TED-Ed

View full lesson on ed.ted.com http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-breathing-works-nirvair-kaurWe breathe constantly, but have you ever thought about how breathing works? Discover the ins and outs of one of our most basic living functions-- from the science of respiration to how to control your breaths. Lesson by Nirvair Kaur, animation by Santiago Uceda. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...

Explore how big-headed ants have changed an entire ecosystem in Kenya, from its insects and plants to its biggest predators.--In the early 2000s, one of the world’s most widespread invasive species landed in Kenya’s Laikipia Plateau: big-headed ants. They expanded rapidly into super-colonies, preying on other insects, spiders, and even small birds. Their presence has wreaked havoc on the ecosystem...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-game-changing-amniotic-egg-april-tucker350 million years ago, eggs could not survive far from water, therefore animals were water-bound. That is, until the amniotic egg, which allowed animals to live a fully terrestrial life. April Tucker peels back each layer of the amniotic egg, revealing how truly extraordinary this evolutionary marvel is. Lesson...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-carbon-cycle-nathaniel-manningWhat exactly is the carbon cycle? Nathaniel Manning provides a basic look into the cyclical relationship of carbon, humans and the environment. Lesson by Nathaniel Manning, animation by Jill Johnston. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore how Salmonella spreads from chickens to humans, and learn how this crafty microscopic pathogen makes us sick.--Salmonella infects millions worldwide each year, causing fever, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. And these effects can be extreme: Salmonella is the leading cause of hospitalizations and deaths from food poisoning. So, how does it spread from chickens to humans? And how does it make...

The world owes much of its cultural legacy to Constantinople's walls. When Constantinople was under seige by neighboring enemies, the Roman city's elaborate system of moats, outer walls, and inner walls stood tall. Surviving numerous fire attacks, the walls were eventually brought down by more modern tools of warfare, but, thankfully, classical culture survived. Lesson by Lars Brownworth, animatio...

In this talk, planetary scientist Joel Levine shows some intriguing -- and puzzling -- new discoveries about Mars: craters full of ice, traces of ancient oceans, and compelling hints at the presence, sometime in the past, of life. He makes the case for going back to Mars to find out more. (Filmed at TEDxNASA.)Talk by Joel Levine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more at https://brilliant.org/TedEd--When the Visualphone VP210 hit the market in 1999, it advertised a never-before-seen feature: a camera. With only .11 megapixels, the Visualphone is a relic compared to modern devices. But while this technology has improved dramatically, engineers are rapidly approaching a hard limit on phone camera quality. So, what's limiting them? Rachel Yang shares a...

Trace the evolution of dog breeds, and find out why their characteristics, behaviors, and personalities vary so widely.--The immense physical variety of dogs makes them among the world’s most diverse species and likely the one with the greatest range in size. A Pomeranian, for example, might weigh 2 kilograms, while a Mastiff could tip the scale to 100. So, why is this? And what does a dog’s breed...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-inventions-change-history-for-better-and-for-worse-kenneth-c-davisInvented in 1793, the cotton gin changed history for good and bad. By allowing one field hand to do the work of 10, it powered a new industry that brought wealth and power to the American South -- but, tragically, it also multiplied and prolonged the use of slave labor. Kenneth C. Davi...

View full lesson on ed.ted.com - http://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-do-competitors-open-their-stores-next-to-one-another-jac-de-haanWhy are all the gas stations, cafes and restaurants in one crowded spot? As two competitive cousins vie for ice-cream-selling domination on one small beach, discover how game theory and the Nash Equilibrium inform these retail hotspots. Lesson by Jac de Haan, animation by...

Dig into the Chinese myth of Zhu Yingtai, who disguises herself as a boy in order to attend school, and her love Liang Shanbo.--Although only boys were allowed at the Confucius Academy, what Zhu Yingtai wanted was to go to school. She begged her parents to let her attend dressed as a boy and, seeing her determination and clever disguises, they finally agreed— as long as she kept her identity a sec...

Puzzle through this classic ethical dilemma and decide: should parents be able to choose genetic traits for their children?--Andre and Leslie are a deaf couple who have decided to have a child, and they’re considering using a process to ensure deafness in their child. As deaf parents, they feel they could provide better guidance to a child that would share their lived experience and grow up immers...

Dig into the science of inhalers, and find out how these devices treat common respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD.--Inhalers are mainly used to treat two conditions: asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. And there are two main types: preventative inhalers and rescue inhalers. Preventative inhalers can be used every day to control symptoms, while rescue inhalers are gre...

Learn how to spot some of the most common signs of emotional abuse and what you can do if someone is experiencing these behaviors.--Emotional abuse can be incredibly damaging, increasing a person’s chances of developing depression and anxiety. But these behaviors can be subtle and difficult to spot, both from within and outside a relationship. It also often makes people doubt their perceptions of...

Dig into the properties of sound to find out just how bad loud music is for your hearing. --After a concert, you find it difficult to hear your friend rave about the show. It sounds like they're speaking from across the room, and it’s tough to make out their voice over the ringing in your ears. But, by the next morning, the effect has mostly worn off. So what caused these symptoms? And can you go...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/sending-a-sundial-to-mars-bill-nyeBill Nye, otherwise known as The Science Guy, inherited his father's fascination with sundials. And so he campaigned to have sundials aboard the Spirit and Opportunity Mars exploration rovers. A look at how a small device reveals big implications as to our place in space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone...

View full lesson on ed.ted.com http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-power-of-a-great-introduction-carolyn-mohr Never underestimate the power of an intriguing start. When analyzing the literary greats like Charles Dickens and Kurt Vonnegut, be inspired by their craft and learn how to write a tantalizing introduction and strong thesis. Lesson by Carolyn Mohr, animation by Judy Korin. Learn more about your...

Drummers Tony Succar, Matt Flynn, Matt Tong, and Matt Johnson share what it takes to improve your skills and find your rhythm.--"Think Like A Musician" connects you with working musicians who want to help the music-curious and music-passionate hone and share the gift of music with the world. Part interview, part animated course, our first season "Think Like A Performer" features artists sharing th...

Dig into the history of credit cards in the United States, and how they have evolved since the 1950s into the industry we know today.--Today, credit cards are a $500 billion-a-year industry. Banks consider these lines of credit when deciding whether or not to approve loans, incentivizing customers to maintain multiple credit cards. So, how did this lending system originate? And how did they get to...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/rethinking-thinking-trevor-maberEvery day, we meet people and process our interactions--making inferences and developing beliefs about the world around us. In this lesson, Trevor Maber introduces us to the idea of a ladder of inference and a process for rethinking the way we interact. Lesson by Trevor Maber, animation by TED-Ed. Learn more about your ad...

View full lesson on ed.ted.com http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-s-invisible-more-than-you-think-john-lloydGravity. The stars in day. Thoughts. The human genome. Time. Atoms. So much of what really matters in the world is impossible to see. A stunning animation of John Lloyd's classic TEDTalk from 2009, which will make you question what you actually know. Lesson by John Lloyd, animation by Cognitive...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-rise-of-human-computer-cooperation-shyam-sankarBrute computing force alone can't solve the world's problems. Data mining innovator Shyam Sankar explains why solving big problems (like catching terrorists or identifying huge hidden trends) is not a question of finding the right algorithm, but rather the right symbiotic relationship between computation...

Dig into the truffle’s unique and mysterious biology to find out what makes them so rare and the limitations of farming them.--Truffles are one of the world’s most expensive foods— in part because global demand often outstrips supply. And truffles are becoming even more rare and more expensive as deforestation and climate change shrink their suitable terrain. But why are these fungi so rare? And w...

At TEDxRotterdam, Bart Weetjens talks about his extraordinary project: training rats to sniff out land mines. He shows clips of his "hero rats" in action, and previews his work's next phase: teaching them to turn up tuberculosis in the lab. Talk by Bart Weetjens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices