be the greatest threat to humanity, says conceptual artist Katie Paterson, whose work engages with deep time -- a concept that describes the history of the Earth over a time span of millions of years.
American democracy cannot be great until it is good, says lawyer, Harvard professor and former governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick.
With many women of color considering exiting the workforce due to unfair conditions, it's time to reshape systems in order to put an end to this massive loss of talent.
Picking an outfit? Take inspiration from this thrilling talk about digital fashion: the new, weird and wonderful world of fashion designed for our virtual worlds.
Reflecting on his remarkable life and career, Nick Offerman (best known for his iconic portrayal of Ron Swanson on "Parks and Recreation") shares his insights on acting, marriage and the current state of the world.
Supply chain challenges are real, but they're not new, says global trade expert Dustin Burke. In the face of disruptions ranging from natural disasters to pandemics, how do we make sure supply chains can keep up?
What do Woolly pigs have to do with climate change? They’re part of a vital, ingenious and evolving strategy to take carbon out of the sky and store it safely.
For the nearly 20 million Americans with a felony record, punishment doesn’t end after their prison sentence. Sociologist Reuben Jonathan Miller sheds light on the aftershocks of mass incarceration.
Once considered the ugly duckling of environmental conservation, seagrass is emerging as a powerful tool for climate action.
Mothers undeniably impact and shape history -- but their stories are often left out or misrepresented, says sociologist and author Anna Malaika Tubbs.
Comics creator Sam Hester is part of a growing movement within health care: graphic medicine.
Bjørn Otto Sverdrup leads the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OCGI), which gathers the CEOs of twelve of the world’s largest oil and gas companies around an ambitious goal: to get one of the leading contributors to climate change to drastically lower their own carbon emissions.
Biochar is a kind of charcoal that removes CO2 from the atmosphere, helping yield healthy crops and even producing abundant renewable energy in the form of electricity as it's made.
Cities designed like families can last for generations. Skeptical? Look to master architect Liu Thai Ker.
The freedom journey doesn’t end when someone is released from prison. In many ways, it begins.
Businesses need to stop cutting labor costs and start investing in people, says social impact investor Warren Valdmanis.
Whether you have one follower or a million, we've all witnessed nastiness and hate speech on social media.
Put down the cayenne-lemon water, and step away from the "diet" teas, says Dr. Jen Gunter.
"What if I was to tell you that a game of peek-a-boo could change the world?" asks seven-year-old Molly Wright, one of the youngest-ever TED speakers. Breaking down the research-backed ways parents and caregivers can support children's healthy brain development, Wright highlights the benefits of play on lifelong learning, behavior and well-being, sharing effective strategies to help all kids thrive by the age of five. She's joined onstage by one-year-old Ari and his dad, Amarjot, who help illustrate her big ideas about brain science. (This TED Talk was produced in collaboration with Minderoo Foundation as an educational tool for parents and caregivers around the world and is supported by UNICEF.)
"This chair is my legs -- this chair is my life," says accessibility champion Jane Velkovski, who uses a wheelchair after being diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).
As a diver in the 1970s, marine ecologist Enric Sala saw once-lush oceanscapes reduced to underwater deserts -- but later, in marine preserves across the globe, he also witnessed the ocean's power to rejuvenate itself when left to its own natural devices.
A king cobra has enough venom to kill 10 people in a single bite.
"I want all families to be made whole, to be reunified, to be together -- as is our right," says writer, poet and student Elizabeth Zion.
Vegan chef (and head chef of TED Countdown Summit) Derek Sarno is on a mission to unleash the mighty power of plants, creating nutritious food from mushrooms and vegetables that's full of texture and flavor -- and good for the planet.
In this stunning spoken-word performance, poet and "freedom-forging futurist" Naima Penniman celebrates the wonders of the natural world and humanity's connection to it.
Without the internet, how would you have coped with the pandemic -- from work and school, to maintaining your closest relationships?
As chairman of the world's largest maritime shipping company, Jim Hagemann Snabe thinks a lot about how goods get where they need to go and the impact their journey has on the planet.
Recently back from the COP26 UN climate conference in Scotland, former Icelandic presidential candidate Halla Tómasdóttir sums up the outcomes of the gathering, the progress she saw and the work that’s left to be done.
Less than seven percent of people worldwide have a bachelor's degree -- and for many, this is simply because the cost of university is too high, says higher education executive Adrian K. Haugabrook.
From village to metropolis, global flooding is on the rise, and traditional approaches to managing the swells won't cut it, says water resource engineer Virginia Smith.
From Siri to Alexa to Google, virtual assistants already permeate our lives. What will the next generation of these digital helpers look and sound like?
TED Fellow Tom Osborn wants more young people to have access to the mental health support they need.
By 2100, the UN estimates that the world’s population will grow to just over 11 billion people. Architect Vishaan Chakrabarti wants us to start thinking about how we’ll house all these people.
What if we treated the risk of pandemics the same way we treat the risk of fires?
Many companies have made strides when it comes to prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), but one group remains largely left out: people who have been involved in the criminal justice system.
For children growing up in refugee camps, education is a powerful tool of liberation.
Memory foam, air purifiers, scratch-resistant lenses: these are just a few of the everyday items originally developed for space missions.
Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision protecting people’s right to have an abortion in the United States, will be overturned within a year, says reproductive rights attorney Kathryn Kolbert.
We will get out of this pandemic, says Maria Van Kerkhove, the COVID-19 Technical Lead of the World Health Organization (WHO). The question is how fast -- and if we’ll take what we’ve learned from the past two years and apply it to the next emerging pathogen.
There’s been explosive investment in new technologies aimed at decarbonizing the planet. But climate investor Dawn Lippert says something key is missing from this strategy.
In this deeply moving talk, educator Shabana Basij-Rasikh shares the harrowing story of evacuating more than 250 students, staff and family members from the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA) -- the country’s first and only all-girls boarding school -- to Rwanda after the Taliban took power in 2021.
Kindness can go a long way when it comes to reshaping a business.
When it comes to big problems like climate change, we tend to focus on big solutions -- but many of the best ideas come from people on the ground, facing day-to-day conservation battles.
The doctrine of “first, do no harm” is the basis of the Hippocratic Oath, one of the world’s oldest codes of ethics. It governs the work of physicians -- but climate and health campaigner Shweta Narayan says it should go further.
For thousands of years, the Amazon rainforest has provided food, water and spiritual connection for its Indigenous inhabitants and the world. But the endless extraction of its natural resources by oil companies and others is destroying the lives of those who live there, says Waorani leader Nemonte Nenquimo, and threatening the overall stability of Earth's biosphere.
"How much more damage do we have to endure before we realize that it's cheaper to save this planet than to ruin it?" asks engineer and investor John Doerr.
As you get older, your eyes worsen and become susceptible to a disease called age-related macular degeneration -- the leading cause of blindness, with no cure in sight.
We’ve been hearing about self-driving cars for years, but autonomous vehicle entrepreneur Aicha Evans thinks we need to dream more daringly.
TED Fellow and education innovator Larry Irvin envisions a world where every child can see themselves reflected in their teachers.
What if we had a map of ... everything?
The financial sector often talks of decarbonizing investment portfolios as a way to fight climate change. But portfolios can be “cleaned” without having any real impact on the problem, says investment expert Nili Gilbert.
What if your hour-long commute was reduced to just minutes?
What we know today about global greenhouse gas emissions is mostly self-reported by countries, and those numbers (sometimes tallied manually on paper!) are often inaccurate and prone to manipulation.
Questionable phone calls, concerning emails, heart-rending stories from a sudden new friend in need of endless financial support: elder abuse can take many forms, says lawyer Jane Walsh.
Who are you, really? Neuroscientist Anil Seth lays out his fascinating new theory of consciousness and self, centered on the notion that we “predict” the world into existence.
When it comes to tackling climate change, the size of a country doesn't matter -- it's their ambition that counts, says First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon.
We all have bias -- especially the unconscious kind -- and it's preventing us from doing our best work.
Refrigerators do much more than store your groceries -- they're also vital to preserving and distributing vaccines.
From puffy trousers to pantsuits and everything in between, law professor and author Richard Thompson Ford takes us on a fascinating tour through the history of fashion and the evolution of dress codes that still influence style today, tracing the real consequences people face for the way they dress.
Paternity leave has many benefits for dads, their partners and their babies -- but did you know it also has surprising benefits for companies?
A net-zero future is possible, but first we need to flip a mental switch to truly understand that we can stop the climate crisis if we try, says Nobel laureate Al Gore.
"Cutting methane is the single fastest, most effective opportunity to reduce climate change risks in the near term," says atmospheric scientist Ilissa Ocko.
Ghost stories reveal much more than the ghouls and spirits that haunt them.
Climate action can be a vehicle to deliver dignity, opportunity and equality for all. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed invites us to reimagine what the journey to net-zero could look like if we invest in people's climate efforts while prioritizing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
What is AI, really?
Co-ops date back almost 200 years, run by groups of people that work together to own and operate a company. What does it look like when this tried-and-true business model merges with the digital economy?
In 2020, China’s President Xi Jinping pledged that China would both peak its emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 -- a change that will require action at an unheard-of scale and speed. Can the country actually achieve this ambitious vision?
How will the rise of artificial intelligence change our world?
We're losing animal and plant species at such a swift, unprecedented rate that it's nearly impossible to keep up.
Work that's dictated by a fixed schedule, place and job description doesn't make sense anymore, says leadership expert Debbie Lovich.
Childcare needs a transformation -- but rather than investing billions in new buildings and schools, what if we could unlock the potential of people already nearby?
To fight climate change, we need to clean up the global electricity system by replacing fossil fuel power plants with clean generation -- right? Climate author Solomon Goldstein-Rose thinks we need to do much more than that.
What if you could eat chicken nuggets without harming a chicken? It’s possible through “cellular agriculture,” says Isha Datar.
We all want to know if we're normal -- do I have enough friends? Should it take me this long to get over my ex? Should I move or stay where I am? Endlessly curious data journalist Mona Chalabi needs to know, and she's ready to dive into the numbers to get some answers.
Skin is one of the most powerful predictors of health, yet nearly half of all new dermatologists admit to feeling uncomfortable identifying health issues on darker skin tones -- resulting in poorer health outcomes for patients of color.
The roadmap to ending pollution from transportation is here, says electrification advocate Monica Araya.
How can young changemakers acquire the skills they need and keep from burning out?
Doubling human life expectancy in a century is our greatest achievement, says author Steven Johnson. How did we make it happen -- and can we keep it going?
Greenhouse gases are colorless, scentless and invisible, making them exceptionally hard to measure.
Your belly and your brain speak to each other, says obesity researcher Mads Tang-Christensen.
In this revelatory talk, technologist Kayvon Tehranian explores why NFTs -- digital assets that represent a certificate of ownership on the internet -- are a technological breakthrough.
It’s up to all of us to create a more inclusive and diverse workplace. No matter where you are in your career journey, it’s essential that you help others grow, even as you are growing yourself, says ACLU Chief Equity Officer Amber Hikes.
Maintaining a healthy weight takes more than diet and exercise, says physical activity epidemiologist Olivia Affuso.
Twerking is mainstream now ... but do you know where it came from? Superstar Lizzo traces booty shaking to a traditional West African dance and tells how Black women across generations kept the rhythm alive, from blues and jazz singers to modern rap and hip-hop performers.
It’s time to give paper passports a digital upgrade, says entrepreneur Karoli Hindriks.
When you work, you expect to be paid for it. Except, for millions of Americans employed across a range of industries like restaurants and construction, that's not always the case.
Have you answered a work email during an important family event? Or taken a call from your boss while on vacation?
What if diseases could be treated with a patient’s own cells, precisely and on demand?
It's been 10 years since the death of Steve Jobs. Has Apple peaked after 10 years of Tim Cook's leadership, or is the best yet to come?
From a special black-footed ferret to coral that can withstand warming waters, genetic rescue efforts that use genomics and synthetic biology are helping nature thrive.
Why are global levels of anxiety and depression so high?
Get transported on a stunningly rendered, sci-fi safari through Planet City: an imaginary metropolis of 10 billion people, from the brain of director and architect Liam Young.
Deep beneath your feet is a molten ball of energy the same temperature as the surface of the sun -- an immense clean energy source that could power the world thousands of times over.
As actress Nicole Maines points out, we all unwittingly play supporting roles in each others' life stories -- for better or worse.
Global obesity rates are on the rise, but body shaming campaigns are doing more harm than good, says medical anthropologist Nancy N. Chen.
Could an everyday clothing item help protect your health?
In this fascinating conversation, cosmologist and TED Fellow Katie Mack delves into everything from the Big Bang theory to what we see at the edge of the observable universe to a few ways the cosmos might end.
Government deficits have gotten a bad rap, says economist Stephanie Kelton.
Sci-fi writer Chen Qiufan doesn’t fear a dystopian future. Instead, he believes developments in artificial intelligence will make all of our lives better, healthier and safer.
Have you found yourself staying up late, joylessly bingeing TV shows and doomscrolling through the news, or simply navigating your day uninspired and aimless?
Nearly 1,800 newsrooms have shuttered across the US since 2004, leaving many communities unseen, unheard and in the dark.
There are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world -- and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures. But do they shape the way we think?
If you: do laundry, are (or have been) pregnant, tidy up, shop for your household or do similar labor, then by GDP standards, you're unproductive.
Dating back more than 800 years, chocolate is deeply woven into the Indigenous history of Oaxaca, Mexico. TED Fellow Germán Santillán talks about his work reviving the Mixtec technique used to prepare this ancient delicacy by training a new generation of local farmers.
What if your car could drop you off and then find parking by itself? According to electric vehicle entrepreneur Freeman H. Shen, this technology already exists.
"I can't do this." "I didn't deserve this promotion." "When will they find me out?" If you've had thoughts like these, you aren't alone.
What's the best way to get over heartbreak? Rapper and writer Dessa came up with an unconventional approach after a chance viewing of Helen Fisher's TED Talk about the brains of the lovestruck.
Offering tips from the well-known program he helped develop, Bill Burnett, executive director of Stanford's Life Design Lab, illustrates the ways design thinking can be used to help build the life you want.
In a moving talk, journalist Johann Hari shares fresh insights on the causes of depression and anxiety from experts around the world -- as well as some exciting emerging solutions.
When you listen to music, multiple areas of your brain become engaged and active. But when you actually play an instrument, that activity becomes more like a full-body brain workout. What's going on?
Anxiety helps keep us alive. But how can you tell when it crosses the line from survival instinct to serious problem?
Can we, as adults, grow new neurons?
It's obvious that knowing more than one language can make certain things easier -- like traveling or watching movies without subtitles. But are there other advantages to having a bilingual (or multilingual) brain?
Elise Hu, host of TED Talk Daily, sits down with designer Debbie Millman to share advice on stepping into the unknown, paving a new career path and exploring something you've never done before.
What's the most transformative thing that you can do for your brain today? Exercise! says neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki.
Plastic is everywhere. We know we should cut down on it where we can, but is plastic ever the answer?
In a staggering display of creativity and community, theater director Amir Nizar Zuabi introduces "The Walk": a theatrical journey following a nine-year-old refugee girl named Amal (represented by a giant, lifelike puppet) as she makes her way from Turkey to England.
The pandemic spurred an unprecedented reclamation of urban space, ushering in a seemingly bygone era of pedestrian pastimes, as cars were sidelined in favor of citizens.
China has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2060 -- and its citizens are helping industries across the country reach that goal.
African artifacts shown in museums worldwide are often not borrowed, but stolen -- and TED Fellow Jim Chuchu is on a mission to get them back.
Is there life on Venus?
What if you were holding life-saving medicine ... but had no way to administer it?
We live in a call-out culture, says activist and scholar Loretta J. Ross. You’re probably familiar with it: the public shaming and blaming, on social media and in real life, of people who may have done wrong and are being held accountable.
As COVID-19 spread, BioNTech cofounders Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci had one goal: to make a safe, effective vaccine faster than ever before.
Coming to us from 60 years in the future, legendary sci-fi writer Kim Stanley Robinson tells the “history” of how humanity ended the climate crisis and restored the damage done to Earth’s biosphere.
Everyone experiences loss, but how do you cope with the tough moments that follow?
Creative, sustainable solutions find their home in the thousands of informal neighborhoods across the world.
"Full access to a person's phone is the next best thing to full access to a person's mind," says cybersecurity expert Eva Galperin.
In the face of trauma, happiness is resilience: a revolutionary act of thriving despite all odds, rather than wilting or surrendering.
Every human and natural system -- from oil extraction to the flight of a flock of starlings -- can be seen as a set of repeating patterns. These patterns can be disrupted for good or for bad.
Human activity is affecting the planet in dramatic, unsustainable ways -- including destroying the habitats of wild animals.
Beauty is about more than the body you inhabit -- it's a way of being that goes beyond genetics or societal ideals.
Something powerful is happening around the world.
Racism morphs, spreading and hiding behind numerous half-truths and full-blown falsities about where it lives and who embodies it.
Our brains create categories to make sense of the world, recognize patterns and make quick decisions. But this ability to categorize also exacts a heavy toll in the form of unconscious bias.
We've misplaced the building blocks of the cosmos -- and particle physicists like Claire Malone are on a mission to find them.
Hot flashes, joint pain, anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping -- these unforgiving menopause symptoms directly impact work but often go overlooked and under-discussed as a taboo topic, says entrepreneur Andrea Berchowitz.
How do you end a story?
Through documentary films following survivors of trauma, TED Fellow Almudena Toral makes invisible psychological scars seen.
Perspective is everything, especially when it comes to examining your beliefs. Are you a soldier, prone to defending your viewpoint at all costs -- or a scout, spurred by curiosity?
One day, humans will explore space en masse and live scattered across the solar system on planets like Mars and beyond.
Ashley Whillans shares strategies to help overcome "time poverty," and get the most out of our social relationships and careers.
In June 1776, a little over a year after the start of the American Revolutionary War, the US Continental Congress huddled together in a hot room in Philadelphia to talk independence.
Money, money, money ... in the music business, there seems to be little left for the songwriters that fuel it.
What does it take to persevere and succeed, not just in our careers but in all aspects of our lives?
TED Fellow Zahra Al-Mahdi was raised by screens -- "storytelling machines" like TV and the internet that shaped her sense of self and reality.
For a genuine conversation, consider talking to a machine; the less humanized, the better.
Of all the mundane yet astonishing marvels of human ingenuity, knowing what it takes to heat a room to a comfortable temperature is TED Fellow Kathy Hannun's favorite.
Today's youth have inherited a big, unprecedented climate problem to solve -- and the eco-anxiety to go with it.
The use of deepfake technology to manipulate video and audio for malicious purposes -- whether it's to stoke violence or defame politicians and journalists -- is becoming a real threat. As these tools become more accessible and their products more realistic, how will they shape what we believe about the world?
Overcrowded clinics, extensive wait times and overworked doctors are taking a devastating toll on mothers and children in India.
Astrophysicist and TED Fellow Sarah Rugheimer searches for aliens -- but not the cartoony green kind. She's looking for extraterrestrial microbes by studying how these single-celled organisms emit gases, which could reveal evidence of them throughout the cosmos.
Your money habits reveal a lot about you: your hopes, fears, dreams and other deep personal truths you may not even be aware of, says accountant Robert A. Belle.
The war on drugs in the United States undid much of the progress of the Civil Rights Movement -- and today, it continues to derail millions within marginalized communities with arrests, convictions and incarcerations for marijuana possession.
You may be familiar with the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. After decades of research and his own experience with tragic loss, grief expert David Kessler ventured beyond that classic framework and sought a sixth, crucial stage: meaning.
In this gripping talk, litigator and TED Fellow Itamar Mann details the perilous boat migrations of asylum seekers crossing the Mediterranean Sea.
Disrupting the status quo can be scary, but sometimes it’s necessary to make the world a fairer place.
If you can't afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you, right? Not in US civil court.
If you've sanded down your edges to fit in, it's time to bring them back -- there's power, value and beauty there, says Crystal Rasmussen.
Society has a set of stories it tells itself about who refugees are and what they look like, says documentarian and TED Fellow Feras Fayyad.
Kenya's minibuses -- known as "matatus" -- offer a convenient, affordable and colorful way for people to get around. But they also pose safety risks and accessibility issues for many of their passengers, especially women.
In big and small ways, we all experience loss: whether it’s the passing of a loved one, the close of a career or even the end of a dream.
We need an inside-out approach to how we diagnose disease, says immuno-engineer and TED Fellow Aaron Morris.
How much do you think about your future self? If your answer is not much, you're not alone.
A phone call to a US prison or jail can cost up to a dollar per minute -- a rate that forces one in three families with incarcerated loved ones into debt.
The stress you may feel being otherized or stereotyped can take a significant toll on your health and well-being.
What qualifies someone to become a judge?
Introducing a new type of public space, custom-fit for communities in need of a shot of hope and wonder.
Scientists predict climate change will displace more than 180 million people by 2100 -- a crisis of "climate migration" the world isn't ready for.
The glass cliff: an experience of taking on a leadership role only to find that your chances of success have been limited before you've even begun.
How can agriculture stay resilient and grow with the times?
Dirt biking is more than just a pastime -- it's an opportunity to disrupt the cycle of poverty and provide enriching STEM education, says TED Fellow Brittany Young.
Could a small jolt of electricity to your gut help treat chronic diseases?
The universe started with a bang -- but how will it end?
You may be experiencing burnout and not even know it, say authors (and sisters) Emily and Amelia Nagoski.
Is what I'm doing right now the most important thing I can be doing?
Should you do a juice cleanse? Is it actually possible to "boost" your immune system? You're constantly bombarded with ads, news stories and social media posts telling you how to optimize your health -- but a lot of these sources that pretend to be backed by science actually have another agenda.
Conventional wisdom frames the ideal career path as a linear one -- a ladder to be climbed with a single-minded focus to get to the top.
In this practical talk, cybersecurity expert Nadya Bartol brings this crucial topic out into the open, lifting the shame around tech mistakes and offering creative ways to celebrate and reward good cybersecurity habits at work and beyond.
What has the coronavirus pandemic taught us about ourselves and our relationships?
Think capitalism is broken? Try cooperativism, says co-op enthusiast and researcher Anu Puusa.
Luvvie Ajayi Jones isn't afraid to speak her mind or to be the one dissenting voice in a crowd, and neither should you.
The pandemic forced the world to work together like never before and, with unprecedented speed, bore a new age of health and medical innovation.
Children of immigrants in the US often experience a unique kind of guilt, brought on by the pressures of navigating different cultures, living up to their parents' expectations and taking on extra family responsibilities.
If you’re a frequent flier, you’re also a major polluter. What if there was a way to travel the world with less impact on the environment?
Why do we trust some companies and not others?
What does gender equality have to do with climate change? A lot more than you might think.
With this episode, we're having a bit of fun. You're about to hear a great episode of a TED Audio Collective podcast ... but, we can't tell you which one. We're randomly serving different episodes to our global audience. Check back in later, or on a different app? You might get something different! Though we can promise what you'll hear will be true to TED: a curated podcast for the curious, whether it's about business, design, science or philosophy. If you can handle the mystery, stick around -- and to dive into our entire portfolio at audiocollective.ted.com.
Why are humans so slow to react to looming crises, like a forewarned pandemic or a warming planet?
Justin Baldoni wants to start a dialogue with men about redefining masculinity -- to figure out ways to be not just good men but good humans.
The way we behave politically, socially, economically and ecologically isn't working, says community organizer and activist Tai Simpson.
The world's most valuable tech companies profit from the personal data you generate. So why aren't you getting paid for it?
Every environment on the planet -- from forested mountaintops to scorching deserts and even the human gut -- has a microbiome that keeps it healthy and balanced.
Will innovation in AI drastically improve our lives, or destroy humanity as we know it?
Which sounds more urgent: “global warming” or “pollution blanket overheating planet”?
Have you ever misplaced something you were just holding? Completely blanked on a famous actor's name? Walked into a room and immediately forgot why? Neuroscientist Lisa Genova digs into two types of memory failures we regularly experience -- and reassures us that forgetting is totally normal.
Biotech entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw shares lessons learned from the global effort to develop COVID-19 vaccines: namely, the power of collaboration and the importance of equitable access to health care.
Animals are communicating -- but what are they saying? And can we talk back?
All new products must pass through the "valley of death" before they reach the market. Many never make it out, and sometimes that's OK -- if they don't work, don't fill a need or for any number of reasons.
Everyone’s career will hit some turbulence at some point. Instead of pushing harder against the headwinds, we’re sometimes better off tilting our rudder and charting a new course.
Companies in the US spend billions of dollars each year on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, but subtle (and not so subtle) workplace biases often cost these initiatives -- and the people they're meant to help -- big time by undermining their goals.
How does an astronaut prepare physically and mentally to launch into space?
Business in Africa is booming -- but international companies are missing out, says emerging markets expert Nomava Zanazo.
Thousands of languages thrive across the globe, yet modern speech technology -- and all of its benefits -- supports just over a hundred.
Today roads, sidewalks, bridges, and skyscrapers are made of a material called concrete. There's three tons of it for every person on Earth. It's also played a surprisingly large role in rising global temperatures over the last century. So, what exactly makes concrete problematic, and what can we do to fix it?
Hear how this town of 15,000 tapped into a 66-million-year-old murder mystery -- and learn why solving it is so important to our own future on earth.
Would you pay two percent more for the carbon-neutral version of the products you buy and use every day?
How do you effectively regulate stress?
The "broken" US political system is actually working exactly as designed, says business leader and activist Katherine Gehl.
Colleges and universities in the US make billions of dollars each year from sports, compromising the health and education of athletes -- who are disproportionately Black -- in the name of money, power and pride.
ZigZag, a business podcast about being human, returns with The ZigZag Project: six steps (and episodes) to help you map out a path that aligns your personal values with your professional ambitions.
With candor and cunning, sex historian Kate Lister chronicles the curious journey of an ancient, honest word with innocent origins and a now-scandalous connotation in this uproarious love letter to etymology, queens, cows and all things "cunt."
Dictionaries and grammar "rules" don't have the final word on language -- and believing they do can harm more than help, especially for the trans community.
Could psychedelics help us heal from trauma and mental illnesses?
Valorie Kondos Field knows a lot about winning. As the longtime coach of the UCLA women's gymnastics team, she won championship after championship and has been widely acclaimed for her leadership.
For a long time, Amrou Al-Kadhi struggled to negotiate the intersections between their queer and Islamic heritage. These identities felt completely polarized, as if their identity were founded on a tectonic fault at constant risk of rupture.
From hours-long lines and limited polling locations to confusing and discriminatory registration policies, why is it so hard to vote in the US?
The only thing as powerful as our grief is the love we have for those we've lost, says photographer Caroline Catlin.
Biodesigner Natsai Audrey Chieza prototypes the future, imagining a world where people and nature can thrive together.
The single most important thing for avoiding a climate disaster is cutting carbon pollution from the current 51 billion tons per year to zero, says philanthropist and technologist Bill Gates.
How do spaces shape the human experience? In what ways do our rooms, homes and buildings give us meaning and purpose?
Higher education remains rooted in rigid, traditional structures and tracks -- and it's at risk of getting left behind in favor of expanded access, greater flexibility and tailored learning.
“We need to figure out how we go into conversations not looking for the victory, but the progress,” says world debate champion Julia Dhar.
What if we could we use biology to restore our balance with nature without giving up modern creature comforts?
When you report an emergency in the US, police, firefighters or paramedics answer the call. What if mental health professionals responded, too?
Do you think Hollywood needs to change? How about your own industry? It’s difficult to get decision makers to step outside of the tried-and-true and attempt something new.
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we work for good. Can it also change it for the better?
How do companies like SpaceX make sudden breakthroughs on decades-old challenges?
Picture your favorite place in nature. How would you feel if it disappeared tomorrow?
Calls for authenticity at work ask for passionate people with diverse, fresh perspectives who challenge old ways of thinking. But too often workplace culture fails to support the authenticity of professionals of color and other underrepresented groups, leading instead to backlash and fewer opportunities.
Feelings are complicated. And even more so at work. We like to believe the ultimate professional is stoic, but what important information do we miss when we disregard our emotions on the job?
With the Climate Reality Project, Al Gore is helping mold future leaders to build the movement for climate survival and social justice from the ground up. He introduces us to four of the Project’s graduates, each of whom confronts climate change on their own terms.
After a terminal cancer diagnosis upended 12 years of remission, all Elaine Fong's mother wanted was a peaceful end of life. What she received instead became a fight for the right to decide when.
When personal relationships and ideological differences collide, the result can lead to strained relations -- or even years of silence and distance.
What does it take to be a pro gamer?
Debbie Millman talks to author Cheryl Strayed about her childhood, career and the value of taking a very long hike.
To futureproof your job against robots and AI, you should learn how to code, brush up on your math skills and crack open an engineering textbook, right? Wrong.
Corporations and big business have wrecked the environment, but disadvantaged communities living in "sacrifice zones" -- urban areas heavily polluted and poisoned by industry -- are paying the price, says climate justice leader Angela Mahecha Adrar.
Why do Westerners today think they're right about reality and everybody else is wrong?
Aliens have invaded ancient history: they've cropped up in humanity's past through popular television and movies, displacing facts with absurd yet commonplace beliefs like "aliens built the pyramids."
On his first day as president, Joe Biden signed a letter of acceptance that set in motion the 30-day process for the United States to re-join the Paris Agreement on climate. On the day the US returns to the accord, John Kerry, the US Special Envoy for Climate, sits down with Nobel Laureate Al Gore to discuss the make-or-break decade ahead of us.
"Complete silence is very addictive," says Rebecca Knill, a writer who has cochlear implants that enable her to hear.
When catastrophe strikes, art prevails -- and has done so for centuries.
What if everything in your life was randomized: from the food you ate to the things you did and the places you traveled?
Michael Tubbs is the youngest mayor in American history to represent a city with more than 100,000 people -- and his policies are sparking national conversations.
Your teeth carry secrets: centuries of history about your ancestors, from where they lived to what they ate and where they traveled.
Centuries of inequality can’t be solved with access to technology alone -- we need to connect people with training and support too, says tech inclusionist ’Gbenga Sesan.
Climate change is the epic challenge of our lives, and community leaders like Rahwa Ghirmatzion and Zelalem Adefris are already working on sustainable, resilient solutions.
What if microparticles could help us solve the world's biggest problems in a matter of minutes?
Concrete is the second most-used substance on Earth (behind water), and it's responsible for eight percent of the world's carbon footprint.
How do you get the environment to the top of everyone's priority list?
What drives society’s understanding of right and wrong?
Here's a shocking statistic: 50 to 80 percent of people in the criminal justice system in the US have had a traumatic brain injury.
What if we could better understand the world's biggest challenges simply by looking at a map?
Difficult emotions are like the spikes of a cactus: they can get under your skin if you’re not careful.
Significant pieces of the globe are literally not on the map: they're missing from the most widely used mapping platforms, like Google Street View, leaving communities neglected of vital services and humanitarian aid.
The abrupt shift to online learning due to COVID-19 rocked the US education system, unearthing many of the inequities at its foundation.
Shopping is about more than just what you buy: it’s a treasure hunt to discover something new, a negotiation to get a great deal, a time to catch up with friends and family. But for many, online shopping has turned the experience into an impersonal, unsatisfactory event. Is there a way to bring back the magic?
Living in a city means accepting a certain level of dysfunction: long commutes, noisy streets, underutilized spaces.
As the founder of a startup, Tracy Young often worried that employees and investors valued male CEOs more -- and that being a woman compromised her position as a leader.
Democracy needs an update -- one that respects and engages citizens by involving them in everyday political decisions, says writer and researcher Max Rashbrooke.
When global leaders think about which industries can fuel economic growth, the arts are often overlooked.
To cultivate a society grounded in equity and love, we must uproot systems of oppression and violence towards Black communities, says Dr. Bernice Albertine King, community builder and daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In a time of mourning and protest, King calls for a revolution of values, allies that engage and a world where anger is channeled into social and economic change.
Humanity now has incredible power to shape nature and the Earth: the power to destroy and the power to repair, says sustainability champion and UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.
The future economy won't be built by people and factories, but by algorithms and artificial intelligence, says data scientist Mainak Mazumdar. But what happens when these algorithms get trained on biased data?
How do the world's best leaders and visionaries earn trust?
Why is it so hard to speak up and productively disagree at work?
What if we could build a global waste disposal service for carbon?
In a rich conversation full of practical insights, former Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard and former Finance Minister of Nigeria Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala reflect on their experiences as women leaders in positions of global power.
What's the best way to make a good point?
Jamila Gordon believes in the power of human connection -- and artificial intelligence -- to help people who might otherwise be left behind.
You don’t have to be a basketball star to make it felt; anyone can turn important moments into meaningful momentum
When we experience loss, grief travels with us everywhere -- even work. What can companies do to support grieving employees?
Over the last 2,000 years, the art of mixing cement and using it to bind concrete hasn't changed very much -- and it remains one of the world's biggest emitters of carbon.
How you respond to setbacks is what defines your character, says Stacey Abrams, the first Black woman in the history of the United States to be nominated by a major party for governor.
Wendy Troxel looks at the cultural expectations that pressure couples into sharing a bed and why some relationships would benefit from sleeping separately.
Capitalism urgently needs an upgrade, says PayPal CEO Dan Schulman, and it starts with paying people enough to actually invest in their futures.
Comedian Aparna Nancherla loves to take out the trash.
Civil rights leader and longtime US congressman John Lewis spent his life fighting for freedom and justice for everyone.
Meet Liberato Kani, a hip hop artist in Lima, Peru—or as he says, “the Andean Bronx”.
Mandatory lockdowns, quarantines and shelter-in-place orders meant to contain COVID-19 have created a shadow pandemic of domestic abuse, says physician Kemi DaSilva-Ibru.
Water is essential to life. Yet in the eyes of the law, it remains largely unprotected -- leaving many communities without access to safe drinking water, says legal scholar Kelsey Leonard.
Mastering any physical skill takes practice. But what does practice actually do to make us better at things?
The fossil fuel industry knows how to stop global warming, but they're waiting for someone else to pay, says climate science scholar Myles Allen.
Artificial intelligence is all around us ... and the future will only bring more of it. How can we ensure the AI systems we build are responsible, safe and sustainable?
Roughly two billion people worldwide don’t have access to banks or financial services like credit, insurance and investment -- or even a way to formally prove their identity. How do we bridge this divide?
A talk that will leave you questioning your assumptions about what it really means to speak a language.
After his son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Billy Samuel Mwape realized that his project management skills might be put to use to support his child’s special needs.
If you see something wrong in the workplace, what should you do?
As a police officer, Jeremy Brewer interacts with individuals experiencing trauma and loss on a daily basis.
Fairness matters ... to both people and primates.
Have you ever seen or experienced something and wished you spoke up?
In the Yukon First Nations, women lead; generations of matriarchs have guided and directed the community by forging trade agreements, creating marriage alliances and ensuring business for all.
“Globalization is on its deathbed,” says economist Mike O’Sullivan. The question now is: What’s next?
Standing up to discrimination and hate should be everyone's business, says community activist Wale Elegbede.
When companies think of diversity and inclusion, they too often focus on meeting metrics instead of building relationships with people of diverse backgrounds, says Starbucks COO Rosalind G. Brewer.
Check out how aerialist and educator Adie Delaney teaches her students about trust and safety on the trapeze -- and provides helpful lessons for navigating everyday life on the ground.
From microscopic "smart dust" tracking devices to DNA-tracing tech and advanced facial recognition software, journalist Sharon Weinberger leads a hair-raising tour through the global, unregulated bazaar of privatized mass surveillance.
Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone, is on a mission to plant a million trees over the next two years, increasing vegetation in her city by fifty percent while shoring up eroding riverbanks and increasing biodiversity.
"The hardest part of my cancer experience began once the cancer was gone," says author Suleika Jaouad.
With fascinating research and hilarious anecdotes, neuroscientist Camilla Arndal Andersen takes us into the lab where she studies people's sense of taste via brain scans.
As the coronavirus pandemic raged in her native Sri Lanka, monk JayaShri Maathaa had a thought: two magical words that planted something beautiful in her mind and blossomed into a whole new way of being.
"A record of our emotional life is written on our hearts," says cardiologist and author Sandeep Jauhar.
Here's a talk about tears -- and why crying isn't something to be afraid or ashamed of.
In April 2020, epidemiologist-in-training Sophie Rose volunteered to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.
On a mission to create a hunger-free world, agricultural entrepreneur Cedric Habiyaremye makes the case for cultivating quinoa -- and other versatile, nutrient-rich grains -- in places experiencing malnutrition, like his native Rwanda.
An effective COVID-19 vaccine is just the first step in ending the pandemic, says global health strategist Johanna Benesty.
Civic leader María Teresa Kumar takes a look at the issues closest to youth Latinx voters, including health care, climate equity and racial justice, and considers how this growing demographic could shape American politics for decades to come.
India has a historic opportunity to power its industrialization with clean energy -- and its energy choices will make or break the world's fight against climate change, says clean energy executive, physicist and author Varun Sivaram.
Activist and author Gloria Steinem is an icon of the global feminist movement
How do you stand up to authoritarianism? And what does it mean to be “fearless”?
"Business is screwed if we don't fix climate change," says economist Rebecca Henderson.
In 2014, Erika Cheung made a discovery that would ultimately help bring down her employer, Theranos, as well as its founder, Elizabeth Holmes, who claimed to have invented technology that would transform medicine.
In this perspective-shifting talk, energy researcher Rose M. Mutiso makes the case for prioritizing Africa's needs with what's left of the world's carbon budget, to foster growth and equitably achieve a smaller global carbon footprint.
After losing her mother in a house fire when she was just six years old, Danielle Torley saw two paths before her: a life full of fear, or one that promised healing and recovery.
Sophie Howe is the world's only future generations commissioner, a new kind of government official tasked with advocating for the interests of generations to come and holding public institutions accountable for delivering long-term change.
"The universe has already written the poem you were planning on writing," says Sarah Kay, quoting her friend, poet Kaveh Akbar.
Most politicians choose their words carefully, to shape the reality they hope to create. But does it work?
To achieve lasting change sometimes requires the hard, even radical, choice of partnering with people you'd least expect.
"The good news is it's now clearly cheaper to save the planet than to ruin it," says engineer and investor John Doerr. "The bad news is: we are fast running out of time."
Rituals for the dead span much of the natural world, seen in practices from humans and elephants to bees, dolphins and beyond.
The clash of ideas is fundamental to creativity and progress, but it can also be deeply destructive and create divisions within companies, communities and families.
"This decade is a moment of choice unlike any we have ever lived," says Christiana Figueres, the architect of the historic 2015 Paris Agreement.
Sometimes, a single decision can change the course of history. Join journalist and author Isabel Wilkerson as she tells the story of the Great Migration, the outpouring of six million African Americans from the Jim Crow South to cities in the North and West between World War I and the 1970s.
Our food systems have not been designed to adapt to major disruptions like climate change, says environmental journalist Amanda Little.
If the 2020 US presidential election is close, the race could drag on in the courts and halls of Congress long after ballots are cast, says lawyer and political commentator Van Jones.
Sexual assault is never the victim's fault, says advocate Kristin Jones.
Our descendants own the future, but the decisions and actions we make now will tremendously impact generations to come, says philosopher Roman Krznaric.
The racial wealth gap in the United States is shocking: white families have a median wealth nearly 10 times greater than that of Black families. How did we get here, and how can we stop the gap from growing?
By 2030, Apple hopes to extend carbon neutrality to their supply chain and consumers.
Companies worldwide are pledging to play a more meaningful role in the well-being of their employees, customers and the environment. How can they turn their promises into action?
In 2019, Amazon signed the Climate Pledge, a commitment to become a net-zero carbon business by 2040.
"If we don't act now on climate change, this coming century may be one of humanity's last," says António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Biodiversity is the key to life on Earth and reviving our damaged planet, says ecologist Thomas Crowther.
"History has shown us that in moments of crisis, society can truly transform," says environmental educator Severn Cullis-Suzuki.
"For the first time, we are forced to consider the real risk of destabilizing the entire planet," says climate impact scholar Johan Rockström.
With the ambitious goal of becoming the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050, the European Union has committed to creating a greener world for future generations.
Why has there been so little mention of saving Black lives from the climate emergency?
People around the world are demanding clean air -- and cities are starting to respond, says electrification advocate Monica Araya.
The global climate crisis will require us to transform the way we act, says His Holiness Pope Francis
"We start this new decade knowing that it is the most consequential period in history," says Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge.
Taking on the climate crisis can seem like an insurmountable feat. On part one of TED Radio Hour episode -- Climate Mindset -- climate scientist Tom Rivett-Carnac makes the case that what we may need most to take on the challenge is a mental shift.
We could realistically see people starting to live and work on the Moon in the next decade -- and how we do it matters, says space policy researcher Jessy Kate Schingler.
Do you need some help? It’s OK to ask, says YeYoon Kim, a former kindergarten teacher who learned from her students how powerful and courageous it can be to reach out for support.
We need a global weather service for water, says entrepreneur and TED Fellow Sonaar Luthra.
District lines, and the groups of voters within them, may seem arbitrary, but a lot of thought (and political bickering) is put into these carefully drawn lines.
Racism thrives on your silence and apathy, says human rights lawyer Dexter Dias.
It's time for planetary-scale interventions to combat climate change -- and environmentalist Tim Flannery thinks seaweed can help.
To understand and eradicate racist thinking, start at the beginning.
We need to think beyond national borders to solve global problems, says activist Colombe Cahen-Salvador.
There’s a lot we can learn from Mongolian nomads about how to survive in the years to come, says environmental activist Khulan Batkhuyag.
What does it take to cultivate a culture of innovation and reinvention at work?
To move forward in the United States, we must look back and confront the difficult history that shaped widespread injustice.
How do US Supreme Court Justices actually get that honor?
Social psychologist Dannagal Young breaks down the link between our psychology and politics, showing how personality types largely fall into people who prioritize openness and flexibility (liberals) and those who prefer order and certainty (conservatives)
In a deeply moving letter to her grandmother, Xiye Bastida reflects on what led her to become a leading voice for global climate activism
You vote but then what?
The hard choices -- what we most fear doing, asking, saying -- are very often exactly what we need to do
In 2008, the global financial crisis decimated Latvia. As unemployment skyrocketed, the government slashed public funding and raised taxes, while providing relief to the wealthy and large businesses -- all without backlash or protest from struggling citizens.
As prescription drug costs skyrocket in the US, thousands of people are forced to forgo lifesaving medications -- all while manufacturers and health care facilities systematically destroy perfectly good, surplus pills.
"If we want to fix our politics, we have to do something about inequality," says social psychologist Keith Payne.
The secret to winning an argument isn’t grand rhetoric or elegant style, says US Supreme Court litigator Neal Katyal -- it takes more than that.
When you’re on opposite sides of an issue, how do you broker peace with your adversaries and work together to solve a problem?
What can you do to build a better world?
"Lies are more engaging online than truth," says former CIA analyst and diplomat Yaël Eisenstat
To get out of the mess we're in, we need a new story that explains the present and guides the future, says author George Monbiot.
At least 400 million people worldwide live in ultra-poverty: a state of severe financial and social vulnerability that robs many of hope and dignity.
What drives someone to commit politically motivated violence?
What's the purpose of a company?
A head start doesn't always ... well, help you get ahead.
"Confidence is the necessary spark before everything that follows,"
Planetary scientist Elizabeth "Zibi" Turtle shares how studying this mysterious moon that's thought to resemble the early Earth could bring us closer to understanding the habitability of other planets -- and the origin of life itself.
Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity.
For intersex people -- those born with sex characteristics outside the traditional definitions of female and male -- the stakes to appear "normal" are high.
What accounts for our polarized public life, and how can we begin to heal it?
In cities, evolution occurs constantly, as countless plants, animals and insects adapt to human-made habitats in spectacular ways
Popular music is often riddled with misogynistic lyrics that objectify and demean women ... so why are we listening and dancing to it
The path to better food is paved with data, says entrepreneur Erin Baumgartner.
From mourning orcas to distressed elephants, biological anthropologist Barbara J. King has witnessed grief and love across the animal kingdom
"Can you really afford not to be interested or not participate in politics?"
Want to help map the world?
Hannah Brencher's mother always wrote her letters.
Consider the following scenario: a highly infectious, sometimes deadly respiratory virus infects humans for the first time.
What can you hear in silence?
At age 16, journalist and filmmaker Jose Antonio Vargas found out he was in the United States illegally.
We have archives of films, newspapers, even seeds -- what if we could make one for the entire surface of the earth?
"In a world" -- our world -- movie trailers have undergone a massive evolution. The booming voice-of-God narration of the '80s and '90s has been silenced in favor of boojes and bwaas.
In a talk about understanding and practicing the art of healthy relationships, Katie Hood reveals the five signs you might be in an unhealthy relationship -- with a romantic partner, a friend, a family member -- and shares the things you can do every day to love with respect, kindness and joy.
Want to learn a new language but feel daunted or unsure where to begin?
As kids, we all get advice from parents and teachers that seems strange, even confusing
On this episode of ZigZag, host Manoush Zomorodi is joined by Eric Ries, who went from writing Silicon Valley's bible to building a stock market for social justice.
Nearly 400 years ago, a tiny town in Germany made a bargain with God: spare its people from the Black Plague and we'll put on a play in your honor... forever
You use your brain's executive function every day -- it's how you do things like pay attention, plan ahead and control impulses
Our 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.
Things are pretty shocking out there right now -- record-breaking storms, deadly terror attacks, thousands of migrants disappearing beneath the waves and openly supremacist movements rising
Marine biologist, fish ecologist and self-confessed ocean optimist Steve Simpson explains the intricate sounds that exist in our oceans
Far-UVC light is a type of ultraviolet light that kills microbes and viruses and, crucially, seems to be safe to use around humans.
What does Kendrick Lamar have in common with Disney's "Moana"?
Crisis interventions often focus on a single aspect of a big, complicated problem, failing to address the broader social and economic context.
On July 20, 2012, a mass shooting in a movie theater of Aurora, Colorado left the town, and the nation, reeling.
"If you change your city, you're changing the world," says Eric Garcetti
Education activist (and recent Oxford graduate) Malala Yousafzai reflects on the defining moments of her life, how she balances passion with personhood and where the world finds itself during the COVID-19 crisis.
A more equal world starts with you.
What if you could help decide how the government spends public funds in your community?
In this tour of the microscopic world, explorer and artist Ariel Waldman introduces the charismatic creatures lurking beneath Antarctica's massive ice sheet, the largest on earth.
With clarity and insight, economist and author William "Sandy" Darity discusses how the grievous injustice of slavery in the US led to the immense wealth gap that currently exists between Black and white Americans. He explains how reparations for descendants of enslaved people would work -- and why it's necessary that the US engage in this act of compensation and redemption to make progress towards true equality.
"We've been promised a future of chrome -- but what if the future is fleshy?"
TED Fellow Marc Bamuthi Joseph shares a Black father's tender and wrenching internal reflection on the pride and terror of seeing his son enter adulthood.
Legendary primatologist Jane Goodall says that humanity's survival depends on conservation of the natural world.
Meet the friendly robot that could deliver your next burrito.
Bill Gates talks best (and worst) case scenarios for the coronavirus pandemic in the months ahead
“Africa is like a sleeping giant,”
The coronavirus brought much of the world to a standstill, dropping carbon emissions by five percent.
Stewart emphasizes the magnitude and urgency of the rallying cry "Black trans lives matter" -- and calls on others to uphold that truth, too.
Around the world, Indigenous food cultures vanish because of industrialized agriculture and a shifting, Western-influenced concept of the ideal diet
"Life doesn't go from A to B -- it's messy,"
Cities are engines of culture, commerce, knowledge and community, but they're also centers of inequality and poverty.
Conventional vaccine testing is a slow, years-long process.
“I was the first woman president of an African nation, and I do believe more countries ought to try that,”
"If we're not protecting the arts, we're not protecting our future," he says.
Colonialism remains as an inescapable blight on the present, lingering in the toxic, internalized mythologies and stereotypes that outlive the regimes that created them, says historian Farish Ahmad-Noor. Examining why these prejudices and narratives persist (and sometimes thrive), he suggests a multidisciplinary approach to reject cultural obsessions with romanticized history and prevent this malignant nostalgia from perpetuating past oppressions.
In this profound, thought-provoking and often hilarious talk, he reveals the power of language to change stories of trauma into stories of healing -- while challenging us all to level up.
What happens when you discover a dinosaur?
Athletes train their bodies to run faster, jump higher, throw farther -- so why don’t they train their minds, too?
Everyone experiences loss, but how do you cope with the tough moments that follow?
There is no such thing as being “not racist,” says author and historian Ibram X. Kendi.
Who are you? To answer this question, artist Shantell Martin followed her pen.
The digital platforms you and your family use every day -- from online games to education apps and medical portals -- may be collecting and selling your children's data, says anthropologist Veronica Barassi. Sharing her eye-opening research, Barassi urges parents to look twice at digital terms and conditions instead of blindly accepting them -- and to demand protections that ensure their kids' data doesn't skew their future.
Let's say you go into labor in the back of a taxi.
After the devastating rebel invasion of Sierra Leone in 1999 and the Ebola epidemic in 2014, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, mayor of Freetown, refused to be paralyzed by her frustration with the status quo
Nigel Topping has a cool job: he’s the UK’s High Level Climate Action Champion for COP26, the UN’s climate change conference taking place in 2021.
No matter your industry, you’ve experienced drama at work. In this funny and all-too-relatable talk, community leader Anastasia Penright outlines five steps you can follow to better coexist with your coworkers and focus on what’s really important.
In a time of mourning and anger over the ongoing violence inflicted on Black communities by police in the US and the lack of accountability from national leadership, what is the path forward
This is part two of a special episode of TED Talks Daily.
What makes you speak up -- or not -- when you see something you know is wrong?
Now more than ever, it's important to look boldly at the reality of race and gender bias -- and understand how the two can combine to create even more harm.
Giving up control of your finances -- voluntarily or otherwise -- can leave you powerless and, in some cases, confined to a cycle of abuse.
A mysterious tattoo on her forearm was all that linked Sara Jones, who was adopted as a child by white parents, to her South Korean origins.
Earth, humanity and nature are inextricably interconnected. T
As you age, you gradually lose the ability to refocus your eyes -- a phenomenon as old as humanity itself -- leading to a reliance on bifocals, contacts and procedures like LASIK surgery.
The coronavirus pandemic won't be the last crisis to test public health systems worldwide, says physician and health policy leader Georges C. Benjamin
How can we return to work without spurring a second surge of coronavirus infection?
When your job hinges on how well you talk to people, you learn a lot about how to have conversations -- and that most of us don't converse very wel
Veterans in the United States take their own lives at an alarming rate.
You procrastinate because you're lazy, right?
The ocean plays host to a peculiar party of wild, marine sex life that's perhaps quirkier (and kinkier) than you can fathom.
Trauma and PTSD rewire your brain -- especially your memory -- and can unearth destructive emotional responses when stirred.
When you stop comparing yourself to others, you can accomplish great things, says wheelchair athlete Dean Furness.
School can be rife with stress, anxiety, panic attacks and even burnout — but there's often no formal policy for students who need to prioritize their well-being.
After seeing the conditions in which children were held at a detention center on the US-Mexico border, Sister Norma Pimentel established a humanitarian respite center in Texas where people can get clean clothing, a warm shower and a hot meal.
How do doctors in the emergency room stay calm and focused amidst the chaos?
Nearly half a million people in the US are in jail right now without being convicted of a crime, simply because they can’t come up with the money to pay cash bail.
How can we stop the next pandemic before it starts?
Health care workers are under more stress than ever before. How can they protect their mental health while handling new and complex pressures?
To combat COVID-19, countries have enforced city-wide shutdowns, stay-at-home orders and mask mandates -- but the reaction (and adherence) to these rules has differed markedly in the East and Wes
Privacy isn't dead, but face surveillance technology might kill it, says civil rights advocate Kade Crockford.
He shares some strategies to help put your mental, physical and emotional well-being back at the forefront.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, bioengineer Jim Collins and his team combined the power of AI with synthetic biology in an effort to combat a different looming crisis: antibiotic-resistant superbugs
"This is the difference between profit and true wealth," he says.
Do you sometimes have your most creative ideas while folding laundry, washing dishes or doing nothing in particular?
What makes you, you?
"Sí, se puede!" -- "Yes, we can!"
Many countries have an active, centuries-old law that allows government agencies to take your things -- your house, your car, your business -- without ever convicting you of a crime.
What if we could help people in crisis anytime, anywhere with a simple text message?
Examining the facts and figures of the coronavirus outbreak, epidemiologist Larry Brilliant evaluates the global response in a candid interview with head of TED Chris Anderson.
When it comes to big life problems, we often stand at a crossroads: either believe we're powerless against great change, or we rise to meet the challenge.
If you had to explain to a newborn -- or an alien -- what it means to be a human being living on Earth in the 21st century, what would you say
"Our world is one that flourishes when different voices come together," she says.
How does your genetic inheritance, culture and history influence your health?
When Shaka Senghor and Ebony Roberts ended their relationship, they made a pact to protect their son from its fallout.
Racism makes our economy worse -- and not just in ways that harm people of color, says public policy expert Heather C. McGhee
Many of us are feeling stuck right now, forced to adapt to a world that we have little control over
Indigenous languages across North America are under threat of extinction due to the colonial legacy of cultural erasure, says linguist Lindsay Morcom
A good night’s sleep has perhaps never been more important.
A clever series of experiments in "monkeynomics" shows that some of the silly choices we make, monkeys make too.
As COVID-19 continues to spread, the world is facing two existential threats at once: a public health emergency and an economic crisis.
To understand what makes marriages work, we need to talk about why they sometimes end, says family law professor Jeannie Suk Gersen.
If you're feeling anxious or fearful during the coronavirus pandemic, you're not alone.
"When you think like a mother, you prioritize the needs of the many, not the whims of the few."
More barriers exist now than at the end of World War II, says designer Alexandra Auer.
"Autism is not a disease; it's just another way of thinking,"
To tackle a problem as large as climate change, we need both science and Indigenous wisdom, says environmental activist Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim.
Monarch butterflies are dying at an alarming rate around the world -- a looming extinction that could also put human life at risk.
The world is more connected than ever, but some communities are still cut off from vital resources like electricity and health care.
Are we using them frequently enough, and with fairness?
From Hong Kong, South China Morning Post CEO Gary Liu tracks China’s response to the coronavirus pandemic -- from the initial outbreak in Wuhan to the shutdown of Hubei province and the containment measures taken across its major cities.
What's your passion?
Philanthropist and Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates offers insights into the COVID-19 pandemic, discussing why testing and self-isolation are essential, which medical advancements show promise and what it will take for the world to endure this crisis.
“Life’s beauty is inseparable from its fragility,”
The common thinking on biological sex goes like this: females have two X chromosomes in their cells, while males have one X and one Y.
"You don't predict the future -- you imagine the future,"
What if you could repay loans through volunteering and mentorship instead of money?
Farmers keep us fed and our economies stable, but in the US they're retiring faster than they're being replaced.
How comfortable are you with robots taking over your life?
Having your period is exhausting -- and for many people across the world, menstruation is even more challenging because of stigmas and difficulty getting basic hygiene supplies
What we need is a shift in how we live.
Professor Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor leads a thoughtful and history-backed examination of one of the most divisive words in the English language: the N-word.
Watch (and listen) as she discusses the strange things that happen to underwater creatures in the face of ocean noise pollution -- and shares straightforward ways we can dial down the sound to see almost immediate impacts.
How exactly does menopause impact cognitive health?
What if the government ran more like Silicon Valley?
In much of the world, gender is viewed as binary: man or woman, each assigned characteristics and traits designated by biological sex
In 1996, Agnes Binagwaho returned home to Rwanda in the aftermath of its genocide.
Neuroscientist Kay M. Tye investigates how your brain gives rise to complex emotional states like depression, anxiety or loneliness.
So what do you do when a spacecraft is bad at telling time?
What happens if you get infected with the coronavirus?
Can we turn those feelings into something productive?
Sometimes, small things make a huge impact.
Corruption is a constant threat in Kenya, says social entrepreneur Wanjira Mathai
Equity expert Sara Sanford offers a certified playbook that helps companies go beyond good intentions, using a data-driven standard to actively counter unconscious bias and foster gender equity -- by changing how workplaces operate, not just how people think.
Business management in China is changing, says consultant Fang Ruan.
More than a billion people worldwide, mostly children, have no birth certificates.
In a lyrical talk full of radical imagination, poet Aja Monet and community organizer phillip agnew share the story of how they fell in love and what they've learned about the powerful connection between great social movements and meaningful art.
Leon challenges all parents to play an equal, active role in their children's daily lives.
Sallan introduces us to some of the wildly diverse animals that roamed the prehistoric planet.
Playwright Yve Blake asks us to reevaluate our reaction to the misunderstood passion and power of fangirls.
Some days, it feels like the only thing we can agree on is that we can't agree -- on anything
Millman traces the evolution of branding, from cave paintings to flags to beer labels and beyond.
"To make a difference in the life of a child ... I made the commitment to tell my personal story,"
To save the achoque -- an exotic (and adorable) salamander found in a lake in northern Mexico -- scientists teamed up with an unexpected research partner: a group of nuns called the Sisters of the Immaculate Health.
The growth of online marketplaces like Uber, Airbnb and Amazon can sometimes threaten local businesses such as taxis, hotels and retail shops by taking away jobs or reducing income to the community.
The workplace is often presented as a meritocracy, where you can succeed by putting your head down and working hard.
Imagine waking in the middle of the night to an elephant ripping the roof from your house in search of food.
In a profound talk about technology and power, author and historian Yuval Noah Harari explains the important difference between fascism and nationalism -- and what the consolidation of our data means for the future of democracy.
ail describes the surprisingly varied ways it impacts everyday life and how it could help us make a better world.
Who deserves to be in a museum?
Black history taught in US schools is often watered-down, riddled with inaccuracies and stripped of its context and rich, full-bodied historical figures.
What can we learn from the world's most enduringly creative people?
How do you talk to someone who doesn't believe in climate change?
Here’s a paradox: as companies try to streamline their businesses by using artificial intelligence to make critical decisions, they may inadvertently make themselves less efficient.
Some common life-saving medicines, such as insulin, are made of proteins so large and fragile they must be injected instead of ingested as pills.
"If you do it at the right time, it will enter their heart, and it will be with them wherever they go, forever."
We all want to save more money -- but overall, people today are doing less and less of it.
When the ocean changes, the planet changes -- and it all starts with microbes, says biological oceanographer Angelicque White.
When we witness something amazing, many of us instinctively pull out our phones and snap pictures. Is this obsession with photographing everything impacting our experiences?
There's no shortage of resources to help people change their health behaviors -- but far too often, these resources aren't accessible in underserved communities, says physician Priscilla Pemu.
By 2050, the global population is projected to reach 9.8 billion.
You 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.
Most companies operate on a set of policies: mandated vacation days, travel guidelines, standard work hours, annual goals.
"It shouldn't be an act of feminism to know how your body works,"
Between 2006 and 2016, the number of drug patents granted in the United States doubled
Given 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
The United States can create a more humane immigration system
"We all have unique weaknesses," he says
What if we could "grow" clothes from microbes, furniture from living organisms and buildings with exteriors like tree bark?
Dan Clay was worried about being dismissed as "too gay" at work, so he dialed down his personality. But then his alter ego, Carrie Dragshaw, went viral online. Here's what happened next.
What if you never had to fill out paperwork again?
Past generations found a company to work for and then stayed there for decades.
The UN predicts that antimicrobial resistance will be our biggest killer by 2050.
Follow health policy expert Mitch Zeller into the murky depths of the tobacco industry
How can we tap into the potential of all students, especially those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds?
In a complex and changing world, how can we make sure unconventional people and their ideas thrive?
Pat Mitchell has nothing left to prove and much less to lose
Sleep is your life-support system and Mother Nature's best effort yet at immortality, says sleep scientist Matt Walker.
Research shows that helping others makes us happier.
How does this change office dynamics?
Humanity is on its way to creating a "black ball": a technological breakthrough that could destroy us all, says philosopher Nick Bostrom.
Fake news can sway elections, tank economies and sow discord in everyday life.
In a talk that's by turns heartbreaking and hilarious, writer and podcaster Nora McInerny shares her hard-earned wisdom about life and death.
Should you date your coworker?
After being diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that deteriorates muscle, Cara E. Yar Khan was told she'd have to limit her career ambitions and dial down her dreams.
Witness the unveiling of Countdown, a major global campaign to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Feeling burned out?
Why aren't these solutions everywhere?
In a world that's wasting more food than ever before, why do one in nine people still go to bed hungry each night?
We are all connected by the spectacular birth, death and rebirth of stars, says astrophysicist Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz.
Your lifelong health may have been decided the day you were born, says microbiome researcher Henna-Maria Uusitupa.
There are three billion working people on this planet, and only 40 percent of them report being happy at work. Michael C. Bush shares his insights into what makes workers unhappy -- and how companies can benefit their bottom lines by fostering satisfaction.
What's the difference between heroes and leaders?
Where does wealth come from, who creates it and what destroys it?
At age 81, actor and activist Jane Fonda is putting herself on the line for the planet
Why does modern technology promise efficiency, but leave us constantly feeling pressed for time?
Genuine apology goes beyond remorse, says legendary playwright Eve Ensler.
Step into artist Cornelia Geppert's visually stunning video game "Sea of Solitude," which explores how battling the "monsters" of loneliness and self-doubt can help us better grapple with the complexity and struggles of mental health.
Ever gaze up at the starry night sky?
How do you raise money to get an idea off the ground, support a community, help change the world?
What kinds of stories move us to act?
What would a sustainable, universally beneficial economy look like?
Author AJ Jacobs embarked on a quest with a deceptively simple idea at its heart: to personally thank every person who helped make his morning cup of coffee.
Ever wondered how your smartphone works?
Have you ever doubted your abilities, feared you were going to be discovered as a "fraud"?
There are more than 10,000 nuclear weapons in existence today, each one capable of causing immense destruction. Why don't we talk about this threat as much as some other major issues?
Could the strange orbits of small, distant objects in our solar system lead us to a big discovery?
As many as 3,000 languages could disappear within the next 80 years, all but silencing entire cultures.
In this inspiring, surprising talk, she shares the creative lengths she went to in order to bring free, clean water to the people of Flint.
Why do we make poor decisions that we know are bad for our health?
What's the best way to get people to change their behavior?
In this clear, actionable talk, she explains why gender-based marketing doesn’t drive business nearly as much as you might think -- and shows how companies can find better ways to reach customers and grow their brands.
At the US-Mexico border, policies of prolonged detention and family separation have made seeking asylum in the United States difficult and dangerous.
Teachers emotionally support our kids -- but who’s supporting teachers?
See how Costello and his fellow cryptographers are racing to reinvent encryption and secure the internet.
But with a little help, they show how resilient they are,” she says. “It is an honor to bear witness; it is a privilege to seek justice.”
Are we all still part of the show?
Social media has become our new home. Can we build it better?
How did the US immigration debate get to be so divisive?
Imagine living with no significant human contact for years, even decades, in a cell the size of a small bathroom
Why your adversaries can sometimes be your best allies.
The cells in your body are like computer software: they’re “programmed” to carry out specific functions at specific times.
Stories help you make sense of your life
Could we anticipate the next big disease outbreak, stopping a virus like Ebola before it ever strikes?
Got an idea to make your workplace better?
Resource inequality is one of our greatest challenges, but it’s not unique to humans.
Who's keeping the internet "clean" for us?
Many diseases are driven by metabolites -- small molecules in your body like fat, glucose and cholesterol -- but we don’t know exactly what they are or how they wor
Energy poverty, or the lack of access to electricity and other basic energy services, affects nearly two-thirds of Sub-Saharan Africa.
"From populist demagogues, we will learn the indispensability of democracy,
How can we stop the spread of misleading, sometimes dangerous content while maintaining an internet with freedom of expression at its core?
Mangrove forests are crucial to the health of the planet, gobbling up CO2 from the atmosphere and providing a home for a diverse array of species
Jon M. Chu reflects on what drives him to create
How do you fix broken public systems?
Fashion designers have the power to change culture
Learn more about how we're biologically hardwired to project intent and life onto machines -- and how it might help us better understand ourselves.
How can I make it easier for all families to stay connected during incarceration?
“When we design it right, marine conservation reaps dividends that go far beyond protecting nature,” he says.
During the winter of 2018-2019, one million tons of salt were applied to icy roads in the state of Pennsylvania alone.
How does psychological trauma affect children's developing brains?
Social entrepreneur Julie Cordua works on a problem that isn’t easy to talk about: the sexual abuse of children in images and videos on the internet.
"We are users of cosmic forces."
"Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they're finished.
Most of us know Bruce Lee as the famous martial artist and action film star
Nearly 800 million people worldwide depend on cassava for survival
Juan Enriquez shares stories from inside the immigration crisis at the US-Mexico border
Plastic is an incredible substance for the economy -- but it’s the worst substance possible for the environment, says entrepreneur Andrew Forrest
Local reporters are on the front lines of important stories, but their work often goes unnoticed by national and international news outlets
A full third of the world’s population -- 2.6 billion people -- play video games, plugging into massive networks of interaction that have opened up opportunities well beyond entertainment.
Exactly when and where did life on Earth begin?
"Language is not merely a tool,” he says. “It is our legacy, it's our way of conveying what it means to be human."
“They’re able to reduce corruption because they’ve developed.”
The US health care system assumes many things about patients: that they can take off from work in the middle of the day, speak English, have a working telephone and a steady supply of food
Conservationist and TED Fellow Moreangels Mbizah studied the famous Cecil the lion until he was shot by a trophy hunter in 2015
The average farmer in America makes less than 15 cents of every dollar on a product that you purchase at a store
Did humans evolve from monkeys or from fish?
Tobacco causes more than seven million deaths every year
“Building a 30-foot-high concrete structure from sea to shining sea is the most expensive and least effective way to do border security,”
Genealogist Yaniv Erlich helped build the world’s largest family tree
How do couples sustain a strong sexual connection over the long term?
“Girls’ education is the closest thing we have to a silver bullet to help solve some of the world’s most difficult problems,”
“Doctor, is this really necessary?”
What else could they do with this expertise?
Kristie Ebi explores the potentially massive health consequences of this growing nutrition crisis -- and explores the steps we can take to ensure all people have access to safe, healthy food.
Rising inequality and growing political instability are the direct result of decades of bad economic theory, says entrepreneur Nick Hanauer.
Community organizer Raj Jayadev wants to transform the US court system through "participatory defense"
Reading slowly -- with her finger running beneath the words, even when she was taught not to -- has led Jacqueline Woodson to a life of writing books to be savored
In a talk about a breakthrough, he shares how three decades of research culminated in a therapy that's eradicated cases of leukemia once thought to be incurable -- and explains how it could be used to fight other types of cancer.
When we define racism as behaviors instead of feelings, we can measure it -- and transform it from an impossible problem into a solvable one, says justice scientist Phillip Atiba Goff.
"This is not a job for a single generation. This is a job for humanity," she says.
Go down the rabbit hole of online propaganda and misinformation -- and learn we can start to make the internet less toxic.
"The free, online, mainstream pornography that teenagers are most likely to see is a completely terrible form of sex education,"
Editor Jochen Wegner shares the unexpected things that happened when people met up to talk -- and shows how face-to-face discussions could get a divided world to rethink itself.
There’s two times more carbon in the earth's soil than in all of its vegetation and the atmosphere -- combined
Can we engineer ways to harness this effect and further reduce warming?
"North Korea is unimaginable," says human rights activist Yeonmi Park
"If you want to make positive changes in your life, you have to consistently be positive."
Can technology make people safer from threats like violent extremism, censorship and persecution?
In this quick talk, she explores how climate change is threatening our well-being -- mental, social and spiritual -- and offers a starting point for what we can do about it.
In an insightful look at international politics, Mahbubani shares a three-part strategy that Western governments can use to recover power and improve relations with the rest of the world.
Growing up in England, Pico Iyer was taught that the point of a game was to win.
How can we secure our future and do right by future generations?
Sharing photos from his decade-long project "Shadow Lives USA," Lowenstein takes us into the inner worlds of the families escaping poverty and violence in Central America -- and pieces together the complex reasons people leave their homes in search of a better life.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt has gotten more than his fair share of attention from his acting career.
What is it about unfairness?
The words we use to describe our emotions affect how we feel, says historian Tiffany Watt Smith, and they've often changed (sometimes very dramatically) in response to new cultural expectations and ideas.
Very few of us hold jobs that line up directly with our past experiences or what we studied in college
Our planet has a carbon problem -- if we don't start removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, we'll grow hotter, faster.
Dixon Chibanda is one of 12 psychiatrists in Zimbabwe -- for a population of more than 16 million
"Pay attention to your attention," Jha says.
How do we find fulfillment in a world that's constantly changing?
"The world will say to you, 'Be a better person,'" Wade says. "Do not be afraid to say, 'Yes.'"
How do we improve in the face of complexity?
If you've taken a career break and are now looking to return to the workforce, would you consider taking an internship?
What really causes addiction -- to everything from cocaine to smart-phones?
"We can make any future we choose."
China's one-child policy ended in 2015, but we're just beginning to understand what it was like to live under the program
Less 13 percent of police officers in the United States are women -- despite their proven effectiveness in diffusing violent situations and reducing the use of force.
First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon explains the far-reaching implications of a "well-being economy"
What will happen if we let them melt away?
Albert-László Barabási explores the hidden mechanisms that drive success
What can we learn from this fully functioning, temporary settlement?
Historian Yuval Noah Harari suggests a surprising reason for the rise of humanity.
Shocking, but true: the United States has the highest rate of deaths for new mothers of any developed country
Early education is critical to children's success -- but millions of kids in the United States still don't have access to programs that prepare them to thrive in kindergarten and beyond
"A country shows strength through compassion and pragmatism, not through force and through fear," she says.
We're not doing frontline exploratory science in a huge portion of the world
Film has the power to change the way we think about ourselves and our culture.
Since its founding in 1851, the "New York Times" has published thousands of obituaries -- for heads of state, famous celebrities, even the inventor of the sock puppet
We get stronger, not weaker, by engaging with ideas and people we disagree with, says Zachary R. Wood
"Public shaming as a blood sport has to stop," says Monica Lewinsky.
When venture investor Natalie Fratto is determining which start-up founder to support, she doesn't just look for intelligence or charisma; she looks for adaptability.
Lead now ... Tell the American people that we still have moon shots in us."
When Julius Maada Bio first seized political power in Sierra Leone in 1996, he did so to improve the lives of its citizens.
"Most of what we send into outer space never comes back,"
What's the antidote to rising nationalism, polarization and hate?
Legendary ocean researcher Sylvia Earle shares astonishing images of the ocean -- and shocking stats about its rapid decline -- as she makes her TED Prize wish: that we will join her in protecting the vital blue heart of the planet.
"The hood is good," says Jon Gray of the Bronx
In an honest talk filled with his signature illustrations, Sun shares how telling stories about feeling like an outsider helped him tap into an unexpected community and find a tiny sliver of light in the darkness.
Asking for help is tough.
Ethan Lindenberger never got vaccinated as a kid.
"I want kids to grow up and into themselves with pride for who they are and who they can be," Amer says.
Economist Andrew McAfee suggests that, yes, probably, droids will take our jobs -- or at least the kinds of jobs we know now.
In a culture where being social and outgoing are prized above all else, it can be difficult, even shameful, to be an introvert.
The world-changing promise of synthetic biology and gene editing has a dark side.
Proteins are remarkable molecular machines: they digest your food, fire your neurons, power your immune system and so much more
"AI is serendipity," Lee says. "It is here to liberate us from routine jobs, and it is here to remind us what it is that makes us human."
Anger researcher Ryan Martin draws from a career studying what makes people mad to explain some of the cognitive processes behind anger -- and why a healthy dose of it can actually be useful.
Why do some gatherings take off and others don't?
The ground beneath your feet is home to a massive, mysterious world of microbes -- some of which have been in the earth's crust for hundreds of thousands of years. What's it like down there?
Island and coastal nations need to protect their waters in order for our oceans to stay healthy.
Humans have been studying the stars for thousands of years, but astrophysicist Juna Kollmeier is on a special mission: creating the most detailed 3-D maps of the universe ever made.
Reading and writing can be acts of courage that bring us closer to others and ourselves.
Our society is in the midst of a social crisis, says op-ed columnist and author David Brooks: we're trapped in a valley of isolation and fragmentation.
In life's toughest moments, how do you go on living?
Don't make people pay for music, says Amanda Palmer: Let them.
Millennials are now the largest, most diverse adult population in the US -- but far too often, they're reduced to the worn-out stereotype of lazy, entitled avocado toast lovers, says author Reniqua Allen
She takes us inside the roller-coaster, decade-long journey to get the telescope from an idea into orbit -- and shows how failure is inevitable when you're pushing the limits of knowledge.
Is there a better way to deal with all this waste?
How was he radicalized, and how did he ultimately get out of the movement?
A few weeks before his release from prison, Jarrell Daniels took a class where incarcerated men learned alongside prosecutors.
Hollywood needs to stop resisting what the world actually looks like, says actor, director and activist America Ferrera
Meat production is destroying the planet and jeopardizing our health
Bill Gates hopes to solve some of the world's biggest problems using a new kind of philanthropy
Recorded live at TED2019 for the TED Interview podcast: Roger McNamee
Biobehavioral scientist Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin explains what you're actually inhaling when you vape
"If I should have a daughter, instead of Mom, she's gonna call me Point B ... "
Ever wonder how we poop?
What will having fewer babies mean for the future of humanity?
What should modern leadership look like?
Civic evangelist Eric Liu shares a powerful way to rekindle the spirit of citizenship and the belief that democracy still works.
The biggest obstacle to dealing with climate disruptions lies between your ears
Learn more about how these supercharged plants could help slow climate change.
Why do we often neglect big problems, like the financial crisis and climate change, until it's too late?
When you're feeling burned out as an activist, what's the best way to bounce back?
In a talk about truth and purpose, she shares three ideas and three contradictions. (Or not.)
How are our assumptions about each other holding us back from working and communicating better?
Learn more about how these molecular machines work -- and their potential to treat or even cure genetic diseases.
How often do you think about the air you're breathing?
In the early 1990s, a scandal rocked evolutionary biology: scientists discovered that songbirds -- once thought to be strictly monogamous -- engaged in what's politely called "extra-pair copulation."
Can Twitter be saved?
In an unmissable talk, journalist Carole Cadwalladr digs into one of the most perplexing events in recent times: the UK's super-close 2016 vote to leave the European Union
Kakenya Ntaiya turned her dream of getting an education into a movement to empower vulnerable girls and bring an end to harmful traditional practices in Kenya.
At 16,Rana Abdelhamid started teaching self-defense to women and girls in her neighborhood.
Why do teenagers sometimes make outrageous, risky choices?
Keith Kirkland is developing wearable tech that communicates information using only the sense of touch.
In a world deeply divided, how do we have hard conversations with nuance, curiosity, respect?
Learn how Picard helped develop a cutting-edge smartwatch that can detect epileptic seizures before they occur -- and alert nearby loved ones in time to help them.
Muhammed Idris is leading a team of technologists, researchers and refugees to develop Atar, the first-ever AI-powered virtual advocate that guides displaced people through resettlement, helping restore their rights and dignity.
Above all, she asks us to take a cue from the student activists at her school, survivors whose work for change has moved millions to action
Can we help kids in poverty simply by giving families more money?
Long before we had rocket scientists, the idea of spaceflight traveled from mind to mind across generations.
The heart is one of the least regenerative organs in the human body -- a big factor in making heart failure the number one killer worldwide.
Transgender activist and TED Resident Samy Nour Younes shares the remarkable, centuries-old history of the trans community, filled with courageous stories, inspiring triumphs -- and a fight for civil rights that's been raging for a long time.
Bacteria "talk" to each other, sending chemical information to coordinate attacks.
Current treatments for depression and PTSD only suppress symptoms, if they work at all. What if we could prevent these diseases from developing altogether?
How do creative people come up with great ideas?
Bees are dying off in record numbers, but ecologist Noah Wilson-Rich is interested in something else: Where are bees healthy and thriving?
Tracing her career as an engineer, advocate and mother in Abu Dhabi, Leila Hoteit shares three lessons for thriving in the modern world.
Phil Plait was on the Hubble Space Telescope team that discovered the first exoplanet ever detected -- until they realized they'd made a mistake. What happened next
Technologist Kriti Sharma explores how the lack of diversity in tech is creeping into our AI, offering three ways we can start making more ethical algorithms.
Learn more about the causes of this phenomenon and how we can create a culture that celebrates the joys of imperfection.
The Earth and Moon are like identical twins, made up of the exact same materials -- which is really strange, since no other celestial bodies we know of share this kind of chemical relationship
Harness the power of frustrated people to shake up the status quo -- just like Pixar did.
How would you prefer to spend the last years of your life: in a sterile, hospital-like institution or in a village with a supermarket, pub, theater and park within easy walking distance?
In this classic talk that started a worldwide conversation about feminism, Adichie asks that we begin to dream about and plan for a different, fairer world -- of happier men and women who are truer to themselves.
Everyone's heard of Martin Luther King Jr. But do you know the woman Dr. King called "the architect of the civil rights movement," Septima Clark?
What if we could find a way to store all the world's data forever?
Explore a new way to make collective decisions and expand your understanding of democracy.
See how she designed a brick made out of ashes that's helping people rebuild their homes -- and learn about her new project: bringing solar-powered energy to families living in darkness.
Juliet Brophy takes us inside the discovery of Homo naledi, explaining how this mysterious ancestor is forcing us to rethink where we come from -- and what it means to be human.
Nabourema shares the four key signs of a dictatorship, along with the secret to defiance for those living within an oppressive system.
The transistors that power the phone in your pocket are unimaginably small: you can fit more than 3,000 of them across the width of a human hair.
Isonhood reflects on the question she's been asking herself in the 25 years since the trial: Am I a murderer?
"There are not two sides defined by a wall. This is one landscape, divided," Rael says.
Born to a poor family in rural India, Shetty didn't let the social norms of her community stifle her dreams and silence her voice.
Learn how Kleinrock teaches kids to discuss taboo topics without fear.
Learn how knowing what stuff costs in advance could make us healthier, save us money -- and help fix a broken system.
What was AI doing to the people whose jobs might change, go away or become less fulfilling?
Then she shares a moving memory of her own father, and of their shared love of baseball.
If we can generate new species from scratch, what should we build? Should we redesign humanity as we know it
What does it mean to be civil?
Modern American health care is defined by its high costs, high overhead and inaccessibility -- especially for low-income patients.
Silence is a rare commodity these days.
"We must stand up for our own rights -- and not wait for someone else to come and help us," Begum says.
How can we help kids from America's forgotten places break free from hopelessness and live better lives?
There's no better way to stop a disease than to catch and treat it early, before symptoms occur.
You know the "forgotten middle": they're the students, coworkers and regular people who are often overlooked because they're seen as neither exceptional nor problematic.
Is women's sexuality actually more complicated than men's?
Beane shares a vision that flips the current story into one of distributed, machine-enhanced mentorship that takes full advantage of AI's amazing capabilities while enhancing our skills at the same time.
In this moving talk, she shares what she's learned, reflecting on her time as a freedom fighter in the civil rights movement and offering new thinking on pathways to racial justice.
What job is best for a young man who's been a tennis ace, a cross-country traveler, a chemistry nerd and an NFL draftee
Did you know that almost 150 million people worldwide are born intersex -- with biology that doesn't fit the standard definition of male or female?
"The climate crisis has already been solved. We already have all the facts and solutions," Thunberg says. "All we have to do is to wake up and change."
What does it take to build a national movement?
The Montreal Protocol proved that the world could come together and take action on climate change.
Chemaly explores the dangerous lie that anger isn't feminine, showing how women's rage is justified, healthy and a potential catalyst for change.
Listen in to hear what the man who makes a living from predicting the future arc of technology thinks is coming our way next -- including a specific prediction of when he thinks technology will finally gain human levels of language understanding.
Civil engagement champion Tiana Epps-Johnson shares what's needed to bring voting in the US into the 21st century -- and to get every person to the polls.
Voraakhom shows how she developed a massive park in Bangkok that can hold a million gallons of rainwater, calling for more climate change solutions that connect cities back to nature.
If we hope to heal the racial tensions that threaten to tear the fabric of society apart, we're going to need the skills to openly express ourselves in racially stressful situations.
Richards calls for a global political revolution for women's equality and offers her ideas for how we can build it.
Akash Manoj shares the device he's developed to stop this silent killer: a noninvasive, inexpensive, wearable patch that alerts patients during a critical moment that could mean the difference between life and death.
The way we're taught to live has got to change, says author Casey Gerald
If we really want to address climate change, we need to make gender equity a reality, says writer and environmentalist Katharine Wilkinson.
In an impassioned talk, Morris uncovers the causes of "pushout" and shows how we can work to turn all schools into spaces where black girls can heal and thrive.
TBD
A quantum computer isn't just a more powerful version of the computers we use today; it's something else entirely, based on emerging scientific understanding
Learn how life experiences shape the way genes are expressed -- and what that means for our understanding of gender
Electric cars are extremely quiet, offering some welcome silence in our cities.
India has the second largest population of any country in the world -- yet it has only 50 decent bookshops, says publisher Chiki Sarkar
What does it take to build the fast, flexible, creative teams needed to challenge entrenched work culture?
As Jonathan says: "I cannot ask my father to be anything other than her true self."
But how can middle managers climb the corporate ladder while also challenging the way things have always been done?
In this powerful, hopeful talk, Rader shows what it's like on the front lines of this crisis -- and how her community is taking an unusual new approach to treating substance-abuse disorder that starts with listening.
Our leaders and institutions are failing us, but it's not always because they're bad or unethical, says venture capitalist John Doerr
There are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world -- and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures
She shares the results of her exhaustive research -- and explains how we may have more control over our emotions than we think
She shares the results of her exhaustive research -- and explains how we may have more control over our emotions than we think.
, Lanier reflects on a "globally tragic, astoundingly ridiculous mistake" companies like Google and Facebook made at the foundation of digital culture
In October 2017, astrobiologist Karen J. Meech got the call every astronomer waits for: NASA had spotted the very first visitor from another star system.
Our hearts might sometimes be broken, but we don't have to break with them.
"If we can learn to trust one another more, we can have unprecedented human progress," Frei says.
Whether you're starting a new business or just having a conversation, learn how to spot the kinds of questions you're being asked -- and how to respond more effectively.
"When it comes to economic security, wealth is both the beginning and the end."
"The challenge is to eradicate this cycle of emotional illiteracy and groupthink," he says.
How our "experiencing selves" and our "remembering selves" perceive happiness differently.
"Join 'Team Human.' Find the others." he says. "Together let's make the future that we always wanted."
Offers advice on how to better collaborate with the technologies in your workplace -- by treating them like colleagues.
J. Marshall Shepherd explains how confirmation bias, the Dunning-Kruger effect and cognitive dissonance impact what we think we know
In a heartfelt talk, Alan Crickmore explains how the charity Storybook Dads is keeping families connected through the simple act of storytelling.
Ai-Jen Poo shares her efforts to secure equal rights and fair wages for domestic workers and explains how we can all be inspired by them
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.
How can we get people to do more good: to go to the polls, give to charity, conserve resources or just generally act better towards others?
Think about the most tired you've ever been at work.
The subject of race can be very touchy.
"We owe future generations nothing less than a world free of sexual violence," she says. "I believe we can build that world."
Rivera shares how her own childhood as a queer Puerto Rican in the Bronx informed this new narrative
What if we took out more greenhouse gases than we put into the atmosphere?
Tech that can decode your brain activity and reveal what you're thinking and feeling is on the horizon, says legal scholar and ethicist Nita Farahany.
Synthetic biologist Floyd E. Romesberg introduces us to the first living organisms created with six-letter DNA
On any given night, more than 450,000 people in the United States are locked up in jail simply because they don't have enough money to pay bail.
Elizabeth Gilbert shares why openness, transparency and creativity are still central to her philosophy of life
Do you ever order clothes online in different sizes and colors, just to try them on and then send back what doesn't work?
Our oceans are unexplored and undersampled -- today, we still know more about other planets than our own. How can we get to a better understanding of this vast, important ecosystem?
Was 2017 really the "worst year ever," as some would have us believe?
Viruses have a bad reputation -- but some of them could one day save your life, says biotech entrepreneur Alexander Belcredi
Libraries have the power to create a better world; they connect communities, promote literacy and spark lifelong learners
What exactly is civility, and what does it require?
Only if you are truly open to the possibility of being wrong can you ever learn, says researcher Alex Edmans
When you look at Muslim scholar Dalia Mogahed, what do you see: A woman of faith? A scholar, a mom, a sister?
Kocsis breaks down the different threats to internet freedom and shares his plan to build an alternative, decentralized network that returns power to everyday users.
Are we delivering on the promises of the Sustainable Development Goals?
"If we aren't including children in our planning, who else aren't we including?" Mintzer asks.
Learn the origin story of some of your favorite films with this fascinating insider view of the movie business.
Özlem Cekic's email inbox has been full of hate mail since 2007, when she won a seat in the Danish Parliament -- becoming the first female Muslim to do so
Seemingly pointless scientific research can lead to extraordinary discoveries
Sam Harris argues that science can -- and should -- be an authority on moral issues
How do you turn a memory, especially one of a traumatic event, into hard evidence of a crime?
What if your attachment to being a "good" person is holding you back from actually becoming a better person?
Have you ever actually read the terms and conditions for the apps you use?
Taking lessons from a historical pattern called "Thucydides's Trap," political scientist Graham Allison shows why a rising China and a dominant United States could be headed towards a violent collision no one wants
Chehadé discusses the ongoing war between the West and China over artificial intelligence, how tech companies can become stewards of the power they have to shape lives and economies and what everyday citizens can do to claim power on the internet.
What do Tourette syndrome, heroin addiction and social media obsession all have in common?
The first step toward solving global warming, he says, is to admit that we have a problem.
How are we going to provide everybody with basic needs while avoiding the worst impacts of climate change?
Streb reflects on her lifelong quest to defy gravity and fly the only way a human can -- by mastering the landing
What can you do if you're the victim of revenge porn or cyberbullying?
A massive generation of young people is about to inherit the world, and it's the duty of everyone to give them a fighting chance for their futures
Why do we have to choose between nationalism and globalism, between loving our countries and caring for the world?
"Use your voice, and trust that it matters."
Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses
The universe is full of music, he says -- we just need to learn how to hear it.
Kraft shares his vision for a future of personalized medication, unveiling a prototype 3D printer that could design pills that adapt to our individual needs.
In a talk about how we can build a robust future without wrecking the planet, sustainability expert Johan Rockström debuts the Earth3 model
The malaria vaccine was invented more than a century ago -- yet each year, hundreds of thousands of people still die from the disease.
You don't have to be a scientist to help protect the world's oceans
Kelly Richmond Pope shares lessons from some of the most high-profile whistle-blowers of the past
For the first time ever, we have five generations in the workplace at the same time
We may not be as deeply divided as we think -- at least not when it comes to health
You don't have to work on Broadway to design a set, says creative director David Korins
We're living in a golden era of innovation, says entrepreneur Ashwini Anburajan
Imagine being by yourself in the dead center of a 3,000-foot vertical cliff -- without a rope to catch you if you fall.
Spider venom can stop your heart within minutes, cause unimaginable pain -- and potentially save your life
We're taught to believe that hard work and dedication will lead to success, but that's not always the case.
Looking to get ahead in your career?
Kristie Overstreet is on a mission to ensure that the transgender community gets their health care needs met
Shares her plan to help low-income families reduce their bills while also building a cleaner, more sustainable and more affordable energy future for us all.
Is it better to be lucky or good?
Speaking up is hard to do, even when you know you should.
How does a city become known as a "music city"?
Worthy explains how her office helped develop an innovative program to track and test these kits
Keesee reflects on the public safety challenges faced by both the police and local neighborhoods
I grew up in the Westboro Baptist Church. Here's why I left
Mohr put her hand right down on a spiny sea urchin. While a school of sharks circled above. What happened next?
Chip shares how some museums are confronting their legacies of stealing spiritual objects and pillaging ancient graves
In this quick talk, Sadtler shows the different ways these products could help the body regenerate.
What if we could get the lifesaving care provided by hospitals in our own homes?
Learn how she reclaimed her story in this personal talk infused with humor and courage.
When the pressure is on, why do we sometimes fail to live up to our potential?
Our fingerprints are what make us unique -- but they're also home to a world of information hidden in molecules that reveal our actions, lifestyles and routines
If you ever struggle to make decisions, here's a talk for you
Luhan Yang explains a breakthrough: using CRISPR, a technique for editing genes, she and her colleagues have created pigs that don't carry the virus, opening up the possibility of safely growing human-transplantable organs in pigs.
"Effective communication and education is the road to more tolerant communities," Wali says.
Of all the problems facing humanity, which should we focus on solving first?
If we want sustainable, long-term security to be the norm in the world, it's time to radically rethink how we can achieve it
Bastawrous calls for a new health care funding model that's flexible and ambitious -- to deliver better health to everyone, whatever their needs are.
Barreau plays compositions created by AIVA and shares his dream: to create original live soundtracks based on our moods and personalities.
When faced with life's toughest circumstances, how should we respond: as an optimist, a realist or something else?
Learn more about how simple fixes to cut down on this invisible pollutant can help us put the brakes on climate change.
Clifton outlines how businesses can fight sex trafficking, from setting clear policies to hiring survivors.
But to say that we've legalized marijuana is subtly misleading -- what we've really done is commercialized THC, says educator Ben Cort
McCarroll wants to make an atlas of all the cells in the human body so that we can understand in precise detail how specific genes work
"The biggest danger is not failing to achieve the American Dream," Martin says, "the biggest danger is achieving a dream that you don't actually believe in."
Why do we hide our problems around money?
Sacks breaks down the emotional tug-of-war of becoming a new mother -- and shares a term that could help describe it: matrescence.
Halima Aden made history when she became the first hijab-wearing model on the cover of Vogue magazine.
Which way will China go in the future, and how will it affect the global environment?
What's it like to discover a galaxy -- and have it named after you?
Dread Scott's art installations drew national attention for its controversial use of the American flag and led to a landmark First Amendment case in the US Supreme Court.
New tech spawns new anxieties, but we don't need to be afraid an all-powerful, unfeeling AI.
A call for business owners to open up about their failures and makes the case for replacing the idea of "failing fast" with a new mantra: fail mindfully.
A three-part action plan for creating workplaces where people feel safe and expected to be their unassimilated, authentic selves.
Jessica Pryce shares a promising solution to help child welfare agencies make bias-free assessments about when to remove children from their families.
What do communities on the social, economic and environmental margins have in common?
Chetna Gala Sinha shares stories of the women who encouraged her and continue to push her to come up with solutions for those denied traditional financial backing.
Hood shares the five simple concepts that guide his approach to creating spaces that illuminate shared memories and force us to look at one another in a different way.
Hasini Jayatilaka shares her work on an innovative method to stop cancer cells from communicating -- and halt their fatal ability to spread.
Learn more about how this African makerspace is pioneering a grassroots circular economy.
Mary Maker sees education as an essential tool for empowering a generation of girls who are too often denied entrance into the classroom
Tina Seelig shares three unexpected ways to increase your luck
Sydney Chaffee shows how teaching students to engage in activism helps them build important academic and life skills
Underneath every shiny new megacity, there's often a story of communities displaced.
Physician David Casarett was tired of hearing hype and half-truths around medical marijuana, so he put on his skeptic's hat and investigated on his own.
In this fun, fast talk, Marily Oppezzo explains how walking could help you get the most out of your next brainstorm.
A talk to share.
Our culture is obsessed with happiness, but what if there's a more fulfilling path?
In an unmissable talk about race and politics in America, Theo E.J. Wilson tells the story of becoming Lucius25, white supremacist lurker.
Luuvie Ajayi isn't afraid to speak her mind or to be the one dissenting voice in a crowd, and neither should you.
Let's face it, online dating can suck. So many potential people, so much time wasted -- is it even worth it?
What if we could drastically reduce the amount of data needed to train an AI, making diagnoses low-cost and more effective?
Learn more about how free tax prep and guidance could be the best poverty prescription we have in the US.
It's time to invest in face-to-face training that empowers employees to have difficult conversations
The universe is incredibly old, astoundingly vast and populated by trillions of planets -- so where are all the aliens?
History is written by the victors, as the saying goes -- but what would it look like if it was written by everyone?
Once your "smart" appliances can talk to you, who else are they talking to?
Hwang reveals the endless benefits of embracing our complex identities
What if you could search the surface of the Earth the same way you search the internet?
Robb Willer researches how moral values -- typically a source of division -- can also be used to bring people together
Elizabeth White opens up an honest conversation about financial trouble
Dina Katabi and her team are working on a bold new way to monitor patients' vital signs in a hospital
Biologist Dan Gibson edits and programs DNA, just like coders program a computer.
Learn more about the world of microbes living inside you -- and the work being done to create tools to restore and replenish them.
Kola Masha details his plan to bring leadership and investment to small farmers in Africa
In a fascinating talk, Liu details how the tech industry in China has developed.
Jakob Magolan is here to change your perception of organic chemistry.
The divisiveness plaguing American politics today is nothing new, says constitutional law scholar Noah Feldman.
In this awe-inspiring talk packed with images, he shares his work doing detailed scientific surveys in the hopes of protecting this enormous, fragile wilderness.
Why do juveniles falsely confess to crimes?
Oceanographer Penny Chisholm tells the story of a tiny ocean creature you've probably never heard of: Prochlorococcus, the most abundant photosynthetic species on the planet.
Flight is about to get a lot more personal, says aviation entrepreneur Rodin Lyasoff.
How did we get here, and what can we do about it?
Bridges need to be functional, safe and durable, but they should also be elegant and beautiful, says structural engineer Ian Firth.
Multidisciplinary artist and TED Fellow Paul Rucker is unstitching the legacy of systemic racism in the United States.
Learn more about their goal of consigning trachoma to the history books -- and how you can help.
There's a creeping sameness in many of our newest urban buildings and streetscapes, says architect Vishaan Chakrabarti.
What can we learn from the slimy, smelly side of life?
Writer and artist James Bridle uncovers a dark, strange corner of the internet, where unknown people or groups on YouTube hack the brains of young children in return for advertising revenue.
Netflix changed the world of entertainment, but not without taking its fair share of risks.
The global refugee crisis is a mental health catastrophe, leaving millions in need of psychological support to overcome the traumas of dislocation and conflict.
What happens when technology knows more about us than we do?
"Someone who is big and strong and intimidates and insults everyone is not necessarily an alpha male," de Waal says.
In a poetic, personal talk, TED Fellow Katlego Kolanyane-Kesupile examines the connection between her modern queer lifestyle and her childhood upbringing in a rural village in Botswana.
Learn more about how these flexible structures could play a critical role in surgery, medicine and our daily lives.
MIT physicist and AI researcher Max Tegmark separates the real opportunities and threats from the myths, describing the concrete steps we should take today to ensure that AI ends up being the best.
In this imaginative talk, neurobiologist Sam Rodriques takes us on a thrilling tour of the next 100 years in neuroscience.
The late author and filmmaker Amy Krouse Rosenthal gave her husband Jason very public permission to move on and find happiness.
What will we find in the twilight zone: the vast, mysterious, virtually unexplored realm hundreds of meters below the ocean's surface?
Learn more about the fight against misinformation as well as two critical ways we can ensure we're not reading (or sharing) fake news.
What if we could save the fishing industry and protect the oceans at the same time?
If you think democracy is broken, here's an idea: let's replace politicians with randomly selected people.
Public libraries have always been about more than just books.
Truth comes from the collision of different ideas, and theater plays an essential role in showing us that truth.
What if we could use the cold darkness of outer space to cool buildings on earth?
Can a bird that symbolizes death help the living catch criminals?
Gardens are mirrors of our lives, says environmental artist tobacco brown, and we must cultivate them with care to harvest their full beauty.
Humans will soon have new bodies that forever blur the line between the natural and synthetic worlds, says bionics designer Hugh Herr.
Join Anushka Naiknaware as she explains how her "smart bandage" works.
Learn more about her work and how it could change the lives of children who don't have access to hearing care.
Wes Moore joined the US Army to pay for college, but the experience became core to who he is.
Comic books and graphic novels belong in every teacher's toolkit, says cartoonist and educator Gene Luen Yang.
Is there someone in your life dealing with anxiety, depression or thoughts of suicide -- but is too ashamed to talk about it?
Business school professor Amy Edmondson studies "teaming," where people come together quickly to solve new, urgent or unusual problems.
With her signature wit and wisdom, Emily Levine meets her ultimate challenge as a comedian/philosopher: she makes dying funny.
Research investigator Michael Hendryx studies mountaintop removal, an explosive type of surface coal mining used in Appalachia that comes with unexpected health hazards.
Michael Rain is on a mission to tell the stories of first-generation immigrants, who have strong ties both to the countries they grew up in and their countries of origin.
Why do some things seem to create such universal joy?
"When I fight for a woman's digital rights, I am fighting for equality."
From rides to homes and beyond, we're sharing everything these days, with the help of digital tools.
"You do not mess with something so fundamental, so precious, as science," says Kirsty Duncan, Canada's first Minister of Science.
The Butler Bulldogs have a habit of shocking college basketball fans by beating top teams with far more talent. How do they do it?
Local humanitarians are beacons of light in the darkness of war, says humanitarian aid entrepreneur and TED Fellow Rola Hallam.
Sex educator Emily Nagoski breaks down one of the most dangerous myths about sex and introduces us to the science behind arousal nonconcordance.
LB Hannahs candidly shares the experience of parenting as a genderqueer individual.
Kevin Breel didn't look like a depressed kid: team captain, at every party, funny and confident.
Learn how her effort is putting would-be homeowners in control of the largest purchase of their lives.
In one day, in one city, in one neighborhood -- what if everyone put their guns down?
Over the last year, Priya Vulchi and Winona Guo traveled to all 50 US states, collecting personal stories about race and intersectionality.
What good is a sophisticated piece of medical equipment to people in Africa if it can't handle the climate there?
To make accountability the norm after gender violence in the United States, we need to change tactics.
Andrologist John Amory details the science in development -- and why the world needs a male pill.
If you want to build a team of innovative problem-solvers, you should value the humanities just as much as the sciences, says entrepreneur Eric Berridge.
Glen Henry got his superpowers through fatherhood.
Sarah Donnelly shares her insights on how workplaces can accommodate people going through major illnesses.
The global collection of women's experiences can no longer be ignored, says actress and activist Tracee Ellis Ross.
Imagine Africa's future through the lens of inspiring filmmakers from across the continent.
Clemantine Wamariya was six years old when the Rwandan Civil War forced her and her sister to flee their home in Kigali, leaving their parents and everything they knew behind.
What's up at SpaceX?
Ocean expert Nancy Rabalais tracks the ominously named "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico -- where there isn't enough oxygen in the water to support life.
Why do we still think that drug use is a law-enforcement issue?
Unlike the solar cells you're used to seeing, organic photovoltaics are made of compounds that are dissolved in ink and can be printed and molded using simple techniques.
In the ongoing debate over refugees, we hear from everyone, that is, except migrants themselves. Why are they coming?
In this moving, personal talk, she shares her story of homelessness and finding her voice through arts.
After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017, chef José Andrés traveled to the devastated island with a simple idea: to feed the hungry.
Still invisible and often an afterthought, indigenous peoples are uniting to protect the world's water, lands and history -- while trying to heal from genocide and ongoing inequality
TED Fellow Kasiva Mutua shares how she's breaking the taboo against female drummers in Kenya.
Taking a stand for solar geoengineering, Danny Hillis looks at controversial solutions with open-minded curiosity.
There's no such thing as throwing something away, says Andrew Dent.
In 2009, journalist and screenwriter Drew Philp bought a ruined house in Detroit for $500.
Irina Kareva translates biology into mathematics and vice versa.
How can we make AI that people actually want to interact with?
Four decades ago, Judith Heumann helped to lead a groundbreaking protest called the Section 504 sit-in.
As a humanist, Leo Igwe doesn't believe in divine intervention -- but he does believe in the power of human beings.
Ndidi Nwuneli has advice for Africans who believe in God -- and Africans who don't.
Erica Stone advocates for a new, open-access relationship between the public and scholars.
Each year, the world loses enough food to feed half a billion people to fungi, the most destructive pathogens of plants.
There's still time to plan against the impending data apocalypse, says encryption expert Vikram Sharma.
What if we incentivized doctors to keep us healthy instead of paying them only when we're already sick?
The United States locks up more people than any other country in the world, says documentarian Eve Abrams.
In most workplaces, criticizing your boss is a great way to lose your job.
Learn more about the "adjacent possible" -- the crossroads of what's actual and what's possible.
Soka Moses took on one of the toughest jobs in the world: treating highly contagious patients at the height of Liberia's Ebola outbreak.
We use rituals to mark the early stages of our lives, like birthdays and graduations -- but what about our later years?
Liz Ogbu is an architect who works on spatial justice.
Director and playwright Adong Judith creates provocative art that sparks dialogue on issues from LGBTQ rights to war crimes.
Something strange and deadly is happening inside the brains of top athletes.
We're all against hate, right? We agree it's a problem -- their problem, not our problem, that is.
The arts bring meaning to our lives and spirit to our culture -- so why do we expect artists to struggle to make a living?
How will we distribute wealth in a world when there will be less -- or even no -- work?
What kind of reading experiences should we be creating to ensure that all children read well?
"Imagine a world without prisons," Van Buren says. "And join me in creating all the things that we could build instead."
This isn’t just a minor inconvenience: staying awake can cause serious bodily harm.
Author and activist Isabel Allende discusses women, creativity, the definition of feminism.
A 24-hour helpline in the UK known as Samaritans helped Sophie Andrews become a survivor of abuse rather than a victim.
Musimbi Kanyoro works to support women and their ideas so they can expand and grow.
Tom Zimmerman and cell engineer Simone Bianco hook up a 3D microscope to a drop of water and take you scuba diving with plankton.
Around the globe, individuality can be a crime, and clothing can be a form of protest.
"Soccer is the only thing on this planet that we can all agree to do together," says theater maker and TED Fellow Marc Bamuthi Joseph.
Minda Dentler tells the inspiring story of how she conquered this epic race, and what it inspired her to do next.
Want to connect with a depressed friend but not sure how to relate to them?
In a captivating journey, they weave together stories full of laughter, loyalty, tragedy and heartbreak.
Shameem Akhtar posed as a boy during her early childhood in Pakistan so she could enjoy the privileges Pakistani girls are rarely afforded.
Antarctica is a vast and dynamic place, but radar technologies are enabling scientists to observe and understand changes beneath the continent's ice.
Do human emotions have a role to play in science and research?
Driving in Johannesburg one day, Tapiwa Chiwewe noticed an enormous cloud of air pollution hanging over the city.
TED Fellow Robert Hakiza takes us inside the lives of urban refugees.
From our fear of women's bodies to our sheepishness around the word "nipple," our ideas about sex need an upgrade.
Learn more about his invention -- and how it helped the 2015 Nashik Kumbh Mela have zero stampedes and casualties.
Margaret Mitchell tells a cautionary tale about the gaps, blind spots and biases we subconsciously encode into AI.
Hacking, fake news, information bubbles ... all these and more have become part of the vernacular in recent years.
What habits confine us, and how can we break them?
What happens to the clothes we don't buy?
"To be African is to be inspired by culture and to be filled with undying hope for the future," says designer and TED Fellow Walé Oyéjidé.
The hymen is still the most misunderstood part of the female body.
Bhu Srinivasan researches the intersection of capitalism and technological progress.
The democratic process is messy, complicated and often inefficient -- but across Africa, activists are redefining democracy by putting protest at its center.
Mohamad Jebara's company is experimenting with a bold idea: paying students for completing weekly math homework.
If architect and writer John Cary has his way, women will never need to stand in pointlessly long bathroom lines again.
Su Kahumbu raises badass cows -- healthy, well-fed animals whose protein is key to solving a growing crisis in Africa: childhood nutritional stunting.
Learn more about these mysterious microbes, which refuse to grow in the lab and seem to have a fundamentally different relationship with time and energy than we do.
The internet can be an ugly place, but you won't find bullies or trolls on Stuart Duncan's Minecraft server, AutCraft.
In a moving talk, Peter Ouko tells the story of how he was freed -- and his current mission with the African Prisons Project.
Danielle Wood identifies six technologies developed for space exploration that can contribute to sustainable development across the world.
Performing her poem "The Joys of Motherhood," Mwende Katwiwa explores the experience of Black mothers in America.
Anjali Kumar went looking for God and ended up finding something else entirely.
Learn more about how fish of different species communicate via social networks.
What do we really know about mosquitoes?
There's an energy revolution happening in villages and towns across Africa.
Social scientist Leila Takayama shares some unique challenges of designing for human-robot interactions.
Can we solve the problem of ocean plastic pollution and end extreme poverty at the same time?
Think we're winning the battle against HIV? Maybe not, as the next wave of drug-resistant viruses arrives.
Learn more about how executives can move beyond corporate social responsibility to "total societal impact".
Economist Naoko Ishii outlines four economic systems we need to change to safeguard the global commons.
On one awful night in 1995, Ples Felix's 14-year-old grandson murdered Azim Khamisa's son in a gang initiation.
Former Republican member of the U.S. Congress Bob Inglis shares an optimistic message about how conservatives can lead on climate change and other pressing problems.
Once a cared-for patient and now a caregiver himself, Scott Williams highlights the invaluable role of informal caregivers.
Do you know what you want when you die? Do you know how you want to be remembered?
In 1988, Matt Goldman and a few friends created the Blue Man Group, an off-Broadway production that became a sensation.
Bryan Stevenson shares some hard truths about America's justice system, starting with a massive imbalance along racial lines.
What can you do when the wheels of justice don't turn fast enough? Or when they don't turn at all?
Alexis Charpentier shares his love of records -- and stories of how collectors have given forgotten music a second chance at being heard.
How can Africans find solutions to Africa's problems?
Soyapi Mumba shares how his jack-of-all-trades mindset can help reshape health care in low-resource environments.
Do you have a favorite T-shirt or pair of jeans that transforms you and makes you feel confident -- makes you feel like you?
Art curator Touria El Glaoui is on a mission to showcase vital new art from African nations and the diaspora.
In conversation with TED Curator Chris Anderson, Stewart Brand discusses ... just about everything.
Introducing "The Talk 2.0," Sue Jaye Johnson shows us how we can teach our children to tune in to their sensations.
The treatment of HIV has significantly advanced -- why hasn't our perception of people with the disease advanced along with it?
Lana Mazahreh shares three lessons from water-poor countries on how to save water and address what's fast becoming a global crisis.
Talent is universal, but opportunity isn't, says TED Fellow Christopher Ategeka.
Bill Gross found one factor that stands out from the others -- and surprised even him.
In this personal talk, she shares the story of how she became the first black woman to earn a PhD in astrophysics from Yale.
Is there a definitive line that divides crazy from sane?
Here's a talk that could literally change your life.
What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life?
Challenges and problems can derail your creative process ... or they can make you more creative than ever.
Heather Lanier questions our assumptions about what makes a life "good" or "bad".
Christian Benimana wants to build a network of architects who can help Africa's booming cities.
In this moving talk, the mother and son artists describe how they draw from one another in their work.
Could smartphones and cameras be our most powerful weapon for social justice?
Joel Jackson wants to reimagine transportation around the needs of the African consumer.
What will this transformation mean for the future of shopping?
We've tried to develop new drugs faster than bacteria can evolve -- but this strategy isn't working.
Africa needs engineers, but its engineering students often end up working at auditing firms and banks. Why?
How do you study the atmosphere on the Sun, which burns at temperatures of up to around 10 million degrees Kelvin?
Joan Blades and John Gable want you to make friends with people who vote differently than you do.
How will we live elsewhere in the galaxy?
If you're undergoing surgery, you want the best surgical team to collaborate on your case, no matter where they are.
There's something amazing growing in the city of Detroit: healthy, accessible, delicious, fresh food.
What's the secret to making content people love?
We all know that when we make decisions in groups, they don't always go right -- and sometimes they go very wrong.
What's the harm in buying a knock-off purse or a fake designer watch?
There's nothing quite like a good night's sleep. What if technology could help us get more out of it?
Conventional wisdom says that to win an election, you need to play to your constituencies' basest, most divisive instincts.
Educator and entrepreneur Sebastian Thrun wants us to use AI to free humanity of repetitive work and unleash our creativity.
We're not going to build the future with fossil fuels, Chieza says. We're going to build it with biology.
Fresh food free of chemicals and pesticides is hard to come by in China.
Keller Rinaudo wants everyone on earth to have access to basic health care, no matter how hard it is to reach them.
What makes our bodies age ... our skin wrinkle, our hair turn white, our immune systems weaken?
A talk that might help the world sound more beautiful.
Leah Chase's New Orleans restaurant Dooky Chase changed the course of American history over gumbo and fried chicken.
Who says an embroidered handkerchief can't change the world?
How did these four companies come to infiltrate our lives so completely?
Niti Bhan makes the case that this booming segment of the economy is legitimate and worthy of investment.
Kayla Briët creates art that explores identity and self-discovery -- and the fear that her culture may someday be forgotten.
A moving talk about a daughter's love -- and of letting go and finding peace.
Military leaders have known for millennia that the time to prepare for a challenge is before it hits you.
What do you think would happen if you invited an individual with mental health issues who had been homeless for many years to move directly from the street into housing?
Gender should be the least remarkable thing about someone, but transgender people are still too often misunderstood.
In 2011, Teresa Njoroge was convicted of a financial crime she didn't commit.
In halls of justice around the world, how can we ensure everyone is treated with dignity and respect?
Robert Muggah articulates an ancient but resurging idea: cities shouldn't just be the center of economics.
Sometimes trying your best isn't enough; when the situation demands it, you need to be perfect.
What steps can we take to avoid further destruction?
Gill Hicks's story is one of compassion and humanity, emerging from the ashes of chaos and hate.
If you're not already a fan of earth's feathermakers -- or concerned about their conservation -- you will be after you watch this delightful talk.
When Gretchen Carlson spoke out about her experience of workplace sexual harassment, it inspired women everywhere to take their power back.
The most important infrastructure we have is educated minds, says former Tunisian government minister Amel Karboul.
"My science fiction has different ancestors -- African ones," says writer Nnedi Okorafor.
How did we get so lucky, and will we continue to win?
Could we cure climate change?
Shonda Rhimes discusses the future of media networks, how she's using her narrative-building skills as a force for good.
What we need to understand is how the powerful might use AI to control us -- and what we can do in response.
Learn more about how this potentially life-saving tool could promote peace in countries plagued by land mines once conflicts end.
Machines that can think, learn and adapt are coming -- and that could mean that we humans will end up with significant unemployment.
Are diverse companies really more innovative?
A war zone can pass for a mostly peaceful place when no one is watching.
The world doesn't need more nuclear weapons | Erika Gregory
Want kids to learn well? Feed them well | Sam Kass
The lies we tell pregnant women | Sofia Jawed-Wessel
A better way to talk about love | Mandy Len Catron
If a story moves you, act on it | Sisonke Msimang
Art made of the air we breathe | Emily Parsons-Lord
Buildings that blend nature and city | Jeanne Gang
Where is cybercrime really coming from? | Caleb Barlow
What we don't know about Europe's Muslim kids | Deeyah Khan
Help discover ancient ruins -- before it's too late | Sarah Parcak
My son was a Columbine shooter. This is my story | Sue Klebold
Our story of rape and reconciliation | Thordis Elva and Tom Stranger
4 ways to make a city more walkable | Jeff Speck
What it's like to be a parent in a war zone | Aala El-Khani
How racism harms pregnant women -- and what can help | Miriam Zoila Pérez
How to practice safe sexting | Amy Adele Hasinoff
3 ways to fix a broken news industry | Lara Setrakian
How jails extort the poor | Salil Dudani
The racial politics of time | Brittney Cooper
A few ways to fix a government | Charity Wayua
The data behind Hollywood's sexism | Stacy Smith
This app makes it fun to pick up litter | Jeff Kirschner
What I learned from 2,000 obituaries | Lux Narayan
Stories from a home for terminally ill children | Kathy Hull
To raise brave girls, encourage adventure | Caroline Paul
Why women should tell the stories of humanity | Jude Kelly
Beautiful new words to describe obscure emotions | John Koenig
A burial practice that nourishes the planet | Caitlin Doughty
What young women believe about their own sexual pleasure | Peggy Orenstein
Lifelike simulations that make real-life surgery safer | Peter Weinstock
Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness | Michele L. Sullivan
Why civilians suffer more once a war is over | Margaret Bourdeaux
Who would the rest of the world vote for in your country's election? | Simon Anholt
A young inventor's plan to recycle Styrofoam | Ashton Cofer
Addiction is a disease. We should treat it like one | Michael Botticelli
Know your worth, and then ask for it | Casey Brown
How to take a picture of a black hole | Katie Bouman
How racism makes us sick | David R. Williams
3 ways to plan for the (very) long term | Ari Wallach
How do you build a sacred space? | Siamak Hariri
How radio telescopes show us unseen galaxies | Natasha Hurley-Walker
A video game to cope with grief | Amy Green
How I learned to read -- and trade stocks -- in prison | Curtis "Wall Street" Carroll
How fake news does real harm | Stephanie Busari
On tennis, love and motherhood | Serena Williams and Gayle King
Behind the lies of Holocaust denial | Deborah Lipstadt
There's no shame in taking care of your mental health | Sangu Delle
A summer school kids actually want to attend | Karim Abouelnaga
A tribute to nurses | Carolyn Jones
A climate solution where all sides can win | Ted Halstead
Walking as a revolutionary act of self-care | T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison
Poverty isn't a lack of character; it's a lack of cash | Rutger Bregman
Why I speak up about living with epilepsy | Sitawa Wafula
Don't fear intelligent machines. Work with them | Garry Kasparov
Am I not human? A call for criminal justice reform | Marlon Peterson
What we see in movies matters: it affects our hobbies, our career choices, our emotions and even our identities.
One in five women in the United States will not have a biological child, and Christen Reighter is one of them.
You are more than you think you are, says former pro wrestler Mike Kinney.
In the vast sweep of history, even an empire can be forgotten.
Chris Sheldrick explains the economic and political implications of giving every location on earth an accurate address.
Artist Uldus Bakhtiozina documents dreams, working with daily life as she imagines it could be.
In an important talk about the state of the global business, Margrethe Vestager explains why markets need clear rules.
Instead of using human design to fight cancer, why not use nature's?
The Greenland ice sheet is massive, mysterious -- and melting.
It's never too late to reinvent yourself.
Are screens ruining childhood?
We've all heard that robots are going to take our jobs -- but what can we do about it?
In this vibrant talk, Eric Dyer showcases his resulting art inventions: spinning sculptures and that evoke beautiful, dreamlike scenes.
Neuroscientist Greg Gage shows us how plants use electrical signals to convey information, prompt movement and even count.
Chika Ezeanya-Esiobu wants to see Africans unleash their suppressed creative and innovative energies by acknowledging the significance of their indigenous, authentic knowledge.
In conversation with TED Curator Chris Anderson, Christiane Amanpour discusses fake news, objectivity in journalism, the leadership vacuum in global politics and more.
Sara Menker quit a career in commodities trading to figure out how the global value chain of agriculture works.
Having feelings isn't a sign of weakness -- they mean we're human, says producer and activist Nikki Webber Allen.
Applying his knowledge of photography, Levon Biss created a process for shooting insects in unbelievable microscopic detail.
In this graceful dance-talk hybrid, artist Prumsodun Ok details the rich history of Khmer classical dance and its current revival.
Science journalist Helen Pearson shares some important findings and simple truths about life and good parenting.
Lee shares her experience living as the enemy in a detention center for 140 days -- and the tiny gestures of humanity from her guards that sustained her.
Christian Rodríguez is a photographer and filmmaker -- and the son of a teenage mother.
Visit an awe-inspiring school, an elegant office and cozy social spaces -- all built from natural materials -- in this delightful talk.
Think outside big-city walls and consider the advantages of country living with the forward-thinking talk.
Nabila Alibhai and her colleagues created "Colour in Faith," a social practice art project that unites people of different religions.
Marine biologist Mei Lin Neo shares why she's obsessively trying to turn these legendary sea creatures into heroes of the oceans.
How can disadvantaged students succeed in school?
What does your dream city look like?
Science fiction visions of the future show us AI built to replicate how our minds work -- but what if we modeled it instead on the other kinds of intelligence found in nature?
How can you study Mars without a spaceship?
Between 2008 and 2016, the United States deported more than three million people. What happens to those left behind?
How can Africa, the home to some of the largest bodies of water in the world, be said to have a water crisis?
What if you could know exactly how food or medication would impact your health -- before you put it in your body?
In this powerful, tour-de-force talk, Sethembile Mzesane shares the stories and motivation behind her mesmerizing performance art.
Physicist Helen Czerski presents various concepts in physics you can become familiar with using everyday things found in your kitchen.
Augie Picado gives us a reality check about what global trade really looks like and how shared protection and open borders help us make higher quality products at lower costs.
Forget quinoa. Meet fonio, an ancient "miracle grain" native to Senegal that's versatile, nutritious and gluten-free.
Each year, one in seven large corporations commits fraud. Why?
Can you still be friends with someone who doesn't vote the same way as you?
What the astronauts felt when they saw Earth from space changed them forever.
What if you knew what your coworkers really thought about you and what they were really like?
Erin Marie Saltman discusses the push and pull factors that cause people to join extremist groups.
Check out Roosegaarde's vision for a future where creativity is our true capital.
There's no single formula for a great talk, but there is a secret ingredient that all the best ones have in common.
In a powerful talk about how we understand who we are, Chetan Bhatt challenges us to think creatively about each other and our future.
Digital archaeologist Chance Coughenour is using pictures -- your pictures -- to reclaim antiquities that have been lost to conflict and disaster.
What's stopping the American government from recording your phone calls, reading your emails and monitoring your location?
Todai Robot's success raises alarming questions for the future of human education.
Could it be wrong to help children in need by starting an orphanage?
Another economic reality is possible -- one that values community, sustainability and resiliency instead of profit by any means necessary.
Every artist has a name, and every artist has a story.
Your cells are coated with sugars that store information and speak a secret language.
Glimpse a strange future as Hanson describes what could happen if robots ruled the earth.
David Whyte meditates on the frontiers of the past, present and future.
Should a driverless car kill you if it means saving five pedestrians?
Mathematician and data scientist Cathy O'Neil coined a term for algorithms that are secret, important and harmful: "weapons of math destruction."
"Music is everywhere, and it is in everything," says musician, student and TED-Ed Clubs star Anika Paulson.
Learn more about super longevity as Pinker explains what it takes to live to 100 and beyond.
Find out how your city can replicate Albuquerque's model with this frank and optimistic talk.
The way we build new cities will be at the heart of so much that matters, from climate change to economic vitality to our very well-being and sense of connectedness.
With Patreon, Conte has created a way for artists on the internet to get paid by their fans.
Watch this essential talk about the duty we all have to make the world a bit more fair every day, however we can.
When artist Damon Davis went to join the protests in Ferguson, Missouri, after police killed Michael Brown in 2014, he found not only anger but also a sense of love for self and community.
Behold the microscopic jungle in and around you: tiny organisms living on your cheeks, under your sofa and in the soil in your backyard.
On August 21, 2017, the moon's shadow will race from Oregon to South Carolina in what some consider to be the most awe-inspiring spectacle in all of nature: a total solar eclipse.
It's ageism, a prejudice that pits us against our future selves -- and each other.
Anjan Chatterjee uses tools from evolutionary psychology and cognitive neuroscience to study one of nature's most captivating concepts: beauty.
How smart can our machines make us?
In a remarkable live demo, Redmon shows off this important step forward for applications like self-driving cars, robotics and even cancer detection.
In this visual retrospective, Mouly considers how a simple drawing can cut through the torrent of images that we see every day and elegantly capture the feeling (and the sensibility) of a moment in time.
How do we make sense of today's political divisions?
What happens when we shift our focus and confront unspoken truths?
That science fiction future where robots can do what people and animals do may be closer than you think.
Marhaver reminds us why we need to keep working to protect the precious corals we have left.
Do your kidneys have a sense of smell?
From Facebook notifications to Snapstreaks to YouTube autoplays, they're all competing for one thing: your attention.
Jimmy Lin is developing technologies to catch cancer months to years before current methods.
Loneliness doesn't always stem from being alone.
Born with a genetic visual impairment that has no correction or cure, Susan Robinson is legally blind (or partially sighted, as she prefers it) and entitled to a label she hates: "disabled."
Why do so many companies make bad decisions, even with access to unprecedented amounts of data?
Join Seth for a delightfully disorienting talk that may leave you questioning the very nature of your existence.
Climate scientist Kate Marvel takes us through the science of clouds and what it might take for the earth to break its own fever.
What are our screens and devices doing to us?
How rocks deposited by ancient rivers can be used as a time machine to study the earth's history
In this electrifying talk, the spiritual leader gives us three specific ways we can move from the politics of "me" to the politics of "all of us, together."
Inventor Manu Prakash turns everyday materials into powerful scientific devices.
What do you do when your firmly held beliefs turn out not to be true?
Jacobs talks about the year he spent living biblically -- following the rules in the Bible as literally as possible.
Writer Taiye Selasi speaks on behalf of "multi-local" people.
Hear his vision to take StoryCorps global — and how you can be a part of it.
How Nyad achieved her lifetime goal as an athlete: an extreme 100-mile swim from Cuba to Florida -- at age 64.
Is that really what the David and Goliath story is about?
Takei looks back at how the internment camp during World War II shaped his surprising, personal definition of patriotism and democracy.
Adichie warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.
Emilie Wapnick describes the kind of people she calls "multipotentialites" -- who have a range of interests and jobs over one lifetime.
Ruzo explores a river that forces us to question the line between known and unknown ... and reminds us that there are great wonders yet to be discovered.
Get inspired to make a personal difference in the lives of refugees with this powerful talk.
Cochrane explores the role that hair texture has played in the history of being black in America.
Burke tells us what it's like to navigate the world as a little person and asks: "Who are we not designing for?"
Miliband gives us specific, tangible ways to help refugees and turn empathy and altruism into action.
Catch a glimpse of possible futures in this eye-opening talk.
As President of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim wants to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity for all.
Electro-pop duo Sofi Tukker dance it out with the TED audience in a performance of their upbeat, rhythmic song.
Sharon Terry took the medical research world by storm when her two young children were diagnosed with a rare disease.
What if our bodies could help grow new life after we die, instead of being embalmed and buried or turned to ash?
Learn more about the trial and error process behind his invention.
Attention isn't just about what we focus on -- it's also about what our brains filter out.
Rethink your city's anatomy as Davidson explains how the exteriors of building shape the urban experience.
How to take active steps to burst our filter bubbles and participate in the common reality
How to design a library that makes kids want to read | Michael Bierut
Rhiannon Giddens pours the emotional weight of American history into her music.
Physician Raj Panjabi has a bold vision to bring health care to everyone, everywhere.
How pollution is changing the ocean's chemistry | Triona McGrath
How to find a wonderful idea | OK Go
A secret weapon against Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases | Nina Fedoroff
What could a 700-year-old painting possibly teach us about life today? Turns out, a lot.
Why school should start later for teens | Wendy Troxel
What makes life worth living in the face of death | Lucy Kalanithi
3 principles for creating safer AI | Stuart Russell
Thoughts on humanity, fame and love | Shah Rukh Khan
How human noise affects ocean habitats | Kate Stafford
How can humans be so compassionate and altruistic -- and also so brutal and violent?
The future we're building -- and boring | Elon Musk
Science in service to the public good | Siddhartha Roy
A simple birth kit for mothers in the developing world | Zubaida Bai
An intergalactic guide to using a defibrillator | Todd Scott
In praise of conflict | Jonathan Marks
How we can find ourselves in data | Giorgia Lupi
Political common ground in a polarized United States | Gretchen Carlson, David Brooks
A young poet tells the story of Darfur | Emtithal Mahmoud
"Music for Wood and Strings" | Sō Percussion
How early life experience is written into DNA | Moshe Szyf
What we don't know about mother's milk | Katie Hinde
3 ways to spot a bad statistic | Mona Chalabi
Inside America's dead shopping malls | Dan Bell
"Turceasca" | Silk Road Ensemble
Adventures of an asteroid hunter | Carrie Nugent
How I'm fighting bias in algorithms | Joy Buolamwini
A scientific approach to the paranormal | Carrie Poppy
"Rollercoaster" | Sara Ramirez
Smelfies, and other experiments in synthetic biology | Ani Liu
A robot that eats pollution | Jonathan Rossiter
An electrifying acoustic guitar performance | Rodrigo y Gabriela
New nanotech to detect cancer early | Joshua Smith
The incredible inventions of intuitive AI | Maurice Conti
What time is it on Mars? | Nagin Cox
How to get better at the things you care about | Eduardo Briceño
Why you should love statistics | Alan Smith
A young scientist's quest for clean water | Deepika Kurup
The ethical dilemma of designer babies | Paul Knoepfler
How online abuse of women has spiraled out of control | Ashley Judd
What happens when you have a disease doctors can't diagnose | Jennifer Brea
To solve old problems, study new species | Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado
Meet the inventor of the electronic spreadsheet | Dan Bricklin
The next step in nanotechnology | George Tulevski
Are you a giver or a taker? | Adam Grant
My quest to end the horror of gun violence in the US | Lucy McBath
October 28, 202312min 46sec
US Congresswoman Lucy McBath has made it her mission to seek bipartisan solutions for gun safety, leading the way in sponsoring so-called “red flag” laws that prevent gun violence and mass shootings. In a searing and timely talk, she shares the personal story that led her to this work — and a message for why comprehensive, common-sense gun legislation in the US is more urgent than ever.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.