TED-Ed

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/unintended-consequences-edward-tennerEvery new invention changes the world -- in ways both intentional and unexpected. Historian Edward Tenner tells stories that illustrate the under-appreciated gap between our ability to innovate and our ability to foresee the consequences. Talk by Edward Tenner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch...

Dig into how African clawed frogs can help detect human pregnancy, and how their use in experiments had unintended consequences.--In the early 20th century, pregnancy testing required a slippery piece of equipment: a female African clawed frog. For decades, hospitals and research labs had a trusted supply of these handy creatures, employing their help in testing for pregnancy and in numerous other...

Get to know one of the most infamous scientific rivalries in history, known as the Bone Wars, where two scientists competed to find dinosaur fossils.--After the California Gold Rush of 1848, settlers streamed west to strike it rich. In addition to precious metals, they unearthed another treasure: dinosaur bones. Two wealthy scientists in particular— Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope— c...

Patricia Kuhl shares astonishing findings about how babies learn one language over another -- by listening to the humans around them and "taking statistics" on the sounds they need to know. Clever lab experiments (and brain scans) show how 6-month-old babies use sophisticated reasoning to understand their world. (Filmed at TEDxRainier.)Talk by Patricia Kuhl. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/doodlers-unite-sunni-brownStudies show that sketching and doodling improve our comprehension -- and our creative thinking. So why do we still feel embarrassed when we're caught doodling in a meeting? Sunni Brown says: Doodlers, unite! She makes the case for unlocking your brain via pad and pen. Talk by Sunni Brown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Explore the science of what attracts mosquitos, and find out why mosquitos bite some people more than others.--Some swear they’re cursed to be hunted by mosquitos while their close-by companions are regularly left unscathed. Are mosquitos really attracted to some people more than others? And if so, is there anything we can do about it? Maria Elena De Obaldia digs into what factors make people tast...

Ten years of research and 500 face-to-face-interviews led Richard St. John to a collection of eight common traits in successful leaders around the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Follow Maxo, a warrior of the Chimu Empire, as he navigates the Inca-conquered streets of Chan Chan to receive a secret message.--It’s daybreak in the city of Chan Chan, and former soldier Maxo has been up all night fretting. Last night, a friend stopped by and instructed him to go to the plaza at noon to receive an important message. But with the recent defeat of their army and the overthrow of t...

Explore the economic strategy of quantitative easing, where a central bank purchases bonds in order to boost the economy.--In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic rocked economies worldwide. Millions of people lost their jobs, and many businesses struggled to survive or shut down. Governments responded with some of the largest economic relief packages in history— the US alone spent $2.2 trillion on a...

For love or money? Based on hundreds of interviews and his personal experience, Richard St. John suggests that passion, not money, is one of the key drivers of success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Puzzle through a classic ethical dilemma and decide: can human existence be meaningful without its creativity and culture? --Life on your planet depends entirely on Nuronium for normal cognition. Unfortunately, its source has been compromised and you are now at risk of extinction. Scientists have found an alternate energy source, Polixate, but it can’t sustain cognition and would mean the loss of...

Nothing comes easy, and behind every success are hours of plain hard work. Sounds intimidating, but Richard St. John proposes a simple shift in attitude to turn mediocre into incredible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore the possibilities and challenges of what a vegetarian world could look like if we all immediately stopped eating meat. --Imagine if a wizard of meatless dining suddenly appeared on Earth and with one wave of a wand wiped away all meat from our shelves— along with any desire to eat it. Farm animals destined for food vanish, whisked away to another planet. What happens in the following days,...

Jason Fried has a radical theory of working: that the office isn't a good place to do it. In his talk, he lays out the main problems (call them the M&Ms) and offers three suggestions to make work work. (Filmed at TEDxMidWest.)Talk by Jason Fried. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/mysteries-of-vernacular-noise-jessica-oreckThe words noise, nausea, and naval all stem from the same Latin root. Jessica Oreck divulges how their spellings and meanings diverged from the original naus. Lesson and animation by Jessica Oreck. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore how marine creatures survive the frigid waters of Antarctica, and what traits allow them to live in such conditions.--The vast, white surface of Antarctica stretches for over 3 million square kilometers. On the coast of this expanse, just a few meters beneath the ice, lies a remarkably diverse realm that is home to over 8,000 species of sea denizens who rely on an arsenal of otherworldly t...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/mysteries-of-vernacular-hearse-jessica-oreckToday, we recognize the word hearse as a vehicle that carries a coffin to a funeral. Jessica Oreck explains how this word has, at various times, described a wolf, a rake, and a frame, eventually landing at its meaning today. Lesson and animation by Jessica Oreck. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...

Explore how the brain learns and stores information, and find out how to apply this for more effective study techniques.--A 2006 study took a class of surgical residents and split them into two groups. Each received the same study materials, but one group was told to use specific study methods. When tested a month later, this group performed significantly better than the other residents. So, what...

Explore Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem, a discovery which changed what we know about mathematical proofs and statements.--Consider the following sentence: “This statement is false.” Is that true? If so, that would make the statement false. But if it’s false, then the statement is true. This sentence creates an unsolvable paradox; if it’s not true and it’s not false– what is it? This question led a...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/a-call-to-invention-diy-speaker-edition-william-gurstelleThere's a pleasure in making things for yourself -- especially something unexpected. At TEDYouth 2012, William Gurstelle shows how to make your own speakers from objects probably already laying around your house, like copper wire and an empty yogurt cup. Talk by William Gurstelle. Learn more about...

Dig into the biggest problems facing our current plastic recycling process, and explore potential solutions to these systems. --If you’ve ever looked at the bottom of a disposable bottle or cup, you’ve probably noticed a recycling symbol. Seeing this, many people assume the item should be put in a recycling bin. Yet many plastics are incapable of being recycled at most centers. In fact, only 9% is...

Who hasn't sent a text message saying "I'm on my way" when it wasn't true or fudged the truth a touch in their online dating profile? But Jeff Hancock doesn't believe that the anonymity of the internet encourages dishonesty. In fact, he says the searchability and permanence of information online may even keep us honest. Talk by Jeff Hancock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...

Explore what prevents us from learning from our failures, and how to become more resilient through cultivating a growth mindset.--People often describe failure as a teachable moment— a necessary stumble on our way to improvement. But learning from our mistakes isn’t always easy, especially when those failures are demoralizing, overwhelming, or just downright confusing. So what prevents us from tur...

Thailand's "Mr. Condom," Mechai Viravaidya, walks us through the country's bold plan to raise its standard of living, starting in the 1970s. First step: population control. And that means a lot of frank, funny -- and very effective -- talk about condoms. (Filmed at TEDxChange.)Talky by Mechai Viravaidya. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/networking-for-the-networking-averse-lisa-green-chauNetworking can seem so hard -- but not if you have the right advice. Try taking advantage of weak ties; you never know what friend of a friend of a friend can aid you in your dreams. Lisa Green Chau outlines how being proactive and always saying yes can lead to future opportunities. Lesson by Lisa Green...