TED-Ed: Lessons Worth Sharing

How close are we to uploading our minds? | Michael S.A. Graziano

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 13:53:46 +0000

Imagine a future where nobody dies— instead, our minds are uploaded to a digital world. There they could live on in a realistic, simulated environment with avatar bodies, calling in and contributing to the biological world. Mind-uploading has powerful appeal— but what would it actually take to scan a person's brain and upload their mind? Michael S. A. Graziano explores the challenges. [Directed by

Does time exist? | Andrew Zimmerman Jones

Tue, 23 Oct 2018 18:16:57 +0000

The earliest time measurements were observations of cycles of the natural world, using patterns of changes from day to night and season to season to build calendars. More precise time-keeping eventually came along to put time in more convenient boxes. But what exactly are we measuring? Andrew Zimmerman Jones contemplates whether time is something that physically exists or is just in our heads. [TE

How does laser eye surgery work? | Dan Reinstein

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 16:13:29 +0000

In 1948, Spanish ophthalmologist Jose Ignacio Barraquer Moner was fed up with glasses. He wanted a solution for blurry vision that fixed the eye itself, without relying on external aids. The surgery he eventually devised was called "keratomileusis," and his technique focused on reshaping the cornea— what we now know as LASIK. So how does laser eye surgery actually work? Dan Reinstein explains. [Di

Game theory challenge: Can you predict human behavior? | Lucas Husted

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 17:00:18 +0000

Given a range of integers from 0 to 100, what would the whole number closest to 2/3 of the average of all numbers guessed be? For example, if the average of all guesses is 60, the correct guess will be 40. The game is played under conditions known to game theorists as "common knowledge:" every player has the same information— they also know that everyone else does too. Lucas Husted explains. [Dire

Why doesn't the Leaning Tower of Pisa fall over? | Alex Gendler

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 16:39:32 +0000

In 1990, the Italian government enlisted top engineers to stabilize Pisa's famous Leaning Tower. There'd been many attempts during its 800 year history, but computer models revealed the urgency of their situation. The tower would topple if it reached an angle of 5.44 degrees— and it was currently leaning at 5.5. What gives the tower its infamous tilt? Alex Gendler explores the monument's history.

How to spot a pyramid scheme | Stacie Bosley

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 18:03:03 +0000

In 2004, a nutrition company offered a life-changing opportunity to earn a full-time income for part-time work. There were only two steps to get started: purchase a $500 kit and recruit two more members. By 2013, the company was making $200 million. There was just one problem -- the vast majority of members earned less than they paid in. Stacie Bosley explains what a pyramid scheme is and how to s

Why should you read Kurt Vonnegut? | Mia Nacamulli

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 18:54:01 +0000

Kurt Vonnegut found the tidy, satisfying arcs of many stories at odds with reality, and he set out to explore the ambiguity between good and bad fortune in his own novels. He tried to make sense of human behavior by studying the shapes of stories — ditching straightforward chronologies and clear-cut fortunes. Mia Nacamulli dives into the sometimes dark, yet hopeful works of Vonnegut. [Directed by

Frida Kahlo: The woman behind the legend | Iseult Gillespie

Thu, 28 Mar 2019 17:35:43 +0000

In 1925, Frida Kahlo was on her way home from school in Mexico City when the bus she was riding collided with a streetcar. She suffered near-fatal injuries and her disability became a major theme in her paintings. Over the course of her life, she would establish herself as the creator and muse behind extraordinary pieces of art. Iseult Gillespie dives into the life and work of Frida Kahlo. [Direct

How does impeachment work? | Alex Gendler

Thu, 26 Sep 2019 16:07:37 +0000

For most jobs, it's understood that you can be fired – whether for crime, incompetence, or just poor performance. But what if your job happens to be the most powerful position in the country – or the world? That's where impeachment comes in. But how does it work? Alex Gendler details the process of impeachment. [Directed by Mark Phillips, narrated by Addison Anderson].

A brief history of cannibalism | Bill Schutt

Thu, 25 Jul 2019 16:34:17 +0000

15th century Europeans believed they had hit upon a miracle cure: a remedy for epilepsy, hemorrhage, bruising, nausea and virtually any other medical ailment. It was a brown powder known as "mumia," and was made by grinding up mummified human flesh. But just how common is human cannibalism, and how do cultures partake in it? Bill Schutt explores the complex history of cannibalism. [Directed by Ba

History's "worst" nun | Theresa A. Yugar

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 16:35:33 +0000

Juana Ramírez de Asbaje sat before a panel of prestigious theologians, jurists, and mathematicians. They had been invited to test Juana's knowledge with the most difficult questions they could muster. But she successfully answered every challenge, from complicated equations to philosophical queries. Who was this impressive woman? Theresa Yugar details the life of the Mexican poet and scholar. [Dir

The myth of Loki and the master builder | Alex Gendler

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 17:43:38 +0000

Asgard, a realm of wonders, was where the Norse Gods made their home. There Odin's great hall of Valhalla towered above the mountains and Bifrost, the rainbow bridge, anchored itself. Though their domain was magnificent, it stood undefended from the giants and trolls who sought to destroy them. But a stranger appeared and made the gods an offer. Alex Gendler details the myth of the master builder.

How do cigarettes affect the body? | Krishna Sudhir

Thu, 13 Sep 2018 19:20:16 +0000

Cigarettes aren't good for us. That's hardly news -- we've known about the dangers of smoking for decades. But how exactly do cigarettes harm us, and can our bodies recover if we stop? Krishna Sudhir details what happens when we smoke -- and when we quit. [TED-Ed Animation by TED-Ed].

The treadmill's dark and twisted past | Conor Heffernan

Thu, 07 Sep 2017 19:11:55 +0000

The constant thud underneath your feet. The constrained space. The monotony of going nowhere fast. Running on a treadmill can certainly feel like torture, but did you know it was originally used for that very purpose? Conor Heffernan details the dark and twisted history of the treadmill. [Directed by Yukai Du, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by WORKPLAYWORK and Cem Misirlioglu].

Are we running out of clean water? | Balsher Singh Sidhu

Thu, 06 Dec 2018 20:10:40 +0000

Despite water covering 71% of the planet's surface, more than half the world's population endures extreme water scarcity for at least one month a year. Current estimates predict that by 2040, up to 20 more countries could be experiencing water shortages. These statistics raise a startling question: is the Earth running out of clean water? Balsher Singh Sidhu takes a closer look at water consumptio

How does chemotherapy work? | Hyunsoo Joshua No

Thu, 05 Dec 2019 16:02:00 +0000

During World War I, scientists were trying to develop an antidote to the poisonous yellow cloud known as mustard gas. They discovered the gas was irrevocably damaging the bone marrow of affected soldiers. This gave the scientists an idea: cancer cells and bone marrow both replicate rapidly. Could mustard gas be used to fight cancer? Hyunsoo No details the discovery and development of chemotherapy.

The history of the world according to cats | Eva-Maria Geigl

Thu, 03 Jan 2019 20:48:13 +0000

In ancient times, wildcats were fierce carnivorous hunters. And unlike dogs, who have undergone centuries of selective breeding, modern cats are genetically very similar to ancient cats. How did these solitary, fierce predators become our sofa sidekicks? Eva-Maria Geigl traces the domestication of the modern house cat. [Directed by Chintis Lundgren, narrated by Bethany Cutmore-Scott, music by Draš

Can you outsmart this logical fallacy? | Alex Gendler

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 16:11:23 +0000

Meet Lucy. She was a math major in college, and aced all her courses in probability and statistics. Which do you think is more likely: that Lucy is a portrait artist, or that Lucy is a portrait artist who also plays poker? How do we know which statement is more likely to be true? Alex Gendler explores our tendency to look for shortcuts and the phenomenon known as the conjunction fallacy. [Directed

How Thor got his hammer | Scott A. Mellor

Mon, 07 Jan 2019 18:51:13 +0000

Loki the mischief-maker, writhes in Thor's iron grip. The previous night, he'd snuck up on Thor's wife and shorn off her beautiful hair. To fix what he'd done, Loki rushes to the dwarves and tricks them into making gifts for the gods. Wanting to best their smith rivals, the dwarves make a set of golden treasures, including a hammer called Mjolnir. Scott A. Mellor traces the legend of Thor's hammer

The Opposites Game | Brendan Constantine

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 19:32:42 +0000

A classroom erupts into a war of words as students grapple with a seemingly simple prompt: what is the opposite of a gun? This animation is part of the TED-Ed series, "There's a Poem for That," which features animated interpretations of poems both old and new that give language to some of life's biggest feelings. [A TED-Ed Production, a film by Anna Samo + Lisa LaBracio, poem by Brendan Constantin

How corn conquered the world | Chris A. Kniesly

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 16:04:07 +0000

Corn currently accounts for more than one tenth of our global crop production. And over 99% of cultivated corn is the exact same type: Yellow Dent #2. This means that humans grow more Yellow Dent #2 than any other plant on the planet. So how did this single variety of this single plant become the biggest success story in agricultural history? Chris Kniesly investigates the rise of this wonder-crop

Is marijuana bad for your brain? | Anees Bahji

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 16:03:12 +0000

In 1970, marijuana was classified as a schedule 1 drug in the United States: the strictest designation possible, meaning it was completely illegal and had no recognized medical uses. Today, marijuana's therapeutic benefits are widely acknowledged, but a growing recognition for its medical value doesn't answer the question: is recreational marijuana use bad for your brain? Anees Bahji investigates.

Why is ketchup so hard to pour? | George Zaidan

Fri, 22 Feb 2019 18:58:11 +0000

Ever go to pour ketchup on your fries...and nothing comes out? Or the opposite happens, and your plate is suddenly swimming in a sea of red? George Zaidan describes the physics behind this frustrating phenomenon, explaining how ketchup and other non-Newtonian fluids can suddenly transition from solid to liquid and back again. [Directed by TOGETHER, narrated by George Zaidan].

Why do we love? A philosophical inquiry | Skye C. Cleary

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 17:12:28 +0000

Ah, romantic love; beautiful and intoxicating, heart-breaking and soul-crushing... often all at the same time! If romantic love has a purpose, neither science nor psychology has discovered it yet – but over the course of history, some of our most respected philosophers have put forward some intriguing theories. Skye C. Cleary outlines five of these philosophical perspectives on why we love. [Direc

How stress affects your brain | Madhumita Murgia

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 17:11:02 +0000

Stress isn't always a bad thing; it can be handy for a burst of extra energy and focus, like when you're playing a competitive sport or have to speak in public. But when it's continuous, it actually begins to change your brain. Madhumita Murgia shows how chronic stress can affect brain size, its structure, and how it functions, right down to the level of your genes. [Directed by Andrew Zimbelman,

What would happen if you didn't drink water? | Mia Nacamulli

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 17:41:07 +0000

Water is essentially everywhere in our world, and the average human is composed of between 55 and 60% water. So what role does water play in our bodies, and how much do we actually need to drink to stay healthy? Mia Nacamulli details the health benefits of hydration. [Directed by Chris Bishop, narrated by Addison Anderson].

The wars that inspired Game of Thrones | Alex Gendler

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 17:39:19 +0000

Beginning around 1377, medieval England was shaken by a power struggle between two noble families, which spanned generations and involved a massive cast of characters, complex motives and shifting loyalties. Sound familiar? Alex Gendler illustrates how the historical conflict known as the Wars of the Roses served as the basis for much of the drama in Game of Thrones. [Directed by Brett Underhill,

The science of spiciness | Rose Eveleth

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 17:36:36 +0000

When you take a bite of a hot pepper, your body reacts as if your mouth is on fire -- because that's essentially what you've told your brain! Rose Eveleth details the science and history behind spicy foods, giving insights into why some people continue to pay the painful price for a little spice. [Directed by Flaming Medusa Studios Inc., narrated by Rose Eveleth].

The genius of Marie Curie | Shohini Ghose

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 20:05:47 +0000

Marie Skłodowska Curie's revolutionary research laid the groundwork for our understanding of physics and chemistry, blazing trails in oncology, technology, medicine, and nuclear physics, to name a few. But what did she actually do? Shohini Ghose expounds on some of Marie Skłodowska Curie's most revolutionary discoveries. [Directed by Anna Nowakowska, narrated by Julianna Zarzycki, music by Matthia

What is depression? | Helen M. Farrell

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 16:35:44 +0000

Depression is the leading cause of disability in the world; in the United States, close to ten percent of adults struggle with the disease. But because it's a mental illness, it can be a lot harder to understand than, say, high cholesterol. Helen M. Farrell examines the symptoms and treatments of depression, and gives some tips for how you might help a friend who is suffering. [Directed by Artrake