TED-Ed

Trace the history of ketchup, from the condiment’s origins in 3rd century China to becoming a staple of American cuisine.--In the mid-18th century, England was crazy for ketchup. The sauce was a staple, but this ketchup wasn’t the ubiquitous red goop you’re familiar with today. In fact, it was a sweet and savory brown sauce that didn’t even have tomatoes in it. So where did this early ketchup come...

Trace the rise and fall of the Lakota Empire which, at their height, were the most dominant power in the American West.--In 1776, a powerful empire was born in North America. The Lakotas had reached the Black Hills, the most sacred place and most coveted buffalo hunting grounds in the western plains. Located in what is now South Dakota, control of the Black Hills, or Paha Sapa, marked the tribe as...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-is-verbal-irony-christopher-warnerAt face value, the lines between verbal irony, sarcasm, and compliments can be blurry. After all, the phrase 'That looks nice' could be all three depending on the circumstances. In the final of a three part series on irony, Christopher Warner gets into the irony you may use most often and most casually: verbal irony...

Dig into how scholars decoded the writing on the Rosetta Stone, and how this helped them understand ancient hieroglyphs.--For centuries, scholars puzzled over the hieroglyphs they found carved onto ancient Egyptian ruins, tablets, and papyri. But in 1799, a unique discovery would finally help unlock their meaning. It was a stone inscribed with three different texts: Egyptian Hieroglyphs, Demotic E...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-mendel-s-pea-plants-helped-us-understand-genetics-hortensia-jimenez-diazEach father and mother pass down traits to their children, who inherit combinations of their dominant or recessive alleles. But how do we know so much about genetics today? Hortensia Jiménez Díaz explains how studying pea plants revealed why you may have blue eyes. Lesson by Hort...

Take a look at the science of how addictive drugs affect your body and why substance addiction can be so difficult to treat.--As of 2021, more than 36 million people were estimated to be experiencing substance use disorder. This condition spans a spectrum of patterned drug use that causes issues in a person’s life, with substance addiction at the more severe end. Why are some people more susceptib...

"The world needs you, badly," begins celebrated biologist E.O. Wilson in his letter to a young scientist. Previewing his upcoming book, he gives advice collected from a lifetime of experience -- reminding us that wonder and creativity are the center of the scientific life. (Filmed at TEDMED.)Talk by E.O. Wilson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/working-backward-to-solve-problems-maurice-ashleyImagine where you want to be someday. Now, how did you get there? Retrograde analysis is a style of problem solving where you work backwards from the endgame you want. It can help you win at chess -- or solve a problem in real life. At TEDYouth 2012, chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley delves into his favorit...

Uncover the history of the ancient underground cities beneath Cappadocia, which were built during the Byzantine Empire.--The breathtaking geological formations of Cappadocia are one of the most astonishing landscapes on Earth. Also known as “fairy chimneys,” this impressive terrain hides an equally remarkable feat of pre-modern engineering: a network of extensive underground cities stretching deep...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-state-budgets-are-breaking-us-schools-bill-gatesAmerica's school systems are funded by the 50 states. In this fiery talk, Bill Gates says that state budgets are riddled with accounting tricks that disguise the true cost of health care and pensions and weighted with worsening deficits -- with the financing of education at the losing end. Talk by Bill...

Dig into the Greek myth of Mestra and her father King Erysichthon, who angered the gods and was cursed with insatiable hunger.--Mestra, princess of Thessaly, was far from home. She had watched her father, King Erysichthon, plunge into a ruin of his own making. Now, to save himself, he’d sold his own daughter to the highest bidder. But Mestra refused to accept this fate and began to plan her escape...

Dig into the distinction between a language and a dialect, and uncover the history of standardized languages.--Outside of China, Mandarin and Cantonese are often referred to as Chinese dialects, despite being even more dissimilar than Spanish and Italian. On the other hand, speakers of Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish, which are three distinct languages, can usually communicate with each other in th...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/fractals-and-the-art-of-roughness-benoit-mandelbrotAt TED2010, mathematics legend Benoit Mandelbrot develops a theme he first discussed at TED in 1984 -- the extreme complexity of roughness and the way that fractal math can find order within patterns that seem unknowably complicated. Talk by Benoit Mandelbrot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit mega...

What could our future world look like if we continue to do nothing about climate change? Take a look at the possibilities.--While we’re already feeling the devastating effects of human-caused climate change, governments continue to fall short on making and executing emissions pledges that would help thwart further warming. So, what will our world look like in the next 30 to 80 years, if we continu...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/a-3d-atlas-of-the-universe-carter-emmartFor the last 12 years, Carter Emmart has been coordinating the efforts of scientists, artists and programmers to build a complete 3D visualization of our known universe. He demos this stunning tour and explains how it's being shared with facilities around the world. Talk by Carter Emmart. Learn more about your ad c...

Explore why earwax forms, its purpose in our health, and whether or not we should be trying to get rid of it.--Grooming paraphernalia has been found in numerous archeological sites, many of which have included earwax removal tools. And earwax evacuation remains a popular hygienic habit today. But what is earwax? And are the efforts to eliminate it actually good for us? Henry C. Ou explores the imp...

Massimo Banzi helped invent the Arduino, a tiny, easy-to-use open-source microcontroller that's inspired thousands of people around the world to make the coolest things they can imagine -- from toys to satellite gear. Because, as he says, "You don't need anyone's permission to make something great." Talk by Massimo Banzi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Margaret Gould Stewart, YouTube's head of user experience, talks about how the ubiquitous video site works with copyright holders and creators to foster (at the best of times) a creative ecosystem where everybody wins. Talk by Margaret Gould Stewart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore Edvard Munch’s masterpiece “The Scream,” and find out why this artwork became one of the world’s most famous paintings.--An undulating sky melds into the landscape, two silhouettes move along a balustraded walkway, and a ghostly figure’s features extend in agony. Since Norwegian artist Edvard Munch created "The Scream" in 1893, it’s become one of the world’s most famous artworks. But why h...

Explore the phenomenon and uses of chlorophyll fluorescence, a small amount of light emitted by plants during photosynthesis.--In 2009, a satellite circled Earth, scanning and sorting the wavelengths reflecting off the planet’s surface. Researchers noticed something baffling: an unexpected wavelength of unknown origin. They tried looking at Earth with only this wavelength, and saw the planet cover...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/mysteries-of-vernacular-quarantine-jessica-oreck-and-rachael-teelStemming from the days of bubonic plague in Medieval Europe, quarantines were originally used to prevent potentially plague-infested ships from disembarking at a port city. Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel explain how the length of the wait, often 40 days, came to be associated with the word...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-pattern-behind-self-deception-michael-shermerMichael Shermer says the human tendency to believe strange things -- from alien abductions to dowsing rods -- boils down to two of the brain's most basic, hard-wired survival skills. He explains what they are and how they get us into trouble. Talk by Michael Shermer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Dig into one of Japan’s most infamous stories about the 47 samurai who take revenge for the loss of their leader.--Asano Naganori, lord of Akō domain, fixed his gaze on Kira Yoshinaka, a senior master of ceremony. Asano extended his short sword, charged through the castle, and struck Kira. While the wound wasn’t fatal, its consequences would be. What brought about this violent quarrel? And what wo...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-architecture-helped-music-evolve-david-byrneAs his career grew, David Byrne went from playing CBGB to Carnegie Hall. He asks: Does the venue make the music? From outdoor drumming to Wagnerian operas to arena rock, he explores how context has pushed musical innovation. Talk by David Byrne. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore common types of corruption and find out what we can do to combat it and promote transparency in our institutions.--Corruption is often defined as misuse of a position of power for personal gain. And while corruption in politics is nothing new, it isn’t limited to the political sphere; it can happen in schools, sports, businesses, or religious institutions. So, what exactly is corruption, a...