De acordo com as Leis 12.965/2014 e 13.709/2018, que regulam o uso da Internet e o tratamento de dados pessoais no Brasil, ao me inscrever na newsletter do portal DICAS-L, autorizo o envio de notificações por e-mail ou outros meios e declaro estar ciente e concordar com seus Termos de Uso e Política de Privacidade.
TED Talks - Relação de vídeos
Colaboração: Rubens Queiroz de Almeida
Data de Publicação: 24 de junho de 2011
Em tempos de Internet, é possível ter acesso a algumas das pessoas mais inteligentes do mundo. O site TED, abreviação para Technology, Entertainment, Design, procura os destaques mundiais em suas áreas de atuação e os convida para dar palestras. Estas palestras, por sua vez, são publicadas no site. O subtítulo do site é Ideas worth Spreading, ou Ideas que vale a pena disseminar (em tradução livre).
Eu recebi do Fábio Mengue, da Unicamp, uma listagem, hospedada no site Google Docs, impressionantemente completa e atualizada. Não sei quem criou esta planilha, mas tomei a liberdade de formatá-la de maneira a tornar mais fácil o acesso às palestras. Muitas das palestras do TED já possuem legendas em português. O que ainda falta é uma banda larga decente no Brasil para que possamos assistir aos vídeos sem correr o risco de uma parada cardíaca.
Ainda segundo o Fábio, existem várias outras listas semelhantes. Uma busca no Google com as palavras "google docs ted talks retorna 910.000 resultados (em junho de 2011).
Enfim, aqui vai a lista. E quero agradecer ao Fábio por esta e muitas outras dicas de grande valor. Divirtam-se :-)
PS.: Como a conversão de tabela do Google docs para HTML foi feita com um shell script, alguns erros podem ter ocorrido. Agradeço se me avisarem :-)
TED Talks
15 ways to avert a climate crisis, por Al Gore, (0:16:17, 6/27/2006)
With the same humor and humanity he exuded in An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore spells out 15 ways that individuals can address climate change immediately, from buying a hybrid to inventing a new, hotter "brand name" for global warming.
Debunking third-world myths with the best stats you've ever seen, por Hans Rosling, (0:19:50, 6/27/2006)
You've never seen data presented like this. With the drama and urgency of a sportscaster, statistics guru Hans Rosling debunks myths about the so-called "developing world."
Do schools kill creativity?, por Sir Ken Robinson, (0:19:24, 6/27/2006)
Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity.
Greening the ghetto, por Majora Carter, (0:00:00, 6/27/2006)
In an emotionally charged talk, MacArthur-winning activist Majora Carter details her fight for environmental justice in the South Bronx -- and shows how minority neighborhood suffer most from flawed urban policy.
When it comes to tech, simplicity sells, por David Pogue, (0:21:26, 6/27/2006) New York Times columnist David Pogue takes aim at technology's worst interface-design offenders, and provides encouraging examples of products that get it right. To funny things up, he bursts into song.
Why we do what we do, and how we can do it better, por Tony Robbins, (0:21:45, 6/27/2006)
Tony Robbins discusses the "invisible forces" that motivate everyone's actions -- and high-fives Al Gore in the front row.
"Letting Go of God" (an excerpt), por Julia Sweeney, (0:16:32, 7/10/2006)
Julia Sweeney (God Said, "Ha!") performs the first 15 minutes of her 2006 solo show Letting Go of God. When two young Mormon missionaries knock on her door one day, it touches off a quest to completely rethink her own beliefs.
Designing the Seattle Central Library, por Joshua Prince-Ramus, (0:19:58, 7/10/2006)
Architect Joshua Prince-Ramus takes the audience on dazzling, dizzying virtual tours of three recent projects: the Central Library in Seattle, the Museum Plaza in Louisville and the Charles Wyly Theater in Dallas.
A secular, scientific rebuttal to Rick Warren, por Dan Dennett, (0:24:45, 7/18/2006)
Philosopher Dan Dennett calls for religion -- all religion -- to be taught in schools, so we can understand its nature as a natural phenomenon. Then he takes on The Purpose-Driven Life, disputing its claim that, to be moral, one must deny evolution.
Living a life of purpose, por Rick Warren, (0:21:02, 7/18/2006)
Pastor Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life, reflects on his own crisis of purpose in the wake of his book's wild success. He explains his belief that God's intention is for each of us to use our talents and influence to do good.
TED Prize wish: Help stop the next pandemic, por Larry Brilliant, (0:25:50, 7/25/2006)
Accepting the 2006 TED Prize, Dr. Larry Brilliant talks about how smallpox was eradicated from the planet, and calls for a new global system that can identify and contain pandemics before they spread.
TED Prize wish: Open-source architecture to house the world, por Cameron Sinclair, (0:23:34, 7/25/2006)
Accepting his 2006 TED Prize, Cameron Sinclair demonstrates how passionate designers and architects can respond to world housing crises. He unveils his TED Prize wish for a network to improve global living standards through collaborative design.
The vision behind One Laptop Per Child, por Nicholas Negroponte, (0:17:37, 8/1/2006)
Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the MIT Media Laboratory, describes how the One Laptop Per Child project will build and distribute the "$100 laptop."
Unveiling the genius of multi-touch interface design, por Jeff Han, (0:08:47, 8/1/2006)
Jeff Han shows off a cheap, scalable multi-touch and pressure-sensitive computer screen interface that may spell the end of point-and-click.
Dazzling set by 11-year-old violinist, por Sirena Huang, (0:24:41, 8/8/2006)
Violinist Sirena Huang gives a technically brilliant and emotionally nuanced performance. In a charming interlude, the 11-year-old praises the timeless design of her instrument.
Magical improv from 14-year-old pianist, por Jennifer Lin, (0:24:05, 8/8/2006)
Pianist and composer Jennifer Lin gives a magical performance, talks about the process of creativity and improvises a moving solo piece based on a random sequence of notes.
Simple designs that could save millions of childrens' lives, por Amy Smith, (0:15:06, 8/15/2006)
Fumes from indoor cooking fires kill more than 2 million children a year in the developing world. MIT engineer Amy Smith details an exciting but simple solution: a tool for turning farm waste into clean-burning charcoal.
The power and beauty of organic design, por Ross Lovegrove, (0:19:30, 8/15/2006)
Designer Ross Lovegrove expounds his philosophy of "fat-free" design and offers insight into several of his extraordinary products, including the Ty Nant water bottle and the Go chair.
Goodbye, textbooks, por Richard Baraniuk, (TED2006, 0:18:34;8/21/2006)
hello, open-source learning
How a ragtag band created Wikipedia, por Jimmy Wales, (0:20:01, 8/21/2006)
Jimmy Wales recalls how he assembled "a ragtag band of volunteers," gave them tools for collaborating and created Wikipedia, the self-organizing, self-correcting, never-finished online encyclopedia.
How blogs are building a friendlier world, por Mena Trott, (0:16:46, 8/25/2006)
The founding mother of the blog revolution, Movable Type's Mena Trott, talks about the early days of blogging, when she realized that giving regular people the power to share our lives online is the key to building a friendlier, more connected world.
What's so funny about the Web?, por Ze Frank, (0:18:56, 8/25/2006)
Performer and web toymaker Ze Frank delivers a hilarious nerdcore standup routine, then tells us what he's seriously passionate about: helping people create and interact using simple, addictive web tools.
Finding happiness in body and soul, por Eve Ensler, (0:20:25, 9/6/2006)
Eve Ensler, creator of The Vagina Monologues, shares how a discussion about menopause with her friends led to talking about all sorts of sexual acts onstage, waging a global campaign to end violence toward women and finding her own happiness.
The science of love, and the future of women, por Helen Fisher, (0:23:27, 9/6/2006)
Anthropologist Helen Fisher takes on a tricky topic -- love -- and explains its evolution, its biochemical foundations and its social importance. She closes with a warning about the potential disaster inherent in antidepressant abuse.
The universe is queerer than we can suppose, por Richard Dawkins, (0:21:56, 9/12/2006)
Biologist Richard Dawkins makes a case for "thinking the improbable" by looking at how the human frame of reference limits our understanding of the universe.
What is our place in the cosmos?, por David Deutsch, (0:19:00, 9/12/2006)
Legendary scientist David Deutsch puts theoretical physics on the back burner to discuss a more urgent matter: the survival of our species. The first step toward solving global warming, he says, is to admit that we have a problem.
What we can learn from spaghetti sauce, por Malcolm Gladwell, (0:17:30, 9/19/2006)
Tipping Point author Malcolm Gladwell gets inside the food industry's pursuit of the perfect spaghetti sauce -- and makes a larger argument about the nature of choice and happiness.
Why do crack dealers still live with their moms?, por Steven Levitt, (0:21:15, 9/19/2006) Freakonomics author Steven Levitt presents new data on the finances of drug dealing. Contrary to popular myth, he says, being a street-corner crack dealer isn't lucrative: It pays below minimum wage. And your boss can kill you.
The paradox of choice, por Barry Schwartz, (0:19:37, 9/26/2006)
Psychologist Barry Schwartz takes aim at a central tenet of western societies: freedom of choice. In Schwartz's estimation, choice has made us not freer but more paralyzed, not happier but more dissatisfied.
Why are we happy? Why aren't we happy?, por Dan Gilbert, (0:21:16, 9/26/2006)
Dan Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness, challenges the idea that we'll be miserable if we don't get what we want. Our "psychological immune system" lets us feel truly happy even when things don't go as planned.
My dream about the future of medicine, por Eva Vertes, (0:18:49, 10/2/2006)
Eva Vertes -- only 19 when she gave this talk -- discusses her journey toward studying medicine and her drive to understand the roots of cancer and Alzheimer's.
Why we age and how we can avoid it, por Aubrey de Grey, (0:22:45, 10/2/2006)
Cambridge researcher Aubrey de Grey argues that aging is merely a disease -- and a curable one at that. Humans age in seven basic ways, he says, all of which can be averted.
Investing in Africa's own solutions, por Jacqueline Novogratz, (0:12:53, 10/10/2006)
Jacqueline Novogratz applauds the world's heightened interest in Africa and poverty, but argues persuasively for a new approach.
The power of the mobile phone to end poverty, por Iqbal Quadir, (0:15:52, 10/10/2006)
Iqbal Quadir tells how his experiences as a kid in poor Bangladesh, and later as a banker in New York, led him to start a mobile phone operator connecting 80 million rural Bangladeshi -- and to become a champion of bottom-up development.
How to fix broken states, por Ashraf Ghani, (0:18:45, 10/18/2006)
Ashraf Ghani's passionate and powerful 10-minute talk, emphasizing the necessity of both economic investment and design ingenuity to rebuild broken states, is followed by a conversation with TED curator Chris Anderson on the future of Afghanistan.
Why a free press is the best investment, por Sasa Vucinic, (0:18:00, 10/18/2006)
A free press -- papers, magazines, radio, TV, blogs -- is the backbone of any true democracy (and a vital watchdog on business). Sasa Vucinic, a journalist from Belgrade, talks about his new fund, which supports media by selling "free press bonds."
Entrepreneurs are the future of space flight, por Burt Rutan, (0:19:37, 10/25/2006)
In this passionate talk, legendary spacecraft designer Burt Rutan lambasts the US government-funded space program for stagnating and asks entrepreneurs to pick up where NASA has left off.
Three things to know before you ski to the North Pole, por Ben Saunders, (0:18:03, 10/25/2006)
Arctic explorer Ben Saunders recounts his harrowing solo ski trek to the North Pole, complete with engaging anecdotes, gorgeous photos and never-before-seen video.
TED Prize wish: Finding new cures for migraine, depression, malpractice, por Robert Fischell, (0:26:50, 10/31/2006)
Accepting his 2005 TED Prize, inventor Robert Fischell makes three wishes: redesigning a portable device that treats migraines, finding new cures for clinical depression and reforming the medical malpractice system.
TED Prize wish: Join my call to action on Africa, por Bono, (TED2005, 0:27:52;10/31/2006)
Musician and activist Bono accepts the 2005 TED Prize with a riveting talk, arguing that aid to Africa isn't just another celebrity cause
TED Prize wish: Share the story of Earth's manufactured landscapes, por Edward Burtynsky, (0:34:25, 10/31/2006)
Accepting his 2005 TED Prize, photographer Edward Burtynsky makes a wish: that his images -- stunning landscapes that document humanity's impact on the world -- help persuade millions to join a global conversation on sustainability.
How juries are fooled by statistics, por Peter Donnelly, (0:21:20, 11/8/2006)
Oxford mathematician Peter Donnelly reveals the common mistakes humans make in interpreting statistics -- and the devastating impact these errors can have on the outcome of criminal trials.
Why people believe strange things, por Michael Shermer, (0:13:25, 11/8/2006)
Why do people see the Virgin Mary on a cheese sandwich or hear demonic lyrics in "Stairway to Heaven"? Using video and music, skeptic Michael Shermer shows how we convince ourselves to believe -- and overlook the facts.
How does technology evolve? Like we did, por Kevin Kelly, (0:20:00, 11/14/2006)
Tech enthusiast Kevin Kelly asks "What does technology want?" and discovers that its movement toward ubiquity and complexity is much like the evolution of life.
How technology's accelerating power will transform us, por Ray Kurzweil, (0:22:56, 11/14/2006)
Inventor, entrepreneur and visionary Ray Kurzweil explains in abundant, grounded detail why, by the 2020s, we will have reverse-engineered the human brain and nanobots will be operating your consciousness.
Fighting injustice with a videocamera, por Peter Gabriel, (0:14:08, 12/6/2006)
Musician and activist Peter Gabriel shares his very personal motivation for standing up for human rights with the watchdog group WITNESS -- and tells stories of citizen journalists in action.
"If I controlled the Internet" (a poem), por Rives, (0:04:07, 12/14/2006)
How many poets could cram eBay, Friendster and Monster.com into 3-minute poem worthy of a standing ovation? Enjoy Rives' unique talent.
Secrets of success in 8 words, 3 minutes, por Richard St. John, (0:03:30, 12/14/2006)
Why do people succeed? Is it because they're smart? Or are they just lucky? Neither. Analyst Richard St. John condenses years of interviews into an unmissable 3-minute slideshow on the real secrets of success.
The world now eats (and dies) like Americans, por Dr. Dean Ornish, (0:03:18, 12/14/2006)
Stop wringing your hands over AIDS, cancer and the avian flu. Cardiovascular disease kills more people than everything else combined -- and it's mostly preventable. Dr. Dean Ornish explains how changing our eating habits will save lives.
Our priorities for saving the world, por Bjorn Lomborg, (0:16:41, 1/2/2007)
Given $50 billion to spend, which would you solve first, AIDS or global warming? Danish political scientist Bjorn Lomborg comes up with surprising answers.
The "shadow cities" of the future, por Robert Neuwirth, (0:14:03, 1/2/2007)
Robert Neuwirth, author of Shadow Cities, finds the world's squatter sites -- where a billion people now make their homes -- to be thriving centers of ingenuity and innovation. He takes us on a tour.
Cultures at the far edge of the world, por Wade Davis, (0:22:01, 1/9/2007)
With stunning photos and stories, National Geographic Explorer Wade Davis celebrates the extraordinary diversity of the world's indigenous cultures, which are disappearing from the planet at an alarming rate.
Documenting our endangered cultures, por Phil Borges, (0:18:35, 1/9/2007)
Photographer Phil Borges shows rarely seen images of people from the mountains of Dharamsala, India, and the jungles of the Ecuadorean Amazon. In documenting these endangered cultures, he intends to help preserve them.
Earth in its final century?, por Sir Martin Rees, (0:17:26, 1/17/2007)
Speaking as both an astronomer and "a concerned member of the human race," Sir Martin Rees examines our planet and its future from a cosmic perspective. He urges action to prevent dark consequences from our scientific and technological development.
How cooperation (eventually) trumps conflict, por Robert Wright, (0:19:11, 1/17/2007)
Author Robert Wright explains "non-zero-sumness" -- the network of linked fortunes and cooperation that has guided our evolution to this point -- and how we can use it to help save humanity today.
A guided tour of the Ghost Map, por Steven Johnson, (0:10:03, 1/31/2007)
Author Steven Johnson takes us on a 10-minute tour of The Ghost Map, his book about a cholera outbreak in 1854 London and the impact it had on science, cities and modern society.
The rise of the amateur professional, por Charles Leadbeater, (0:19:01, 1/31/2007)
In this deceptively casual talk, Charles Leadbeater weaves a tight argument that innovation isn't just for professionals anymore. Passionate amateurs, using new tools, are creating products and paradigms that companies can't.
A performance merging dance and biology, por Pilobolus, ( "Morango?ĶAlmost a Tango," Thomas Oboe Lee., TED2005;0:13:45;2/9/2007)
Two Pilobolus dancers perform "Symbiosis." Does it trace the birth of a relationship? Or the co-evolution of symbiotic species? Music: "God Music," George Crumb
Four American characters, por Anna Deavere Smith, (0:23:05, 2/9/2007)
Writer and actor Anna Deavere Smith gives life to author Studs Terkel, convict Paulette Jenkins, a Korean shopkeeper and a bull rider, excerpts from her solo show "On the Road: A Search for American Character."
Hardware solutions to everyday problems, por Saul Griffith, (0:14:29, 2/19/2007)
Inventor and MacArthur fellow Saul Griffith shares some innovative ideas from his lab -- from "smart rope" to a house-sized kite for towing large loads.
The beckoning promise of personal fabrication, por Neil Gershenfeld, (0:17:18, 2/19/2007)
MIT professor Neil Gershenfeld talks about his Fab Lab -- a low-cost lab that lets people build things they need using digital and analog tools. It's a simple idea with powerful results.
Slowing down in a world built for speed, por Carl Honore, (0:19:15, 2/28/2007)
Journalist Carl Honore believes the Western world's emphasis on speed erodes health, productivity and quality of life. But there's a backlash brewing, as everyday people start putting the brakes on their all-too-modern lives.
TED Prize wish: Help build the Encyclopedia of Life, por E.O. Wilson, (0:22:35, 4/3/2007)
As E.O. Wilson accepts his 2007 TED Prize, he makes a plea on behalf of all creatures that we learn more about our biosphere -- and build a networked encyclopedia of all the world's knowledge about life.
TED Prize wish: Share a vital story with the world, por James Nachtwey, (0:21:56, 4/3/2007)
Accepting his 2007 TED Prize, war photographer James Nachtwey shows his life's work and asks TED to help him continue telling the story with innovative, exciting uses of news photography in the digital era.
"What I Want", por Nora York, (0:04:36, 4/5/2007)
Nora York gives a stunning performance of her song "What I Want," with Jamie Lawrence (keyboards), Steve Tarshis (guitar) and Arthur Kell (bass).
12 sustainable design ideas from nature, por Janine Benyus, (0:23:19, 4/5/2007)
In this inspiring talk about recent developments in biomimicry, Janine Benyus provides heartening examples of ways in which nature is already influencing the products and systems we build.
A lyrical view of life on Earth, por Frans Lanting, (0:16:17, 4/5/2007)
In this stunning slideshow, celebrated nature photographer Frans Lanting presents The LIFE Project, a poetic collection of photographs that tell the story of our planet, from its eruptive beginnings to its present diversity. Soundtrack by Philip Glass.
A voyage of DNA, genes and the sea, por Craig Venter, (0:16:51, 4/5/2007)
Genomics pioneer Craig Venter takes a break from his epic round-the-world expedition to talk about the millions of genes his team has discovered so far in its quest to map the ocean's biodiversity.
Apes that write, start fires and play Pac-Man, por Susan Savage-Rumbaugh, (0:17:25, 4/5/2007)
Savage-Rumbaugh's work with bonobo apes, which can understand spoken language and learn tasks by watching, forces the audience to rethink how much of what a species can do is determined by biology -- and how much by cultural exposure.
Architecture is a new way to connect to the world, por Thom Mayne, (0:20:40, 4/5/2007)
Architect Thom Mayne has never been one to take the easy option, and this whistle-stop tour of the buildings he's created makes you glad for it. These are big ideas cast in material form.
Art with wire, thread, sugar, chocolate, por Vik Muniz, (0:14:51, 4/5/2007)
Vik Muniz makes art from pretty much anything, be it shredded paper, wire, clouds or diamonds. Here he describes the thinking behind his work and takes us on a tour of his incredible images.
Decoding the future with genomics, por Juan Enriquez, (0:22:20, 4/5/2007)
Scientific discoveries, futurist Juan Enriquez notes, demand a shift in code, and our ability to thrive depends on our mastery of that code. Here, he applies this notion to the field of genomics.
Design is in the details, por Paul Bennett, (0:14:10, 4/5/2007)
Showing a series of inspiring, unusual and playful products, British branding and design guru Paul Bennett explains that design doesn't have to be about grand gestures, but can solve small, universal and overlooked problems.
Great cars are Art, por Chris Bangle, (0:20:04, 4/5/2007)
American designer Chris Bangle explains his philosophy that car design is an art form in its own right, with an entertaining -- and ultimately moving -- account of the BMW Group's Deep Blue project, intended to create the SUV of the future.
Humanity's biggest problems aren't what you think they are, por Nick Bostrom, (0:16:52, 4/5/2007)
Oxford philosopher and transhumanist Nick Bostrom examines the future of humankind and asks whether we might alter the fundamental nature of humanity to solve our most intrinsic problems.
Inspired ideas for a sustainable future, por Alex Steffen, (0:17:34, 4/5/2007)
Worldchanging.com founder Alex Steffen argues that reducing humanity's ecological footprint is incredibly vital now, as the western consumer lifestyle spreads to developing countries.
Measuring the fastest animal on earth, por Sheila Patek, (0:16:25, 4/5/2007)
Biologist Sheila Patek talks about her work measuring the feeding strike of the mantis shrimp, one of the fastest movements in the animal world, using video cameras recording at 20,000 frames per second.
Rolling along, helping students and the third world, por Dean Kamen, (0:20:07, 4/5/2007)
Inventor Dean Kamen lays out his argument for the Segway and offers a peek into his next big ideas (portable energy and water purification for developing countries).
Sliced bread and other marketing delights, por Seth Godin, (0:17:01, 4/5/2007)
In a world of too many options and too little time, our obvious choice is to just ignore the ordinary stuff. Marketing guru Seth Godin spells out why, when it comes to getting our attention, bad or bizarre ideas are more successful than boring ones.
The double helix and today's DNA mysteries, por James Watson, (0:20:11, 4/5/2007)
Nobel laureate James Watson opens TED2005 with the frank and funny story of how he and his research partner, Francis Crick, discovered the structure of DNA.
The truly soft side of software, por Golan Levin, (0:14:53, 4/5/2007)
Engineer and artist Golan Levin pushes the boundaries of what's possible with audiovisuals and technology. In an amazing TED display, he shows two programs he wrote to perform his original compositions.
What separates us from the apes?, por Jane Goodall, (0:27:25, 4/5/2007)
Jane Goodall hasn't found the missing link, but she's come closer than nearly anyone else. The primatologist says the only real difference between humans and chimps is our sophisticated language. She urges us to start using it to change the world.
Yes, design can make you happy, por Stefan Sagmeister, (0:15:30, 4/5/2007)
Graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister takes the audience on a whimsical journey through moments of his life that made him happy -- and notes how many of these moments have to do with good design.
Your brain is badly wired -- enjoy it!, por Al Seckel, (0:14:33, 4/5/2007)
Al Seckel, a cognitive neuroscientist, explores the perceptual illusions that fool our brains. Loads of eye tricks help him prove that not only are we easily fooled, we kind of like it.
A cello performance that casts a spell, por Caroline Lavelle, (0:07:39, 4/6/2007)
Caroline Lavelle plays the cello like a sorceress casting a spell, occasionally hiding behind her wild mane of blond hair as she sings of pastoral themes. She performs "Farther than the Sun," backed by Thomas Dolby on keyboards.
Can we know our own minds?, por Dan Dennett, (0:21:48, 4/6/2007)
Philosopher Dan Dennett makes a compelling argument that not only don't we understand our own consciousness, but that half the time our brains are actively fooling us.
How to listen to music with your whole body, por Evelyn Glennie, (0:32:09, 4/6/2007)
In this soaring demonstration, deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie illustrates how listening to music involves much more than simply letting sound waves hit your eardrums.
The wisdom of designing Cradle to Cradle, por William McDonough, (0:20:05, 4/6/2007)
Green-minded architect and designer William McDonough asks what our buildings and products would look like if designers took into account "all children, all species, for all time."
A mockingbird remix of TED2006, por Rives, (0:04:11, 4/9/2007)
Rives recaps the most memorable moments of TED2006 in the free-spirited rhyming verse of a fantastical mockingbird lullaby.
After the gold rush, there's innovation ahead, por Jeff Bezos, (0:17:11, 4/9/2007)
The dot-com boom and bust is often compared to the Gold Rush. But Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos says it's more like the early days of the electric industry.
"Kiteflyer's Hill", por Eddi Reader, (0:06:18, 4/14/2007)
Singer/songwriter Eddi Reader performs "Kiteflyer's Hill," a tender look back at a lost love. With Thomas Dolby on piano.
"What You Do With What You've Got", por Eddi Reader, Thomas Dolby, (0:05:12, 4/14/2007)
Singer/songwriter Eddi Reader performs "What You Do With What You've Got," a meditation on a very TED theme: how to use your gifts and talents to make a difference. With Thomas Dolby on piano.
"La Vie en Rose", por Thomas Dolby, Rachelle Garniez, (0:03:21, 4/16/2007)
Featuring the vocals and mischievous bell-playing of accordionist and singer Rachelle Garniez, the TED House Band -- led by Thomas Dolby on keyboard -- delivers this delightful rendition of the Edith Piaf standard "La Vie en Rose."
A comic send-up of TED2006, por Tom Rielly, (0:19:55, 4/16/2007)
Satirist Tom Rielly delivers a wicked parody of the 2006 TED conference, taking down the $100 laptop, the plight of the polar bear, and people who mention, one too many times, that they work at Harvard. Watch for a special moment between Tom and Al Gore.
An atheist's call to arms, por Richard Dawkins, (0:29:10, 4/16/2007)
Richard Dawkins urges all atheists to openly state their position -- and to fight the incursion of the church into politics and science. A fiery, funny, powerful talk.
How could God have allowed the tsunami?, por Rev. Tom Honey, (0:19:32, 4/16/2007)
In the days following the tragic South Asian tsunami of 2004, the Rev. Tom Honey pondered the question, "How could a loving God have done this?" Here is his answer.
Technology's Long Tail, por Chris Anderson (Wired), (0:14:18, 4/27/2007)
Chris Anderson, the editor of WIRED, explores the four key stages of any viable technology: setting the right price, gaining market share, displacing an established technology and, finally, becoming ubiquitous.
Fiddling in reel time, por Natalie MacMaster, Thomas Dolby, (0:05:11, 5/1/2007)
Violinist Natalie MacMaster and TED Musical Director Thomas Dolby play Dolby's original song "Blue Is a River" in this ethereal duet -- with a little dancing.
Inside the Google machine, por Sergey Brin and Larry Page, (0:20:33, 5/3/2007)
Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin offer a peek inside the Google machine, sharing tidbits about international search patterns, the philanthropic Google Foundation, and the company's dedication to innovation and employee happiness.
"Black Men Ski", por Stew, (0:04:37, 5/7/2007)
What happens when a black man visits Aspen? Singer/songwriter Stew and his band are about to let you know.
The tragedy of suburbia, por James Howard Kunstler, (0:19:44, 5/12/2007)
In James Howard Kunstler's view, public spaces should be inspired centers of civic life and the physical manifestation of the common good. Instead, he argues, what we have in America is a nation of places not worth caring about.
The future of design is human-centered, por David Kelley, (0:17:00, 5/15/2007)
IDEO's David Kelley says that product design has become much less about the hardware and more about the user experience. He shows video of this new, broader approach, including footage from the Prada store in New York.
Why squatter cities are a good thing, por Stewart Brand, (0:00:00, 5/17/2007)
Rural villages worldwide are being deserted, as billions of people flock to cities to live in teeming squatter camps and slums. Stewart Brand says this is a good thing. Why? It'll take you 3 minutes to find out.
Brain science is about to fundamentally change computing, por Jeff Hawkins, (0:20:11, 5/21/2007)
Treo creator Jeff Hawkins urges us to take a new look at the brain -- to see it not as a fast processor, but as a memory system that stores and plays back experiences to help us predict, intelligently, what will happen next.
Swim with giant sunfish in the open ocean, por Tierney Thys, (0:16:41, 5/21/2007)
Marine biologist Tierney Thys asks us to step into the water to visit the world of the Mola mola, or giant ocean sunfish. Basking, eating jellyfish and getting massages, this behemoth offers clues to life in the open sea.
Jaw-dropping Photosynth demo, por Blaise Aguera y Arcas, (0:07:30, 5/27/2007)
Blaise Aguera y Arcas leads a dazzling demo of Photosynth, software that could transform the way we look at digital images. Using still photos culled from the Web, Photosynth builds breathtaking dreamscapes and lets us navigate them.
Seeking salvation and profit in greentech, por John Doerr, (0:17:52, 5/27/2007)
"I don't think we're going to make it," John Doerr proclaims, in an emotional talk about climate change and investment. Spurred on by his daughter, who demanded he fix the mess the world is heading for, he and his partners.
How to help Africa? Do business there, por Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, (0:20:13, 5/30/2007)
We know the negative images of Africa -- famine and disease, conflict and corruption. But, says Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, there's another, less-told story happening in many African nations: one of reform, economic growth and business opportunity.
BumpTop desktop is a beautiful mess, por Anand Agarawala, (0:04:39, 6/5/2007)
Anand Agarawala presents BumpTop, a user interface that takes the usual desktop metaphor to a glorious, 3-D extreme, transforming file navigation into a freewheeling playground of crumpled documents and clipping-covered "walls."
Becoming Buddha -- on the Web, por Bob Thurman, (0:12:06, 6/6/2007)
In our hyperlinked world, we can know anything, anytime. And this mass enlightenment, says Buddhist scholar Bob Thurman, is our first step toward Buddha nature.
Building the Ground Zero viewing platform, por David Rockwell, (0:24:37, 6/12/2007)
In this emotionally charged conversation with journalist Kurt Andersen, designer David Rockwell discusses the process of building a viewing platform at Ground Zero shortly after 9/11.
The Pentagon's new map for war and peace, por Thomas Barnett, (0:23:43, 6/14/2007)
In this bracingly honest talk, international security strategist Thomas Barnett outlines a post-Cold War solution for the foundering U.S. military that is both sensible and breathtaking in its simplicity: Break it in two.
"Blue Room", por Ethel, (0:03:34, 6/18/2007)
The avant-garde string quartet Ethel performs the third movement from Phil Kline's four-part suite "The Blue Room and Other Stories." Searching melodic lines show off the deep, emotional musicality of these passionate players.
Look! Up in the sky! It's Virtual Earth!, por Stephen Lawler, (0:06:10, 6/20/2007)
Microsoft's Stephen Lawler gives a whirlwind tour of Virtual Earth, moving up, down and through its hyper-real cityscapes with dazzlingly fluidity, a remarkable feat that requires staggering amounts of data to bring into focus.
New insights on poverty and life around the world, por Hans Rosling, (0:18:57, 6/25/2007)
Researcher Hans Rosling uses his cool data tools to show how countries are pulling themselves out of poverty. He demos Dollar Street, comparing households of varying income levels worldwide. Then he does something really amazing.
Journey to the center of the Earth ... and beyond!, por Bill Stone, (0:17:43, 6/27/2007)
Bill Stone, a maverick cave explorer who has plumbed Earth's deepest abysses, discusses his efforts to mine lunar ice for space fuel and to build an autonomous robot for studying Jupiter's moon Europa.
Ants, terrorism, and the awesome power of memes, por Dan Dennett, (0:15:26, 7/2/2007)
Starting with the simple tale of an ant, philosopher Dan Dennett unleashes a devastating salvo of ideas, making a powerful case for the existence of memes -- concepts that are literally alive.
Why can't we grow new body parts?, por Alan Russell, (0:19:25, 7/4/2007)
Alan Russell studies regenerative medicine -- a breakthrough way of thinking about disease and injury, using a process that can signal the body to rebuild itself.
The Web's secret stories, por Jonathan Harris, (0:17:10, 7/8/2007)
Jonathan Harris wants to make sense of the emotional world of the Web. With deep compassion for the human condition, his projects troll the Internet to find out what we're all feeling and looking for.
What do we really know about the spread of AIDS?, por Emily Oster, (0:15:34, 7/12/2007)
Emily Oster re-examines the stats on AIDS in Africa from an economic perspective and reaches a stunning conclusion: Everything we know about the spread of HIV on the continent is wrong.
Is 4 a.m. the new midnight?, por Rives, (0:09:12, 7/17/2007)
Poet Rives does 8 minutes of lyrical origami, folding history into a series of coincidences surrounding that most surreal of hours, 4 o'clock in the morning.
Toys that make worlds, por Will Wright, (0:16:37, 7/17/2007)
In a friendly, high-speed presentation, Will Wright demos his newest game, Spore, which promises to dazzle users even more than his previous masterpieces.
Fantastic voyage inside a cell, por David Bolinsky, (0:09:45, 7/22/2007)
Medical animator David Bolinsky presents 3 minutes of stunning animation that show the bustling life inside a cell.
How I got my new hip, por Allison Hunt, (0:04:48, 7/24/2007)
When Allison Hunt found out that she needed a new hip -- and that Canada's national health care system would require her to spend nearly 2 years on a waiting list (and in pain) -- she took matters into her own hands.
Cheetahs vs. Hippos for Africa's future, por George Ayittey, (0:17:50, 7/30/2007)
Ghanaian economist George Ayittey unleashes a torrent of controlled anger toward corrupt leaders in Africa -- and calls on the "Cheetah generation" to take back the continent.
Africa as an investment, por Euvin Naidoo, (0:19:01, 7/31/2007)
South African investment banker Euvin Naidoo explains why investing in Africa can make great business sense.
How I built my family a windmill, por William Kamkwamba, (0:04:12, 7/31/2007)
When he was just 14 years old, Malawian inventor William Kamkwamba built his family an electricity-generating windmill from spare parts, working from rough plans he found in a library book.
Let's have a deeper discussion on aid, por Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, (0:22:10, 7/31/2007)
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the former finance minister of Nigeria, sums up four days of intense discussion on aid versus trade on the closing day of TEDGlobal 2007, and shares a personal story explaining her own commitment to this cause.
Educating a new generation of African leaders, por Patrick Awuah, (0:17:31, 8/3/2007)
Patrick Awuah makes the case that a liberal arts education is critical to forming true leaders.
Learning the stories of Africa, por Chris Abani, (0:17:36, 8/9/2007)
In this deeply personal talk, Nigerian writer Chris Abani says that "what we know about how to be who we are" comes from stories. He searches for the heart of Africa through its poems and narrative, including his own.
Tackling poverty with "patient capital", por Jacqueline Novogratz, (0:18:23, 8/12/2007)
Jacqueline Novogratz shares stories of how "patient capital" can bring sustainable jobs, goods, services -- and dignity -- to the world's poorest.
"Thula Mama", por Vusi Mahlasela, (0:10:06, 8/15/2007)
South African singer-songwriter Vusi Mahlasela dedicates his song, "Thula Mama," to all women -- and especially his grandmother.
"Woza", por Vusi Mahlasela, (0:04:59, 8/21/2007)
After Vusi Mahlasela's 3-song set at TEDGlobal, the audience wouldn't let him go. His encore, "Woza," showcases his brilliant guitar playing and multilingual lyrics.
Making movies that make change, por Jeff Skoll, (0:15:31, 8/21/2007)
Film producer Jeff Skoll (An Inconvenient Truth) talks about his film company, Participant Productions, and the people who've inspired him to do good.
New prosthetic arm for veterans, por Dean Kamen, (0:05:10, 8/28/2007)
Inventor Dean Kamen previews the prosthetic arm he's developing at the request of the US Department of Defense. His quiet commitment to using technology to solve problems -- while honoring the human spirit -- has never been more clear.
Redefining the dictionary, por Erin McKean, (0:15:50, 8/30/2007)
Is the beloved paper dictionary doomed to extinction? In this infectiously exuberant talk, leading lexicographer Erin McKean looks at the many ways today's print dictionary is poised for transformation.
Let's take a new look at African aid, por Andrew Mwenda, (0:17:07, 9/4/2007)
In this provocative talk, journalist Andrew Mwenda asks us to reframe the "African question" -- to look beyond the media's stories of poverty, civil war and helplessness and see the opportunities for creating wealth and happiness throughout the continent.
The art of creating creatures, por Theo Jansen, (0:08:13, 9/6/2007)
Artist Theo Jansen demonstrates the amazingly lifelike kinetic sculptures he builds from plastic tubes and lemonade bottles. His creatures are designed to move -- and even survive -- on their own.
The stuff of thought, por Steven Pinker, (0:17:27, 9/9/2007)
In an exclusive preview of his book The Stuff of Thought, Steven Pinker looks at language and how it expresses what goes on in our minds -- and how the words we choose communicate much more than we realize.
A brief history of violence, por Steven Pinker, (0:19:15, 9/10/2007)
Steven Pinker charts the decline of violence from Biblical times to the present, and argues that, though it may seem illogical and even obscene, given Iraq and Darfur, we are living in the most peaceful time in our species' existence.
Scenes from "The War Tapes", por Deborah Scranton, (0:17:36, 9/13/2007)
Filmmaker Deborah Scranton talks about and shows clips from her documentary The War Tapes, which puts cameras in the hands of soldiers fighting in Iraq.
Finding the origins of humanity, por Zeresenay Alemseged, (0:15:51, 9/18/2007)
Paleoanthropologist Zeresenay Alemseged looks for the roots of humanity in Ethiopia's badlands. Here he talks about finding the oldest skeleteon of a humanoid child -- and how Africa holds the clues to our humanity.
Simplicity patterns, por John Maeda, (0:15:59, 9/20/2007)
The MIT Media Lab's John Maeda lives at the intersection of technology and art, a place that can get very complicated. Here he talks about paring down to basics.
10 ways the world could end, por Stephen Petranek, (0:29:42, 9/25/2007)
How might the world end? Stephen Petranek lays out the challenges that face us in the drive to preserve the human race. Will we be wiped out by an asteroid? Eco-collapse? How about a particle collider gone wild?
Flying on solar wings, por Paul MacCready, (0:21:20, 9/26/2007)
Paul MacCready -- aircraft designer, environmentalist, and lifelong lover of flight -- talks about his long career.
Fly me to the moons of Saturn, por Carolyn Porco, (0:17:09, 10/1/2007)
Planetary scientist Carolyn Porco shows images from the Cassini voyage to Saturn, focusing on its largest moon, Titan, and on frozen Enceladus, which seems to shoot jets of ice.
Hip-hop dance and a little magic, por Kenichi Ebina, (0:03:32, 10/3/2007)
Kenichi Ebina moves his body in a manner that appears to defy the limits imposed by the human skeleton. He combines breakdancing and hip-hop with mime using movements that are simultaneously precise and fluid.
Life at 30,000 feet, por Richard Branson, (0:29:51, 10/9/2007)
Richard Branson talks to TED's Chris Anderson about the ups and the downs of his career, from his multibillionaire success to his multiple near-death experiences -- and reveals some of his (very surprising) motivations.
Robots that are "self-aware", por Hod Lipson, (0:06:18, 10/11/2007)
Hod Lipson demonstrates a few of his cool little robots, which have the ability to learn, understand themselves and even self-replicate.
The illustrated woman, por Maira Kalman, (0:17:30, 10/16/2007)
Author and illustrator Maira Kalman talks about her life and work, from her covers for The New Yorker to her books for children and grown-ups. She is as wonderful, as wise and as deliciously off-kilter in person as she is on paper.
Our cell phones, ourselves, por Jan Chipchase, (0:16:03, 10/18/2007)
Nokia researcher Jan Chipchase's investigation into the ways we interact with technology has led him from the villages of Uganda to the insides of our pockets. He's made some unexpected discoveries along the way.
A journey to the center of your mind, por Vilayanur Ramachandran, (0:23:34, 10/21/2007)
Vilayanur Ramachandran tells us what brain damage can reveal about the connection between celebral tissue and the mind, using three startling delusions as examples.
Building a commodities market in Ethiopia, por Eleni Gabre-Madhin, (0:20:34, 10/25/2007)
Economist Eleni Gabre-Madhin outlines her ambitious vision to found the first commodities market in Ethiopia. Her plan would create wealth, minimize risk for farmers and turn the world's largest recipient of food aid into a regional food basket.
My history of electroshock therapy, por Sherwin Nuland, (0:22:18, 10/30/2007)
Surgeon and author Sherwin Nuland discusses the development of electroshock therapy as a cure for severe, life-threatening depression -- including his own. It's a moving and heartfelt talk about relief, redemption and second chances.
Habits of happiness, por Matthieu Ricard, (0:20:54, 11/1/2007)
What is happiness, and how can we all get some? Biochemist turned Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard says we can train our minds in habits of well-being, to generate a true sense of serenity and fulfillment.
How creativity is being strangled by the law, por Larry Lessig, (0:18:56, 11/6/2007)
Larry Lessig, the Net's most celebrated lawyer, cites John Philip Sousa, celestial copyrights and the "ASCAP cartel" in his argument for reviving our creative culture.
Casting spells with DNA, por Paul Rothemund, (0:04:59, 11/8/2007)
Paul Rothemund writes code that causes DNA to arrange itself into a star, a smiley face and more. Sure, it's a stunt, but it's also a demonstration of self-assembly at the smallest of scales -- with vast implications for the future of making things.
A surprising idea for "solving" climate change, por David Keith, (0:15:58, 11/13/2007)
Environmental scientist David Keith proposes a cheap, effective, shocking means to address climate change: What if we injected a huge cloud of ash into the atmosphere to deflect sunlight and heat?
Why can't we grow new energy?, por Juan Enriquez, (0:18:10, 11/15/2007)
Juan Enriquez challenges our definition of bioenergy. Oil, coal, gas and other hydrocarbons are not chemical but biological products, based on plant matter -- and thus, growable. Our whole approach to fuel, he argues, needs to change.
The case for informed optimism, por Larry Brilliant, (0:21:01, 11/21/2007)
We've known about global warming for 50 years and done little about it, says Google.org director Larry Brilliant. In spite of this and other depressing trends, he's optimistic and tells us why. From Skoll World Forum, Oxford, UK, www.skollfoundation.org
Secrets of movement, from geckos and roaches, por Robert Full, (0:19:24, 11/27/2007)
Biologist Robert Full shares slo-mo video of some captivating critters. Take a closer look at the spiny legs that allow cockroaches to scuttle across mesh and the nanobristle-packed feet that let geckos to run straight up walls.
African fractals, in buildings and braids, por Ron Eglash, (0:16:57, 11/29/2007)
I am a mathematician, and I would like to stand on your roof.' That is how Ron Eglash greeted many African families he met while researching the fractal patterns he'd noticed in villages across the continent.
Why design?, por Philippe Starck, (0:17:06, 12/4/2007)
Designer Philippe Starck -- with no pretty slides to show -- spends 18 minutes reaching for the very roots of the question "Why design?" Listen carefully for one perfect mantra for all of us, genius or not.
Beauty and truth in physics, por Murray Gell-Mann, (0:16:02, 12/6/2007)
Armed with a sense of humor and laypeople's terms, Nobel winner Murray Gell-Mann drops some knowledge on TEDsters about particle physics, asking questions like, Are elegant equations more likely to be right than inelegant ones?
We must win the oil endgame, por Amory Lovins, (0:19:44, 12/11/2007)
In this energizing talk, Amory Lovins lays out his simple plan for weaning the US off oil and revitalizing the economy.
Lightning calculation and other "Mathemagic", por Arthur Benjamin, (0:15:14, 12/13/2007)
In a lively show, mathemagician Arthur Benjamin races a team of calculators to figure out 3-digit squares, solves another massive mental equation and guesses a few birthdays. How does he do it? He'll tell you.
Why aren't we all Good Samaritans?, por Daniel Goleman, (0:13:13, 12/18/2007)
Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, asks why we aren't more compassionate more of the time.
The lost art of letter-writing, por Lakshmi Pratury, (0:04:09, 12/20/2007)
Lakshmi Pratury remembers the lost art of letter-writing and shares a series of notes her father wrote to her before he died. Her short but heartfelt talk may inspire you to set pen to paper, too.
5 dangerous things you should let your kids do, por Gever Tulley, (0:09:18, 12/21/2007)
Gever Tulley, founder of the Tinkering School, spells out 5 dangerous things you should let your kids do. From TED University 2007.
Tales of passion, por Isabel Allende, (0:17:56, 1/3/2008)
Author and activist Isabel Allende discusses women, creativity, the definition of feminism -- and, of course, passion -- in this talk.
Help fight local warming, por Yossi Vardi, (0:06:15, 1/4/2008)
Investor and prankster Yossi Vardi delivers a careful lecture on the dangers of blogging. Specifically, for men.
How do ants know what to do?, por Deborah Gordon, (0:20:31, 1/8/2008)
With a dusty backhoe, a handful of Japanese paint markers and a few students in tow, Deborah Gordon digs up ant colonies in the Arizona desert in search of keys to understanding complex systems.
The mystery box, por J.J. Abrams, (0:18:02, 1/10/2008)
J.J. Abrams traces his love for the unseen mystery -- a passion that's evident in his films and TV shows, including Cloverfield, Lost and Alias -- back to its magical beginnings.
Underwater astonishments, por David Gallo, (0:05:27, 1/11/2008)
David Gallo shows jaw-dropping footage of amazing sea creatures, including a color-shifting cuttlefish, a perfectly camouflaged octopus, and a Times Square's worth of neon light displays from fish who live in the blackest depths of the ocean.
Treating design as art, por Paola Antonelli, (0:18:17, 1/15/2008)
Paola Antonelli, design curator at New York's Museum of Modern Art, wants to spread her appreciation of design -- in all shapes and forms -- around the world.
Nice building. Then what?, por Frank Gehry, (0:22:00, 1/17/2008)
In a wildly entertaining discussion with Richard Saul Wurman, architect Frank Gehry gives TEDsters his take on the power of failure, his recent buildings, and the all-important "Then what?" factor.
"All the Answers" and "Tembererana", por Raul Midon, (0:10:40, 1/18/2008)
Singer/guitarist Raul Midon performs "All the Answers" in a world premiere at TED2007, followed by the sprightly "Tembererana."
Rebuilding America, one slide show at a time, por Bill Strickland, (0:35:28, 1/20/2008)
Bill Strickland tells a quiet and astonishing tale of redemption through arts, music, and unlikely partnerships.
The story of a passionate life, por Ben Dunlap, (0:19:08, 1/23/2008)
Wofford College president Ben Dunlap tells the story of Sandor Teszler, a Hungarian Holocaust survivor who taught him about passionate living and lifelong learning.
A 4-minute medley on the music wars, por David Pogue, (0:04:12, 1/24/2008) New York Times tech columnist David Pogue performs a satirical mini-medley about iTunes and the downloading wars, borrowing a few notes from Sonny and Cher and the Village People.
A surprising look at celebrity, por Alison Jackson, (0:17:36, 1/28/2008)
By making photographs that seem to show our favorite celebs (Diana, Elton John) doing what we really, secretly, want to see them doing, Alison Jackson explores our desire to get personal with celebs. Contains graphic images.
A vision for TED, por Chris Anderson (TED), (0:12:55, 1/30/2008)
When Curator Chris Anderson gave this talk in 2002, TED's future was hanging in the balance. Here, he attempts to persuade TEDsters that his vision for turning his for-profit conference into a nonprofit event would work. It did.
Getting cars off the road and data into the skies, por Robin Chase, (0:13:39, 1/31/2008)
Robin Chase founded Zipcar, the world's biggest car-sharing business. That was one of her smaller ideas. Here she travels much farther, contemplating road-pricing schemes that will shake up our driving habits and a mesh network vast as the Interstate.
Sing a song of sustainable cities, por Jaime Lerner, (0:15:43, 2/4/2008)
Jaime Lerner reinvented urban space in his native Curitiba, Brazil. Along the way, he changed the way city planners worldwide see what's possible in the metropolitan landscape.
All roads lead to Rome Antics, por David Macaulay, (0:21:35, 2/6/2008)
David Macaulay relives the winding and sometimes surreal journey toward the completion of Rome Antics, his illustrated homage to the historic city.
The omnivore's next dilemma, por Michael Pollan, (0:17:25, 2/7/2008)
What if human consciousness isn't the end-all and be-all of Darwinism? What if we are all just pawns in corn's clever strategy game to rule the Earth? Author Michael Pollan asks us to see the world from a plant's-eye view.
Way-new collaboration, por Howard Rheingold, (0:19:31, 2/11/2008)
Howard Rheingold talks about the coming world of collaboration, participatory media and collective action -- and how Wikipedia is really an outgrowth of our natural human instinct to work as a group.
Theremin, the untouchable music, por Pamelia Kurstin, (0:19:11, 2/13/2008)
Virtuoso Pamelia Kurstin performs and discusses her theremin, the not-just-for-sci-fi electronic instrument that is played without being touched. Songs include "Autumn Leaves," "Lush Life" and David Mash's "Listen, Words Are Gone."
Let's take a nuclear-powered rocket to Saturn, por George Dyson, (0:08:38, 2/14/2008)
Author George Dyson spins the story of Project Orion, a massive, nuclear-powered spacecraft that could have taken us to Saturn in five years. His insider's perspective and a secret cache of documents bring an Atomic Age dream to life.
What makes a building unique?, por Moshe Safdie, (0:17:46, 2/18/2008)
Looking back over his long career, architect Moshe Safdie delves into four of his design projects and explains how he labored to make each one truly unique for its site and its users.
The Jill and Julia Show, por Jill Sobule, Julia Sweeney, (0:06:14, 2/20/2008)
Two TED favorites, Jill Sobule and Julia Sweeney, team up for a delightful set that mixes witty songwriting with a little bit of social commentary.
Welcome to Vaudeville 2.0, por Raspyni Brothers, (0:15:27, 2/22/2008)
Illustrious jugglers the Raspyni Brothers show off their uncanny balance, agility, coordination and willingness to sacrifice (others). Now, if you'll just stand completely still...
A parable for Kenya, por Joseph Lekuton, (0:05:26, 2/25/2008)
Joseph Lekuton, a member of parliament in Kenya, starts with the story of his remarkable education, then offers a parable of how Africa can grow. His message of hope has never been more relevant.
The joy of rockets, por Steve Jurvetson, (0:03:22, 2/27/2008)
Moneyman Steve Jurvetson takes TEDsters inside his awesome hobby -- launching model rockets -- by sharing some gorgeous photos, his infectious glee and just a whiff of danger.
WorldWide Telescope, por Roy Gould, Curtis Wong, (0:06:48, 2/27/2008)
Educator Roy Gould and researcher Curtis Wong show a sneak preview of Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope, which compiles images from telescopes and satellites to build a comprehensive, interactive view of our universe.
A powerful idea about teaching ideas, por Alan Kay, (0:20:37, 3/4/2008)
With all the intensity and brilliance for which he is known, Alan Kay envisions better techniques for teaching kids by using computers to illustrate experience in ways -- mathematically and scientifically -- that only computers can.
On the verge of creating synthetic life, por Craig Venter, (0:15:54, 3/6/2008)
"Can we create new life out of our digital universe?" Craig Venter asks. His answer is "yes" -- and pretty soon. He walks through his latest research and promises that we'll soon be able to build and boot up a synthetic chromosome.
From 1984, 4 predictions about the future (3 of them correct), por Nicholas Negroponte, (0:25:23, 3/11/2008)
With surprising accuracy, Nicholas Negroponte predicts what will happen with CD-ROMs, web interfaces, service kiosks, the touchscreen interface of the iPhone and his own One Laptop per Child project.
My stroke of insight, por Jill Bolte Taylor, (0:18:44, 3/12/2008)
Jill Bolte Taylor got a research opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: She had a massive stroke, and watched as her brain functions -- motion, speech, self-awareness -- shut down one by one. An astonishing story.
From 1990, defending a vision for architecture, por Frank Gehry, (0:44:38, 3/13/2008)
Before he was a legend, architect Frank Gehry takes a whistlestop tour of his early work, from his house in Venice Beach to the American Center in Paris, which was under construction (and much on his mind) when he gave this talk.
2008 TED Prize wish: Once Upon a School, por Dave Eggers, (0:25:35, 3/18/2008)
Accepting his 2008 TED Prize, author Dave Eggers asks the TED community to personally, creatively engage with local public schools. With spellbinding eagerness, he talks about how his 826 Valencia tutoring center inspired others around the world to open
2008 TED Prize wish: An African Einstein, por Neil Turok, (0:24:50, 3/20/2008)
Accepting his 2008 TED Prize, physicist Neil Turok speaks out for talented young Africans starved of opportunity: by unlocking and nurturing the continent's creative potential, we can create a change in Africa's future.
Building on the green agenda, por Norman Foster, (DLD 2007, 0:31:57;3/24/2008)
Architect Norman Foster discusses his own work to show how computers can help architects design buildings that are green, beautiful and "basically pollution-free." From the 2007 DLD Conference, Munich
Looking inside the brain in real time, por Christopher deCharms, (0:04:02, 3/24/2008)
Neuroscientist and inventor Christopher deCharms demonstrates a new way to use fMRI to show brain activity -- thoughts, emotions, pain -- while it is happening. In other words, you can actually see how you feel.
18 minutes with an agile mind, por Clifford Stoll, (0:17:57, 3/26/2008)
Clifford Stoll captivates his audience with a wildly energetic sprinkling of anecdotes, observations, asides -- and even a science experiment. After all, by his own definition, he's a scientist: "Once I do something, I want to do something else."
"M'Bifo", por Rokia Traore, (0:06:59, 3/27/2008)
Rokia Traore sings the moving "M'Bifo," accompanied on the n'goni, a lute-like Malian stringed instrument with a soulful timbre. A quietly mesmerizing performance.
The true face of Leonardo Da Vinci?, por Siegfried Woldhek, (0:04:24, 4/1/2008) Mona Lisa is one of the best-known faces on the planet. But would you recognize an image of Leonardo da Vinci? Illustrator Siegfried Woldhek uses some thoughtful image-analysis techniques to find what he believes is the true face of Leonardo.
Catch Sputnik mania!, por David Hoffman, (0:03:50, 4/2/2008)
Filmmaker David Hoffman shares footage from his feature-length documentary Sputnik Mania, which shows how the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik in 1957 led to both the space race and the arms race -- and jump-started science and math education around the w
Rethinking the music video, por Jakob Trollback, (0:04:00, 4/3/2008)
What would a music video look like if it were directed by the music, purely as an expression of a great song, rather than driven by a filmmaker's concept? Designer Jakob Trollback shares the results of his experiment in the form.
Asking big questions about the universe, por Stephen Hawking, (0:10:12, 4/4/2008)
In keeping with the theme of TED2008, professor Stephen Hawking asks some Big Questions about our universe -- How did the universe begin? How did life begin? Are we alone? -- and discusses how we might go about answering them.
New thinking on the climate crisis, por Al Gore, (0:27:54, 4/8/2008)
In this brand-new slideshow (premiering on TED.com), Al Gore presents evidence that the pace of climate change may be even worse than scientists recently predicted. He challenges us to act.
Creating tech marvels out of a $40 Wii Remote, por Johnny Lee, (0:05:40, 4/11/2008)
Building sophisticated educational tools out of cheap parts, Johnny Lee demos his cool Wii Remote hacks, which turn the $40 video game controller into a digital whiteboard, a touchscreen and a head-mounted 3-D viewer.
Releasing the music in your head, por Tod Machover, Dan Ellsey, (0:20:41, 4/15/2008)
Tod Machover of MIT's Media Lab is devoted to extending musical expression to everyone, from virtuosos to amateurs, and in the most diverse forms, from opera to video games. He and composer Dan Ellsey shed light on what's next.
Open-source economics, por Yochai Benkler, (0:17:52, 4/16/2008)
Yochai Benkler explains how collaborative projects like Wikipedia and Linux represent the next stage of human organization.
Bringing world-class health care to the poorest, por Ernest Madu, (0:16:43, 4/17/2008)
Dr. Ernest Madu runs the Heart Institute of the Caribbean in Kingston, Jamaica, where he proves that -- with careful design, smart technical choices, and a true desire to serve -- it's possible to offer world-class healthcare in the developing world.
The universe on a string, por Brian Greene, (0:19:06, 4/22/2008)
Physicist Brian Greene explains superstring theory, the idea that minscule strands of energy vibrating in 11 dimensions create every particle and force in the universe.
Where does creativity hide?, por Amy Tan, (0:22:52, 4/22/2008)
Novelist Amy Tan digs deep into the creative process, looking for hints of how hers evolved.
An inside tour of the world's biggest supercollider, por Brian Cox, (0:14:59, 4/29/2008)
"Rock-star physicist" Brian Cox talks about his work on the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. Discussing the biggest of big science in an engaging, accessible way, Cox brings us along on a tour of the massive project.
Wake up! It's They Might Be Giants, por They Might Be Giants, (0:17:21, 4/29/2008)
In a very, very early-morning set, They Might Be Giants rock the final day of TED2007.
The power to connect the world, por Hector Ruiz, (0:19:57, 5/1/2008)
Hector Ruiz, the executive chair of AMD, wants to give Internet access to everyone. In this talk, he shares his extraordinary life story and describes AMD's 50x15 initiative that calls for connecting 50 percent of the world by 2015.
6 ways mushrooms can save the world, por Paul Stamets, (0:17:44, 5/6/2008)
Mycologist Paul Stamets lists 6 ways the mycelium fungus can help save the universe: cleaning polluted soil, making insecticides, treating smallpox and even flu ... Read more.
Can we domesticate germs?, por Paul Ewald, (0:17:51, 5/7/2008)
Evolutionary biologist Paul Ewald drags us into the sewer to discuss germs. Why are some more harmful than others? How could we make the harmful ones benign? Searching for answers, he examines a disgusting, fascinating case: diarrhea.
Juggling rhythm and motion, por Michael Moschen, (0:37:02, 5/8/2008)
Michael Moschen puts on a quietly mesmerizing show of juggling. Don't think juggling is an art? You might just change your mind after watching Moschen in motion.
The amazing intelligence of crows, por Joshua Klein, (0:10:06, 5/13/2008)
Hacker and writer Joshua Klein is fascinated by crows. (Notice the gleam of intelligence in their little black eyes?) After a long amateur study of corvid behavior, he's come up with an elegant machine that may form a new bond between animal and human.
Why we know less than ever about the world, por Alisa Miller, (0:04:29, 5/14/2008)
Alisa Miller, head of Public Radio International, talks about why -- though we want to know more about the world than ever -- the US media is actually showing less. Eye-opening stats and graphs.
What's wrong with what we eat, por Mark Bittman, (EG07, 0:20:08;5/15/2008)
In this fiery and funny talk, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman weighs in on what's wrong with the way we eat now (too much meat, too few plants
Exploring the ocean's hidden worlds, por Robert Ballard, (0:18:19, 5/20/2008)
Ocean explorer Robert Ballard takes us on a mindbending trip to hidden worlds underwater, where he and other researchers are finding unexpected life, resources, even new mountains. He makes a case for serious exploration and mapping. Google Ocean, anyone?
Creating objects that tell stories, por Yves Behar, (0:17:43, 5/21/2008)
Designer Yves Behar digs up his creative roots to discuss some of the iconic objects he's created (the Leaf lamp, the Jawbone headset). Then he turns to the witty, surprising, elegant objects he's working on now -- including the "$100 laptop."
Rich hospital, poor hospital, por Seyi Oyesola, (0:14:23, 5/27/2008)
Dr. Seyi Oyesola takes a searing look at health care in underdeveloped countries. His photo tour of a Nigerian teaching hospital -- all low-tech hacks and donated supplies -- drives home the challenge of doing basic health care there.
Sculpture that's truly moving, por Arthur Ganson, (0:15:44, 5/27/2008)
Sculptor and engineer Arthur Ganson talks about his work -- kinetic art that explores deep philosophical ideas and is gee-whiz fun to look at.
4 ways to improve the lives of the "bottom billion", por Paul Collier, (0:16:51, 5/28/2008)
Around the world right now, one billion people are trapped in poor or failing countries. How can we help them? Economist Paul Collier lays out a bold, compassionate plan for closing the gap between rich and poor.
Memes and "temes", por Susan Blackmore, (0:19:28, 6/3/2008)
Susan Blackmore studies memes: ideas that replicate themselves from brain to brain like a virus. She makes a bold new argument: Humanity has spawned a new kind of meme, the teme, which spreads itself via technology -- and invents ways to keep itself alive
A life of fascinations, por Nathan Myhrvold, (0:17:14, 6/4/2008)
Nathan Myhrvold talks about a few of his latest fascinations -- animal photography, archeology, BBQ and generally being an eccentric genius multimillionaire. Listen for wild stories from the (somewhat raunchy) edge of the animal world.
"Kounandi", por Rokia Traore, (0:06:26, 6/5/2008)
Singer-songwriter Rokia Traore performs "Kounandi," a breathtaking song that blends Malian instruments with a modern, heartfelt vocal. Note: This song is not available for download.
The worldwide web of belief and ritual, por Wade Davis, (0:19:12, 6/10/2008)
Anthropologist Wade Davis muses on the worldwide web of belief and ritual that makes us human. He shares breathtaking photos and stories of the Elder Brothers, a group of Sierra Nevada indians whose spiritual practice holds the world in balance.
Do all languages have a common ancestor?, por Murray Gell-Mann, (0:02:15, 6/11/2008)
After speaking at TED2007 on elegance in physics, the amazing Murray Gell-Mann gives a quick overview of another passionate interest: finding the common ancestry of our modern languages.
Picturing excess, por Chris Jordan, (0:11:14, 6/15/2008)
Artist Chris Jordan shows us an arresting view of what Western culture looks like. His supersized images picture some almost unimaginable statistics -- like the astonishing number of paper cups we use every single day.
The birth of the computer, por George Dyson, (0:17:18, 6/15/2008)
Historian George Dyson tells stories from the birth of the modern computer -- from its 16th-century origins to the hilarious notebooks of some early computer engineers.
Your genes are not your fate, por Dr. Dean Ornish, (0:03:12, 6/16/2008)
Dean Ornish shares new research that shows how adopting healthy lifestyle habits can affect a person at a genetic level. For instance, he says, when you live healthier, eat better, exercise, and love more, your brain cells actually increase.
How engineers learn from evolution, por Robert Full, (0:20:22, 6/19/2008)
Insects and animals have evolved some amazing skills -- but, as Robert Full notes, many animals are actually over-engineered. The trick is to copy only what's necessary. He shows how human engineers can learn from animals' tricks.
A new vision for refrigeration, por Adam Grosser, (0:03:31, 6/23/2008)
Adam Grosser talks about a project to build a refrigerator that works without electricity -- to bring the vital tool to villages and clinics worldwide. Tweaking some old technology, he's come up with a system that works.
Are children's carseats necessary?, por Steven Levitt, (0:18:58, 6/24/2008)
Steven Levitt shares data that shows car seats are no more effective than seatbelts in protecting kids from dying in cars. However, during the Q&A, he makes one crucial caveat.
Classical music with shining eyes, por Benjamin Zander, (0:20:43, 6/25/2008)
Benjamin Zander has two infectious passions: classical music, and helping us all realize our untapped love for it -- and by extension, our untapped love for all new possibilities, new experiences, new connections.
One Laptop per Child, two years on, por Nicholas Negroponte, (0:16:40, 6/26/2008)
Nicholas Negroponte talks about how One Laptop per Child is doing, two years in. Speaking at the EG conference while the first XO laptops roll off the production line, he recaps the controversies and recommits to the goals of this far-reaching project.
"Clonie", por Nellie McKay, (0:02:20, 6/27/2008)
Singer-songwriter Nellie McKay performs the semi-serious song "Clonie" -- about creating the ultimate companion.
Breath, music, passion, por Sxip Shirey, Rachelle Garniez, (0:03:06, 6/30/2008)
Composer Sxip Shirey makes music from the simple, dramatic act of breathing -- alone and together. Open your ears to a passionate 3 minutes.
Stephen Hawking hits zero g, por Peter Diamandis, (0:04:01, 6/30/2008)
X Prize founder Peter Diamandis talks about how he helped Stephen Hawking fulfill his dream of going to space -- by flying together into the upper atmosphere and experiencing weightlessness at zero g.
A girl, a photograph, a homecoming, por Rick Smolan, (0:25:07, 7/2/2008)
Photographer Rick Smolan tells the unforgettable story of a young Amerasian girl, a fateful photograph, and an adoption saga with a twist.
"Everybody" and "Peace on Earth", por Raul Midon, (0:09:19, 7/3/2008)
Guitarist and singer Raul Midon plays "Everybody" and "Peace on Earth" during his 2007 set at TED.
A hero of the Congo Basin forest, por Corneille Ewango, (0:18:18, 7/7/2008)
Botanist Corneille Ewango talks about his work at the Okapi Faunal Reserve in the Congo Basin -- and his heroic work protecting it from poachers, miners and raging civil wars.
Using biology to make better animation, por Torsten Reil, (TED2003, 0:18:20;7/8/2008)
Torsten Reil talks about how the study of biology can help make natural-looking animated people -- by building a human from the inside out, with bones, muscles and a nervous system. He spoke at TED in 2003
How would you feel if you lost everything?, por David Hoffman, (0:04:00, 7/9/2008)
Nine days before TED2008, filmmaker David Hoffman lost almost everything he owned in a fire that destroyed his home, office and 30 years of passionate collecting. He looks back at a life that's been wiped clean in an instant -- and looks forward.
Institutions vs. collaboration, por Clay Shirky, (0:20:46, 7/10/2008)
In this prescient 2005 talk, Clay Shirky shows how closed groups and companies will give way to looser networks where small contributors have big roles and fluid cooperation replaces rigid planning.
"Mother of Pearl" and "If I Had You", por Nellie McKay, (0:05:34, 7/11/2008)
The wonderful Nellie McKay sings "Mother of Pearl" (with the immortal first line "Feminists don't have a sense of humor") and "If I Had You" from her sparkling set at TED2008.
Let's look for life in the outer solar system, por Freeman Dyson, (0:19:11, 7/14/2008)
Physicist Freeman Dyson suggests that we start looking for life on the moons of Jupiter and out past Neptune, in the Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud. He talks about what such life would be like -- and how we might find it.
The brain in love, por Helen Fisher, (0:15:56, 7/15/2008)
Why do we crave love so much, even to the point that we would die for it? To learn more about our very real, very physical need for romantic love, Helen Fisher and her research team took MRIs of people in love -- and people who had just been dumped.
Technology, faith and human shortcomings, por Billy Graham, (0:26:20, 7/16/2008)
Speaking at TED in 1998, Rev. Billy Graham marvels at technology's power to improve lives and change the world -- but says the end of evil, suffering and death will come only after the world accepts Christ. A legendary talk from TED's archives.
My year of living biblically, por A.J. Jacobs, (0:17:40, 7/17/2008)
Speaking at the most recent EG conference, author, philosopher, prankster and journalist A.J. Jacobs talks about the year he spent living biblically -- following the rules in the Bible as literally as possible.
Brain magic, por Keith Barry, (0:19:49, 7/18/2008)
First, Keith Barry shows us how our brains can fool our bodies -- in a trick that works via podcast too. Then he involves the audience in some jaw-dropping (and even a bit dangerous) feats of brain magic.
The wonders of Zulu wire art, por Marisa Fick-Jordan, (0:02:33, 7/21/2008)
In this short, image-packed talk, Marisa Fick-Jordan talks about how a village of traditional Zulu wire weavers built a worldwide market for their dazzling work.
What positive psychology can help you become, por Martin Seligman, (0:23:42, 7/21/2008)
Martin Seligman talks about psychology -- as a field of study and as it works one-on-one with each patient and each practitioner. As it moves beyond a focus on disease, what can modern psychology help us to become?
Telling stories of our shared humanity, por Chris Abani, (0:16:14, 7/22/2008)
Chris Abani tells stories of people: People standing up to soldiers. People being compassionate. People being human and reclaiming their humanity. It's "ubuntu," he says: the only way for me to be human is for you to reflect my humanity back at me.
Digging for humanity's origins, por Louise Leakey, (0:15:36, 7/23/2008)
Louise Leakey asks, "Who are we?" The question takes her to the Rift Valley in Eastern Africa, where she digs for the evolutionary origins of humankind -- and suggests a stunning new vision of our competing ancestors.
The art of collecting stories, por Jonathan Harris, (0:20:29, 7/24/2008)
At the EG conference in December 2007, artist Jonathan Harris discusses his latest projects, which involve collecting stories: his own, strangers', and stories collected from the Internet, including his amazing "We Feel Fine."
Architecture, modern and romantic, por Reed Kroloff, (0:15:21, 7/28/2008)
Reed Kroloff gives us a new lens for judging new architecture: is it modern, or is it romantic? Look for glorious images from two leading practices -- and a blistering critique of the 9/11 planning process.
Predicting the next 5,000 days of the web, por Kevin Kelly, (0:19:34, 7/28/2008)
At the 2007 EG conference, Kevin Kelly shares a fun stat: The World Wide Web, as we know it, is only 5,000 days old. Now, Kelly asks, how can we predict what's coming in the next 5,000 days?
Idea + square = origami, por Robert Lang, (0:15:53, 7/30/2008)
Robert Lang is a pioneer of the newest kind of origami -- using math and engineering principles to fold mind-blowingly intricate designs that are beautiful and, sometimes, very useful.
Making a computer that works like the brain, por Kwabena Boahen, (0:16:22, 7/30/2008)
Researcher Kwabena Boahen is looking for ways to mimic the brain's supercomputing powers in silicon -- because the messy, redundant processes inside our heads actually make for a small, light, superfast computer.
Origami, blindfolded and to music, por Bruno Bowden, Rufus Cappadocia, (0:02:58, 8/1/2008)
After Robert Lang's talk on origami at TED2008, Bruno Bowden stepped onstage with a challenge -- he would fold one of Lang's astonishingly complicated origami figures, blindfolded, in under 2 minutes. He's accompanied by the cellist Rufus Cappadocia.
The search for dark energy and dark matter, por Patricia Burchat, (0:16:09, 8/17/2008)
Physicist Patricia Burchat sheds light on two basic ingredients of our universe: dark matter and dark energy. Comprising 96% of the universe between them, they can't be directly measured, but their influence is immense.
Building a family tree for all humanity, por Spencer Wells, (0:20:53, 8/18/2008)
All humans share some common bits of DNA, passed down to us from our African ancestors. Geneticist Spencer Wells talks about how his Genographic Project will use this shared DNA to figure out how we are -- in all our diversity -- truly connected.
Photography connects us with the world, por David Griffin, (0:14:53, 8/19/2008)
The photo director for National Geographic, David Griffin knows the power of photography to connect us to our world. In a talk filled with glorious images, he talks about how we all use photos to tell our stories.
Close-up card magic, por Lennart Green, (0:31:08, 8/20/2008)
Like your uncle at a family party, the rumpled Swedish doctor Lennart Green says, "Pick a card, any card." But what he does with those cards is pure magic -- flabbergasting, lightning-fast, how-does-he-do-it? magic.
Dog-friendly dog training, por Ian Dunbar, (0:14:46, 8/21/2008)
Speaking at the 2007 EG conference, trainer Ian Dunbar asks us to see the world through the eyes of our beloved dogs. By knowing our pets' perspective, we can build their love and trust. It's a message that resonates well beyond the animal world.
"The Dog Song", por Nellie McKay, (0:03:33, 8/22/2008)
Animal fan Nellie McKay sings a sparkling tribute to her dear dog. She suggests we all do the same: "Just go right to the pound/ And find yourself a hound/ And make that doggie proud/ 'cause that's what it's all about."
Re-creating great performances, por John Q. Walker, (0:13:41, 8/26/2008)
Imagine hearing great, departed pianists play again today, just as they would in person. John Q. Walker demonstrates how recordings can be analyzed for precise keystrokes and pedal motions, then played back on computer-controlled grand pianos.
Can kids teach themselves?, por Sugata Mitra, (0:20:59, 8/27/2008)
Speaking at LIFT 2007, Sugata Mitra talks about his Hole in the Wall project. Young kids in this project figured out how to use a PC on their own -- and then taught other kids. He asks, what else can children teach themselves?
The making of an African activist, por Ory Okolloh, (0:16:38, 8/28/2008)
Ory Okolloh tells the story of her life and her family -- and how she came to do her heroic work reporting on the doings of Kenya's parliament.
Talking and squawking TED2006, por Einstein the Parrot, (0:05:48, 8/29/2008)
This whimsical wrap-up of TED2006 -- presented by Einstein, the African grey parrot, and her trainer, Stephanie White -- simply tickles. Watch for the moment when Einstein has a moment with Al Gore.
The astonishing promise of DNA folding, por Paul Rothemund, (0:16:24, 9/2/2008)
In 2007, Paul Rothemund gave TED a short summary of his specialty, DNA folding. Now he lays out in clear, adundant detail the immense promise of this field -- to create tiny machines that assemble themselves.
Taking the next giant leap in space, por Peter Diamandis, (0:15:31, 9/3/2008)
Peter Diamandis says it's our moral imperative to keep exploring space -- and he talks about how, with the X Prize and other incentives, we're going to do just that.
The Web and TV, a sibling rivalry, por Peter Hirshberg, (0:31:39, 9/4/2008)
In this absorbing look at emerging media and tech history, Peter Hirshberg shares some crucial lessons from Silicon Valley and explains why the web is so much more than "better TV."
Why we don't understand as much as we think we do, por Jonathan Drori, (0:12:28, 9/5/2008)
Starting with four basic questions (that you may be surprised to find you can't answer), Jonathan Drori looks at the gaps in our knowledge -- and specifically, what we don't about science that we might think we do.
Helping humans and animals live together in Africa, por Jane Goodall, (0:23:46, 9/8/2008)
The legendary chimpanzee researcher Jane Goodall talks about TACARE and her other community projects, which help people in booming African towns live side-by-side with threatened animals.
How to survive a nuclear attack, por Irwin Redlener, (0:25:18, 9/9/2008)
The face of nuclear terror has changed since the Cold War, but disaster-medicine expert Irwin Redlener reminds us the threat is still real. He looks at some of history's farcical countermeasures and offers practical advice on how to survive an attack.
A digital library, free to the world, por Brewster Kahle, (0:20:06, 9/10/2008)
Brewster Kahle is building a truly huge digital library -- every book ever published, every movie ever released, all the strata of web history ... It's all free to the public -- unless someone else gets to it first.
The deep oceans: a ribbon of life, por David Gallo, (0:13:20, 9/11/2008)
With vibrant video clips captured by submarines, David Gallo takes us to some of Earth's darkest, most violent, toxic and beautiful habitats, the valleys and volcanic ridges of the oceans' depths, where life is bizarre, resilient and shockingly abundant.
Spinning a story of Mama, por Carmen Agra Deedy, (0:23:34, 9/12/2008)
Storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy spins a funny, wise and luminous tale of parents and kids, starring her Cuban mother. Settle in and enjoy the ride -- Mama's driving!
Celebrating the camel, por Keith Bellows, (0:16:06, 9/15/2008)
Keith Bellows gleefully outlines the engineering marvels of the camel, a vital creature he calls "the SUV of the desert." Though he couldn't bring a live camel to TED, he gets his camera crew as close as humanly possible to a one-ton beast in full rut.
Reinventing the school lunch, por Ann Cooper, (0:19:42, 9/16/2008)
Speaking at the 2007 EG conference, "renegade lunch lady" Ann Cooper talks about the coming revolution in the way kids eat at school -- local, sustainable, seasonal and even educational food.
The real difference between liberals and conservatives, por Jonathan Haidt, (0:18:42, 9/17/2008)
Psychologist Jonathan Haidt studies the five moral values that form the basis of our political choices, whether we're left, right or center. In this eye-opening talk, he pinpoints the moral values that liberals and conservatives tend to honor most.
Security and insecurity, por Eve Ensler, (0:13:45, 9/18/2008)
Playwright Eve Ensler explores our modern craving for security -- and why it makes us less secure. Listen for inspiring, heartbreaking stories of women making change.
10 things to know before you pitch a VC for money, por David S. Rose, (0:14:39, 9/19/2008)
Thinking startup? David S. Rose's rapid-fire TED U talk on pitching to a venture capitalist tells you the 10 things you need to know about yourself -- and prove to a VC -- before you fire up your slideshow.
Health, population and the human mind, por Marvin Minsky, (0:13:33, 9/22/2008)
Listen closely -- Marvin Minsky's arch, eclectic, charmingly offhand talk on health, overpopulation and the human mind is packed with subtlety: wit, wisdom and just an ounce of wily, is-he-joking? advice.
How ordinary people become monsters ... or heroes, por Philip Zimbardo, (0:23:16, 9/23/2008)
Philip Zimbardo knows how easy it is for nice people to turn bad. In this talk, he shares insights and graphic unseen photos from the Abu Ghraib trials. Then he talks about the flip side: how easy it is to be a hero, and how we can rise to the challenge.
The power of saying thank you, por Laura Trice, (0:03:29, 9/24/2008)
In this deceptively simple 3-minute talk, Dr. Laura Trice muses on the power of the magic words "thank you" -- to deepen a friendship, to repair a bond, to make sure another person knows what they mean to you. Try it.
Come play with Pleo the dinosaur, por Caleb Chung, (0:18:27, 9/25/2008)
Pleo the robot dinosaur acts like a living pet -- exploring, cuddling, playing, reacting and learning. Inventor Caleb Chung talks about Pleo and his wild toy career at EG07, on the week that Pleo shipped to stores for the first time.
Chalking it up to the blank slate, por Steven Pinker, (0:22:42, 9/26/2008)
Steven Pinker's book The Blank Slate argues that all humans are born with some innate traits. Here, Pinker talks about his thesis, and why some people found it incredibly upsetting.
How robots will invade our lives, por Rodney Brooks, (0:18:47, 9/29/2008)
In this prophetic talk from 2003, roboticist Rodney Brooks talks about how robots are going to work their way into our lives -- starting with toys and moving into household chores ... and beyond.
Things I have learned in my life so far, por Stefan Sagmeister, (0:04:45, 9/30/2008)
Rockstar designer Stefan Sagmeister delivers a short, witty talk on life lessons, expressed through surprising modes of design (including ... inflatable monkeys?).
Politics and religion are technologies, por Noah Feldman, (0:15:07, 10/1/2008)
Noah Feldman makes a searing case that both politics and religion -- whatever their differences -- are similar technologies, designed to efficiently connect and manage any group of people.
Architecture is a special effects machine, por Liz Diller, (0:19:24, 10/2/2008)
In this engrossing EG talk, architect Liz Diller shares her firm DS+R's more unusual work, including the Blur Building, whose walls are made of fog, and the revamped Alice Tully Hall, which is wrapped in glowing wooden skin.
Use my photographs to stop the worldwide XDR-TB epidemic, por James Nachtwey, (0:05:52, 10/3/2008)
Photojournalist James Nachtwey sees his TED Prize wish come true, as we share his powerful photographs of XDR-TB, a drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis that's touching off a global medical crisis. Learn how to help at http://www.xdrtb.org
Will videogames become better than life?, por David Perry, (0:21:06, 10/6/2008)
Game designer David Perry says tomorrow's videogames will be more than mere fun to the next generation of gamers. They'll be lush, complex, emotional experiences -- more involving and meaningful to some than real life.
Learning from past presidents in moments of crisis, por Doris Kearns Goodwin, (0:18:48, 10/7/2008)
Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin talks about what we can learn from American presidents, including Abraham Lincoln and Lyndon Johnson. Then she shares a moving memory of her own father, and of their shared love of baseball.
The Web and the city, por Steven Johnson, (0:16:30, 10/8/2008)
Outside.in's Steven Johnson says the Web is like a city: built by many people, completely controlled by no one, intricately interconnected and yet functioning as many independent parts. While disaster strikes in one place, elsewhere, life goes on.
Sound stylings by a human beatbox, por James Burchfield, (0:04:44, 10/10/2008)
Human beatbox James "AudioPoet" Burchfield performs an intricate three-minute breakdown -- sexy, propulsive hip-hop rhythms and turntable textures -- all using only his voice.
A beautiful new theory of everything, por Garrett Lisi, (0:21:26, 10/14/2008)
Physicist and surfer Garrett Lisi presents a controversial new model of the universe that -- just maybe -- answers all the big questions. If nothing else, it's the most beautiful 8-dimensional model of elementary particles and forces you've ever seen.
The power of glamour, por Virginia Postrel, (0:16:15, 10/16/2008)
In a timely talk, cultural critic Virginia Postrel muses on the true meaning, and the powerful uses, of glamour -- which she defines as any calculated, carefully polished image designed to impress and persuade.
Healing and other natural wonders, por Dr. Dean Ornish, (0:16:49, 10/17/2008)
Dean Ornish talks about simple, low-tech and low-cost ways to take advantage of the body's natural desire to heal itself.
A brief digression on matters of lost time, por John Hodgman, (0:16:40, 10/21/2008)
Humorist John Hodgman rambles through a new story about aliens, physics, time, space and the way all of these somehow contribute to a sweet, perfect memory of falling in love.
Nature vs. humans, and what we can do about it, por Paul MacCready, (0:22:48, 10/22/2008)
In 1998, aircraft designer Paul MacCready looks at a planet on which humans have utterly dominated nature, and talks about what we all can do to preserve nature's balance. His contribution: solar planes, superefficient gliders and the electric car.
Creativity, fulfillment and flow, por Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, (0:18:55, 10/23/2008)
Mihaly Czikszentmihalyi asks, "What makes a life worth living?" Noting that money cannot make us happy, he looks to those who find pleasure and lasting satisfaction in activities that bring about a state of "flow."
Heartrending pictures of AIDS, por Kristen Ashburn, (0:04:37, 10/24/2008)
In this moving talk, documentary photographer Kristen Ashburn shares unforgettable images of the human impact of AIDS in Africa.
Why societies collapse, por Jared Diamond, (0:18:21, 10/27/2008)
Why do societies fail? With lessons from the Norse of Iron Age Greenland, deforested Easter Island and present-day Montana, Jared Diamond talks about the signs that collapse is near, and how -- if we see it in time -- we can prevent it.
A 3-minute story of mixed emoticons, por Rives, (0:03:17, 10/28/2008)
Rives -- star of the Bravo special "Ironic Iconic America" -- tells a typographical fairy tale that's short and bittersweet.
Products (and toys) from the future, por Keith Schacht, Zach Kaplan, (0:15:46, 10/30/2008)
The Inventables guys, Zach Kaplan and Keith Schacht, demo some amazing new materials and how we might use them. Look for squishy magnets, odor-detecting ink, "dry" liquid and a very surprising 10-foot pole.
The story of Ezra, a child soldier, por Newton Aduaka, (0:18:44, 10/31/2008)
Filmmaker Newton Aduaka shows clips from his powerful, lyrical feature film "Ezra," about a child soldier in Sierra Leone.
Fly the seas on a submarine with wings, por Graham Hawkes, (0:12:11, 11/3/2008)
Graham Hawkes takes us aboard his graceful, winged submarines to the depths of planet Ocean (a.k.a. "Earth"). It's a deep blue world we landlubbers rarely see in 3D.
The moment when social media became the news, por James Surowiecki, (0:16:59, 11/4/2008)
James Surowiecki pinpoints the moment when social media became an equal player in the world of news-gathering: the 2005 tsunami, when YouTube video, blogs, IMs and txts carried the news -- and preserved moving personal stories from the tragedy.
I walk the Earth, por John Francis, (0:19:24, 11/5/2008)
For almost three decades, John Francis has been a planetwalker, traveling the globe by foot and sail with a message of environmental respect and responsibility (for 17 of those years without speaking). A funny, thoughtful talk with occasional banjo.
The powerful link between creativity and play, por Tim Brown, (0:27:58, 11/6/2008)
At the 2008 Serious Play conference, designer Tim Brown talks about the powerful relationship between creative thinking and play -- with many examples you can try at home (and one that maybe you shouldn't).
The science of scent, por Luca Turin, (0:15:53, 11/7/2008)
What's the science behind a sublime perfume? With charm and precision, biophysicist Luca Turin explains the molecular makeup -- and the art -- of a scent.
How science is like democracy, por Lee Smolin, (0:12:25, 11/10/2008)
Physicist Lee Smolin talks about how the scientific community works: as he puts it, "we fight and argue as hard as we can," but everyone accepts that the next generation of scientists will decide who's right. And, he says, that's how democracy works, too.
Shaking hands with the devil, por Samantha Power, (0:23:09, 11/11/2008)
Samantha Power tells a story of a complicated hero, Sergio Vieira de Mello. This UN diplomat walked a thin moral line, negotiating with the world's worst dictators to help their people survive crisis. It's a compelling story told with a fiery passion.
The story of the Mars Rovers, por Charles Elachi, (0:28:17, 11/12/2008)
At Serious Play 2008, Charles Elachi shares stories from NASA's legendary Jet Propulsion Lab -- including tales and video from the Mars Rover project.
Tidying up art, por Ursus Wehrli, (0:15:57, 11/13/2008)
Ursus Wehrli shares his vision for a cleaner, more organized, tidier form of art -- by deconstructing the paintings of modern masters into their component pieces, sorted by color and size.
Building a home for the Clock of the Long Now, por Stewart Brand, (0:23:23, 11/17/2008)
Stewart Brand works on the Clock of the Long Now, a timepiece that counts down the next 10,000 years. It's a beautiful project that asks us to think about the far, far future. Here, he discusses a tricky side problem with the Clock: Where can we put it?
Fashion, passion, and about a million other things, por Isaac Mizrahi, (0:14:16, 11/18/2008)
Fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi spins through a dizzying array of inspirations -- from '50s pinups to a fleeting glimpse of a hole in a shirt that makes him shout "Stop the cab!" Inside this rambling talk are real clues to living a happy, creative life.
Welcome to Nollywood, por Franco Sacchi, (0:17:34, 11/19/2008)
Zambia-born filmmaker Franco Sacchi tours us through Nollywood, Nigeria's booming film industry (the world's 3rd largest). Guerrilla filmmaking and brilliance under pressure from crews that can shoot a full-length feature in a week.
The design of the universe, por George Smoot, (0:19:00, 11/20/2008)
At Serious Play 2008, astrophysicist George Smoot shows stunning new images from deep-space surveys, and prods us to ponder how the cosmos -- with its giant webs of dark matter and mysterious gaping voids -- got built this way.
A surprising parable of foie gras, por Dan Barber, (0:20:24, 11/24/2008)
At the Taste3 conference, chef Dan Barber tells the story of a small farm in Spain that has found a humane way to produce foie gras. Raising his geese in a natural environment, farmer Eduardo Sousa embodies the kind of food production Barber believes in.
What I'm worried about, what I'm excited about, por Bill Joy, (0:19:02, 11/24/2008)
Technologist and futurist Bill Joy talks about several big worries for humanity -- and several big hopes in the fields of health, education and future tech.
Do the green thing, por Andy Hobsbawm, (0:03:22, 11/26/2008)
Andy Hobsbawm shares a fresh ad campaign about going green -- and some of the fringe benefits.
The coming neurological epidemic, por Gregory Petsko, (0:03:47, 11/30/2008)
Biochemist Gregory Petsko makes a convincing argument that, in the next 50 years, we'll see an epidemic of neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's, as the world population ages. His solution: more research into the brain and its functions.
Climbing the world's biggest trees, por Richard Preston, (0:19:31, 12/2/2008)
Science writer Richard Preston talks about some of the most enormous living beings on the planet, the giant trees of the US Pacific Northwest. Growing from a tiny seed, they support vast ecosystems -- and are still, largely, a mystery.
Second Life, where anything is possible, por Philip Rosedale, (0:28:31, 12/3/2008)
Why build a virtual world? Philip Rosedale talks about the virtual society he founded, Second Life, and its underpinnings in human creativity. It's a place so different that anything could happen.
Reinventing the car, por Larry Burns, (0:09:12, 12/4/2008)
General Motors veep Larry Burns previews cool next-gen car design: sleek, customizable (and computer-enhanced) vehicles that run clean on hydrogen -- and pump energy back into the electrical grid when they're idle.
Presenting the Orb, por Nick Sears, (0:03:58, 12/5/2008)
Inventor Nick Sears demos the first generation of the Orb, a rotating persistence-of-vision display that creates glowing 3D images. A short, cool tale of invention.
The stories and song of Appalachia, por David Holt, (0:25:17, 12/7/2008)
Folk musician and storyteller David Holt plays the banjo and shares photographs and old wisdom from the Appalachian Mountains. He also demonstrates some unusual instruments like the mouth bow -- and a surprising electric drum kit he calls "thunderwear."
The playful search for beauty, por Eva Zeisel, (0:18:09, 12/9/2008)
The ceramics designer Eva Zeisel looks back on a 75-year career. What keeps her work as fresh today (her latest line debuted in 2008) as in 1926? Her sense of play and beauty, and her drive for adventure. Listen for stories from a rich, colorful life.
Where have the bees gone?, por Dennis vanEngelsdorp, (0:16:28, 12/10/2008)
Bees are dying in droves. Why? Leading apiarist Dennis vanEngelsdorp looks at the gentle, misunderstood creature's important place in nature and the mystery behind its alarming disappearance.
A library of human imagination, por Jay Walker, (0:07:09, 12/14/2008)
Jay Walker, curator of the Library of Human Imagination, conducts a surprising show-and-tell session highlighting a few of the intriguing artifacts that backdropped the 2008 TED stage.
Exploring the frontiers of happiness, por Dan Gilbert, (0:33:38, 12/16/2008)
Dan Gilbert presents research and data from his exploration of happiness -- sharing some surprising tests and experiments that you can also try on yourself. Watch through to the end for a sparkling Q&A with some familiar TED faces.
Does happiness have a price tag?, por Benjamin Wallace, (0:14:40, 12/17/2008)
Can happiness be bought? To find out, author Benjamin Wallace sampled the world's most expensive products, including a bottle of 1947 Chateau Cheval Blanc, 8 ounces of Kobe beef and the fabled (notorious) Kopi Luwak coffee. His critique may surprise you.
Life on Mars? Let's look in the caves, por Penelope Boston, (0:18:29, 12/17/2008)
So the Mars Rovers didn't scoop up any alien lifeforms. Scientist Penelope Boston thinks there's a good chance -- a 25 to 50 percent chance, in fact -- that life might exist on Mars, deep inside the planet's caves. She details how we should look and why.
Bringing One Laptop per Child to Colombia: TED in the Field, por Nicholas Negroponte, (0:06:48, 12/22/2008)
TED follows Nicholas Negroponte to Colombia as he delivers laptops inside territory once controlled by guerrillas. His partner? Colombia's Defense Department, who see One Laptop per Child as an investment in the region. (And you too can get involved.)
How things in nature tend to sync up, por Steven Strogatz, (0:21:58, 12/22/2008)
Mathematician Steven Strogatz shows how flocks of creatures (like birds, fireflies and fish) manage to synchronize and act as a unit -- when no one's giving orders. The powerful tendency extends into the realm of objects, too.
Who was General Tso? and other mysteries of American Chinese food, por Jennifer 8. Lee, (0:16:38, 12/24/2008)
Reporter Jennifer 8. Lee talks about her hunt for the origins of familiar Chinese-American dishes -- exploring the hidden spots where these two cultures have (so tastily) combined to form a new cuisine.
Celebrating the scientific experiment, por Kary Mullis, (0:29:32, 1/5/2009)
Biochemist Kary Mullis talks about the basis of modern science: the experiment. Sharing tales from the 17th century and from his own backyard-rocketry days, Mullis celebrates the curiosity, inspiration and rigor of good science in all its forms.
My journey in design, from tofu to RISD, por John Maeda, (0:17:06, 1/6/2009)
Designer John Maeda talks about his path from a Seattle tofu factory to the Rhode Island School of Design, where he became president in 2008. Maeda, a tireless experimenter and a witty observer, explores the crucial moment when design met computers.
What can fossils teach us?, por Paul Sereno, (0:21:46, 1/7/2009)
Strange landscapes, scorching heat and (sometimes) mad crocodiles await scientists seeking clues to evolution's genius. Paleontologist Paul Sereno talks about his surprising encounters with prehistory -- and a new way to help students join the adventure.
Take a ride in the Skycar, por Paul Moller, (0:15:39, 1/8/2009)
Paul Moller talks about the future of personal air travel -- the marriage of autos and flight that will give us true freedom to travel off-road. He shows two things he's working on: the Moller Skycar (a jet + car) and a passenger-friendly hovering disc.
How calculus is changing architecture, por Greg Lynn, (0:18:54, 1/9/2009)
Greg Lynn talks about the mathematical roots of architecture -- and how calculus and digital tools allow modern designers to move beyond the traditional building forms. A glorious church in Queens (and a titanium tea set) illustrate his theory.
Ways of seeing, por Rob Forbes, (0:15:37, 1/12/2009)
Rob Forbes, the founder of Design Within Reach, shows a gallery of snapshots that inform his way of seeing the world. Charming juxtapositions, found art, urban patterns -- this slideshow will open your eyes to the world around you.
Understanding comics, por Scott McCloud, (0:17:08, 1/13/2009)
In this unmissable look at the magic of comics, Scott McCloud bends the presentation format into a cartoon-like experience, where colorful diversions whiz through childhood fascinations and imagined futures that our eyes can hear and touch.
The art of baking bread, por Peter Reinhart, (0:15:34, 1/14/2009)
Batch to batch, crust to crust ... In tribute to the beloved staple food, baking master Peter Reinhart reflects on the cordial couplings (wheat and yeast, starch and heat) that give us our daily bread. Try not to eat a slice.
What do consumers really want?, por Joseph Pine, (0:14:19, 1/15/2009)
Customers want to feel what they buy is authentic, but "Mass Customization" author Joseph Pine says selling authenticity is tough because, well, there's no such thing. He talks about a few experiences that may be artificial but make millions anyway.
Great design is serious (not solemn), por Paula Scher, (0:21:56, 1/16/2009)
Paula Scher looks back at a life in design (she's done album covers, books, the Citibank logo ...) and pinpoints the moment when she started really having fun. Look for gorgeous designs and images from her legendary career.
Design, discovery and humor, por David Carson, (0:22:39, 1/19/2009)
Great design is a never-ending journey of discovery -- for which it helps to pack a healthy sense of humor. Sociologist and surfer-turned-designer David Carson walks through a gorgeous (and often quite funny) slide deck of his work and found images.
Tools for building a better world, por Jamais Cascio, (0:16:15, 1/21/2009)
We all want to make the world better -- but how? Jamais Cascio looks at some specific tools and techniques that can make a difference. It's a fascinating talk that might just inspire you to act.
An introduction to genomics, por Barry Schuler, (0:21:26, 1/22/2009)
What is genomics? How will it affect our lives? In this intriguing primer on the genomics revolution, entrepreneur Barry Schuler says we can at least expect healthier, tastier food. He suggests we start with the pinot noir grape, to build better wines.
A meditation on hope, por Sherwin Nuland, (0:12:36, 1/23/2009)
Surgeon and writer Sherwin Nuland meditates on the idea of hope -- the desire to become our better selves and make a better world. It's a thoughtful 12 minutes that will help you focus on the road ahead.
Inventing the next amazing thing, por Woody Norris, (0:13:49, 1/26/2009)
Woody Norris shows off two of his inventions that treat sound in new ways, and talks about his untraditional approach to inventing and education. As he puts it: "Almost nothing has been invented yet." So -- what's next?
Earth's mass extinctions, por Peter Ward, (0:19:41, 1/27/2009)
Asteroid strikes get all the coverage, but "Medea Hypothesis" author Peter Ward argues that most of Earth's mass extinctions were caused by lowly bacteria. The culprit, a poison called hydrogen sulfide, may have an interesting application in medicine.
Running on high-tech legs, por Aimee Mullins, (0:20:43, 1/28/2009)
In this TED archive video from 1998, paralympic sprinter Aimee Mullins talks about her record-setting career as a runner, and about the amazing carbon-fiber prosthetic legs (then a prototype) that helped her cross the finish line.
Hunting the next killer virus, por Joe DeRisi, (0:16:05, 1/29/2009)
Biochemist Joe DeRisi talks about amazing new ways to diagnose viruses (and treat the illnesses they cause) using DNA. His work may help us understand malaria, SARS, avian flu -- and the 60 percent of everyday viral infections that go undiagnosed.
Playing the Cape Breton fiddle, por Natalie MacMaster, (0:18:47, 1/30/2009)
Natalie MacMaster and her musical partner Donnell Leahy play several tunes from the Cape Breton tradition -- a sprightly, soulful style of folk fiddling. It's an inspired collaboration that will have you clapping (and maybe dancing) along.
Great ideas for finding new energy, por Bill Gross, (0:19:55, 2/2/2009)
Bill Gross, the founder of Idealab, talks about his life as an inventor, starting with his high-school company selling solar energy plans and kits. Learn here about a groundbreaking system for solar cells -- and some questions we haven't yet solved.
How I'm trying to change the world now, por Bill Gates, (0:20:16, 2/5/2009)
Bill Gates hopes to solve some of the world's biggest problems using a new kind of philanthropy. In a passionate and, yes, funny 18 minutes, he asks us to consider two big questions and how we might answer them. (And see the Q&A on the TED Blog.)
A different way to think about creative genius, por Elizabeth Gilbert, (0:19:28, 2/9/2009)
Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius. It's a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.
How great design makes ideas new, por Milton Glaser, (0:15:14, 2/11/2009)
From the TED archives: The legendary graphic designer Milton Glaser dives deep into a new painting inspired by Piero della Francesca. From here, he muses on what makes a convincing poster, by breaking down an idea and making it new.
Siftables, the toy blocks that think, por David Merrill, (0:07:09, 2/12/2009)
MIT grad student David Merrill demos Siftables -- cookie-sized, computerized tiles you can stack and shuffle in your hands. These future-toys can do math, play music, and talk to their friends, too. Is this the next thing in hands-on learning?
The real crisis? We stopped being wise, por Barry Schwartz, (0:20:45, 2/16/2009)
Barry Schwartz makes a passionate call for "practical wisdom" as an antidote to a society gone mad with bureaucracy. He argues powerfully that rules often fail us, incentives often backfire, and practical, everyday wisdom will help rebuild our world.
Beyond the crisis, mindboggling science and the arrival of Homo evolutis, por Juan Enriquez, (0:18:50, 2/17/2009)
Even as mega-banks topple, Juan Enriquez says the big reboot is yet to come. But don't look for it on your ballot -- or in the stock exchange. It'll come from science labs, and it promises keener bodies and minds. Our kids are going to be ... different.
Help me bring music to kids worldwide (TED Prize winner!), por Jose Antonio Abreu, (0:16:58, 2/18/2009)
Jose Antonio Abreu is the charismatic founder of a youth orchestra system that has transformed thousands of kids' lives in Venezuela. Here he shares his amazing story and unveils a TED Prize wish that could have a big impact in the US and beyond.
A musical sensation from Venezuela, por Gustavo Dudamel and the Teresa Carre?±o Youth Orchestra, (0:17:06, 2/18/2009)
The Teresa Carre?±o Youth Orchestra contains the best high school musicians from Venezuela's life-changing music program, El Sistema. Led here by Gustavo Dudamel, they play Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10, 2nd movement, and Arturo M?°rquez' Danz??n No. 2.
Here's how to protect the blue heart of the planet (TED Prize winner!), por Sylvia Earle, (0:18:16, 2/19/2009)
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.
Why the search for alien intelligence matters (TED Prize winner!), por Jill Tarter, (0:21:23, 2/20/2009)
The SETI Institute's Jill Tarter makes her TED Prize wish: to accelerate our search for cosmic company. Using a growing array of radio telescopes, she and her team listen for patterns that may be a sign of intelligence elsewhere in the universe.
How Benjamin Button got his face, por Ed Ulbrich, (0:18:07, 2/23/2009)
Ed Ulbrich, the digital-effects guru from Digital Domain, explains the Oscar-winning technology that allowed his team to digitally create the older versions of Brad Pitt's face for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."
Sailing the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, por Charles Moore, (0:07:20, 2/24/2009)
Capt. Charles Moore of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation first discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch -- an endless floating waste of plastic trash. Now he's drawing attention to the growing, choking problem of plastic debris in our seas.
Exploring the reef's Twilight Zone, por Richard Pyle, (0:16:48, 2/25/2009)
In this illuminating talk, Richard Pyle shows us thriving life on the cliffs of coral reefs and groundbreaking diving technologies he has pioneered to explore it. He and his team risk everything to reveal the secrets of undiscovered species.
Making art of New York's urban ruins, por Miru Kim, (0:14:30, 2/26/2009)
At the 2008 EG Conference, artist Miru Kim talks about her work. Kim explores industrial ruins underneath New York and then photographs herself in them, nude -- to bring these massive, dangerous, hidden spaces into sharp focus.
How Twitter's spectacular growth is being driven by unexpected uses, por Evan Williams, (0:08:00, 2/27/2009)
In the year leading up to this talk, the web tool Twitter exploded in size (up 10x during 2008 alone). Co-founder Evan Williams reveals that many of the ideas driving that growth came from unexpected uses invented by the users themselves.
Why didn't girls play videogames?, por Brenda Laurel, (0:13:08, 3/2/2009)
A TED archive gem. At TED in 1998, Brenda Laurel asks: Why are all the top-selling videogames aimed at little boys? She spent two years researching the world of girls (and shares amazing interviews and photos) to create a game that girls would love.
A 20-year tale of hope: How we re-grew a rainforest, por Willie Smits, (0:20:42, 3/3/2009)
By piecing together a complex ecological puzzle, biologist Willie Smits has found a way to re-grow clearcut rainforest in Borneo, saving local orangutans -- and creating a thrilling blueprint for restoring fragile ecosystems.
Unveiling the beautiful, fragile world of rainforest treetop ecosystems, por Nalini Nadkarni, (0:16:30, 3/4/2009)
A unique ecosystem of plants, birds and monkeys thrives in the treetops of the rainforest. Nalini Nadkarni explores these canopy worlds -- and shares her findings with the world below, through dance, art and bold partnerships.
Celebrating work -- all kinds of work, por Mike Rowe, (0:20:02, 3/5/2009)
Mike Rowe, the host of "Dirty Jobs," tells some compelling (and horrifying) real-life job stories. Listen for his insights and observations about the nature of hard work, and how it's been unjustifiably degraded in society today.
Striking chords to rock the jazz world, por Eric Lewis, (0:10:36, 3/6/2009)
Eric Lewis, an astonishingly talented crossover jazz pianist -- seen by many for the first time at TED2009 -- sets fire to the keys with his shattering rendition of Evanescence's chart-topper, "Going Under."
The three ways that good design makes you happy, por Don Norman, (0:12:41, 3/9/2009)
In this talk from 2003, design critic Don Norman turns his incisive eye toward beauty, fun, pleasure and emotion, as he looks at design that makes people happy. He names the three emotional cues that a well-designed product must hit to succeed.
Unveiling the "Sixth Sense," game-changing wearable tech, por Pattie Maes, Pranav Mistry, (0:08:42, 3/10/2009)
This demo -- from Pattie Maes' lab at MIT, spearheaded by Pranav Mistry -- was the buzz of TED. It's a wearable device with a projector that paves the way for profound interaction with our environment. Imagine "Minority Report" and then some.
How my legs give me super-powers, por Aimee Mullins, (0:09:58, 3/11/2009)
Athlete, actor and activist Aimee Mullins talks about her prosthetic legs -- she's got a dozen amazing pairs -- and the superpowers they grant her: speed, beauty, an extra 6 inches of height ... Quite simply, she redefines what the body can be.
Why play is vital -- no matter your age, por Stuart Brown, (0:26:42, 3/12/2009)
A pioneer in research on play, Dr. Stuart Brown says humor, games, roughhousing, flirtation and fantasy are more than just fun. Plenty of play in childhood makes for happy, smart adults -- and keeping it up can make us smarter at any age.
The next Web of open, linked data, por Tim Berners-Lee, (0:16:23, 3/13/2009)
20 years ago, Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web. For his next project, he's building a web for open, linked data that could do for numbers what the Web did for words, pictures, video: unlock our data and reframe the way we use it together.
Cute, sexy, sweet and funny -- an evolutionary riddle, por Dan Dennett, (0:07:45, 3/16/2009)
Why are babies cute? Why is cake sweet? Philosopher Dan Dennett has answers you wouldn't expect, as he shares evolution's counterintuitive reasoning on cute, sweet and sexy things (plus a new theory from Matthew Hurley on why jokes are funny).
Why we think it's OK to cheat and steal (sometimes), por Dan Ariely, (0:16:23, 3/17/2009)
Behavioral economist Dan Ariely studies the bugs in our moral code: the hidden reasons we think it's OK to cheat or steal (sometimes). Clever studies help make his point that we're predictably irrational -- and can be influenced in ways we can't grasp.
My quest for the dodo bird, and other obsessions, por Adam Savage, (0:15:38, 3/18/2009)
At EG'08, Adam Savage talks about his fascination with the dodo bird, and how it led him on a strange and surprising double quest. It's an entertaining adventure through the mind of a creative obsessive.
Nostalgia for a future that never happened, por Bruce McCall, (0:13:01, 3/19/2009)
Bruce McCall paints a future that never happened -- full of flying cars, polo-playing tanks and the RMS Tyrannic, "The Biggest Thing in All the World." At Serious Play '08, he narrates a brisk and funny slideshow of his faux-nostalgic art.
How to grow your own fresh air, por Kamal Meattle, (0:04:04, 3/20/2009)
Researcher Kamal Meattle shows how an arrangement of three common houseplants, used in specific spots in a home or office building, can result in measurably cleaner indoor air.
Inventing a super-kite to tap the energy of high-altitude wind, por Saul Griffith, (0:05:25, 3/23/2009)
In this brief talk, Saul Griffith unveils the invention his new company Makani Power has been working on: giant kite turbines that create surprising amounts of clean, renewable energy.
From a Nairobi slum, a tale of hope, por Jacqueline Novogratz, (0:07:30, 3/24/2009)
Jacqueline Novogratz tells a moving story of an encounter in a Nairobi slum with Jane, a former prostitute, whose dreams of escaping poverty, of becoming a doctor and of getting married were fulfilled in an unexpected way.
Cool new things you can do with your mobile phone, por David Pogue, (0:27:03, 3/25/2009)
In this engaging talk from the EG'08 conference, New York Times tech columnist David Pogue rounds up some handy cell phone tools and services that can boost your productivity and lower your bills (and your blood pressure).
Coaching for people, not points, por John Wooden, (0:17:36, 3/26/2009)
With profound simplicity, Coach John Wooden redefines success and urges us all to pursue the best in ourselves. In this inspiring talk he shares the advice he gave his players at UCLA, quotes poetry and remembers his father's wisdom.
Hunting the next killer virus, por Nathan Wolfe, (0:12:20, 3/26/2009)
Virus hunter Nathan Wolfe is outwitting the next pandemic by staying two steps ahead: discovering deadly new viruses where they first emerge -- passing from animals to humans among poor subsistence hunters in Africa -- before they claim millions of lives.
Poetry for all seasons of life, por C.K. Williams, (0:23:17, 3/30/2009)
Poet C.K. Williams reads his work at TED2001. As he colors scenes of childhood resentments, college loves, odd neighbors and the literal death of youth, he reminds us of the unique challenges of living.
Can design save the newspaper?, por Jacek Utko, (0:06:05, 3/31/2009)
Jacek Utko is an extraordinary Polish newspaper designer whose redesigns for papers in Eastern Europe not only win awards, but increase circulation by up to 100%. Can good design save the newspaper? It just might.
Fulfilling the dream of flight in a high-tech wingsuit, por Ueli Gegenschatz, (0:12:13, 4/1/2009)
Wingsuit jumping is the leading edge of extreme sports -- an exhilarating feat of almost unbelievable daring, where skydivers soar through canyons at over 100MPH. Ueli Gegenschatz talks about how (and why) he does it, and shows jawdropping film.
Restyling the classic Airstream trailer, por Christopher C. Deam, (0:06:21, 4/2/2009)
In this low-key, image-packed talk from 2002, designer Christopher C. Deam talks about his makeover of an American classic: the Airstream travel trailer.
Military robots and the future of war, por P.W. Singer, (0:16:05, 4/3/2009)
In this powerful talk, P.W. Singer shows how the widespread use of robots in war is changing the realities of combat. He shows us scenarios straight out of science fiction -- that now may not be so fictitious.
My father, my architect, por Nathaniel Kahn, (0:10:27, 4/6/2009)
Nathaniel Kahn shares clips from his documentary "My Architect," about his quest to understand his father, the legendary architect Louis Kahn. It's a film with meaning to anyone who seeks to understand the relationship between art and love.
Three predictions on the future of Iran, and the math to back it up, por Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, (0:19:05, 4/7/2009)
Bruce Bueno de Mesquita uses mathematical analysis to predict (very often correctly) such messy human events as war, political power shifts, Intifada ... After a crisp explanation of how he does it, he offers three predictions on the future of Iran.
Discovering bacteria's amazing communication system, por Bonnie Bassler, (0:18:14, 4/8/2009)
Bonnie Bassler discovered that bacteria "talk" to each other, using a chemical language that lets them coordinate defense and mount attacks. The find has stunning implications for medicine, industry -- and our understanding of ourselves.
A trickster's theory of everything, por Emily Levine, (0:22:52, 4/9/2009)
Philosopher-comedian Emily Levine talks (hilariously) about science, math, society and the way everything connects. She's a brilliant trickster, poking holes in our fixed ideas and bringing hidden truths to light. Settle in and let her ping your brain.
Busted! The sneaky moves of anti-social smartphone users, por Renny Gleeson, (0:03:46, 4/10/2009)
In this funny (and actually poignant) 3-minute talk, social strategist Renny Gleeson breaks down our always-on social world -- where the experience we're having right now is less interesting than what we'll tweet about it later.
A bold plan for mass adoption of electric cars, por Shai Agassi, (0:18:06, 4/13/2009)
Forget about the hybrid auto -- Shai Agassi says it's electric cars or bust if we want to impact emissions. His company, Better Place, has a radical plan to take entire countries oil-free by 2020.
How biotech will drive our evolution, por Gregory Stock, (0:17:51, 4/14/2009)
In this prophetic 2003 talk -- just days before Dolly the sheep was stuffed -- biotech ethicist Gregory Stock looked forward to new, more meaningful (and controversial) technologies, like customizable babies, whose adoption might drive human evolution.
Tour the AlloSphere, a stunning new way to see scientific data, por JoAnn Kuchera-Morin, (0:06:27, 4/15/2009)
JoAnn Kuchera-Morin demos the AlloSphere, an entirely new way to see and interpret scientific data, in full color and surround sound inside a massive metal sphere. Dive into the brain, feel electron spin, hear the music of the elements ...
How to feel like the Incredible Hulk, por Tim Ferriss, (0:16:25, 4/15/2009)
Productivity guru Tim Ferriss' fun, encouraging anecdotes show how one simple question -- "What's the worst that could happen?" -- is all you need to learn to do anything.
Matthew Childs' 9 life lessons from rock climbing, por Matthew Childs, (0:04:48, 4/17/2009)
In this talk from TED University 2009, veteran rock climber Matthew Childs shares nine pointers for rock climbing. These handy tips bear on an effective life at sea level, too.
Margaret Wertheim on the beautiful math of coral, por Margaret Wertheim, (0:15:33, 4/20/2009)
Margaret Wertheim leads a project to re-create the creatures of the coral reefs using a crochet technique invented by a mathematician -- celebrating the amazements of the reef, and deep-diving into the hyperbolic geometry underlying coral creation.
Niels Diffrient rethinks the way we sit down, por Niels Diffrient, (0:17:20, 4/21/2009)
Design legend Niels Diffrient talks about his life in industrial design (and the reason he became a designer instead of a jet pilot). He details his quest to completely rethink the office chair starting from one fundamental data set: the human body.
Erik Hersman on reporting crisis via texting, por Erik Hersman, (0:03:56, 4/22/2009)
At TEDU 2009, Erik Hersman presents the remarkable story of Ushahidi, a GoogleMap mashup that allowed Kenyans to report and track violence via cell phone texts following the 2008 elections, and has evolved to continue saving lives in other countries.
Ben Katchor's comics of bygone New York, por Ben Katchor, (0:11:11, 4/22/2009)
In this captivating talk from the TED archive, cartoonist Ben Katchor reads from his comic strips. These perceptive, surreal stories find the profound hopes and foibles of history (and modern New York) preserved in objects like light switches and signs.
Nate Silver: Does race affect votes?, por Nate Silver, (0:09:16, 4/22/2009)
Nate Silver has answers to controversial questions about race in politics: Did Obama's race hurt his votes in some places? Stats and myths collide in this fascinating talk that ends with a remarkable insight on how town planning can promote tolerance.
Alex Tabarrok on how ideas trump crises, por Alex Tabarrok, (0:14:33, 4/27/2009)
The "dismal science" truly shines in this optimistic talk, as economist Alex Tabarrok argues free trade and globalization are shaping our once-divided world into a community of idea-sharing more healthy, happy and prosperous than anyone's predictions.
Michael Merzenich on re-wiring the brain, por Michael Merzenich, (0:23:07, 4/28/2009)
Neuroscientist Michael Merzenich looks at one of the secrets of the brain's incredible power: its ability to actively re-wire itself. He's researching ways to harness the brain's plasticity to enhance our skills and recover lost function.
Sarah Jones as a one-woman global village, por Sarah Jones, (0:21:00, 4/29/2009)
In this hilariously lively performance, actress Sarah Jones channels an opinionated elderly Jewish woman, a fast-talking Dominican college student and more, giving TED2009 just a sample of her spectacular character range.
Laurie Garrett on lessons from the 1918 flu, por Laurie Garrett, (0:21:05, 4/30/2009)
In 2007, as the world worried about a possible avian flu epidemic, Laurie Garrett, author of "The Coming Plague," gave this powerful talk to a small TED University audience. Her insights from past pandemics are suddenly more relevant than ever.
Brian Cox: What went wrong at the LHC, por Brian Cox, (0:03:29, 5/1/2009)
In this short talk from TED U 2009, Brian Cox shares what's new with the CERN supercollider. He covers the repairs now underway and what the future holds for the largest science experiment ever attempted.
Sean Gourley on the mathematics of war, por Sean Gourley, (0:07:19, 5/4/2009)
By pulling raw data from the news and plotting it onto a graph, Sean Gourley and his team have come up with a stunning conclusion about the nature of modern war -- and perhaps a model for resolving conflicts.
Mae Jemison on teaching arts and sciences together, por Mae Jemison, (0:14:48, 5/5/2009)
Mae Jemison is an astronaut, a doctor, an art collector, a dancer ... Telling stories from her own education and from her time in space, she calls on educators to teach both the arts and sciences, both intuition and logic, as one -- to create bold thinker
Tom Shannon's anti-gravity sculpture, por Tom Shannon, (0:11:55, 5/5/2009)
Tom Shannon shows off his gravity-defying, otherworldly sculpture -- made of simple, earthly materials -- that floats and spins like planets on magnets and suspension wire. It's science-inspired art at its most heavenly.
Al Gore warns on latest climate trends, por Al Gore, (0:07:44, 5/7/2009)
At TED2009, Al Gore presents updated slides from around the globe to make the case that worrying climate trends are even worse than scientists predicted, and to make clear his stance on "clean coal."
Louise Fresco on feeding the whole world, por Louise Fresco, (0:18:00, 5/7/2009)
Louise Fresco argues that a smart approach to large-scale, industrial farming and food production will feed our planet's incoming population of nine billion. Only foods like (the scorned) supermarket white bread, she says, will nourish on a global scale.
Seth Godin on the tribes we lead, por Seth Godin, (0:17:23, 5/10/2009)
Seth Godin argues the Internet has ended mass marketing and revived a human social unit from the distant past: tribes. Founded on shared ideas and values, tribes give ordinary people the power to lead and make big change. He urges us to do so.
Eric Lewis plays chaos and harmony, por Eric Lewis, (0:04:54, 5/12/2009)
Eric Lewis explores the piano's expressive power as he pounds and caresses the keys (and the strings) in a performance during the 2009 TED Prize session. He plays an original song, a tribute to ocean and sky and the vision of the TED Prize winners.
Hans Rosling on HIV: New facts and stunning data visuals, por Hans Rosling, (0:09:56, 5/13/2009)
Hans Rosling unveils new data visuals that untangle the complex risk factors of one of the world's deadliest (and most misunderstood) diseases: HIV. He argues that preventing transmissions -- not drug treatments -- is the key to ending the epidemic.
Nandan Nilekani's ideas for India's future, por Nandan Nilekani, (0:15:12, 5/14/2009)
Nandan Nilekani, visionary CEO of outsourcing pioneer Infosys, explains four brands of ideas that will determine whether India can continue its recent breakneck progress.
Naturally 7 beatboxes a whole band, por Naturally 7, (0:03:56, 5/15/2009)
One-of-a-kind R&B group Naturally 7 beatboxes an orchestra's worth of instruments to groove through their smooth single, "Fly Baby."
Ray Anderson on the business logic of sustainability, por Ray Anderson, (0:15:54, 5/18/2009)
At his carpet company, Ray Anderson has increased sales and doubled profits while turning the traditional "take / make / waste" industrial system on its head. In a gentle, understated way, he shares a powerful vision for sustainable commerce.
Dan Ariely asks, Are we in control of our own decisions?, por Dan Ariely, (0:17:26, 5/19/2009)
Behavioral economist Dan Ariely, the author of Predictably Irrational, uses classic visual illusions and his own counterintuitive (and sometimes shocking) research findings to show how we're not as rational as we think when we make decisions.
Mary Roach: 10 things you didn't know about orgasm, por Mary Roach, (0:16:43, 5/20/2009)
"Bonk" author Mary Roach delves into obscure scientific research, some of it centuries old, to make 10 surprising claims about sexual climax, ranging from the bizarre to the hilarious. (This talk is aimed at adults. Viewer discretion advised.)
Carolyn Porco: Could a Saturn moon harbor life?, por Carolyn Porco, (0:03:29, 5/21/2009)
Carolyn Porco shares exciting new findings from the Cassini spacecraft's recent sweep of one of Saturn's moons, Enceladus. Samples gathered from the moon's icy geysers hint that an ocean under its surface could harbor life.
Yves Behar's supercharged motorcycle design, por Yves Behar, (0:02:23, 5/22/2009)
Yves Behar and Forrest North unveil Mission One, a sleek, powerful electric motorcycle. They share slides from distant (yet similar) childhoods that show how collaboration kick-started their friendship -- and shared dreams.
Joachim de Posada says, Don't eat the marshmallow yet, por Joachim de Posada, (0:05:58, 5/25/2009)
In this short talk from TED U, Joachim de Posada shares a landmark experiment on delayed gratification -- and how it can predict future success. With priceless video of kids trying their hardest not to eat the marshmallow.
Jay Walker on the world's English mania, por Jay Walker, (0:04:34, 5/27/2009)
Jay Walker explains why two billion people around the world are trying to learn English. He shares photos and spine-tingling audio of Chinese students rehearsing English -- "the world's second language" -- by the thousands.
Michelle Obama's plea for education, por Michelle Obama, (0:12:29, 5/27/2009)
Speaking at a London girls' school, Michelle Obama makes a passionate, personal case for each student to take education seriously. It is this new, brilliant generation, she says, that will close the gap between the world as it is and the world as it should be.
Jonathan Drori: Why we're storing billions of seeds, por Jonathan Drori, (0:06:34, 5/28/2009)
In this brief talk from TED U 2009, Jonathan Drori encourages us to save biodiversity -- one seed at a time. Reminding us that plants support human life, he shares the vision of the Millennium Seed Bank, which has stored over 3 billion seeds to date from dwindling yet essential plant species.
Kaki King rocks out to "Pink Noise", por Kaki King, (0:14:49, 5/29/2009)
Kaki King, the first female on Rolling Stone's "guitar god" list, rocks out to a full live set at TED2008, including her breakout single, "Playing with Pink Noise." Jaw-dropping virtuosity meets a guitar technique that truly stands out.
Liz Coleman's call to reinvent liberal arts education, por Liz Coleman, (0:18:38, 6/1/2009)
Bennington president Liz Coleman delivers a call-to-arms for radical reform in higher education. Bucking the trend to push students toward increasingly narrow areas of study, she proposes a truly cross-disciplinary education -- one that dynamically combines all areas of study to address the great problems of our day.
Ray Kurzweil: A university for the coming singularity, por Ray Kurzweil, (0:08:41, 6/2/2009)
Ray Kurzweil's latest graphs show that technology's breakneck advances will only accelerate -- recession or not. He unveils his new project, Singularity University, to study oncoming tech and guide it to benefit humanity.
Yann Arthus-Bertrand captures fragile Earth in wide-angle, por Yann Arthus-Bertrand, (0:14:54, 6/3/2009)
In this image-filled talk, Yann Arthus-Bertrand displays his three most recent projects on humanity and our habitat -- stunning aerial photographs in his series "The Earth From Above," personal interviews from around the globe featured in his web project "6 billion Others," and his soon-to-be-released movie, "Home," which documents human impact on the environment through breathtaking video.
Publisher Felix Dennis' odes to vice and consequences, por Felix Dennis, (0:17:24, 6/5/2009)
Media big shot Felix Dennis roars his fiery, funny, sometimes racy original poetry, revisiting haunting memories and hard-won battle scars from a madcap -- yet not too repentant -- life. Best enjoyed with a glass of wine.
Pete Alcorn on the world in 2200, por Pete Alcorn, (0:03:50, 6/8/2009)
In this short, optimistic talk from TED2009, Pete Alcorn shares a vision of the world of two centuries from now -- when declining populations and growing opportunity prove Malthus was wrong.
Kevin Surace invents eco-friendly drywall, por Kevin Surace, (0:03:19, 6/9/2009)
Kevin Surace suggests we rethink basic construction materials -- such as the familiar wallboard -- to reduce the huge carbon footprint generated by the manufacturing and construction of our buildings. He introduces EcoRock, a clean, recyclable and energy-efficient drywall created by his team at Serious Materials.
John La Grou plugs smart power outlets, por John La Grou, (0:04:12, 6/9/2009)
John La Grou unveils an ingenious new technology that will smarten up the electrical outlets in our homes, using microprocessors and RFID tags. The invention, Safeplug, promises to prevent deadly accidents like house fires -- and to conserve energy.
Nancy Etcoff on the surprising science of happiness, por Nancy Etcoff, (0:19:45, 6/10/2009)
Cognitive researcher Nancy Etcoff looks at happiness -- the ways we try to achieve and increase it, the way it's untethered to our real circumstances, and its surprising effect on our bodies.
Robert Full: Learning from the gecko's tail, por Robert Full, (0:11:54, 6/11/2009)
Biologist Robert Full studies the amazing gecko, with its supersticky feet and tenacious climbing skill. But high-speed footage reveals that the gecko's tail harbors perhaps the most surprising talents of all.
Richard St. John: "Success is a continuous journey", por Richard St. John, (0:03:57, 6/12/2009)
In his typically candid style, Richard St. John reminds us that success is not a one-way street, but a constant journey. He uses the story of his business' rise and fall to illustrate a valuable lesson -- when we stop trying, we fail.
Jane Poynter: Life in Biosphere 2, por Jane Poynter, (0:15:53, 6/15/2009)
Jane Poynter tells her story of living two years and 20 minutes in Biosphere 2 -- an experience that provoked her to explore how we might sustain life in the harshest of environments. This is the first TED talk drawn from an independently organized TEDx event, held at the University of Southern California.
Clay Shirky: How social media can make history, por Clay Shirky, (0:15:48, 6/16/2009)
While news from Iran streams to the world, Clay Shirky shows how Facebook, Twitter and TXTs help citizens in repressive regimes to report on real news, bypassing censors (however briefly). The end of top-down control of news is changing the nature of politics.
Diane Benscoter on how cults rewire the brain, por Diane Benscoter, (0:06:24, 6/17/2009)
Diane Benscoter spent five years as a "Moonie." She shares an insider's perspective on the mind of a cult member, and proposes a new way to think about today's most troubling conflicts and extremist movements.
Catherine Mohr: Surgery's past, present and robotic future, por Catherine Mohr, (0:18:55, 6/18/2009)
Surgeon and inventor Catherine Mohr tours the history of surgery (and its pre-painkiller, pre-antiseptic past), then demos some of the newest tools for surgery through tiny incisions, performed using nimble robot hands. Fascinating -- but not for the squeamish.
Qi Zhang's electrifying organ performance, por Qi Zhang, (0:03:05, 6/19/2009)
Organ virtuoso Qi Zhang plays her electric rendering of "Ridiculous Fellows" from Prokofiev's "The Love for Three Oranges" orchestral suite. This exhilarating performance from TEDx USC features the Yamaha Electone Stagea, a rare, imported instrument specially programmed by Qi herself.
Philip Zimbardo prescribes a healthy take on time, por Philip Zimbardo, (0:06:34, 6/22/2009)
Psychologist Philip Zimbardo says happiness and success are rooted in a trait most of us disregard: the way we orient toward the past, present and future. He suggests we calibrate our outlook on time as a first step to improving our lives.
Paul Collier's new rules for rebuilding a broken nation, por Paul Collier, (0:16:34, 6/24/2009)
Long conflict can wreck a country, leaving behind poverty and chaos. But what's the right way to help war-torn countries rebuild? At TED@State, Paul Collier explains the problems with current post-conflict aid plans, and suggests 3 ideas for a better approach.
Katherine Fulton: You are the future of philanthropy, por Katherine Fulton, (0:12:34, 6/25/2009)
In this uplifting talk, Katherine Fulton sketches the new future of philanthropy -- one where collaboration and innovation allow regular people to do big things, even when money is scarce. Giving five practical examples of crowd-driven philanthropy, she calls for a new generation of citizen leaders.
Ray Zahab treks to the South Pole, por Ray Zahab, (0:05:53, 6/26/2009)
Extreme runner Ray Zahab shares an enthusiastic account of his record-breaking trek on foot to the South Pole -- a 33-day sprint through the snow.
Arthur Benjamin's formula for changing math education, por Arthur Benjamin, (0:02:58, 6/29/2009)
Someone always asks the math teacher, "Am I going to use calculus in real life?" And for most of us, says Arthur Benjamin, the answer is no. He offers a bold proposal on how to make math education relevant in the digital age.
Gever Tulley teaches life lessons through tinkering, por Gever Tulley, (0:04:05, 6/30/2009)
Gever Tulley usesengaging photos and footage to demonstrate the valuable lessons kids learn at his Tinkering School. When given tools, materials and guidance, these young imaginations run wild and creative problem-solving takes over to build unique boats, bridges and even a rollercoaster!
Daniel Libeskind's 17 words of architectural inspiration, por Daniel Libeskind, (0:18:36, 7/1/2009)
Daniel Libeskind builds on very big ideas. Here, he shares 17 words that underlie his vision for architecture -- raw, risky, emotional, radical -- and that offer inspiration for any bold creative pursuit.
The design genius of Charles + Ray Eames, por Eames Demetrios, (0:15:08, 7/6/2009)
The legendary design team Charles and Ray Eames made films, houses and classic midcentury modern furniture. Eames Demetrios, their grandson, shows rarely seen films and archival footage in a lively, loving tribute to their creative process.
Tom Wujec on 3 ways the brain creates meaning, por Tom Wujec, (0:06:26, 7/7/2009)
Information designer Tom Wujec talks through three areas of the brain that help us understand words, images, feelings, connections. In this short talk from TEDU, he asks: How can we best engage our brains to help us better understand big ideas?
Sophal Ear: Escaping the Khmer Rouge, por Sophal Ear, (0:05:57, 7/8/2009)
TED Fellow Sophal Ear shares the compelling story of his family's escape from Cambodia under the rule of the Khmer Rouge. He recounts his mother's cunning and determination to save her children.
Kary Mullis' next-gen cure for killer infections, por Kary Mullis, (0:04:35, 7/9/2009)
Drug-resistant bacteria kills, even in top hospitals. But now tough infections like staph and anthrax may be in for a surprise. Nobel-winning chemist Kary Mullis, who watched a friend die when powerful antibiotics failed, unveils a radical new cure that shows extraordinary promise.
Stewart Brand proclaims 4 environmental 'heresies', por Stewart Brand, (0:16:42, 7/13/2009)
The man who helped usher in the environmental movement in the 1960s and '70s has been rethinking his positions on cities, nuclear power, genetic modification and geo-engineering. This talk at the US State Department is a foretaste of his major new book, sure to provoke widespread debate.
Olafur Eliasson: Playing with space and light, por Olafur Eliasson, (0:09:36, 7/14/2009)
In the spectacular large-scale projects he's famous for (such as "Waterfalls" in New York harbor), Olafur Eliasson creates art from a palette of space, distance, color and light. This idea-packed talk begins with an experiment in the nature of perception.
Daniel Kraft invents a better way to harvest bone marrow, por Daniel Kraft, (0:04:14, 7/15/2009)
Daniel Kraft demos his Marrow Miner -- a new device that quickly harvests life-saving bone marrow with minimal pain to the donor. He emphasizes that the adult stem cells found in bone marrow can be used to treat many terminal conditions, from Parkinson's to heart disease.
Jim Fallon: Exploring the mind of a killer, por Jim Fallon, (0:06:32, 7/16/2009)
Psychopathic killers are the basis for some must-watch TV, but what really makes them tick? Neuroscientist Jim Fallon talks about brain scans and genetic analysis that may uncover the rotten wiring in the nature (and nurture) of murderers. In a too-strange-for-fiction twist, he shares a fascinating family history that makes his work chillingly personal.
Nina Jablonski breaks the illusion of skin color, por Nina Jablonski, (0:14:48, 7/17/2009)
Nina Jablonski says that differing skin colors are simply our bodies' adaptation to varied climates and levels of UV exposure. Charles Darwin disagreed with this theory, but she explains, that's because he did not have access to NASA.
Gordon Brown: Wiring a web for global good, por Gordon Brown, (0:16:43, 7/21/2009)
We're at a unique moment in history, says UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown: we can use today's interconnectedness to develop our shared global ethic -- and work together to confront the challenges of poverty, security, climate change and the economy.
Alain de Botton: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success, por Alain de Botton, (0:16:51, 7/28/2009)
Alain de Botton examines our ideas of success and failure -- and questions the assumptions underlying these two judgments. Is success always earned? Is failure? He makes an eloquent, witty case to move beyond snobbery to find true pleasure in our work.
Golan Levin makes art that looks back at you, por Golan Levin, (0:15:33, 7/30/2009)
Golan Levin, an artist and engineer, uses modern tools -- robotics, new software, cognitive research -- to make artworks that surprise and delight. Watch as sounds become shapes, bodies create paintings, and a curious eye looks back at the curious viewer.
Elaine Morgan says we evolved from aquatic apes, por Elaine Morgan, (0:17:13, 7/31/2009)
Elaine Morgan is a tenacious proponent of the aquatic ape hypothesis: the idea that humans evolved from primate ancestors who dwelt in watery habitats. Hear her spirited defense of the idea -- and her theory on why mainstream science doesn't take it seriously.
Willard Wigan: Hold your breath for micro-sculpture, por Willard Wigan, (0:19:43, 8/3/2009)
Willard Wigan tells the story of how a difficult and lonely childhood drove him to discover his unique ability -- to create art so tiny that it can't be seen with the naked eye. His slideshow of figures, as seen through a microscope, can only be described as mind-boggling.
Michael Pritchard's water filter turns filthy water drinkable, por Michael Pritchard, (0:09:31, 8/4/2009)
Too much of the world lacks access to clean drinking water. Engineer Michael Pritchard did something about it -- inventing the portable Lifesaver filter, which can make the most revolting water drinkable in seconds. An amazing demo from TEDGlobal 2009.
Paul Romer's radical idea: Charter cities, por Paul Romer, (0:18:29, 8/5/2009)
How can a struggling country break out of poverty if it's trapped in a system of bad rules? Economist Paul Romer unveils a bold idea: "charter cities," city-scale administrative zones governed by a coalition of nations. (Could Guant?°namo Bay become the next Hong Kong?)
Janine Benyus: Biomimicry in action, por Janine Benyus, (0:17:42, 8/6/2009)
Janine Benyus has a message for inventors: When solving a design problem, look to nature first. There you'll find inspired designs for making things waterproof, aerodynamic, solar-powered and more. Here she reveals dozens of new products that take their cue from nature with spectacular results.
Emmanuel Jal: The music of a war child, por Emmanuel Jal, (0:18:03, 8/7/2009)
For five years, young Emmanuel Jal fought as a child soldier in the Sudan. Rescued by an aid worker, he's become an international hip-hop star and an activist for kids in war zones. In words and lyrics, he tells the story of his amazing life.
Dan Pink on the surprising science of motivation, por Dan Pink, (0:18:36, 8/24/2009)
Career analyst Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don't: Traditional rewards aren't always as effective as we think. Listen for illuminating stories -- and maybe, a way forward.
Eric Giler demos wireless electricity, por Eric Giler, (0:10:09, 8/25/2009)
Eric Giler wants to untangle our wired lives with cable-free electric power. Here, he covers what this sci-fi tech offers, and demos MIT's breakthrough version, WiTricity -- a near-to-market invention that may soon recharge your cell phone, car, pacemaker.
Hans Rosling: Let my dataset change your mindset, por Hans Rosling, (0:19:57, 8/26/2009)
Talking at the US State Department this summer, Hans Rosling uses his fascinating data-bubble software to burst myths about the developing world. Look for new analysis on China and the post-bailout world, mixed with classic data shows.
Natasha Tsakos' multimedia theatrical adventure, por Natasha Tsakos, (0:14:39, 8/28/2009)
Natasha Tsakos presents part of her one-woman, multimedia show, "Upwake." As the character Zero, she blends dream and reality with an inventive virtual world projected around her in 3D animation and electric sound.
Cary Fowler: One seed at a time, protecting the future of food, por Cary Fowler, (0:17:08, 8/31/2009)
The varieties of wheat, corn and rice we grow today may not thrive in a future threatened by climate change. Cary Fowler takes us inside a vast global seed bank, buried within a frozen mountain in Norway, that stores a diverse group of food-crop for whatever tomorrow may bring.
Josh Silver demos adjustable liquid-filled eyeglasses, por Joshua Silver, (0:05:34, 9/1/2009)
Josh Silver delivers his brilliantly simple solution for correcting vision at the lowest cost possible -- adjustable, liquid-filled lenses. At TEDGlobal 2009, he demos his affordable eyeglasses and reveals his global plan to distribute them to a billion people in need by 2020.
Geoff Mulgan: Post-crash, investing in a better world, por Geoff Mulgan, (0:18:00, 9/2/2009)
As we reboot the world's economy, Geoff Mulgan poses a question: Instead of sending bailout money to doomed old industries, why not use stimulus funds to bootstrap some new, socially responsible companies -- and make the world a little bit better?
Evan Grant: Making sound visible through cymatics, por Evan Grant, (0:04:39, 9/3/2009)
Evan Grant demonstrates the science and art of cymatics, a process for making soundwaves visible. Useful for analyzing complex sounds (like dolphin calls), it also makes complex and beautiful designs.
Steve Truglia: A leap from the edge of space, por Steve Truglia, (0:14:30, 9/4/2009)
At his day job, Steve Truglia flips cars, walks through fire and falls out of buildings -- pushing technology to make stunts bigger, safer, more awesome. He talks us through his next stunt: the highest jump ever attempted, from the very edge of space.
James Balog: Time-lapse proof of extreme ice loss, por James Balog, (0:19:22, 9/8/2009)
Photographer James Balog shares new image sequences from the Extreme Ice Survey, a network of time-lapse cameras recording glaciers receding at an alarming rate, some of the most vivid evidence yet of climate change.
Lewis Pugh swims the North Pole, por Lewis Pugh, (0:18:53, 9/9/2009)
Lewis Pugh talks about his record-breaking swim across the North Pole. He braved the icy waters (in a Speedo) to highlight the melting icecap. Watch for astonishing footage -- and some blunt commentary on the realities of supercold-water swims.
Rebecca Saxe: How we read each other's minds, por Rebecca Saxe, (0:16:51, 9/10/2009)
Sensing the motives and feelings of others is a natural talent for humans. But how do we do it? Here, Rebecca Saxe shares fascinating lab work that uncovers how the brain thinks about other peoples' thoughts -- and judges their actions.
Vishal Vaid's hypnotic song, por Vishal Vaid, (0:13:34, 9/11/2009)
Vishal Vaid and his band explore a traditional South Asian musical form in this mesmerizing improv performance. Sit back and let his music transport you.
Misha Glenny investigates global crime networks, por Misha Glenny, (0:19:30, 9/14/2009)
Journalist Misha Glenny spent several years in a courageous investigation of organized crime networks worldwide, which have grown to an estimated 15% of the global economy. From the Russian mafia, to giant drug cartels, his sources include not just intelligence and law enforcement officials but criminal insiders.
Bjarke Ingels: 3 warp-speed architecture tales, por Bjarke Ingels, (0:18:14, 9/15/2009)
Danish architect Bjarke Ingels rockets through photo/video-mingled stories of his eco-flashy designs. His buildings not only look like nature -- they act like nature: blocking the wind, collecting solar energy -- and creating stunning views.
John Lloyd inventories the invisible, por John Lloyd, (0:10:24, 9/16/2009)
Nature's mysteries meet tack-sharp wit in this hilarious, 10-minute mix of quips and fun lessons, as comedian, writer and TV man John Lloyd plucks at the substance of several things not seen.
Oliver Sacks: What hallucination reveals about our minds, por Oliver Sacks, (0:18:48, 9/17/2009)
Neurologist and author Oliver Sacks brings our attention to Charles Bonnett syndrome -- when visually impaired people experience lucid hallucinations. He describes the experiences of his patients in heartwarming detail and walks us through the biology of this under-reported phenomenon.
Imogen Heap plays "Wait It Out", por Imogen Heap, (0:03:57, 9/18/2009)
Imogen Heap plays a powerful stripped-down version of "Wait It Out," from her new record, Ellipse.
Jonathan Zittrain: The Web as random acts of kindness, por Jonathan Zittrain, (0:19:51, 9/21/2009)
Feeling like the world is becoming less friendly? Social theorist Jonathan Zittrain begs to difffer. The Internet, he suggests, is made up of millions of disinterested acts of kindness, curiosity and trust.
Evgeny Morozov: How the Net aids dictatorships, por Evgeny Morozov, (0:11:53, 9/22/2009)
TED Fellow and journalist Evgeny Morozov punctures what he calls "iPod liberalism" -- the assumption that tech innovation always promotes freedom, democracy -- with chilling examples of ways the Internet helps oppressive regimes stifle dissent.
William Kamkwamba: How I harnessed the wind, por William Kamkwamba, (0:05:59, 9/23/2009)
At age 14, in poverty and famine, a Malawian boy built a windmill to power his family's home. Now at 22, William Kamkwamba, who speaks at TED, here, for the second time, shares in his own words the moving tale of invention that changed his life.
Taryn Simon photographs secret sites, por Taryn Simon, (0:17:32, 9/24/2009)
Taryn Simon exhibits her startling take on photography -- to reveal worlds and people we would never see otherwise. She shares two projects: one documents otherworldly locations typically kept secret from the public, the other involves haunting portraits of men convicted for crimes they did not commit.
Jacqueline Novogratz: A third way to think about aid, por Jacqueline Novogratz, (0:17:04, 9/25/2009)
The debate over foreign aid often pits those who mistrust "charity" against those who mistrust reliance on the markets. Jacqueline Novogratz proposes a middle way she calls patient capital, with promising examples of entrepreneurial innovation driving social change.
Parag Khanna maps the future of countries, por Parag Khanna, (0:18:53, 9/28/2009)
Many people think the lines on the map no longer matter, but Parag Khanna says they do. Using maps of the past and present, he explains the root causes of border conflicts worldwide and proposes simple yet cunning solutions for each.
Tim Brown urges designers to think big, por Tim Brown, (0:16:50, 9/29/2009)
Tim Brown says the design profession is preoccupied with creating nifty, fashionable objects -- even as pressing questions like clean water access show it has a bigger role to play. He calls for a shift to local, collaborative, participatory "design thinking."
Karen Armstrong: Let's revive the Golden Rule, por Karen Armstrong, (0:09:54, 9/29/2009)
Weeks from the Charter for Compassion launch, Karen Armstrong looks at religion's role in the 21st century: Will its dogmas divide us? Or will it unite us for common good? She reviews the catalysts that can drive the world's faiths to rediscover the Golden Rule.
Garik Israelian: How spectroscopy could reveal alien life, por Garik Israelian, (0:15:52, 10/1/2009)
Garik Israelian is a spectroscopist, studying the spectrum emitted by a star to figure out what it's made of and how it might behave. It's a rare and accessible look at this discipline, which may be coming close to finding a planet friendly to life.
Stefan Sagmeister: The power of time off, por Stefan Sagmeister, (0:17:40, 10/2/2009)
Every seven years, designer Stefan Sagmeister closes his New York studio for a yearlong sabbatical to rejuvenate and refresh their creative outlook. He explains the often overlooked value of time off and shows the innovative projects inspired by his time in Bali.
Carolyn Steel: How food shapes our cities, por Carolyn Steel, (0:15:40, 10/5/2009)
Every day, in a city the size of London, 30 million meals are served. But where does all the food come from? Architect Carolyn Steel discusses the daily miracle of feeding a city, and shows how ancient food routes shaped the modern world.
David Logan on tribal leadership, por David Logan, (0:16:39, 10/6/2009)
At TEDxUSC, David Logan talks about the five kinds of tribes that humans naturally form -- in schools, workplaces, even the driver's license bureau. By understanding our shared tribal tendencies, we can help lead each other to become better individuals.
Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story, por Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, (0:18:49, 10/7/2009)
Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice -- and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.
Beau Lotto: Optical illusions show how we see, por Beau Lotto, (0:16:31, 10/8/2009)
Beau Lotto's color games puzzle your vision, but they also spotlight what you can't normally see: how your brain works. This fun, first-hand look at your own versatile sense of sight reveals how evolution tints your perception of what's really out there.
Sam Martin: The quirky world of "manspaces", por Sam Martin, (0:04:27, 10/9/2009)
Author Sam Martin shares photos of a quirky world hobby that's trending with the XY set: the "manspace." (They're custom-built hangouts where a man can claim a bit of his own territory to work, relax, be himself.) Grab a cold one and enjoy.
Eric Sanderson pictures New York -- before the City, por Eric Sanderson, (0:16:09, 10/12/2009)
400 years after Hudson found New York harbor, Eric Sanderson shares how he made a 3D map of Mannahatta's fascinating pre-city ecology of hills, rivers, wildlife -- accurate down to the block -- when Times Square was a wetland and you couldn't get delivery.
David Hanson: Robots that "show emotion", por David Hanson, (0:04:58, 10/13/2009)
David Hanson's robot faces look and act like yours: They recognize and respond to emotion, and make expressions of their own. Here, an "emotional" live demo of the Einstein robot offers a peek at a future where robots truly mimic humans.
Rory Sutherland: Life lessons from an ad man, por Rory Sutherland, (0:16:39, 10/14/2009)
Advertising adds value to a product by changing our perception, rather than the product itself. Rory Sutherland makes the daring assertion that a change in perceived value can be just as satisfying as what we consider ?real? value -- and his conclusion has interesting consequences for how we look at life.
Henry Markram builds a brain in a supercomputer, por Henry Markram, (0:14:51, 10/15/2009)
Henry Markram says the mysteries of the mind can be solved -- soon. Mental illness, memory, perception: they're made of neurons and electric signals, and he plans to find them with a supercomputer that models all the brain's 100,000,000,000,000 synapses.
Julian Treasure: The 4 ways sound affects us, por Julian Treasure, (0:05:47, 10/16/2009)
Playing sound effects both pleasant and awful, Julian Treasure shows how sound affects us in four significant ways. Listen carefully for a shocking fact about noisy open-plan offices.
John Gerzema: The post-crisis consumer, por John Gerzema, (0:16:35, 10/19/2009)
John Gerzema says there's an upside to the recent financial crisis -- the opportunity for positive change. Speaking at TEDxKC, he identifies four major cultural shifts driving new consumer behavior and shows how businesses are evolving to connect with thoughtful spending.
Paul Debevec animates a photo-real digital face, por Paul Debevec, (0:06:07, 10/20/2009)
At TEDxUSC, computer graphics trailblazer Paul Debevec explains the scene-stealing technology behind Digital Emily, a digitally constructed human face so realistic it stands up to multiple takes.
Itay Talgam: Lead like the great conductors, por Itay Talgam, (0:20:52, 10/21/2009)
An orchestra conductor faces the ultimate leadership challenge: creating perfect harmony without saying a word. In this charming talk, Itay Talgam demonstrates the unique styles of six great 20th-century conductors, illustrating crucial lessons for all leaders.
Marc Koska: 1.3m reasons to re-invent the syringe, por Marc Koska, (0:04:46, 10/22/2009)
Reuse of syringes, all too common in under-funded clinics, kills 1.3 million each year. Marc Koska clues us in to this devastating global problem with facts, photos and hidden-camera footage. He shares his solution: a low-cost syringe that can't be used twice.
Ian Goldin: Navigating our global future, por Ian Goldin, (0:07:07, 10/23/2009)
As globalization and technological advances bring us hurtling towards a new integrated future, Ian Goldin warns that not all people may benefit equally. But, he says, if we can recognize this danger, we might yet realize the possibility of improved life for everyone.
David Deutsch: A new way to explain explanation, por David Deutsch, (0:16:39, 10/26/2009)
For tens of thousands of years our ancestors understood the world through myths, and the pace of change was glacial. The rise of scientific understanding transformed the world within a few centuries. Why? Physicist David Deutsch proposes a subtle answer.
Rachel Armstrong: Architecture that repairs itself?, por Rachel Armstrong, (0:07:32, 10/27/2009)
Venice is sinking. To save it, Rachel Armstrong says we need to outgrow architecture made of inert materials and, well, make architecture that grows itself. She proposes a not-quite-alive material that does its own repairs and sequesters carbon, too.
Becky Blanton: The year I was homeless, por Becky Blanton, (0:07:09, 10/28/2009)
Becky Blanton planned to live in her van for a year and see the country, but when depression set in and her freelance job ended, her camping trip turned into homelessness. In this intimate talk, she describes her experience of becoming one of America's working homeless.
Marcus du Sautoy: Symmetry, reality's riddle, por Marcus du Sautoy, (0:18:19, 10/29/2009)
The world turns on symmetry -- from the spin of subatomic particles to the dizzying beauty of an arabesque. But there's more to it than meets the eye. Here, Oxford mathematician Marcus du Sautoy offers a glimpse of the invisible numbers that marry all symmetrical objects.
Andrea Ghez: The hunt for a supermassive black hole, por Andrea Ghez, (0:16:26, 12/2/2009)
With new data from the Keck telescopes, Andrea Ghez shows how state-of-the-art adaptive optics are helping astronomers understand our universe's most mysterious objects: black holes. She shares evidence that a supermassive black hole may be lurking at the center of the Milky Way.
Matthew White gives the euphonium a new voice, por Matthew White, (0:02:21, 10/30/2009)
The euphonium, with its sweet brass sound, is rarely heard outside of traditional brass bands. Cutting loose on the euph, prodigy Matthew White performs Nat McIntosh's hip-hop-inflected "The Warrior Comes Out to Play."
Rabbi Jackie Tabick: The balancing act of compassion, por Jackie Tabick, (0:15:46, 10/31/2008)
While we all agree that compassion is a great idea, Rabbi Tabick acknowledges there are challenges to its execution. She explains how a careful balance of compassion and justice allows us to do good deeds, and keep our sanity.
Swami Dayananda Saraswati: The profound journey of compassion, por Dayananda Saraswati, (0:16:54, 10/31/2008)
Swami Dayananda Saraswati unravels the parallel paths of personal development and attaining true compassion. He walks us through each step of self-realization, from helpless infancy to the fearless act of caring for others.
Rev. James Forbes: Compassion at the dinner table, por James Forbes, (0:18:38, 10/31/2008)
Join Rev. James Forbes at the dinner table of his Southern childhood, where his mother and father taught him what compassion really means day to day -- sharing with those who need love.
Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf: Lose your ego, find your compassion, por Feisal Abdul Rauf, (0:16:47, 10/31/2008)
Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf combines the teachings of the Qur?Ãan, the stories of Rumi, and the examples of Muhammad and Jesus, to demonstrate that only one obstacle stands between each of us and absolute compassion -- ourselves.
Robert Thurman: Expanding your circle of compassion, por Robert Thurman, (0:18:07, 10/31/2008)
It?Ãs hard to always show compassion -- even to the people we love, but Robert Thurman asks that we develop compassion for our enemies. He prescribes a seven-step meditation exercise to extend compassion beyond our inner circle.
Robert Wright: The evolution of compassion, por Robert Wright, (0:16:56, 10/31/2008)
Robert Wright uses evolutionary biology and game theory to explain why we appreciate the Golden Rule ("Do unto others..."), why we sometimes ignore it and why there?Ãs hope that, in the near future, we might all have the compassion to follow it.
Stefana Broadbent: How the Internet enables intimacy, por Stefana Broadbent, (0:08:51, 11/2/2009)
We worry that IM, texting, Facebook are spoiling human intimacy, but Stefana Broadbent's research shows how communication tech is capable of cultivating deeper relationships, bringing love across barriers like distance and workplace rules.
Cameron Sinclair: The refugees of boom-and-bust, por Cameron Sinclair, (0:03:05, 11/9/2009)
At TEDGlobal U, Cameron Sinclair shows the unreported cost of real estate megaprojects gone bust: thousands of migrant construction laborers left stranded and penniless. To his fellow architects, he says there is only one ethical response.
Rachel Pike: The science behind a climate headline, por Rachel Pike, (0:04:13, 11/10/2009)
In 4 minutes, atmospheric chemist Rachel Pike provides a glimpse of the massive scientific effort behind the bold headlines on climate change, with her team -- one of thousands who contributed -- taking a risky flight over the rainforest in pursuit of data on a key molecule.
Edward Burtynsky photographs the landscape of oil, por Edward Burtynsky, (0:03:40, 11/11/2009)
In stunning large-format photographs, Edward Burtynsky follows the path of oil through modern society, from wellhead to pipeline to car engine -- and then beyond to the projected peak-oil endgame.
Cynthia Schneider: The surprising spread of "Idol" TV, por Cynthia Schneider, (0:05:37, 11/13/2009)
Cynthia Schneider looks at two international "American Idol"-style shows -- one in Afghanistan, and one in the United Arab Emirates -- and shows the surprising effect that these reality-TV competitions are creating in their societies.
Pranav Mistry: The thrilling potential of SixthSense technology, por Pranav Mistry, (0:13:50, 11/16/2009)
At TEDIndia, Pranav Mistry demos several tools that help the physical world interact with the world of data -- including a deep look at his SixthSense device and a new, paradigm-shifting paper "laptop." In an onstage Q&A, Mistry says he'll open-source the software behind SixthSense, to open its possibilities to all.
Devdutt Pattanaik: East vs. West -- the myths that mystify, por Devdutt Pattanaik, (0:18:26, 11/19/2009)
Devdutt Pattanaik takes an eye-opening look at the myths of India and of the West -- and shows how these two fundamentally different sets of beliefs about God, death and heaven help us consistently misunderstand one another.
Mallika Sarabhai: Dance to change the world, por Mallika Sarabhai, (0:16:52, 11/26/2009)
At TEDIndia, Mallika Sarabhai, a dancer/actor/politician, tells a transformative story in dance -- and argues that the arts may be the most powerful way to effect change, whether political, social or personal.
Shashi Tharoor: Why nations should pursue "soft" power, por Shashi Tharoor, (0:17:53, 11/30/2009)
India is fast becoming a superpower, says Shashi Tharoor -- not just through trade and politics, but through "soft" power, its ability to share its culture with the world through food, music, technology, Bollywood. He argues that in the long run it's not the size of the army that matters as much as a country's ability to influence the world's hearts and minds.
Gordon Brown on global ethic vs. national interest, por Gordon Brown, (0:17:10, 12/1/2009)
Can the interests of an individual nation be reconciled with humanity's greater good? Can a patriotic, nationally elected politician really give people in other countries equal consideration? Following his TEDTalk calling for a global ethic, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown fields questions from TED Curator Chris Anderson.
Mathieu Lehanneur demos science-inspired design, por Mathieu Lehanneur, (0:18:04, 11/17/2009)
Naming science as his chief inspiration, Mathieu Lehanneur shows a selection of his ingenious designs -- an interactive noise-neutralizing ball, an antibiotic course in one layered pill, asthma treatment that reminds kids to take it, a living air filter, a living-room fish farm and more.
Fields Wicker-Miurin: Learning from leadership's "missing manual", por Fields Wicker-Miurin, (0:16:35, 11/18/2009)
Leadership doesn't have a user's manual, but Fields Wicker-Miurin says stories of remarkable, local leaders are the next best thing. At a TED salon in London, she shares three.
Tom Wujec demos the 13th-century astrolabe, por Tom Wujec, (0:09:25, 11/20/2009)
Rather than demo another new technology, Tom Wujec reaches back to one of our earliest but most ingenious devices -- the astrolabe. With thousands of uses, from telling time to mapping the night sky, this old tech reminds us that the ancient can be as brilliant as the brand-new.
Hans Rosling: Asia's rise -- how and when, por Hans Rosling, (0:15:50, 11/23/2009)
Hans Rosling was a young guest student in India when he first realized that Asia had all the capacities to reclaim its place as the world's dominant economic force. At TEDIndia, he graphs global economic growth since 1858 and predicts the exact date that India and China will outstrip the US.
Rob Hopkins: Transition to a world without oil, por Rob Hopkins, (0:16:40, 11/24/2009)
Rob Hopkins reminds us that the oil our world depends on is steadily running out. He proposes a unique solution to this problem -- the Transition response, where we prepare ourselves for life without oil and sacrifice our luxuries to build systems and communities that are completely independent of fossil fuels.
Magnus Larsson: Turning dunes into architecture, por Magnus Larsson, (0:11:43, 11/25/2009)
Architecture student Magnus Larsson details his bold plan to transform the harsh Sahara desert using bacteria and a surprising construction material: the sand itself.
Anupam Mishra: The ancient ingenuity of water harvesting, por Anupam Mishra, (0:17:14, 12/3/2009)
With wisdom and wit, Anupam Mishra talks about the amazing feats of engineering built centuries ago by the people of India's Golden Desert to harvest water. These structures are still used today -- and are often superior to modern water megaprojects.
Marc Pachter: The art of the interview, por Marc Pachter, (0:20:54, 12/9/2009)
Marc Pachter has conducted live interviews with some of the most intriguing characters in recent American history as part of a remarkable series created for the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. He reveals the secret to a great interview and shares extraordinary stories of talking with Steve Martin, Clare Booth Luce and more.
Sunitha Krishnan fights sex slavery, por Sunitha Krishnan, (0:12:42, 12/7/2009)
Sunitha Krishnan has dedicated her life to rescuing women and children from sex slavery, a multimilion-dollar global market. In this courageous talk, she tells three powerful stories, as well as her own, and calls for a more humane approach to helping these young victims rebuild their lives.
Scott Kim takes apart the art of puzzles, por Scott Kim, (0:11:49, 12/4/2009)
At the 2008 EG conference, famed puzzle designer Scott Kim takes us inside the puzzle-maker's frame of mind. Sampling his career's work, he introduces a few of the most popular types, and shares the fascinations that inspired some of his best.
Rory Bremner's one-man world summit, por Rory Bremner, (0:14:41, 12/7/2009)
Scottish funnyman Rory Bremner convenes a historic council on the TEDGlobal stage -- as he lampoons Gordon Brown, Barack Obama, George W. Bush and a cast of other world leaders with his hilarious impressions and biting commentary. See if you can catch a few sharp TED in-jokes.
Thulasiraj Ravilla: How low-cost eye care can be world-class, por Thulasiraj Ravilla, (0:17:27, 12/9/2009)
India's revolutionary Aravind Eye Care System has given sight to millions. Thulasiraj Ravilla looks at the ingenious approach that drives its treatment costs down and quality up, and why its methods should trigger a re-think of all human services.
Shereen El Feki: Pop culture in the Arab world, por Shereen El Feki, (0:05:05, 12/11/2009)
At TEDGlobal University, Shereen El Feki shows how some Arab cultures are borrowing trademarks of Western pop culture -- music videos, comics, even Barbie -- and adding a culturally appropriate twist. The hybridized media shows how two civilizations, rather than dividing, can dovetail.
Loretta Napoleoni: The intricate economics of terrorism, por Loretta Napoleoni, (0:15:44, 12/14/2009)
Loretta Napoleoni details her rare opportunity to talk to the secretive Italian Red Brigades -- an experience that sparked a lifelong interest in terrorism. She gives a behind-the-scenes look at its complex economics, revealing a surprising connection between money laundering and the US Patriot Act.
Ryan Lobo: Photographing the hidden story, por Ryan Lobo, (0:11:20, 12/15/2009)
Ryan Lobo has traveled the world, taking photographs that tell stories of unusual human lives. In this haunting talk, he reframes controversial subjects with empathy, so that we see the pain of a Liberian war criminal, the quiet strength of UN women peacekeepers and the perseverance of Delhi's underappreciated firefighters.
Alexis Ohanian: How to make a splash in social media, por Alexis Ohanian, (0:04:26, 12/15/2009)
In a funny, rapid-fire 4 minutes, Alexis Ohanian of Reddit tells the real-life fable of one humpback whale's rise to Web stardom. The lesson of Mister Splashy Pants is a shoo-in classic for meme-makers and marketers in the Facebook age.
Charles Anderson discovers dragonflies that cross oceans, por Charles Anderson, (0:16:38, 12/17/2009)
While living and working as a marine biologist in Maldives, Charles Anderson noticed sudden explosions of dragonflies at certain times of year. He explains how he carefully tracked the path of a plain, little dragonfly called the globe skimmer, only to discover that it had the longest migratory journey of any insect in the world.
James Geary, metaphorically speaking, por James Geary, (0:09:30, 12/17/2009)
Aphorism enthusiast and author James Geary waxes on a fascinating fixture of human language: the metaphor. Friend of scribes from Aristotle to Elvis, metaphor can subtly influence the decisions we make, Geary says.
Shaffi Mather: A new way to fight corruption, por Shaffi Mather, (0:10:41, 12/21/2009)
Shaffi Mather explains why he left his first career to become a social entrepreneur, providing life-saving transportation with his company 1298 for Ambulance. Now, he has a new idea and plans to begin a company to fight the booming business of corruption in public service, eliminating it one bribe at a time.
Steven Cowley: Fusion is energy's future, por Steven Cowley, (0:09:54, 12/22/2009)
Physicist Steven Cowley is certain that nuclear fusion is the only truly sustainable solution to the fuel crisis. He explains why fusion will work -- and details the projects that he and many others have devoted their lives to, working against the clock to create a new source of energy.
Asher Hasan's message of peace from Pakistan, por Asher Hasan, (0:04:28, 12/23/2009)
One of a dozen Pakistanis who came to TEDIndia despite security hassles entering the country, TED Fellow Asher Hasan shows photos of ordinary Pakistanis that drive home a profound message for citizens of all nations: look beyond disputes, and see the humanity we share.
Steve Jobs: How to live before you die, por Steve Jobs, (0:15:04, 12/23/2009)
At his Stanford University commencement speech, Steve Jobs, CEO and co-founder of Apple and Pixar, urges us to pursue our dreams and see the opportunities in life's setbacks -- including death itself.
Michael Sandel: What's the right thing to do?, por Michael Sandel, (0:54:56, 12/23/2009)
Is torture ever justified? Would you steal a drug that your child needs to survive? Is it sometimes wrong to tell the truth? How much is one human life worth? In the "Justice" program that bears his name, Harvard professor Michael Sandel probes these questions -- and asks what you think, and why.
Cat Laine: Engineering a better life for all, por Cat Laine, (0:14:49, 12/23/2009)
At the BIF innovation summit, Cat Laine draws on the Greek myth of Tantalus to explain the frustration developing countries face. She shows how we might help communities rich in human capital, but poor in resources and infrastructure, with cleverly engineered solutions.
Bertrand Piccard's solar-powered adventure, por Bertrand Piccard, (0:17:46, 1/1/2010)
For the dawn of a new decade, adventurer Bertrand Piccard offers us a challenge: Find motivation in what seems impossible. He shares his own plans to do what many say can't be done -- to fly around the world, day and night, in a solar-powered aircraft.
VS Ramachandran: The neurons that shaped civilization, por Vilayanur Ramachandran, (0:07:43, 1/4/2010)
Neuroscientist Vilayanur Ramachandran outlines the fascinating functions of mirror neurons. Only recently discovered, these neurons allow us to learn complex social behaviors, some of which formed the foundations of human civilization as we know it.
Dan Buettner: How to live to be 100+, por Dan Buettner, (0:19:39, 1/6/2010)
To find the path to long life and health, Dan Buettner and team study the world's "Blue Zones," communities whose elders live with vim and vigor to record-setting age. At TEDxTC, he shares the 9 common diet and lifestyle habits that keep them spry past age 100.
Nick Veasey: Exposing the invisible, por Nick Veasey, (0:13:18, 1/5/2010)
Nick Veasey shows outsized X-ray images that reveal the otherworldly inner workings of familiar objects -- from the geometry of a wildflower to the anatomy of a Boeing 747. Producing these photos is dangerous and painstaking, but the reward is a superpower: looking at what the human eye can't see.
Romulus Whitaker: The real danger lurking in the water, por Romulus Whitaker, (0:17:18, 1/7/2010)
The gharial and king cobra are two of India's most iconic reptiles, and they're endangered because of polluted waterways. Conservationist Romulus Whitaker shows rare footage of these magnificent animals and urges us to save the rivers that sustain their lives and our own.
Herbie Hancock's all-star set, por Herbie Hancock, (0:25:05, 1/8/2010)
Legendary jazz musician Herbie Hancock delivers a stunning performance alongside two old friends -- past drummer for the Headhunters, Harvey Mason, and bassist Marcus Miller. Listen to the end to hear them sweeten the classic "Watermelon Man."
Randy Pausch: Really achieving your childhood dreams, por Randy Pausch, (1:16:27, 1/8/2010)
In 2007, Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch, who was dying of pancreatic cancer, delivered a one-of-a-kind last lecture that made the world stop and pay attention. This moving talk will teach you how to really achieve your childhood dreams. Unmissable.
Matt Weinstein: What Bernie Madoff couldn't steal from me, por Matt Weinstein, (0:08:30, 1/9/2010)
Matt Weinstein lost his life savings to Bernie Madoff's notorious scam. But his response to the disaster is unexpectedly hopeful.
Robert Sapolsky: The uniqueness of humans, por Robert Sapolsky, (0:37:26, 1/8/2010)
At Stanford University, primatologist Robert Sapolsky offers a fascinating and funny look at human behaviors which the rest of the animal kingdom would consider bizarre.
Kartick Satyanarayan: How we rescued the "dancing" bears, por Kartick Satyanarayan, (0:04:02, 1/11/2010)
Traditionally, the Kalandar community of India has survived by capturing sloth bear cubs and training them to "dance" through extreme cruelty. Kartick Satyanarayan has been able to put an end to this centuries-old practice, and in so doing discovered a lesson of wider significance: make the practitioners part of the solution.
Kiran Bir Sethi teaches kids to take charge, por Kiran Sethi, (0:09:32, 1/12/2010)
Kiran Bir Sethi shows how her groundbreaking Riverside School in India teaches kids life's most valuable lesson: "I can." Watch her students take local issues into their own hands, lead other young people, even educate their parents.
Lalitesh Katragadda: Making maps to fight disaster, build economies, por Lalitesh Katragadda, (0:02:54, 1/13/2010)
As of 2005, only 15 percent of the world was mapped. This slows the delivery of aid after a disaster -- and hides the economic potential of unused lands and unknown roads. In this short talk, Google's Lalitesh Katragadda demos Map Maker, a group map-making tool that people around the globe are using to map their world.
Edwidge Danticat: Stories of Haiti, por Edwidge Danticat, (0:59:33, 1/14/2010)
In the midst of an earlier crisis, Haitian author Edwidge Danticat reminds us of the contributions of Haiti's vibrant culture and people. This reading offers a timely message for today -- as the nation struggles in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake.
Charles Fleischer insists: All things are Moleeds, por Charles Fleischer, (0:18:03, 1/15/2010)
In a presentation that can only be described as epic, comedian Charles Fleischer delivers a hysterical send-up of a time-honored TED theme: the map. Geometry, numbers, charts and stamp art also factor in (somehow), as he weaves together a unique theory of everything called "Moleeds."
Martin Luther King Jr.: I have a dream, por Martin Luther King Jr., (0:17:28, 1/17/2010)
1963. Atop the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. stood before 200,000 supporters to call for racial equality, in what would become the defining moment of the African-American civil rights movement -- and a turning point in human history.
David Blaine: How I held my breath for 17 min, por David Blaine, (0:20:19, 1/19/2010)
In this highly personal talk from TEDMED, magician and stuntman David Blaine describes what it took to hold his breath underwater for 17 minutes -- a world record (only two minutes shorter than this entire talk!) -- and what his often death-defying work means to him. Warning: do NOT try this at home.
Anthony Atala on growing new organs, por Anthony Atala, (0:17:52, 1/21/2010)
Anthony Atala's state-of-the-art lab grows human organs -- from muscles to blood vessels to bladders, and more. At TEDMED, he shows footage of his bio-engineers working with some of its sci-fi gizmos, including an oven-like bioreactor (preheat to 98.6 F) and a machine that "prints" human tissue.
Ravin Agrawal: 10 young Indian artists to watch, por Ravin Agrawal, (0:06:34, 1/20/2010)
Collector Ravin Agrawal delivers a glowing introduction to 10 of India's most exciting young contemporary artists. Working in a variety of media, each draws on their local culture for inspiration.
Sivamani: Rhythm is everything, everywhere, por Sivamani, (0:16:40, 1/22/2010)
Percussionist Sivamani delivers one of TED's liveliest and most inventive performances yet. He uses traditional Western and Eastern instruments to create a rhythmic tour de force, along with a tub of water, corrugated metal, spoons, luggage, our stage props and even a little audience participation.
Richard Dawkins: Growing up in the universe, por Richard Dawkins, (0:57:55, 1/23/2010)
At the Royal Institution in 1991, Richard Dawkins asks us to look at our universe with new eyes. Packed with big questions and illuminating visuals, this memorable journey through the history of life magnifies the splendor of evolution and our place in it.
Taylor Mali: What teachers make, por Taylor Mali, (0:03:02, 1/23/2010)
Ever heard the phrase "Those who can't do, teach"? At the Bowery Poetry Club, slam poet Taylor Mali begs to differ, and delivers a powerful, 3-minute response on behalf of educators everywhere.
Bill Davenhall: Your health depends on where you live, por Bill Davenhall, (0:09:25, 1/25/2010)
Where you live: It impacts your health as much as diet and genes do, but it's not part of your medical records. At TEDMED, Bill Davenhall shows how overlooked government geo-data (from local heart-attack rates to toxic dumpsite info) can mesh with mobile GPS apps to keep doctors in the loop. Call it "geo-medicine."
Joshua Prince-Ramus: Building a theater that remakes itself, por Joshua Prince-Ramus, (0:18:42, 1/26/2010)
Joshua Prince-Ramus believes that if architects re-engineer their design process, the results can be spectacular. Speaking at TEDxSMU, Dallas, he walks us through his fantastic re-creation of the local Wyly Theater as a giant "theatrical machine" that reconfigures itself at the touch of a button.
Eve Ensler: Embrace your inner girl, por Eve Ensler, (0:19:54, 1/27/2010)
In this passionate talk, Eve Ensler declares that there is a girl cell in us all -- a cell that we have all been taught to suppress. She tells heartfelt stories of girls around the world who have overcome shocking adversity and violence to reveal the astonishing strength of being a girl.
Jane Chen: A warm embrace that saves lives, por Jane Chen, (0:04:46, 1/28/2010)
In the developing world, access to incubators is limited by cost and distance, and millions of premature babies die each year. TED Fellow Jane Chen shows an invention that could keep millions of these infants warm -- a design that's safe, portable, low-cost and life-saving.
Derek Sivers: Weird, or just different?, por Derek Sivers, (0:02:42, 1/29/2010)
There's a flip side to everything, the saying goes, and in 2 minutes, Derek Sivers shows this is true in a few ways you might not expect.
JK Rowling: The fringe benefits of failure, por JK Rowling, (0:20:58, 1/30/2010)
At her Harvard commencement speech, "Harry Potter" author JK Rowling offers some powerful, heartening advice to dreamers and overachievers, including one hard-won lesson that she deems "worth more than any qualification I ever earned."
Sendhil Mullainathan: Solving social problems with a nudge, por Sendhil Mullainathan, (0:18:01, 2/1/2010)
MacArthur winner Sendhil Mullainathan uses the lens of behavioral economics to study a tricky set of social problems -- those we know how to solve, but don't. We know how to reduce child deaths due to diarrhea, how to prevent diabetes-related blindness and how to implement solar-cell technology ... yet somehow, we don't or can't. Why?
Jamie Heywood: The big idea my brother inspired, por Jamie Heywood, (0:16:54, 2/2/2010)
When Jamie Heywood's brother was diagnosed with ALS, he devoted his life to fighting the disease as well. The Heywood brothers built an ingenious website where people share and track data on their illnesses -- and they discovered that the collective data had enormous power to comfort, explain and predict.
George Whitesides: A lab the size of a postage stamp, por George Whitesides, (0:16:16, 2/3/2010)
Traditional lab tests for disease diagnosis can be too expensive and cumbersome for the regions most in need. George Whitesides' ingenious answer, at TEDxBoston, is a foolproof tool that can be manufactured at virtually zero cost.
David Agus: A new strategy in the war on cancer, por David Agus, (0:23:44, 2/4/2010)
Traditionally, David Agus explains, cancer treatments have had a short-sighted focus on the offending individual cells. He suggests a new, cross-disciplinary approach, using atypical drugs, computer modeling and protein analysis to treat and analyze the whole body.
Tom Shannon: The painter and the pendulum, por Tom Shannon, (0:13:21, 2/5/2010)
TED visits Tom Shannon in his Manhattan studio for an intimate look at his science-inspired art. An eye-opening, personal conversation with John Hockenberry reveals how nature's forces -- and the onset of Parkinson's tremors -- interact in his life and craft.
Peter Eigen: How to expose the corrupt, por Peter Eigen, (0:17:01, 2/8/2010)
Some of the world's most baffling social problems, says Peter Eigen, can be traced to systematic, pervasive government corruption, hand-in-glove with global companies. At TEDxBerlin, Eigen describes the thrilling counter-attack led by his organization Transparency International.
Blaise Aguera y Arcas demos augmented-reality maps, por Blaise Aguera y Arcas, (0:07:45, 2/13/2010)
In a demo that drew gasps at TED2010, Blaise Aguera y Arcas demos new augmented-reality mapping technology from Microsoft.
Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food, por Jamie Oliver, (0:21:53, 2/11/2010)
The way we eat in the developed world is causing needless death -- and shortening the lives of the next generation of kids. Sharing powerful stories from his anti-obesity project in Huntington, W. Va., Jamie Oliver makes the case for an all-out assault on our ignorance of food.
Bill Gates on energy: Innovating to zero!, por Bill Gates, (0:27:49, 2/18/2010)
At TED2010, Bill Gates unveils his vision for the world's energy future, describing the need for "miracles" to avoid planetary catastrophe and explaining why he's backing a dramatically different type of nuclear reactor. The necessary goal? Zero carbon emissions globally by 2050.
David Cameron: The next age of government, por David Cameron, (0:13:59, 2/15/2010)
The leader of Britain's Conservative Party says we're entering a new era -- where governments themselves have less power (and less money) and people empowered by technology have more. Tapping into new ideas on behavioral economics, he explores how these trends could be turned into smarter policy.
Aimee Mullins: The opportunity of adversity, por Aimee Mullins, (0:21:58, 2/17/2010)
The thesaurus might equate "disabled" with synonyms like "useless" and "mutilated," but ground-breaking runner Aimee Mullins is out to redefine the word. Defying these associations, she shows how adversity -- in her case, being born without shinbones -- actually opens the door for human potential.
Kevin Kelly tells technology's epic story, por Kevin Kelly, (0:16:32, 2/19/2010)
In this wide-ranging, thought-provoking talk from TEDxAmsterdam, Kevin Kelly muses on what technology means in our lives -- from its impact at the personal level to its place in the cosmos.
Philip K. Howard: Four ways to fix a broken legal system, por Philip K. Howard, (0:18:21, 2/21/2010)
The land of the free has become a legal minefield, says Philip K. Howard -- especially for teachers and doctors, whose work has been paralyzed by fear of suits. What's the answer? A lawyer himself, Howard has four propositions for simplifying US law.
Eric Topol: The wireless future of medicine, por Eric Topol, (0:16:58, 2/23/2010)
Eric Topol says we'll soon use our smartphones to monitor our vital signs and chronic conditions. At TEDMED, he highlights several of the most important wireless devices in medicine's future -- all helping to keep more of us out of hospital beds.
Temple Grandin: The world needs all kinds of minds, por Temple Grandin, (0:19:43, 2/24/2010)
Temple Grandin, diagnosed with autism as a child, talks about how her mind works -- sharing her ability to "think in pictures," which helps her solve problems that neurotypical brains might miss. She makes the case that the world needs people on the autism spectrum: visual thinkers, pattern thinkers, verbal thinkers, and all kinds of smart geeky kids.
Sean Carroll on the arrow of time (Part 1), por Sean Carroll, (0:28:57, 2/27/2010)
In Part 1 of his lecture at the University of Sydney, cosmologist Sean Carroll gives an entertaining and thought-provoking talk about the nature of time, the origin of entropy, and how what happened before the Big Bang might be responsible for the arrow of time we observe today. (Don't miss <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/sean_carroll_on_the_arrow_of_time_part_2.html">Part 2</a> of this talk!)
Bobby McFerrin hacks your brain with music, por Bobby McFerrin, (0:03:04, 2/27/2010)
In this fun, 3-min performance from the World Science Festival, musician Bobby McFerrin uses the pentatonic scale to reveal one surprising result of the way our brains are wired.
Pawan Sinha on how brains learn to see, por Pawan Sinha, (0:18:23, 2/25/2010)
Pawan Sinha details his groundbreaking research into how the brain's visual system develops. Sinha and his team provide free vision-restoring treatment to children born blind, and then study how their brains learn to interpret visual data. The work offers insights into neuroscience, engineering and even autism.
Raghava KK: Five lives of an artist, por Raghava KK, (0:17:55, 2/26/2010)
With endearing honesty and vulnerability, Raghava KK tells the colorful tale of how art has taken his life to new places, and how life experiences in turn have driven his multiple reincarnations as an artist -- from cartoonist to painter, media darling to social outcast, and son to father.
Sean Carroll on the arrow of time (Part 2), por Sean Carroll, (0:24:21, 1/27/2010)
In Part 2 of his lecture at the University of Sydney, cosmologist Sean Carroll continues his entertaining and thought-provoking talk about the nature of time, the origin of entropy, and how what happened before the Big Bang might be responsible for the arrow of time we observe today. (Don't miss <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/sean_carroll_on_the_arrow_of_time.html">Part 1</a> of this talk!)
Daniel Kahneman: The riddle of experience vs. memory, por Daniel Kahneman, (0:20:06, 3/1/2010)
Using examples from vacations to colonoscopies, Nobel laureate and founder of behavioral economics Daniel Kahneman reveals how our "experiencing selves" and our "remembering selves" perceive happiness differently. This new insight has profound implications for economics, public policy -- and our own self-awareness.
Harsha Bhogle: The rise of cricket, the rise of India, por Harsha Bhogle, (0:16:59, 3/2/2010)
The tale of a major global cultural phenomenon: Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle describes the spectacular arrival of fast-paced 20-20 cricket as it parallels the rise of modern India. He traces the game from its sleepy English roots to the current world of celebrity owners and million-dollar player contracts.
Gary Flake: is Pivot a turning point for web exploration?, por Gary Flake, (0:06:25, 3/3/2010)
Gary Flake demos Pivot, a new way to browse and arrange massive amounts of images and data online. Built on breakthrough Seadragon technology, it enables spectacular zooms in and out of web databases, and the discovery of patterns and links invisible in standard web browsing.
Richard Feynman: Physics is fun to imagine, por Richard Feynman, (1:05:55, 3/3/2010)
In this archival footage from BBC TV, celebrated physicist Richard Feynman explains what fire, magnets, rubber bands (and more) are like at the scale of the jiggling atoms they're made of. This accessible, enchanting conversation in physics reveals a teeming nano-world that's just plain fun to imagine.
James Cameron: Before Avatar ... a curious boy, por James Cameron, (0:17:08, 3/4/2010)
James Cameron's big-budget (and even bigger-grossing) films create unreal worlds all their own. In this personal talk, he reveals his childhood fascination with the fantastic -- from reading science fiction to deep-sea diving -- and how it ultimately drove the success of his blockbuster hits "Aliens," "The Terminator," "Titanic" and "Avatar."
The LXD: In the Internet age, dance evolves ..., por The LXD, (0:17:29, 3/5/2010)
The LXD (the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers) electrify the TED2010 stage with an emerging global street-dance culture, revved up by the Internet. In a preview of Jon Chu?Ãs upcoming Web series, this astonishing troupe show off their superpowers.
Srikumar Rao: Plug into your hard-wired happiness, por Srikumar Rao, (0:18:00, 3/5/2010)
Srikumar Rao says we spend most of our lives learning to be unhappy, even as we strive for happiness. At Arbejdsglaede Live! 2009, he teaches us how to break free of the "I'd be happy if ..." mental model, and embrace our hard-wired happiness.
Tim Berners-Lee: The year open data went worldwide, por Tim Berners-Lee, (0:05:33, 3/8/2010)
At TED2009, Tim Berners-Lee called for "raw data now" -- for governments, scientists and institutions to make their data openly available on the web. At TED University in 2010, he shows a few of the interesting results when the data gets linked up.
Gary Lauder's new traffic sign: Take Turns, por Gary Lauder, (0:04:26, 3/9/2010)
Fifty percent of traffic accidents happen at intersections. Gary Lauder shares a brilliant and cheap idea for helping drivers move along smoothly: a new traffic sign that combines the properties of "Stop" and "Yield" -- and asks drivers to be polite.
Dan Barber: How I fell in love with a fish, por Dan Barber, (0:19:02, 3/10/2010)
Chef Dan Barber squares off with a dilemma facing many chefs today: how to keep fish on the menu. With impeccable research and deadpan humor, he chronicles his pursuit of a sustainable fish he could love, and the foodie's honeymoon he's enjoyed since discovering an outrageously delicious fish raised using a revolutionary farming method in Spain.
Ken Kamler: Medical miracle on Everest, por Ken Kamler, (0:20:49, 3/18/2010)
When the worst disaster in the history of Mount Everest climbs occurred, Ken Kamler was the only doctor on the mountain. At TEDMED, he shares the incredible story of the climbers' battle against extreme conditions and uses brain imaging technology to map the medical miracle of one man who survived roughly 36 hours buried in the snow.
Eric Mead: The magic of the placebo, por Eric Mead, (0:09:05, 3/12/2010)
Sugar pills, injections of nothing -- studies show that, more often than you'd expect, placebos really work. At TEDMED, magician Eric Mead does a trick to prove that, even when you know something's not real, you can still react as powerfully as if it is. (Warning: This talk is not suitable for viewers who are disturbed by needles or blood.)
Mark Roth: Suspended animation is within our grasp, por Mark Roth, (0:18:13, 3/15/2010)
Mark Roth studies suspended animation: the art of shutting down life processes and then starting them up again. It's wild stuff, but it's not science fiction. Induced by careful use of an otherwise toxic gas, suspended animation can potentially help trauma and heart attack victims survive long enough to be treated.
Gary Vaynerchuk: Do what you love (no excuses!), por Gary Vaynerchuk, (0:15:27, 3/12/2010)
At the Web 2.0 Expo, entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk gives a shot in the arm to dreamers and up-and-comers who face self-doubt. The Internet has made the formula for success simpler than ever, he argues. So there's now no excuse not to do what makes you happy.
Eric Dishman: Take health care off the mainframe, por Eric Dishman, (0:16:41, 3/16/2010)
At TEDMED, Eric Dishman makes a bold argument: The US health care system is like computing circa 1959, tethered to big, unwieldy central systems: hospitals, doctors, nursing homes. As our aging population booms, it's imperative, he says, to create personal, networked, home-based health care for all.
Douglas Adams: Parrots, the universe and everything, por Douglas Adams, (1:27:36, 3/16/2010)
Blind river dolphins, reclusive lemurs, a parrot as fearless as it is lovelorn ... Douglas Adams' close encounters with these rare and unusual animals reveal that evolution, ever ingenious, can be fickle too -- in a University of California talk that sparkles with his trademark satiric wit.
Jane McGonigal: Gaming can make a better world, por Jane McGonigal, (0:20:03, 3/17/2010)
Games like World of Warcraft give players the means to save worlds, and incentive to learn the habits of heroes. What if we could harness this gamer power to solve real-world problems? Jane McGonigal says we can, and explains how.
Shekhar Kapur: We are the stories we tell ourselves, por Shekhar Kapur, (0:21:14, 3/19/2010)
Where does creative inspiration spring from? At TEDIndia, Hollywood/Bollywood director Shekhar Kapur ("Elizabeth," "Mr. India") pinpoints his source of creativity: sheer, utter panic. He shares a powerful way to unleash your inner storyteller.
Sam Harris: Science can answer moral questions, por Sam Harris, (0:23:06, 3/22/2010)
Questions of good and evil, right and wrong are commonly thought unanswerable by science. But Sam Harris argues that science can -- and should -- be an authority on moral issues, shaping human values and setting out what constitutes a good life.
Juliana Machado Ferreira: The fight to end rare-animal trafficking in Brazil, por Juliana Machado Ferreira, (0:05:34, 3/23/2010)
Biologist Juliana Machado Ferreira, a TED Senior Fellow, talks about her work helping to save birds and other animals stolen from the wild in Brazil. Once these animals are seized from smugglers, she asks, then what?
Alan Siegel: Let's simplify legal jargon!, por Alan Siegel, (0:04:26, 3/24/2010)
Tax forms, credit agreements, healthcare legislation: They're crammed with gobbledygook, says Alan Siegel, and incomprehensibly long. He calls for a simple, sensible redesign -- and plain English -- to make legal paperwork intelligible to the rest of us.
Joel Levine: Why we need to go back to Mars, por Joel Levine, (0:16:14, 3/25/2010)
At TEDxNASA, 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.
Robert Gupta: Music is medicine, music is sanity, por Robert Gupta, (0:09:26, 3/26/2010)
Robert Gupta, violinist with the LA Philharmonic, talks about a violin lesson he once gave to a brilliant, schizophrenic musician -- and what he learned. Called back onstage later, Gupta plays his own transcription of the prelude from Bach's Cello Suite No. 1.
Patsy Rodenburg: Why I do theater, por Patsy Rodenburg, (0:06:47, 3/26/2010)
Patsy Rodenburg says the world needs actors more than ever. In this talk at Michael Howard Studios, she tells the story of a profound encounter that reveals the deeper role theater can play in people's lives.
Kevin Bales: How to combat modern slavery, por Kevin Bales, (0:18:01, 3/29/2010)
In this moving yet pragmatic talk, Kevin Bales explains the business of modern slavery, a multibillion-dollar economy that underpins some of the worst industries on earth. He shares stats and personal stories from his on-the-ground research -- and names the price of freeing every slave on earth right now.
Shukla Bose: Teaching one child at a time, por Shukla Bose, (0:16:23, 3/30/2010)
Educating the poor is more than just a numbers game, says Shukla Bose. She tells the story of her groundbreaking Parikrma Humanity Foundation, which brings hope to India's slums by looking past the daunting statistics and focusing on treating each child as an individual.
Jor-El: Last-ditch appeal to save the planet, por Jor-El, (0:02:22, 4/1/2010)
(This clip from the classic "Superman" TV show was originally posted for April Fool's Day, but is staying on the site by popular request.) With the planet facing a growing threat from the sun, this passionate speech from the geo-visionary known as Jor-El challenged a packed council chamber to take action before it's too late.
Kirk Citron: And now, the real news, por Kirk Citron, (0:03:21, 4/1/2010)
How many of today's headlines will matter in 100 years? 1000? Kirk Citron's "Long News" project collects stories that not only matter today, but will resonate for decades -- even centuries -- to come. At TED2010, he highlights recent headlines with the potential to shape our future.
Derek Sivers: How to start a movement, por Derek Sivers, (0:03:09, 4/1/2010)
With help from some surprising footage, Derek Sivers explains how movements really get started. (Hint: it takes two.)
Adora Svitak: What adults can learn from kids, por Adora Svitak, (0:08:12, 4/1/2010)
Child prodigy Adora Svitak says the world needs "childish" thinking: bold ideas, wild creativity and especially optimism. Kids' big dreams deserve high expectations, she says, starting with grownups' willingness to learn from children as much as to teach.
Jesse Schell: When games invade real life, por Jesse Schell, (0:28:19, 4/3/2010)
Games are invading the real world -- and the runaway popularity of Farmville and Guitar Hero is just the beginning, says Jesse Schell. At the DICE Summit, he makes a startling prediction: a future where 1-ups and experience points break "out of the box" and into every part of our daily lives.
Dean Kamen: The emotion behind invention, por Dean Kamen, (0:19:32, 4/6/2010)
Soldiers who've lost limbs in service face a daily struggle unimaginable to most of us. At TEDMED, Dean Kamen talks about the profound people and stories that motivated his work to give parts of their lives back with his design for a remarkable prosthetic arm.
Elizabeth Pisani: Sex, drugs and HIV -- let's get rational, por Elizabeth Pisani, (0:19:14, 4/5/2010)
Armed with bracing logic, wit and her "public-health nerd" glasses, Elizabeth Pisani reveals the myriad of inconsistencies in today's political systems that prevent our dollars from effectively fighting the spread of HIV. Her research with at-risk populations -- from junkies in prison to sex workers on the street in Cambodia -- demonstrates the sometimes counter-intuitive measures that could stall the spread of this devastating disease.
Dennis Hong: My seven species of robot, por Dennis Hong, (0:15:55, 4/7/2010)
At TEDxNASA, Dennis Hong introduces seven award-winnning, all-terrain robots -- like the humanoid, soccer-playing DARwIn and the cliff-gripping CLIMBeR -- all built by his team at RoMeLa, Virginia Tech. Watch to the end to hear the five creative secrets to his lab's incredible technical success.
Jonathan Drori: Every pollen grain has a story, por Jonathan Drori, (0:07:12, 4/8/2010)
Pollen goes unnoticed by most of us, except when hay fever strikes. But microscopes reveal it comes in stunning colors and shapes -- and travels remarkably well. Jonathan Drori gives an up-close glimpse of these fascinating flecks of plant courtship.
Natalie Merchant sings old poems to life, por Natalie Merchant, (0:29:18, 4/9/2010)
Natalie Merchant sings from her new album, Leave Your Sleep. Lyrics from near-forgotten 19th-century poetry pair with her unmistakable voice for a performance that brought the TED audience to its feet.
Michael Specter: The danger of science denial, por Michael Specter, (0:19:01, 4/12/2010)
Vaccine-autism claims, "Frankenfood" bans, the herbal cure craze: All point to the public's growing fear (and, often, outright denial) of science and reason, says Michael Specter. He warns the trend spells disaster for human progress.
Jonathan Klein: Photos that changed the world, por Jonathan Klein, (0:06:02, 4/13/2010)
Photographs do more than document history -- they make it. At TED University, Jonathan Klein of Getty Images shows some of the most iconic, and talks about what happens when a generation sees an image so powerful it can't look away -- or back.
Catherine Mohr builds green, por Catherine Mohr, (0:06:13, 4/14/2010)
In a short, funny, data-packed talk at TED U, Catherine Mohr walks through all the geeky decisions she made when building a green new house -- looking at real energy numbers, not hype. What choices matter most? Not the ones you think.
Mike deGruy: Hooked by an octopus, por Mike deGruy, (0:18:12, 4/15/2010)
Underwater filmmaker Mike deGruy has spent decades looking intimately at the ocean. A consummate storyteller, he takes the stage at Mission Blue to share his awe and excitement -- and his fears -- about the blue heart of our planet.
Thelma Golden: How art gives shape to cultural change, por Thelma Golden, (0:12:28, 4/16/2010)
Thelma Golden, curator at the Studio Museum in Harlem, talks through three recent shows that explore how art examines and redefines culture. The "post-black" artists she works with are using their art to provoke a new dialogue about race and culture -- and about the meaning of art itself.
Eric Whitacre: A choir as big as the Internet, por Eric Whitacre, (0:04:15, 4/16/2010)
185 voices from 12 countries join a choir that spans the globe: "Lux Aurumque," composed and conducted by Eric Whitacre, merges hundreds of tracks individually recorded and posted to YouTube. It's an astonishing illustration of how technology can connect us.
Edith Widder: Glowing life in an underwater world, por Edith Widder, (0:17:19, 4/19/2010)
Some 80 to 90 percent of undersea creatures make light -- and we know very little about how or why. Bioluminescence expert Edith Widder explores this glowing, sparkling, luminous world, sharing glorious images and insight into the unseen depths (and brights) of the ocean.
James Randi's fiery takedown of psychic fraud, por James Randi, (0:17:19, 4/19/2010)
Legendary skeptic James Randi takes a fatal dose of homeopathic sleeping pills onstage, kicking off a searing 18-minute indictment of irrational beliefs. He throws out a challenge to the world's psychics: Prove what you do is real, and I'll give you a million dollars. (No takers yet.)
Frederick Balagadde: Bio-lab on a microchip, por Frederick Balagadde, (0:06:11, 4/21/2010)
Drugs alone can't stop disease in sub-Saharan Africa: We need diagnostic tools to match. TED Senior Fellow Frederick Balagadde shows how we can multiply the power and availability of an unwieldy, expensive diagnostic lab -- by miniaturizing it to the size of a chip.
Tom Wujec: Build a tower, build a team, por Tom Wujec, (0:06:51, 4/22/2010)
Tom Wujec presents some surprisingly deep research into the "marshmallow problem" -- a simple team-building exercise that involves dry spaghetti, one yard of tape and a marshmallow. Who can build the tallest tower with these ingredients? And why does a surprising group always beat the average?
Omar Ahmad: Political change with pen and paper, por Omar Ahmad, (0:06:07, 4/23/2010)
Politicians are strange creatures, says politician Omar Ahmad. And the best way to engage them on your pet issue is a monthly handwritten letter. Ahmad shows why old-fashioned correspondence is more effective than email, phone or even writing a check -- and shares the four simple steps to writing a letter that works.
Kavita Ramdas: Radical women, embracing tradition, por Kavita Ramdas, (0:23:38, 4/26/2010)
Investing in women can unlock infinite potential around the globe. But how can women walk the line between Western-style empowerment and traditional culture? Kavita Ramdas of the Global Fund for Women talks about three encounters with powerful women who fight to make the world better -- while preserving the traditions that sustain them.
Stephen Wolfram: Computing a theory of everything, por Stephen Wolfram, (0:19:58, 4/27/2010)
Stephen Wolfram, creator of Mathematica, talks about his quest to make all knowledge computational -- able to be searched, processed and manipulated. His new search engine, Wolfram Alpha, has no lesser goal than to model and explain the physics underlying the universe.
Roz Savage: Why I'm rowing across the Pacific, por Roz Savage, (0:18:35, 4/28/2010)
Five years ago, Roz Savage quit her high-powered London job to become an ocean rower. She's crossed the Atlantic solo, and just started the third leg of a Pacific solo row, the first for a woman. Why does she do it? Hear her reasons, both deeply personal and urgently activist.
George Whitesides: Toward a science of simplicity, por George Whitesides, (0:18:35, 4/28/2010)
Simplicity: We know it when we see it -- but what is it, exactly? In this funny, philosophical talk, George Whitesides chisels out an answer.
Lies, damned lies and statistics (about TEDTalks), por Sebastian Wernicke, (0:05:59, 4/30/2010)
In a brilliantly tongue-in-cheek analysis, Sebastian Wernicke turns the tools of statistical analysis on TEDTalks, to come up with a metric for creating "the optimum TEDTalk" based on user ratings. How do you rate it? "Jaw-dropping"? "Unconvincing"? Or just plain "Funny"?
Esther Duflo: Social experiments to fight poverty, por Esther Duflo, (0:16:47, 5/3/2010)
Alleviating poverty is more guesswork than science, and lack of data on aid's impact raises questions about how to provide it. But Clark Medal-winner Esther Duflo says it's possible to know which development efforts help and which hurt -- by testing solutions with randomized trials.
Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action, por Simon Sinek, (0:18:04, 5/4/2010)
Simon Sinek has a simple but powerful model for inspirational leadership all starting with a golden circle and the question "Why?" His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King, and the Wright brothers -- and as a counterpoint Tivo, which (until a recent court victory that tripled its stock price) appeared to be struggling.
Thomas Dolby: "Love Is a Loaded Pistol", por Thomas Dolby, (0:04:57, 5/7/2010)
For his first studio album release in decades, musical innovator Thomas Dolby has been composing music in the uniquely inspirational setting of a restored life-boat. Here he premieres a gorgeous, evocative song from that album -- about one night with a legend. He's backed by members of the modern string quartet Ethel.
Jeremy Jackson: How we wrecked the ocean, por Jeremy Jackson, (0:18:19, 5/5/2010)
In this bracing talk, coral reef ecologist Jeremy Jackson lays out the shocking state of the ocean today: overfished, overheated, polluted, with indicators that things will get much worse. Astonishing photos and stats make the case.
Anil Gupta: India's hidden hotbeds of invention, por Anil Gupta, (0:22:55, 5/6/2010)
Anil Gupta is on the hunt for the developing world's unsung inventors -- indigenous entrepreneurs whose ingenuity, hidden by poverty, could change many people's lives. He shows how the Honey Bee Network helps them build the connections they need -- and gain the recognition they deserve.
Nicholas Christakis: The hidden influence of social networks, por Nicholas Christakis, (0:20:59, 5/10/2010)
We're all embedded in vast social networks of friends, family, co-workers and more. Nicholas Christakis tracks how a wide variety of traits -- from happiness to obesity -- can spread from person to person, showing how your location in the network might impact your life in ways you don't even know.
Nathan Myhrvold: Could this laser zap malaria?, por Nathan Myhrvold, (0:16:58, 5/11/2010)
Nathan Myhrvold and team's latest inventions -- as brilliant as they are bold -- remind us that the world needs wild creativity to tackle big problems like malaria. And just as that idea sinks in, he rolls out a live demo of a new, mosquito-zapping gizmo you have to see to believe.
Enric Sala: Glimpses of a pristine ocean, por Enric Sala, (0:19:55, 5/12/2010)
Enric Sala shares glorious images -- and surprising insights and data -- from some of the most pristine areas of the ocean. He shows how we can restore more of our oceans to this healthy, balanced state, and the powerful ecological and economic benefits of doing so.
Dan Meyer: Math class needs a makeover, por Dan Meyer, (0:11:39, 5/13/2010)
Today's math curriculum is teaching students to expect -- and excel at -- paint-by-numbers classwork, robbing kids of a skill more important than solving problems: formulating them. At TEDxNYED, Dan Meyer shows classroom-tested math exercises that prompt students to stop and think.
Julia Sweeney has "The Talk", por Julia Sweeney, (0:05:16, 5/14/2010)
Despite her best efforts, comedian Julia Sweeney is forced to tell a little white lie when her 8-year-old begins learning about frog reproduction -- and starts to ask some very smart questions.
Viktor Frankl: Why to believe in others, por Viktor E Frankl, (0:04:22, 5/14/2010)
In this rare clip from 1972, legendary psychiatrist and Holocaust-survivor Viktor Frankl delivers a powerful message about the human search for meaning -- and the most important gift we can give others.
William Li: Can we eat to starve cancer?, por William Li, (0:20:02, 5/17/2010)
William Li presents a new way to think about treating cancer and other diseases: anti-angiogenesis, preventing the growth of blood vessels that feed a tumor. The crucial first (and best) step: Eating cancer-fighting foods that cut off the supply lines and beat cancer at its own game.
Graham Hill: Why I'm a weekday vegetarian, por Graham Hill, (0:05:45, 5/18/2010)
We all know the arguments that being vegetarian is better for the environment and for the animals -- but in a carnivorous culture, it can be hard to make the change. Graham Hill has a powerful, pragmatic suggestion: Be a weekday veg.
Dee Boersma: Pay attention to penguins, por Dee Boersma, (0:15:09, 5/19/2010)
Think of penguins as ocean sentinels, says Dee Boersma -- they're on the frontlines of sea change. Sharing stories of penguin life and culture, she suggests that we start listening to what penguins are telling us.
Richard Sears: Planning for the end of oil, por Richard Sears, (0:09:48, 5/20/2010)
As the world's attention focuses on the perils of oil exploration, we present Richard Sears' talk from early February 2010. Sears, an expert in developing new energy resources, talks about our inevitable and necessary move away from oil. Toward ... what?
Craig Venter unveils "synthetic life", por Craig Venter, (0:18:17, 5/21/2010)
Craig Venter and team make a historic announcement: they've created the first fully functioning, reproducing cell controlled by synthetic DNA. He explains how they did it and why the achievement marks the beginning of a new era for science.
Sir Ken Robinson: Bring on the learning revolution!, por Ken Robinson, (0:16:48, 5/24/2010)
In this poignant, funny follow-up to his fabled 2006 talk, Sir Ken Robinson makes the case for a radical shift from standardized schools to personalized learning -- creating conditions where kids' natural talents can flourish.
Johanna Blakley: Lessons from fashion's free culture, por Johanna Blakley, (0:15:36, 5/25/2010)
Copyright law's grip on film, music and software barely touches the fashion industry ... and fashion benefits in both innovation and sales, says Johanna Blakley. At TEDxUSC 2010, she talks about what all creative industries can learn from fashion's free culture.
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy: Inside a school for suicide bombers, por Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, (0:08:09, 5/26/2010)
Filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy takes on a terrifying question: How does the Taliban convince children to become suicide bombers? Propaganda footage from a training camp is intercut with her interviews of young camp graduates. A shocking vision.
Seth Berkley: HIV and flu -- the vaccine strategy, por Seth Berkley, (0:21:05, 5/27/2010)
Seth Berkley explains how smart advances in vaccine design, production and distribution are bringing us closer than ever to eliminating a host of global threats -- from AIDS to malaria to flu pandemics.
Sophie Hunger plays songs of secrets, city lights, por Sophie Hunger, (0:23:04, 5/28/2010)
This haunting, intimate performance by European singer-songwriter Sophie Hunger features songs from her breakout debut "Monday's Ghost" and the just-released album "1983."
Lawrence Lessig: Re-examining the remix, por Larry Lessig, (0:18:45, 5/31/2010)
At TEDxNYED, former "young Republican" Larry Lessig talks about what Democrats can learn about copyright from their opposite party, considered more conservative. A surprising lens on remix culture.
John Underkoffler points to the future of UI, por John Underkoffler, (0:15:22, 6/1/2010) Minority Report science adviser and inventor John Underkoffler demos g-speak -- the real-life version of the film's eye-popping, tai chi-meets-cyberspace computer interface. Is this how tomorrow's computers will be controlled?
Brian Skerry reveals ocean's glory -- and horror, por Brian Skerry, (0:16:13, 6/1/2010)
Photographer Brian Skerry shoots life above and below the waves -- as he puts it, both the horror and the magic of the ocean. Sharing amazing, intimate shots of undersea creatures, he shows how powerful images can help make change.
Christopher "moot" Poole: The case for anonymity online, por Christopher "moot" Poole, (0:13:10, 6/2/2010)
The founder of 4chan, a controversial, uncensored online imageboard, describes its subculture, some of the Internet "memes" it has launched, and the incident in which its users managed a very public, precision hack of a mainstream media website. The talk raises questions about the power -- and price -- of anonymity.
Brian Cox: Why we need the explorers, por Brian Cox, (0:16:29, 6/3/2010)
In tough economic times, our exploratory science programs -- from space probes to the LHC -- are first to suffer budget cuts. Brian Cox explains how curiosity-driven science pays for itself, powering innovation and a profound appreciation of our existence.
Adam Sadowsky engineers a viral music video, por Adam Sadowsky, (0:14:28, 6/4/2010)
The band "OK Go" dreamed up the idea of a massive Rube Goldberg machine for their next music video -- and Adam Sadowsky's team was charged with building it. He tells the story of the effort and engineering behind their labyrinthine creation that quickly became a YouTube sensation.
Michael Sandel: The lost art of democratic debate, por Michael Sandel, (0:19:42, 6/7/2010)
Democracy thrives on civil debate, Michael Sandel says -- but we're shamefully out of practice. He leads a fun refresher, with TEDsters sparring over a recent Supreme Court case (PGA Tour, Inc. v. Martin) whose outcome reveals the critical ingredient in justice.
John Kasaona: How poachers became caretakers, por John Kasaona, (0:15:46, 6/8/2010)
In his home of Namibia, John Kasaona is working on an innovative way to protect endangered animal species: giving nearby villagers (including former poachers) responsibility for caring for the animals. And it's working.
Rory Sutherland: Sweat the small stuff, por Rory Sutherland, (0:12:37, 6/9/2010)
It may seem that big problems require big solutions, but ad man Rory Sutherland says many flashy, expensive fixes are just obscuring better, simpler answers. To illustrate, he uses behavioral economics and hilarious examples.
Debate: Does the world need nuclear energy?, por Stewart Brand, Mark Z. Jacobson, (0:22:59, 6/10/2010)
Nuclear power: the energy crisis has even die-hard environmentalists reconsidering it. In this first-ever TED debate, Stewart Brand and Mark Z. Jacobson square off over the pros and cons. A discussion that'll make you think -- and might even change your mind.
David Byrne: How architecture helped music evolve, por David Byrne, (0:17:47, 6/11/2010)
As 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.
Michael Shermer: The pattern behind self-deception, por Michael Shermer, (0:19:01, 6/14/2010)
Michael 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.
Margaret Gould Stewart: How YouTube thinks about copyright, por Margaret Gould Stewart, (0:05:45, 6/15/2010)
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.
Peter Tyack: The intriguing sound of marine mammals, por Peter Tyack, (0:21:20, 6/16/2010)
Peter Tyack of Woods Hole talks about a hidden wonder of the sea: underwater sound. Onstage at Mission Blue, he explains the amazing ways whales use sound and song to communicate across hundreds of miles of ocean.
Cameron Herold: Let's raise kids to be entrepreneurs, por Cameron Herold, (0:21:24, 6/17/2010)
Bored in school, failing classes, at odds with peers: This child might be an entrepreneur, says Cameron Herold. At TEDxEdmonton, he makes the case for parenting and education that helps would-be entrepreneurs flourish -- as kids and as adults.
Ananda Shankar Jayant fights cancer with dance, por Ananda Shankar Jayant, (0:16:07, 6/18/2010)
Renowned classical Indian dancer Ananda Shankar Jayant was diagnosed with cancer in 2008. She tells her personal story of not only facing the disease but dancing through it, and gives a performance revealing the metaphor of strength that helped her do it.
Chip Conley: Measuring what makes life worthwhile, por Chip Conley, (0:17:39, 6/21/2010)
When the dotcom bubble burst, hotelier Chip Conley went in search of a business model based on happiness. In an old friendship with an employee and in the wisdom of a Buddhist king, he learned that success comes from what you count.
Marian Bantjes: Intricate beauty by design, por Marian Bantjes, (0:16:28, 6/22/2010)
In graphic design, Marian Bantjes says, throwing your individuality into a project is heresy. She explains how she built her career doing just that, bringing her signature delicate illustrations to storefronts, valentines and even genetic diagrams.
Charles Leadbeater: Education innovation in the slums, por Charles Leadbeater, (0:18:58, 6/23/2010)
Charles Leadbeater went looking for radical new forms of education -- and found them in the slums of Rio and Kibera, where some of the world's poorest kids are finding transformative new ways to learn. And this informal, disruptive new kind of school, he says, is what all schools need to become.
Aditi Shankardass: A second opinion on learning disorders, por Aditi Shankardass, (0:09:01, 6/24/2010)
Developmental disorders in children are typically diagnosed by observing behavior, but Aditi Shankardass knew that we should be looking directly at their brains. She explains how a remarkable EEG device has revealed mistaken diagnoses and transformed children's lives.
Hillel Cooperman: Legos for grownups, por Hillel Cooperman, (0:05:50, 6/25/2010)
Lego blocks: playtime mainstay for industrious kids, obsession for many (ahem!) mature adults. Hillel Cooperman takes us on a trip through the beloved bricks' colorful, sometimes oddball grownup subculture, featuring CAD, open-source robotics and a little adult behavior.
Clay Shirky: How cognitive surplus will change the world, por Clay Shirky, (0:13:07, 6/28/2010)
Clay Shirky looks at "cognitive surplus" -- the shared, online work we do with our spare brain cycles. While we're busy editing Wikipedia, posting to Ushahidi (and yes, making LOLcats), we're building a better, more cooperative world.
Ellen Dunham-Jones: Retrofitting suburbia, por Ellen Dunham-Jones, (0:19:23, 6/29/2010)
Ellen Dunham-Jones fires the starting shot for the next 50 years' big sustainable design project: retrofitting suburbia. To come: Dying malls rehabilitated, dead "big box" stores re-inhabited, parking lots transformed into thriving wetlands.
Stephen Palumbi: Following the mercury trail, por Stephen Palumbi, (0:15:42, 6/30/2010)
There's a tight and surprising link between the ocean's health and ours, says marine biologist Stephen Palumbi. He shows how toxins at the bottom of the ocean food chain find their way into our bodies, with a shocking story of toxic contamination from a Japanese fish market. His work points a way forward for saving the oceans' health -- and humanity's.
Carter Emmart demos a 3D atlas of the universe, por Carter Emmart , (, )
For 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.
Mitchell Joachim: Don't build your home, grow it!, por Mitchell Joachim, (0:02:56, 7/2/2010)
TED Fellow and urban designer Mitchell Joachim presents his vision for sustainable, organic architecture: eco-friendly abodes grown from plants and -- wait for it -- meat.
Benoit Mandelbrot: Fractals and the art of roughness, por Benoit Mandelbrot, (0:17:09, 7/6/2010)
At 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.
Ellen Gustafson: Obesity + Hunger = 1 global food issue, por Ellen Gustafson, (0:11:15, 7/7/2010)
Co-creator of the philanthropic FEED bags, Ellen Gustafson says hunger and obesity are two sides of the same coin. At TEDxEast, she launches The 30 Project -- a way to change how we farm and eat in the next 30 years, and solve the global food inequalities behind both epidemics.
Nalini Nadkarni: Life science in prison, por Nalini Nadkarni, (0:05:07, 7/8/2010)
Nalini Nadkarni challenges our perspective on trees and prisons -- she says both can be more dynamic than we think. Through a partnership with the state of Washington, she brings science classes and conservation programs to inmates, with unexpected results.
Hans Rosling on global population growth, por Hans Rosling, (0:10:04, 7/9/2010)
The world's population will grow to 9 billion over the next 50 years -- and only by raising the living standards of the poorest can we check population growth. This is the paradoxical answer that Hans Rosling unveils at TED@Cannes using colorful new data display technology (you'll see).
Carl Safina: The oil spill's unseen culprits, victims, por Carl Safina, (0:19:55, 7/12/2010)
The Gulf oil spill dwarfs comprehension, but we know this much: it's bad. Carl Safina scrapes out the facts in this blood-boiling cross-examination, arguing that the consequences will stretch far beyond the Gulf -- and many so-called solutions are making the situation worse.
Matt Ridley: When ideas have sex, por Matt Ridley, (TEDGlobal 2010, 0:16:26;7/14/2010)
At TEDGlobal 2010, author Matt Ridley shows how, throughout history, the engine of human progress has been the meeting and mating of ideas to make new ideas. It's not important how clever individuals are, he says
Ethan Zuckerman: Listening to global voices, por Ethan Zuckerman, (0:19:45, 7/15/2010)
Sure, the web connects the globe, but most of us end up hearing mainly from people just like ourselves. Blogger and technologist Ethan Zuckerman wants to help share the stories of the whole wide world. He talks about clever strategies to open up your Twitter world and read the news in languages you don't even know.
Julian Assange: Why the world needs WikiLeaks, por Julian Assange, (0:19:33, 7/19/2010)
The controversial website WikiLeaks collects and posts highly classified documents and video. Founder Julian Assange, who's reportedly being sought for questioning by US authorities, talks to TED's Chris Anderson about how the site operates, what it has accomplished -- and what drives him. The interview includes graphic footage of a recent US airstrike in Baghdad.
Naif Al-Mutawa: Superheroes inspired by Islam, por Naif Al-Mutawa, (0:18:22, 7/20/2010)
In "THE 99," Naif Al-Mutawa's new generation of comic book heroes fight more than crime -- they smash stereotypes and battle extremism. Named after the 99 attributes of Allah, his characters reinforce positive messages of Islam and cross cultures to create a new moral framework for confronting evil, even teaming up with the Justice League of America.
Dimitar Sasselov: How we found hundreds of potential Earth-like planets, por Dimitar Sasselov, (0:18:30, 7/21/2010)
Astronomer Dimitar Sasselov and his colleagues search for Earth-like planets that may, someday, help us answer centuries-old questions about the origin and existence of biological life elsewhere (and on Earth). Preliminary results show that they have found 706 "candidates" -- some of which further research may prove to be planets with Earth-like geochemical characteristics.
Tan Le: A headset that reads your brainwaves, por Tan Le, (0:10:36, 7/21/2010)
Tan Le's astonishing new computer interface reads its user's brainwaves, making it possible to control virtual objects, and even physical electronics, with mere thoughts (and a little concentration). She demos the headset, and talks about its far-reaching applications.
Kevin Stone: The bio-future of joint replacement, por Kevin Stone, (0:06:51, 7/22/2010)
Arthritis and injury grind down millions of joints, but few get the best remedy -- real biological tissue. Kevin Stone shows a treatment that could sidestep the high costs and donor shortfall of human-to-human transplants with a novel use of animal tissue.
Sheena Iyengar on the art of choosing, por Sheena Iyengar, (0:24:08, 7/26/2010)
Sheena Iyengar studies how we make choices -- and how we feel about the choices we make. At TEDGlobal, she talks about both trivial choices (Coke v. Pepsi) and profound ones, and shares her groundbreaking research that has uncovered some surprising attitudes about our decisions.
Jeff Bezos: What matters more than your talents, por Jeff Bezos, (0:18:44, 7/27/2010)
In this Princeton University graduation address, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos makes the case that our character is reflected not in the gifts we're endowed with at birth, but by the choices we make over the course of a lifetime.
Susan Shaw: The oil spill's toxic trade-off, por Susan Shaw, (0:16:42, 7/27/2010)
Break down the oil slick, keep it off the shores: that's grounds for pumping toxic dispersant into the Gulf, say clean-up overseers. Susan Shaw shows evidence it's sparing some beaches only at devastating cost to the health of the deep sea.
John Delaney: Wiring an interactive ocean, por John Delaney, (0:20:50, 7/28/2010)
Oceanographer John Delaney is leading the team that is building an underwater network of high-def cameras and sensors that will turn our ocean into a global interactive lab -- sparking an explosion of rich data about the world below.
Laurie Santos: A monkey economy as irrational as ours, por Laurie Santos, (0:19:45, 7/29/2010)
Laurie Santos looks for the roots of human irrationality by watching the way our primate relatives make decisions. A clever series of experiments in "monkeynomics" shows that some of the silly choices we make, monkeys make too.
Lewis Pugh's mind-shifting Mt. Everest swim, por Lewis Pugh, (0:09:45, 7/30/2010)
After he swam the North Pole, Lewis Pugh vowed never to take another cold-water dip. Then he heard of Mt. Everest's Lake Imja -- a body of water at an altitude of 5300 m, entirely created by recent glacial melting -- and began a journey that would teach him a radical new way to approach swimming and think about climate change.
Jason Clay: How big brands can help save biodiversity, por Jason Clay, (0:19:29, 8/16/2010)
Convince just 100 key companies to go sustainable, and WWF's Jason Clay says global markets will shift to protect the planet our consumption has already outgrown. Hear how his extraordinary roundtables are getting big brand rivals to agree on green practices first -- before their products duke it out on store shelves.
Sheryl WuDunn: Our century's greatest injustice, por Sheryl WuDunn, (0:18:22, 8/17/2010)
Sheryl WuDunn's book "Half the Sky" investigates the oppression of women globally. Her stories shock. Only when women in developing countries have equal access to education and economic opportunity will we be using all our human resources.
Diane J. Savino: The case for same-sex marriage, por Diane J Savino, (0:07:33, 8/17/2010)
Hours before New York lawmakers rejected a key marriage equality bill (38-24), State Senator Diane J. Savino made the passionate case for a government that recognizes and administers same-sex marriages. Here's her fresh, thought-provoking perspective on one of the most contentious issues in US culture, religion and government.
Peter Molyneux demos Milo, the virtual boy, por Peter Molyneux, (0:10:55, 8/18/2010)
Peter Molyneux demos Milo, a hotly anticipated video game for Microsoft's Kinect controller. Perceptive and impressionable like a real 11-year-old, the virtual boy watches, listens and learns -- recognizing and responding to you.
Jamil Abu-Wardeh: The Axis of Evil Middle East Comedy Tour, por Jamil Abu-Wardeh, (0:08:59, 8/19/2010)
Jamil Abu-Wardeh jump-started the comedy scene in the Arab world by founding the Axis of Evil Middle East Comedy Tour, which brings standup comedians to laughing audiences all over the region. He's found that, by respecting the "three B's" (blue material, beliefs and "bolitics"), the Axis of Evil comics find plenty of cross-border laughs.
Maz Jobrani: Did you hear the one about the Iranian-American?, por Maz Jobrani, (TEDGlobal 2010, 0:09:14;8/19/2010)
A founding member of the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, standup comic Maz Jobrani riffs on the challenges and conflicts of being Iranian-American -- "like, part of me thinks I should have a nuclear program
Seth Priebatsch: The game layer on top of the world, por Seth Priebatsch, (0:12:02, 8/20/2010)
By now, we're used to letting Facebook and Twitter capture our social lives on the web -- building a "social layer" on top of the real world. At TEDxBoston, Seth Priebatsch looks at the next layer in progress: the "game layer," a pervasive net of behavior-steering game dynamics that will reshape education and commerce.
David McCandless: The beauty of data visualization, por David McCandless, (0:17:56, 8/23/2010)
David McCandless turns complex data sets (like worldwide military spending, media buzz, Facebook status updates) into beautiful, simple diagrams that tease out unseen patterns and connections. Good design, he suggests, is the best way to navigate information glut -- and it may just change the way we see the world.
Lee Hotz: Inside an Antarctic time machine, por Robert Lee Hotz, (0:09:45, 8/24/2010)
Science columnist Lee Hotz describes a remarkable project at WAIS Divide, Antarctica, where a hardy team are drilling into ten-thousand-year-old ice to extract vital data on our changing climate.
Jeremy Rifkin on "the empathic civilization", por Jeremy Rifkin, (0:10:39, 8/24/2010)
In this talk from RSA Animate, bestselling author Jeremy Rifkin investigates the evolution of empathy and the profound ways it has shaped human development and society.
Jim Toomey: Learning from Sherman the shark, por Jim Toomey, (0:14:15, 8/25/2010)
Cartoonist Jim Toomey created the comic strip Sherman's Lagoon, a wry look at underwater life starring Sherman the talking shark. As he sketches some of his favorite sea creatures live onstage, Toomey shares his love of the ocean and the stories it can tell.
Lisa Margonelli: The political chemistry of oil, por Lisa Margonelli, (0:17:14, 8/26/2010)
In the Gulf oil spill's aftermath, Lisa Margonelli says drilling moratoriums and executive ousters make for good theater, but distract from the issue at its heart: our unrestrained oil consumption. She shares her bold plan to wean America off of oil -- by confronting consumers with its real cost.
Dan Cobley: What physics taught me about marketing, por Dan Cobley, (0:07:38, 8/27/2010)
Physics and marketing don't seem to have much in common, but Dan Cobley is passionate about both. He brings these unlikely bedfellows together using Newton's second law, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, the scientific method and the second law of thermodynamics to explain the fundamental theories of branding.
Nic Marks: The Happy Planet Index, por Nic Marks, (0:16:49, 8/30/2010)
Statistician Nic Marks asks why we measure a nation's success by its productivity -- instead of by the happiness and well-being of its people. He introduces the Happy Planet Index, which tracks national well-being against resource use (because a happy life doesn't have to cost the earth). Which countries rank highest in the HPI? You might be surprised.
Johan Rockstrom: Let the environment guide our development, por Johan Rockstrom, (0:18:10, 8/31/2010)
Human growth has strained the Earth's resources, but as Johan Rockstrom reminds us, our advances also give us the science to recognize this and change behavior. His research has found nine "planetary boundaries" that can guide us in protecting our planet's many overlapping ecosystems.
His Holiness the Karmapa: The technology of the heart, por His Holiness the Karmapa, (0:25:23, 9/1/2010)
His Holiness the Karmapa talks about how he was discovered to be the reincarnation of a revered figure in Tibetan Buddhism. In telling his story, he urges us to work on not just technology and design, but the technology and design of the heart. He is translated onstage by Tyler Dewar.
Derek Sivers: Keep your goals to yourself, por Derek Sivers, (0:03:15, 9/2/2010)
After hitting on a brilliant new life plan, our first instinct is to tell someone, but Derek Sivers says it's better to keep goals secret. He presents research stretching as far back as the 1920s to show why people who talk about their ambitions may be less likely to achieve them.
Rachel Sussman: The world's oldest living things, por Rachel Sussman, (0:14:08, 9/3/2010)
Rachel Sussman shows photographs of the world's oldest continuously living organisms -- from 2,000-year-old brain coral off Tobago's coast to an "underground forest" in South Africa that has lived since before the dawn of agriculture.
Sugata Mitra: The child-driven education, por Sugata Mitra, (0:17:13, 9/7/2010)
Education scientist Sugata Mitra tackles one of the greatest problems of education -- the best teachers and schools don't exist where they're needed most. In a series of real-life experiments from New Delhi to South Africa to Italy, he gave kids self-supervised access to the web and saw results that could revolutionize how we think about teaching.
Alwar Balasubramaniam: Art of substance and absence, por Alwar Balasubramaniam, (0:16:51, 9/8/2010)
Alwar Balasubramaniam's sculpture plays with time, shape, shadow, perspective: four tricky sensations that can reveal -- or conceal -- what's really out there. At TEDIndia, the artist shows slides of his extraordinary installations.
Carne Ross: An independent diplomat, por Carne Ross, (0:20:38, 9/9/2010)
After 15 years in the British diplomatic corps, Carne Ross became a "freelance diplomat," running a bold nonprofit that gives small, developing and yet-unrecognized nations a voice in international relations. At the BIF-5 conference, he calls for a new kind of diplomacy that gives voice to small countries, that works with changing boundaries and that welcomes innovation.
Ben Cameron: The true power of the performing arts, por Ben Cameron, (0:12:44, 9/10/2010)
Arts administrator and live-theater fan Ben Cameron looks at the state of the live arts -- asking: How can the magic of live theater, live music, live dance compete with the always-on Internet? At TEDxYYC, he offers a bold look forward.
Seth Godin: This is broken, por Seth Godin, (0:20:14, 9/10/2010)
Why are so many things broken? In a hilarious talk from the 2006 Gel conference, Seth Godin gives a tour of things poorly designed, the 7 reasons why they are that way, and how to fix them.
Rob Dunbar: Discovering ancient climates in oceans and ice, por Rob Dunbar, (0:18:14, 9/13/2010)
Rob Dunbar hunts for data on our climate from 12,000 years ago, finding clues inside ancient seabeds and corals and inside ice sheets. His work is vital in setting baselines for fixing our current climate -- and in tracking the rise of deadly ocean acidification.
Chris Anderson: How web video powers global innovation, por Chris Anderson (TED), (0:18:53, 9/14/2010)
TED's Chris Anderson says the rise of web video is driving a worldwide phenomenon he calls Crowd Accelerated Innovation -- a self-fueling cycle of learning that could be as significant as the invention of print. But to tap into its power, organizations will need to embrace radical openness. And for TED, it means the dawn of a whole new chapter ...
Jessa Gamble: Our natural sleep cycle, por Jessa Gamble, (0:04:01, 9/15/2010)
In today's world, balancing school, work, kids and more, most of us can only hope for the recommended eight hours of sleep. Examining the science behind our body's internal clock, Jessa Gamble reveals the surprising and substantial program of rest we should be observing.
Nicholas Christakis: How social networks predict epidemics, por Nicholas Christakis, (0:17:54, 9/16/2010)
After mapping humans' intricate social networks, Nicholas Christakis and colleague James Fowler began investigating how this information could better our lives. Now, he reveals his hot-off-the-press findings: These networks can be used to detect epidemics earlier than ever, from the spread of innovative ideas to risky behaviors to viruses (like H1N1).
Caroline Phillips: Hurdy-gurdy for beginners, por Caroline Phillips, (0:05:41, 9/17/2010)
Caroline Phillips cranks out tunes on a seldom-heard folk instrument: the hurdy-gurdy, a.k.a. the wheel fiddle. A searching, Basque melody follows her fun lesson on its unique anatomy and 1,000-year history.
Christien Meindertsma: How pig parts make the world turn, por Christien Meindertsma, (0:08:54, 9/20/2010)
Christien Meindertsma, author of "Pig 05049" looks at the astonishing afterlife of the ordinary pig, parts of which make their way into at least 185 non-pork products, from bullets to artificial hearts.
Steven Johnson: Where good ideas come from, por Steven Johnson, (0:17:45, 9/21/2010)
People often credit their ideas to individual "Eureka!" moments. But Steven Johnson shows how history tells a different story. His fascinating tour takes us from the "liquid networks" of London's coffee houses to Charles Darwin's long, slow hunch to today's high-velocity web.
Mitchell Besser: Mothers helping mothers fight HIV, por Mitchell Besser, (, )
In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV infections are more prevalent and doctors scarcer than anywhere else in the world. With a lack of medical professionals, Mitchell Besser enlisted the help of his patients to create mothers2mothers -- an extraordinary network of HIV-positive women whose support for each other is changing and saving lives.
Annie Lennox: Why I am an HIV/AIDS activist, por Annie Lennox, (, )
For the last eight years, pop singer Annie Lennox has devoted the majority of her time to her SING campaign, raising awareness and money to combat HIV/AIDS. She shares the experiences that have inspired her, from working with Nelson Mandela to meeting a little African girl in a desperate situation.
Fabian Hemmert: The shape-shifting future of the mobile phone, por Fabian Hemmert, (0:04:15, 9/23/2010)
At TEDxBerlin, Fabian Hemmert demos one future of the mobile phone -- a shape-shifting and weight-shifting handset that "displays" information nonvisually, offering a delightfully intuitive way to communicate.
Julian Treasure: Shh! Sound health in 8 steps, por Julian Treasure, (0:07:14, 9/23/2010)
Julian Treasure says our increasingly noisy world is gnawing away at our mental health -- even costing lives. He lays out an 8-step plan to soften this sonic assault (starting with those cheap earbuds) and restore our relationship with sound.
Tim Birkhead: The early birdwatchers, por Tim Birkhead, (0:28:30, 9/26/2010)
Birds, a perennial human fascination, entertained medieval homes long before science took them for serious study. "Wisdom of Birds" author Tim Birkhead tours some intriguing birdwatcher lore (dug up in old field journals) -- and talks about the role it plays in ornithology today.
Gary Wolf: The quantified self, por Gary Wolf, (0:05:10, 9/27/2010)
At TED@Cannes, Gary Wolf gives a 5-min intro to an intriguing new pastime: using mobile apps and always-on gadgets to track and analyze your body, mood, diet, spending -- just about everything in daily life you can measure -- in gloriously geeky detail.
Sebastian Seung: I am my connectome, por Sebastian Seung, (0:19:26, 9/28/2010)
Sebastian Seung is mapping a massively ambitious new model of the brain that focuses on the connections between each neuron. He calls it our "connectome," and it's as individual as our genome -- and understanding it could open a new way to understand our brains and our minds.
Inge Missmahl brings peace to the minds of Afghanistan, por Inge Missmahl, (0:10:41, 9/29/2010)
When Jungian analyst Inge Missmahl visited Afghanistan, she saw the inner wounds of war -- widespread despair, trauma and depression. And yet, in this county of 30 million people, there were only two dozen psychiatrists. Missmahl talks about her work helping to build the country's system of psychosocial counseling, promoting both individual and, perhaps, national healing.
Mechai Viravaidya: How Mr. Condom made Thailand a better place, por Mechai Viravaidya, (0:13:50, 9/30/2010)
At TEDxChange, 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.
Eben Bayer: Are mushrooms the new plastic?, por Eben Bayer, (0:09:05, 10/4/2010)
Product designer Eben Bayer reveals his recipe for a new, fungus-based packaging material that protects fragile stuff like furniture, plasma screens -- and the environment.
Tim Jackson's economic reality check, por Tim Jackson, (0:20:23, 10/5/2010)
As the world faces recession, climate change, inequity and more, Tim Jackson delivers a piercing challenge to established economic principles, explaining how we might stop feeding the crises and start investing in our future.
Barbara Block: Tagging tuna in the deep ocean, por Barbara Block, (0:20:06, 10/6/2010)
Tuna are ocean athletes -- fast, far-ranging predators whose habits we're just beginning to understand. Marine biologist Barbara Block fits tuna with tracking tags (complete with transponders) that record unprecedented amounts of data about these gorgeous, threatened fish and the ocean habitats they move through.
Hans Rosling: The good news of the decade?, por Hans Rosling, (0:15:34, 10/7/2010)
Hans Rosling reframes 10 years of UN data with his spectacular visuals, lighting up an astonishing -- mostly unreported -- piece of front-page-worthy good news: We're winning the war against child mortality. Along the way, he debunks one flawed approach to stats that blots out such vital stories.
Stacey Kramer: The best gift I ever survived, por Stacey Kramer, (0:03:17, 10/8/2010)
Stacey Kramer offers a moving, personal, 3-minute parable that shows how an unwanted experience -- frightening, traumatic, costly -- can turn out to be a priceless gift.
Stefano Mancuso: The roots of plant intelligence, por Stefano Mancuso, (0:13:50, 10/11/2010)
Plants behave in some oddly intelligent ways: fighting predators, maximizing food opportunities ... But can we think of them as actually having a form of intelligence of their own? Italian botanist Stefano Mancuso presents intriguing evidence.
Melinda French Gates: What nonprofits can learn from Coca-Cola, por Melinda French Gates, (0:16:28, 10/12/2010)
At TEDxChange, Melinda Gates makes a provocative case for nonprofits taking a cue from corporations such as Coca-Cola, whose plugged-in, global network of marketers and distributors ensures that every remote village wants -- and can get -- a Coke. Why shouldn't this work for condoms, sanitation, vaccinations too?
Peter Haas: Haiti's disaster of engineering, por Peter Haas, (, )
"Haiti was not a natural disaster," says TED Fellow Peter Haas: "It was a disaster of engineering." As the country rebuilds after January's deadly quake, are bad old building practices creating another ticking time bomb? Haas's group, AIDG, is helping Haiti's builders learn modern building and engineering practices, to assemble a strong country brick by brick.
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Natalie Jeremijenko: The art of the eco-mindshift, por Natalie Jeremijenko, (0:19:50, 10/14/2010)
Natalie Jeremijenko's unusual lab puts art to work, and addresses environmental woes by combining engineering know-how with public art and a team of volunteers. These real-life experiments include: Walking tadpoles, texting "fish," planting fire-hydrant gardens and more.
Ze Frank's web playroom, por Ze Frank, (0:18:00, 10/15/2010)
On the web, a new "Friend" may be just a click away, but true connection is harder to find and express. Ze Frank presents a medley of zany Internet toys that require deep participation -- and reward it with something more nourishing. You're invited, if you promise you'll share.
Joel Burns tells gay teens "it gets better", por Joel Burns, (0:12:55, 10/17/2010)
In a courageous, intensely emotional talk at the city council in Fort Worth, Texas, councilman Joel Burns reaches out to the targets of teen bullying -- kids who are gay, perceived as gay, or just different -- with a vital message about their lives, and the harassment they face.
Jessica Jackley: Poverty, money -- and love, por Jessica Jackley, (0:18:33, 10/18/2010)
What do you think of people in poverty? Maybe what Jessica Jackley once did: "they" need "our" help, in the form of a few coins in a jar. The co-founder of Kiva.org talks about how her attitude changed -- and how her work with microloans has brought new power to people who live on a few dollars a day.
Heribert Watzke: The brain in your gut, por Heribert Watzke, (0:15:14, 10/19/2010)
Did you know you have functioning neurons in your intestines -- about a hundred million of them? Food scientist Heribert Watzke tells us about the "hidden brain" in our gut and the surprising things it makes us feel.
Dianna Cohen: Tough truths about plastic pollution, por Dianna Cohen, (0:05:18, 10/20/2010)
Artist Dianna Cohen shares some tough truths about plastic pollution in the ocean and in our lives -- and some thoughts on how to free ourselves from the plastic gyre.
Patrick Chappatte: The power of cartoons, por Patrick Chappatte, (, )
In a series of witty punchlines, Patrick Chappatte makes a poignant case for the power of the humble cartoon. His projects in Lebanon, West Africa and Gaza show how, in the right hands, the pencil can illuminate serious issues and bring the most unlikely people together.
David Byrne sings "(Nothing But) Flowers", por David Byrne, Thomas Dolby, Ethel, (0:03:15, 10/22/2010)
David Byrne sings the Talking Heads' 1988 hit, "(Nothing But) Flowers." He's accompanied by Thomas Dolby and string quartet Ethel, who made up the TED2010 house band.
R.A. Mashelkar: Breakthrough designs for ultra-low-cost products, por R.A. Mashelkar, (0:19:40, 10/25/2010)
Engineer RA Mashelkar shares three stories of ultra-low-cost design from India that use bottom-up rethinking, and some clever engineering, to bring expensive products (cars, prosthetics) into the realm of the possible for everyone.
Joseph Nye on global power shifts, por Joseph Nye, (0:18:15, 10/26/2010)
Historian and diplomat Joseph Nye gives us the 30,000-foot view of the shifts in power between China and the US, and the global implications as economic, political and "soft" power shifts and moves around the globe.
Barton Seaver: Sustainable seafood? Let's get smart, por Barton Seaver, (0:09:26, 10/27/2010)
Chef Barton Seaver presents a modern dilemma: Seafood is one of our healthier protein options, but overfishing is desperately harming our oceans. He suggests a simple way to keep fish on the dinner table that includes every mom's favorite adage -- "Eat your vegetables!"
Shimon Steinberg: Natural pest control ... using bugs!, por Shimon Steinberg, (0:15:23, 10/28/2010)
At TEDxTelAviv, Shimon Steinberg looks at the difference between pests and bugs -- and makes the case for using good bugs to fight bad bugs, avoiding chemicals in our quest for perfect produce.
Miwa Matreyek's glorious visions, por Miwa Matreyek, (0:11:11, 10/29/2010)
Using animation, projections and her own moving shadow, Miwa Matreyek performs a gorgeous, meditative piece about inner and outer discovery. Take a quiet 10 minutes and dive in. With music from Anna Oxygen, Mirah, Caroline Lufkin and Mileece.
Tom Chatfield: 7 ways games reward the brain, por Tom Chatfield, (0:16:28, 11/1/2010)
We're bringing gameplay into more aspects of our lives, spending countless hours -- and real money -- exploring virtual worlds for imaginary treasures. Why? As Tom Chatfield shows, games are perfectly tuned to dole out rewards that engage the brain and keep us questing for more.
David Bismark: E-voting without fraud, por David Bismark, (0:07:02, 11/2/2010)
David Bismark demos a new system for voting that contains a simple, verifiable way to prevent fraud and miscounting -- while keeping each person's vote secret.
Greg Stone: Saving the ocean one island at a time, por Greg Stone, (0:17:15, 11/3/2010)
Aboard Mission Blue, scientist Greg Stone tells the story of how he helped the Republic of Kiribati create an enormous protected area in the middle of the Pacific -- protecting fish, sealife and the island nation itself.
Gero Miesenboeck reengineers a brain, por Gero Miesenboeck, (0:17:34, 11/3/2010)
In the quest to map the brain, many scientists have attempted the incredibly daunting task of recording the activity of each neuron. Gero Miesenboeck works backward -- manipulating specific neurons to figure out exactly what they do, through a series of stunning experiments that reengineer the way fruit flies percieve light.
Andrew Bird's one-man orchestra of the imagination, por Andrew Bird, (, )
Musical innovator Andrew Bird winds together his trademark violin technique with xylophone, vocals and sophisticated electronic looping. Add in his uncanny ability to whistle anything, and he becomes a riveting one-man orchestra.
Emily Pilloton: Teaching design for change, por Emily Pilloton, (0:16:43, 11/8/2010)
Designer Emily Pilloton moved to rural Bertie County, in North Carolina, to engage in a bold experiment of design-led community transformation. She's teaching a design-build class called Studio H that engages high schoolers' minds and bodies while bringing smart design and new opportunities to the poorest county in the state.
Stefan Wolff: The path to ending ethnic conflicts, por Stefan Wolff, (0:17:35, 11/9/2010)
Civil wars and ethnic conflicts have brought the world incredible suffering, but Stefan Wolff's figures show that, in the last 20 years, their number has steadily decreased. He extracts critical lessons from Northern Ireland, Liberia, Timor and more to show that leadership, diplomacy and institutional design are our three most effective weapons in waging peace.
Aaron Huey: America's native prisoners of war, por Aaron Huey, (0:15:27, 11/10/2010)
Aaron Huey's effort to photograph poverty in America led him to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where the struggle of the native Lakota people -- appalling, and largely ignored -- compelled him to refocus. Five years of work later, his haunting photos intertwine with a shocking history lesson in this bold, courageous talk from TEDxDU.
Auret van Heerden: Making global labor fair, por Auret van Heerden, (0:17:46, 11/11/2010)
Labor activist Auret van Heerden talks about the next frontier of workers' rights -- globalized industries where no single national body can keep workers safe and protected. How can we keep our global supply chains honest? Van Heerden makes the business case for fair labor.
Eric Berlow: How complexity leads to simplicity, por Eric Berlow, (0:03:42, 11/12/2010)
Ecologist Eric Berlow doesn't feel overwhelmed when faced with complex systems. He knows that more information can lead to a better, simpler solution. Illustrating the tips and tricks for breaking down big issues, he distills an overwhelming infographic on U.S. strategy in Afghanistan to a few elementary points.
Conrad Wolfram: Teaching kids real math with computers, por Conrad Wolfram, (0:17:19, 11/15/2010)
From rockets to stock markets, many of humanity's most thrilling creations are powered by math. So why do kids lose interest in it? Conrad Wolfram says the part of math we teach -- calculation by hand -- isn't just tedious, it's mostly irrelevant to real mathematics and the real world. He presents his radical idea: teaching kids math through computer programming.
Denis Dutton: A Darwinian theory of beauty, por Denis Dutton, (0:15:33, 11/16/2010)
TED collaborates with animator Andrew Park to illustrate Denis Dutton's provocative theory on beauty -- that art, music and other beautiful things, far from being simply "in the eye of the beholder," are a core part of human nature with deep evolutionary origins.
Shimon Schocken's rides of hope, por Shimon Schocken, (0:15:46, 11/17/2010)
Computer science professor Shimon Schocken is also an avid mountain biker. To share the life lessons he learned while riding, he began an outdoor program with Israel's juvenile inmates and was touched by both their intense difficulties and profound successes. Photographs by Raphael Rabinovitz.
John Hardy: My green school dream, por John Hardy, (0:13:35, 11/18/2010)
Join John Hardy on a tour of the Green School, his off-the-grid school in Bali that teaches kids how to build, garden, create (and get into college). The centerpiece of campus is the spiraling Heart of School, perhaps the world's largest freestanding bamboo building.
Kristina Gjerde: Making law on the high seas, por Kristina Gjerde, (0:15:46, 11/19/2010)
Kristina Gjerde studies the law of the high seas -- the 64 percent of our ocean that isn't protected by any national law at all. Gorgeous photos show the hidden worlds that Gjerde and other lawyers are working to protect from trawling and trash-dumping, through smart policymaking and a healthy dose of PR.
Kim Gorgens: Protecting the brain against concussion, por Kim Gorgens, (0:09:21, 11/22/2010)
In a lively talk from TEDxDU, neuropsychologist Kim Gorgens makes the case for better protecting our brains against the risk of concussion -- with a compelling pitch for putting helmets on kids.
Zainab Salbi: Women, wartime and the dream of peace, por Zainab Salbi, (0:17:46, 11/23/2010)
In war we often see only the frontline stories of soldiers and combat. AT TEDGlobal 2010, Zainab Salbi tells powerful "backline" stories of women who keep everyday life going during conflicts, and calls for women to have a place at the negotiating table once fighting is over.
Jason Fried: Why work doesn't happen at work, por Jason Fried, (0:15:21, 11/24/2010)
Jason Fried has a radical theory of working: that the office isn't a good place to do it. At TEDxMidwest, he lays out the main problems (call them the M&Ms) and offers three suggestions to make work work.
Dan Phillips: Creative houses from reclaimed stuff, por Dan Phillips, (0:17:57, 11/25/2010)
In this funny and insightful talk from TEDxHouston, builder Dan Phillips tours us through a dozen homes he's built in Texas using recycled and reclaimed materials in wildly creative ways. Brilliant, low-tech design details will refresh your own creative drive.
Birke Baehr: What's wrong with our food system, por Birke Baehr, (0:05:14, 11/29/2010)
11-year-old Birke Baehr presents his take on a major source of our food -- far-away and less-than-picturesque industrial farms. Keeping farms out of sight promotes a rosy, unreal picture of big-box agriculture, he argues, as he outlines the case to green and localize food production.
William Ury: The walk from "no" to "yes", por William Ury, (0:18:45, 11/30/2010)
William Ury, author of "Getting to Yes," offers an elegant, simple (but not easy) way to create agreement in even the most difficult situations -- from family conflict to, perhaps, the Middle East.
Marcel Dicke: Why not eat insects?, por Marcel Dicke, (0:16:34, 12/1/2010)
Marcel Dicke makes an appetizing case for adding insects to everyone's diet. His message to squeamish chefs and foodies: delicacies like locusts and caterpillars compete with meat in flavor, nutrition and eco-friendliness.
Bart Weetjens: How I taught rats to sniff out land mines, por Bart Weetjens, (0:12:11, 12/2/2010)
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.
Arthur Potts Dawson: A vision for sustainable restaurants, por Arthur Potts Dawson, (0:08:49, 12/3/2010)
If you've been in a restaurant kitchen, you've seen how much food, water and energy can be wasted there. Chef Arthur Potts-Dawson shares his very personal vision for drastically reducing restaurant, and supermarket, waste -- creating recycling, composting, sustainable engines for good (and good food).
Halla Tomasdottir: A feminine response to Iceland's financial crash, por Halla Tomasdottir, (0:09:45, 12/8/2010)
Halla Tomasdottir managed to take her company Audur Capital through the eye of the financial storm in Iceland by applying 5 traditionally "feminine" values to financial services. At TEDWomen, she talks about these values and the importance of balance.
Tony Porter: A call to men, por Tony Porter, (0:11:13, 12/9/2010)
At TEDWomen, Tony Porter makes a call to men everywhere: Don't "act like a man." Telling powerful stories from his own life, he shows how this mentality, drummed into so many men and boys, can lead men to disrespect, mistreat and abuse women and each other. His solution: Break free of the "man box."
Kiran Bedi: A police chief with a difference, por Kiran Bedi, (0:08:47, 12/13/2010)
Kiran Bedi has a surprising resume. Before becoming Director General of the Indian Police Service, she managed one of the country's toughest prisons -- and used a new focus on prevention and education to turn it into a center of learning and meditation. She shares her thoughts on visionary leadership at TEDWomen.
Hanna Rosin: New data on the rise of women, por Hanna Rosin, (, )
Hanna Rosin reviews startling new data that shows women actually surpassing men in several important measures, such as college graduation rates. Do these trends, both US-centric and global, signal the "end of men"? Probably not -- but they point toward an important societal shift worth deep discussion.
Diana Laufenberg: How to learn? From mistakes, por Diana Laufenberg, (0:10:05, 12/15/2010)
Diana Laufenberg shares 3 surprising things she has learned about teaching -- including a key insight about learning from mistakes.
Let's talk parenting taboos: Rufus Griscom + Alisa Volkman, por Rufus Griscom + Alisa Volkman, (0:17:08, 12/16/2010)
Babble.com publishers Rufus Griscom and Alisa Volkman, in a lively tag-team, expose 4 facts that parents never, ever admit -- and why they should. Funny and honest, for parents and nonparents alike.
Rachel Botsman: The case for collaborative consumption, por Rachel Botsman, (0:16:34, 12/17/2010)
At TEDxSydney, Rachel Botsman says we're "wired to share" -- and shows how websites like Zipcar and Swaptree are changing the rules of human behavior.
Ken Robinson: Changing education paradigms, por Ken Robinson, (0:11:40, 12/19/2010)
In this talk from RSA Animate, Sir Ken Robinson lays out the link between 3 troubling trends: rising drop-out rates, schools' dwindling stake in the arts, and ADHD. An important, timely talk for parents and teachers.
Beverly + Dereck Joubert: Life lessons from big cats, por Beverly + Dereck Joubert, (0:17:20, 12/20/2010)
Beverly + Dereck Joubert live in the bush, filming and photographing lions and leopards in their natural habitat. With stunning footage (some never before seen), they discuss their personal relationships with these majestic animals -- and their quest to save the big cats from human threats.
Sheryl Sandberg: Why we have too few women leaders, por Sheryl Sandberg, (0:14:58, 12/21/2010)
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg looks at why a smaller percentage of women than men reach the top of their professions -- and offers 3 powerful pieces of advice to women aiming for the C-suite.
Majora Carter: 3 stories of local eco-entrepreneurship, por Majora Carter, (0:17:59, 12/22/2010)
The future of green is local -- and entrepreneurial. At TEDxMidwest, Majora Carter brings us the stories of three people who are saving their own communities while saving the planet. Call it "hometown security."
Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability, por Brene Brown, (0:20:19, 12/23/2010)
Brene Brown studies human connection -- our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk at TEDxHouston, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share.
Barry Schwartz: Using our practical wisdom, por Barry Schwartz, (0:23:07, 12/31/2010)
In an intimate talk, Barry Schwartz dives into the question "How do we do the right thing?" With help from collaborator Kenneth Sharpe, he shares stories that illustrate the difference between following the rules and truly choosing wisely.
Arianna Huffington: How to succeed? Get more sleep, por Arianna Huffington, (0:04:10, 1/3/2011)
In this short talk, Arianna Huffington shares a small idea that can awaken much bigger ones: the power of a good night's sleep. Instead of bragging about our sleep deficits, she urges us to shut our eyes and see the big picture: We can sleep our way to increased productivity and happiness -- and smarter decision-making.
Lesley Hazleton: On reading the Koran, por Lesley Hazleton, (0:09:33, 1/4/2011)
Lesley Hazleton sat down one day to read the Koran. And what she found -- as a non-Muslim, a self-identified "tourist" in the Islamic holy book -- wasn't what she expected. With serious scholarship and warm humor, Hazleton shares the grace, flexibility and mystery she found, in this myth-debunking talk from TEDxRainier.
Charles Limb: Your brain on improv, por Charles Limb, (0:16:31, 1/5/2011)
Musician and researcher Charles Limb wondered how the brain works during musical improvisation -- so he put jazz musicians and rappers in an fMRI to find out. What he and his team found has deep implications for our understanding of creativity of all kinds.
Deborah Rhodes: A tool that finds 3x more breast tumors, and why it's not available to you, por Deborah Rhodes, (0:21:08, 1/6/2011)
Working with a team of physicists, Dr. Deborah Rhodes developed a new tool for tumor detection that's 3 times as effective as traditional mammograms for women with dense breast tissue. The life-saving implications are stunning. So why haven't we heard of it? Rhodes shares the story behind the tool's creation, and the web of politics and economics that keep it from mainstream use.
Neil Pasricha: The 3 A's of awesome, por Neil Pasricha, (0:17:33, 1/7/2011)
Neil Pasricha's blog 1000 Awesome Things savors life's simple pleasures, from free refills to clean sheets. In this heartfelt talk from TEDxToronto, he reveals the 3 secrets (all starting with A) to leading a life that's truly awesome.
Jody Williams: A realistic vision for world peace, por Jody Williams, (0:10:52, 1/10/2011)
Nobel Peace laureate Jody Williams brings tough love to the dream of world peace, with her razor-sharp take on what "peace" really means, and a set of profound stories that zero in on the creative struggle -- and sacrifice -- of those who work for it.
Amber Case: We are all cyborgs now, por Amber Case, (0:07:53, 1/11/2011)
Technology is evolving us, says Amber Case, as we become a screen-staring, button-clicking new version of homo sapiens. We now rely on "external brains" (cell phones and computers) to communicate, remember, even live out secondary lives. But will these machines ultimately connect or conquer us? Case offers surprising insight into our cyborg selves.
Thomas Thwaites: How I built a toaster -- from scratch, por Thomas Thwaites, (0:10:51, 1/12/2011)
It takes an entire civilization to build a toaster. Designer Thomas Thwaites found out the hard way, by attempting to build one from scratch: mining ore for steel, deriving plastic from oil ... it's frankly amazing he got as far as he got. A parable of our interconnected society, for designers and consumers alike.
Elizabeth Lesser: Take "the Other" to lunch, por Elizabeth Lesser, (0:11:08, 1/13/2011)
There's an angry divisive tension in the air that threatens to make modern politics impossible. Elizabeth Lesser explores the two sides of human nature within us (call them "the mystic" and "the warriorâ) that can be harnessed to elevate the way we treat each other. She shares a simple way to begin real dialogue -- by going to lunch with someone who doesn't agree with you, and asking them three questions to find out what's really in their hearts.
Ali Carr-Chellman: Gaming to re-engage boys in learning, por Ali Carr-Chellman, (0:12:30, 1/14/2011)
At TEDxPSU, Ali Carr-Chellman pinpoints three reasons boys are tuning out of school in droves, and lays out her bold plan to re-engage them: bringing their culture into the classroom, with new rules that let boys be boys, and video games that teach as well as entertain.
Naomi Klein: Addicted to risk, por Naomi Klein, (0:19:49, 1/17/2011)
Days before this talk, journalist Naomi Klein was on a boat in the Gulf of Mexico, looking at the catastrophic results of BP's risky pursuit of oil. Our societies have become addicted to extreme risk in finding new energy, new financial instruments and more ... and too often, we're left to clean up a mess afterward. Klein's question: What's the backup plan?
Charity Tillemann-Dick: Singing after a double lung transplant, por Charity Tillemann-Dick, (0:18:05, 1/18/2011)
You'll never sing again, said her doctor. But in a story from the very edge of medical possibility, operatic soprano Charity Tillemann-Dick tells a double story of survival -- of her body, from a double lung transplant, and of her spirit, fueled by an unwavering will to sing. A powerful story from TEDMED 2010.
Van Jones: The economic injustice of plastic, por Van Jones, (0:12:49, 1/19/2011)
Van Jones lays out a case against plastic pollution from the perspective of social justice. Because plastic trash, he shows us, hits poor people and poor countries "first and worst," with consequences we all share no matter where we live and what we earn. At TEDxGPGP, he offers a few powerful ideas to help us reclaim our throwaway planet.
Anders Ynnerman: Visualizing the medical data explosion, por Anders Ynnerman, (0:16:36, 1/20/2011)
Today medical scans produce thousands of images and terabytes of data for a single patient in mere seconds, but how do doctors parse this information and determine what's useful? At TEDxGöteborg, scientific visualization expert Anders Ynnerman shows us sophisticated new tools -- like virtual autopsies -- for analyzing this myriad data, and a glimpse at some sci-fi-sounding medical technologies in development. This talk contains some graphic medical imagery.
Heather Knight: Silicon-based comedy, por Heather Knight, (0:06:04, 1/21/2011)
In this first-of-its-kind demo, Heather Knight introduces Data, a robotic stand-up comedian that does much more than rattle off one-liners -- it gathers audience feedback (using software co-developed with Scott Satkin and Varun Ramakrishna at CMU) and tunes its act as the crowd responds. Is this thing on?
Martin Jacques: Understanding the rise of China, por Martin Jacques, (0:21:30, 1/24/2011)
Speaking at a TED Salon in London, economist Martin Jacques asks: How do we in the West make sense of China and its phenomenal rise? The author of "When China Rules the World," he examines why the West often puzzles over the growing power of the Chinese economy, and offers three building blocks for understanding what China is and will become.
Thomas Goetz: It's time to redesign medical data, por Thomas Goetz, (0:16:33, 1/25/2011)
Your medical chart: it's hard to access, impossible to read -- and full of information that could make you healthier if you just knew how to use it. At TEDMED, Thomas Goetz looks at medical data, making a bold call to redesign it and get more insight from it.
Liza Donnelly: Drawing upon humor for change, por Liza Donnelly, (0:06:42, 1/26/2011)
New Yorker cartoonist Liza Donnelly shares a portfolio of her wise and funny cartoons about modern life -- and talks about how humor can empower women to change the rules.
Bruce Feiler: The council of dads, por Bruce Feiler, (0:20:33, 1/27/2011)
Diagnosed with cancer, Bruce Feiler worried first about his young family. So -- as he shares in this funny, rambling and ultimately thoughtful talk -- he asked his closest friends to become a "council of dads," bringing their own lifetimes of wisdom to advise his twin daughters as they grow.
Jake Shimabukuro plays "Bohemian Rhapsody", por Jake Shimabukuro, (0:07:08, 1/28/2011)
Jake Shimabukuro strums monster sounds out of the tiny Hawaiian ukulele, as he plays a cover of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." A sensational performance from TED2010 -- it'll send shivers down your spine.
Reviving New York's rivers -- with oysters!, por Kate Orff, (0:10:07, 1/31/2011)
Architect Kate Orff sees the oyster as an agent of urban change. Bundled into beds and sunk into city rivers, oysters slurp up pollution and make legendarily dirty waters clean -- thus driving even more innovation in "oyster-tecture." Orff shares her vision for an urban landscape that links nature and humanity for mutual benefit.
Dale Dougherty: We are makers, por Dale Dougherty, (0:11:47, 2/1/2011)
America was built by makers -- curious, enthusiastic amateur inventors whose tinkering habit sparked whole new industries. At TED@MotorCity, MAKE magazine publisher Dale Dougherty says we're all makers at heart, and shows cool new tools to tinker with, like Arduinos, affordable 3D printers, even DIY satellites.
Johanna Blakley: Social media and the end of gender, por Johanna Blakley, (0:08:27, 2/2/2011)
Media and advertising companies still use the same old demographics to understand audiences, but they're becoming increasingly harder to track online, says media researcher Johanna Blakley. As social media outgrows traditional media, and women users outnumber men, Blakley explains what changes are in store for the future of media.
Christopher McDougall: Are we born to run?, por Christopher McDougall, (0:15:52, 2/3/2011)
Christopher McDougall explores the mysteries of the human desire to run. How did running help early humans survive -- and what urges from our ancient ancestors spur us on today? At TEDxPennQuarter, McDougall tells the story of the marathoner with a heart of gold, the unlikely ultra-runner, and the hidden tribe in Mexico that runs to live.
Suheir Hammad: Poems of war, peace, women, power, por Suheir Hammad, (0:05:53, 2/4/2011)
Poet Suheir Hammad performs two spine-tingling spoken-word pieces: "What I Will" and "break (clustered)" -- meditations on war and peace, on women and power. Wait for the astonishing line: "Do not fear what has blown up. If you must, fear the unexploded."
Nigel Marsh: How to make work-life balance work, por Nigel Marsh, (0:10:05, 2/7/2011)
Work-life balance, says Nigel Marsh, is too important to be left in the hands of your employer. At TEDxSydney, Marsh lays out an ideal day balanced between family time, personal time and productivity -- and offers some stirring encouragement to make it happen.
Cynthia Breazeal: The rise of personal robots, por Cynthia Breazeal, (0:14:04, 2/8/2011)
As a grad student, Cynthia Breazeal wondered why we were using robots on Mars, but not in our living rooms. The key, she realized: training robots to interact with people. Now she dreams up and builds robots that teach, learn -- and play. Watch for amazing demo footage of a new interactive game for kids.
Mother and daughter doctor-heroes: Hawa Abdi + Deqo Mohamed, por Dr. Hawa Abdi + Dr. Deqo Mohamed, (0:08:43, 2/9/2011)
They've been called the "saints of Somalia." Doctor Hawa Abdi and her daughter Deqo Mohamed discuss their medical clinic in Somalia, where -- in the face of civil war and open oppression of women -- they've built a hospital, a school and a community of peace.
Michael Pawlyn: Using nature's genius in architecture, por Michael Pawlyn, (0:13:46, 2/10/2011)
How can architects build a new world of sustainable beauty? By learning from nature. At TEDSalon in London, Michael Pawlyn describes three habits of nature that could transform architecture and society: radical resource efficiency, closed loops, and drawing energy from the sun.
A whistleblower you haven't heard, por Geert Chatrou, (0:11:56, 2/11/2011)
At TEDxRotterdam, world champion whistler Geert Chatrou performs the whimsical "Eleonora" by A. Honhoff, and his own "Fête de la Belle." In a fascinating interlude, he talks about what brought him to the craft.
Krista Tippett: Reconnecting with compassion, por Krista Tippett, (0:15:53, 2/14/2011)
The term "compassion" -- typically reserved for the saintly or the sappy -- has fallen out of touch with reality. At a special TEDPrize@UN, journalist Krista Tippett deconstructs the meaning of compassion through several moving stories, and proposes a new, more attainable definition for the word.
Patricia Kuhl: The linguistic genius of babies, por Patricia Kuhl, (0:10:17, 2/15/2011)
At TEDxRainier, 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.
Jacqueline Novogratz: Inspiring a life of immersion, por Jacqueline Novogratz, (0:17:48, 2/16/2011)
We each want to live a life of purpose, but where to start? In this luminous, wide-ranging talk, Jacqueline Novogratz introduces us to people she's met in her work in "patient capital" -- people who have immersed themselves in a cause, a community, a passion for justice. These human stories carry powerful moments of inspiration.
Lisa Gansky: The future of business is the "mesh", por Lisa Gansky, (0:14:47, 2/17/2011)
At TED@MotorCity, Lisa Gansky, author of "The Mesh," talks about a future of business that's about sharing all kinds of stuff, either via smart and tech-enabled rental or, more boldly, peer-to-peer. Examples across industries -- from music to cars -- show how close we are to this meshy future.
Madeleine Albright: On being a woman and a diplomat, por Madeleine Albright, (0:12:59, 2/18/2011)
Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright talks bluntly about politics and diplomacy, making the case that women's issues deserve a place at the center of foreign policy. Far from being a "soft" issue, she says, women's issues are often the very hardest ones, dealing directly with life and death. A frank and funny Q&A with Pat Mitchell from the Paley Center.
Noreena Hertz: How to use experts -- and when not to, por Noreena Hertz, (0:18:18, 2/21/2011)
We make important decisions every day -- and we often rely on experts to help us decide. But, says economist Noreena Hertz, relying too much on experts can be limiting and even dangerous. She calls for us to start democratizing expertise -- to listen not only to "surgeons and CEOs, but also to shop staff."
Iain Hutchison: Saving faces, por Iain Hutchison, (, )
Facial surgeon Iain Hutchison works with people whose faces have been severely disfigured. By pushing to improve surgical techniques, he helps to improve their lives
Elizabeth Lindsey: Curating humanity's heritage, por Elizabeth Lindsey, (0:10:13, 2/23/2011)
It's been said that when an elder dies, it's as if a library is burned. Anthropologist Elizabeth Lindsey, a National Geographic Fellow, collects the deep cultural knowledge passed down as stories and lore.
Danny Hillis: Understanding cancer through proteomics, por Danny Hillis, (0:19:55, 2/24/2011)
Danny Hills makes a case for the next frontier of cancer research: proteomics, the study of proteins in the body. As Hillis explains it, genomics shows us a list of the ingredients of the body -- while proteomics shows us what those ingredients produce. Understanding what's going on in your body at the protein level may lead to a new understanding of how cancer happens.
Ahn Trio: A modern take on piano, violin, cello, por Ahn Trio, (0:09:25, 2/25/2011)
The three Ahn sisters (cellist Maria, pianist Lucia, violinist Angella) breathe new life into the piano trio with their passionate musicmaking. At TEDWomen, they start with the bright and poppy "Skylife," by David Balakrishnan, then play a gorgeous, slinky version of "Oblivion," by Astor Piazzolla.
Wadah Khanfar: A historic moment in the Arab world, por Wadah Khanfar, (0:17:12, 3/2/2011)
As a democratic revolution led by tech-empowered young people sweeps the Arab world, Wadah Khanfar, the head of Al Jazeera, shares a profoundly optimistic view of what's happening in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and beyond -- at this powerful moment when people realized they could step out of their houses and ask for change.
JR's TED Prize wish: Use art to turn the world inside out, por JR, (0:24:09, 3/4/2011)
JR, a semi-anonymous French street artist, uses his camera to show the world its true face, by pasting photos of the human face across massive canvases. At TED2011, he makes his audacious TED Prize wish: to use art to turn the world inside out. Learn more about his work and learn how you can join in at insideoutproject.net.
Wael Ghonim: Inside the Egyptian revolution, por Wael Ghonim, (0:09:51, 3/4/2011)
Wael Ghonim is the Google executive who helped jumpstart Egypt's democratic revolution ... with a Facebook page memorializing a victim of the regime's violence. Speaking at TEDxCairo, he tells the inside story of the past two months, when everyday Egyptians showed that "the power of the people is stronger than the people in power."
Bill Gates: How state budgets are breaking US schools, por Bill Gates, (0:10:16, 3/4/2011)
America'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.
Anthony Atala: Printing a human kidney, por Anthony Atala, (TED2011, 0:17:24;3/7/2011)
Surgeon Anthony Atala demonstrates an early-stage experiment that could someday solve the organ-donor problem: a 3D printer that uses living cells to output a transplantable kidney. Using similar technology, Dr. Atala's young patient Luke Massella received an engineered bladder 10 years ago
Courtney Martin: Reinventing feminism, por Courtney E. Martin, (0:11:26, 3/8/2011)
Blogger Courtney Martin examines the perennially loaded word "feminism" in this personal and heartfelt talk. She talks through the three essential paradoxes of her generation's quest to define the term for themselves.
Salman Khan: Let's use video to reinvent education, por Salman Khan, (0:20:27, 3/9/2011)
Salman Khan talks about how and why he created the remarkable Khan Academy, a carefully structured series of educational videos offering complete curricula in math and, now, other subjects. He shows the power of interactive exercises, and calls for teachers to consider flipping the traditional classroom script -- give students video lectures to watch at home, and do "homework" in the classroom with the teacher available to help.
Deb Roy: The birth of a word, por Deb Roy, (0:19:52, 3/10/2011)
MIT researcher Deb Roy wanted to understand how his infant son learned language -- so he wired up his house with videocameras to catch every moment (with exceptions) of his son's life, then parsed 90,000 hours of home video to watch "gaaaa" slowly turn into "water." Astonishing, data-rich research with deep implications for how we learn.
Rob Harmon: How the market can keep streams flowing, por Rob Harmon, (0:08:46, 3/11/2011)
With streams and rivers drying up because of over-usage, Rob Harmon has implemented an ingenious market mechanism to bring back the water. Farmers and beer companies find their fates intertwined in the intriguing century-old tale of Prickly Pear Creek.
David Brooks: The social animal, por David Brooks, (0:18:44, 3/14/2011)
Tapping into the findings of his latest book, NYTimes columnist David Brooks unpacks new insights into human nature from the cognitive sciences -- insights with massive implications for economics and politics as well as our own self-knowledge. In a talk full of humor, he shows how you can't hope to understand humans as separate individuals making choices based on their conscious awareness.
Janna Levin: The sound the universe makes, por Janna Levin, (0:17:43, 3/15/2011)
We think of space as a silent place. But physicist Janna Levin says the universe has a soundtrack -- a sonic composition that records some of the most dramatic events in outer space. (Black holes, for instance, bang on spacetime like a drum.) An accessible and mind-expanding soundwalk through the universe.
Mark Bezos: A life lesson from a volunteer firefighter, por Mark Bezos, (0:04:07, 3/16/2011)
Volunteer firefighter Mark Bezos tells a story of an act of heroism that didn't go quite as expected -- but that taught him a big lesson: Don't wait to be a hero.
Rogier van der Heide: Why light needs darkness, por Rogier van der Heide, (0:16:51, 3/17/2011)
Lighting architect Rogier van der Heide offers a beautiful new way to look at the world -- by paying attention to light (and to darkness). Examples from classic buildings illustrate a deeply thought-out vision of the play of light around us.
Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter ..., por Sarah Kay, (0:18:28, 3/18/2011)
If I should have a daughter, instead of Mom, she's gonna call me Point B ... began spoken word poet Sarah Kay, in a talk that inspired two standing ovations at TED2011. She tells the story of her metamorphosis -- from a wide-eyed teenager soaking in verse at New York's Bowery Poetry Club to a teacher connecting kids with the power of self-expression through Project V.O.I.C.E. -- and gives two breathtaking performances of "B" and "Hiroshima."
Hans Rosling and the magic washing machine, por Hans Rosling, (0:09:15, 3/21/2011)
What was the greatest invention of the industrial revolution? Hans Rosling makes the case for the washing machine. With newly designed graphics from Gapminder, Rosling shows us the magic that pops up when economic growth and electricity turn a boring wash day into an intellectual day of reading.
Isabel Behncke: Evolution's gift of play, from bonobo apes to humans, por Isabel Behncke Izquierdo, (0:07:01, 3/21/2011)
With never-before-seen video, primatologist Isabel Behncke Izquierdo (a TED Fellow) shows how bonobo ape society learns from constantly playing -- solo, with friends, even as a prelude to sex. Indeed, play appears to be the bonobos' key to problem-solving and avoiding conflict. If it works for our close cousins, why not for us?
Paul Root Wolpe: It's time to question bio-engineering, por Paul Root Wolpe, (0:19:42, 3/23/2011)
At TEDxPeachtree, bioethicist Paul Root Wolpe describes an astonishing series of recent bio-engineering experiments, from hybrid pets to mice that grow human ears. He asks: isn't it time to set some ground rules?
Eythor Bender demos human exoskeletons, por Eythor Bender, (0:06:23, 3/24/2011)
Eythor Bender of Berkeley Bionics brings onstage two amazing exoskeletons, HULC and eLEGS -- robotic add-ons that could one day allow a human to carry 200 pounds without tiring, or allow a wheelchair user to stand and walk. It's a powerful onstage demo, with implications for human potential of all kinds.
Claron McFadden: Singing the primal mystery, por Claron McFadden, (0:10:54, 3/25/2011)
The human voice: mysterious, spontaneous, primal. With these words, soprano Claron McFadden invites us to explore the mysteries of breathing and singing, as she performs the challenging "Aria," by John Cage.
Patricia Ryan: Don't insist on English!, por Patricia Ryan, (0:10:35, 3/28/2011)
At TEDxDubai, longtime English teacher Patricia Ryan asks a provocative question: Is the world's focus on English preventing the spread of great ideas in other languages? (For instance: what if Einstein had to pass the TOEFL?) It's a passionate defense of translating and sharing ideas.
Ralph Langner: Cracking Stuxnet, a 21st-century cyber weapon, por Ralph Langner, (0:10:40, 3/29/2011)
When first discovered in 2010, the Stuxnet computer worm posed a baffling puzzle. Beyond its unusually high level of sophistication loomed a more troubling mystery: its purpose. Ralph Langner and team helped crack the code that revealed this digital warhead's final target -- and its covert origins. In a fascinating look inside cyber-forensics, he explains how.
Handspring Puppet Co.: The genius puppetry behind War Horse, por Handspring Puppet Company, (0:18:11, 3/30/2011)
Puppets always have to try to be alive, says Adrian Kohler of the Handspring Puppet Company, a gloriously ambitious troupe of human and wooden actors. Beginning with the tale of a hyena's subtle paw, puppeteers Kohler and Basil Jones build to the story of their latest astonishment: the wonderfully life-like Joey, the War Horse, who trots (and gallops) convincingly onto the TED stage.
Sebastian Thrun: Google's driverless car, por Sebastian Thrun, (0:04:14, 3/31/2011)
Sebastian Thrun helped build Google's amazing driverless car, powered by a very personal quest to save lives and reduce traffic accidents. Jawdropping video shows the DARPA Challenge-winning car motoring through busy city traffic with no one behind the wheel, and dramatic test drive footage from TED2011 demonstrates how fast the thing can really go.
Eric Whitacre: A virtual choir 2,000 voices strong, por Eric Whitacre, (0:14:34, 4/1/2011)
In a moving and madly viral video last year, composer Eric Whitacre led a virtual choir of singers from around the world. He talks through the creative challenges of making music powered by YouTube, and unveils the first 2 minutes of his new work, "Sleep," with a video choir of 2,052. The full piece premieres April 7 (yes, on YouTube!).
AnnMarie Thomas: Hands-on science with squishy circuits, por AnnMarie Thomas, (0:04:08, 4/4/2011)
In a zippy demo at TED U, AnnMarie Thomas shows how two different kinds of homemade play dough can be used to demonstrate electrical properties -- by lighting up LEDs, spinning motors, and turning little kids into circuit designers.
Stanley McChrystal: Listen, learn ... then lead, por Stanley McChrystal, (0:15:38, 4/5/2011)
Four-star general Stanley McChrystal shares what he learned about leadership over his decades in the military. How can you build a sense of shared purpose among people of many ages and skill sets? By listening and learning -- and addressing the possibility of failure.
Chade-Meng Tan: Everyday compassion at Google, por Chade-Meng Tan, (0:14:08, 4/5/2011)
Google's "Jolly Good Fellow," Chade-Meng Tan, talks about how the company practices compassion in its everyday business -- and its bold side projects.
Morgan Spurlock: The greatest TED Talk ever sold, por Morgan Spurlock, (0:19:28, 4/6/2011)
With humor and persistence, filmmaker Morgan Spurlock dives into the hidden but influential world of brand marketing, on his quest to make a completely sponsored film about sponsorship. (And yes, onstage naming rights for this talk were sponsored too. By whom and for how much? He'll tell you.)
Mick Ebeling: The invention that unlocked a locked-in artist, por Mick Ebeling, (0:07:49, 4/7/2011)
The nerve disease ALS left graffiti artist TEMPT paralyzed from head to toe, forced to communicate blink by blink. In a remarkable talk at TEDActive, entrepreneur Mick Ebeling shares how he and a team of collaborators built an open-source invention that gave the artist -- and gives others in his circumstance -- the means to make art again.
Caroline Casey: Looking past limits, por Caroline Casey, (0:19:17, 4/8/2011)
Activist Caroline Casey tells the story of her extraordinary life, starting with a revelation (no spoilers). In a talk that challenges perceptions, Casey asks us all to move beyond the limits we may think we have.
Jackson Browne: "If I Could Be Anywhere", por Jackson Browne, (0:04:26, 4/8/2011)
At TEDxGPGP, Jackson Browne plays a song he started writing last April aboard Mission Blue Voyage, the Sylvia Earle-inspired trip to brainstorm ways to save the ocean. "If I could be anywhere," he sings, "anywhere right now, I would be here."
David Christian: Big history, por David Christian, (0:17:40, 4/11/2011)
Backed by stunning illustrations, David Christian narrates a complete history of the universe, from the Big Bang to the Internet, in a riveting 18 minutes. This is "Big History": an enlightening, wide-angle look at complexity, life and humanity, set against our slim share of the cosmic timeline.
Dave Meslin: The antidote to apathy, por Dave Meslin, (0:07:05, 4/12/2011)
Local politics -- schools, zoning, council elections -- hit us where we live. So why don't more of us actually get involved? Is it apathy? Dave Meslin says no. He identifies 7 barriers that keep us from taking part in our communities, even when we truly care.
Roger Ebert: Remaking my voice, por Roger Ebert, (0:19:29, 4/13/2011)
When film critic Roger Ebert lost his lower jaw to cancer, he lost the ability to eat and speak. But he did not lose his voice. In a moving talk from TED2011, Ebert and his wife, Chaz, with friends Dean Ornish and John Hunter, come together to tell his remarkable story.
Marcin Jakubowski: Open-sourced blueprints for civilization, por Marcin Jakubowski, (0:04:10, 4/14/2011)
Using wikis and digital fabrication tools, TED Fellow Marcin Jakubowski is open-sourcing the blueprints for 50 farm machines, allowing anyone to build their own tractor or harvester from scratch. And that's only the first step in a project to write an instruction set for an entire self-sustaining village (starting cost: $10,000).
Susan Lim: Transplant cells, not organs, por Susan Lim, (0:16:26, 4/15/2011)
Pioneering surgeon Susan Lim performed the first liver transplant in Asia. But a moral concern with transplants (where do donor livers come from ...) led her to look further, and to ask: Could we be transplanting cells, not whole organs? At the INK Conference, she talks through her new research, discovering healing cells in some surprising places.
Sam Richards: A radical experiment in empathy, por Sam Richards, (0:18:07, 4/18/2011)
By leading the Americans in his audience at TEDxPSU step by step through the thought process, sociologist Sam Richards sets an extraordinary challenge: can they understand -- not approve of, but understand -- the motivations of an Iraqi insurgent? And by extension, can anyone truly understand and empathize with another?
Kathryn Schulz: On being wrong, por Kathryn Schulz, (0:17:51, 4/19/2011)
Most of us will do anything to avoid being wrong. But what if we're wrong about that? "Wrongologist" Kathryn Schulz makes a compelling case for not just admitting but embracing our fallibility.
John Hunter on the World Peace Game, por John Hunter, (0:20:27, 4/20/2011)
John Hunter puts all the problems of the world on a 4'x5' plywood board -- and lets his 4th-graders solve them. At TED2011, he explains how his World Peace Game engages schoolkids, and why the complex lessons it teaches -- spontaneous, and always surprising -- go further than classroom lectures can.
Anil Ananthaswamy: What it takes to do extreme astrophysics, por Anil Ananthaswamy, (0:14:08, 4/21/2011)
All over the planet, giant telescopes and detectors are looking (and listening) for clues to the workings of the universe. At the INK Conference, science writer Anil Ananthaswamy tours us around these amazing installations, taking us to some of the most remote and silent places on Earth.
Ric Elias: 3 things I learned while my plane crashed, por Ric Elias, (0:05:02, 4/22/2011)
Ric Elias had a front-row seat on Flight 1549, the plane that crash-landed in the Hudson River in New York in January 2009. What went through his mind as the doomed plane went down? At TED, he tells his story publicly for the first time.
Harvey Fineberg: Are we ready for neo-evolution?, por Harvey Fineberg, (0:17:21, 4/25/2011)
Medical ethicist Harvey Fineberg shows us three paths forward for the ever-evolving human species: to stop evolving completely, to evolve naturally -- or to control the next steps of human evolution, using genetic modification, to make ourselves smarter, faster, better. Neo-evolution is within our grasp. What will we do with it?
Bruce Schneier: The security mirage, por Bruce Schneier, (0:21:05, 4/26/2011)
The feeling of security and the reality of security don't always match, says computer-security expert Bruce Schneier. At TEDxPSU, he explains why we spend billions addressing news story risks, like the "security theater" now playing at your local airport, while neglecting more probable risks -- and how we can break this pattern.
Angela Belcher: Using nature to grow batteries, por Angela Belcher, (0:10:25, 4/27/2011)
Inspired by an abalone shell, Angela Belcher programs viruses to make elegant nanoscale structures that humans can use. Selecting for high-performing genes through directed evolution, she's produced viruses that can construct powerful new batteries, clean hydrogen fuels and record-breaking solar cells. At TEDxCaltech, she shows us how it's done.
Mike Matas: A next-generation digital book, por Mike Matas, (0:04:34, 4/28/2011)
Software developer Mike Matas demos the first full-length interactive book for the iPad -- with clever, swipeable video and graphics and some very cool data visualizations to play with. The book is "Our Choice," Al Gore's sequel to "An Inconvenient Truth."
Arvind Gupta: Turning trash into toys for learning, por Arvind Gupta, (0:15:30, 4/29/2011)
At the INK Conference, Arvind Gupta shares simple yet stunning plans for turning trash into seriously entertaining, well-designed toys that kids can build themselves -- while learning basic principles of science and design.
Eli Pariser: Beware online "filter bubbles", por Eli Pariser, (0:09:04, 5/2/2011)
As web companies strive to tailor their services (including news and search results) to our personal tastes, there's a dangerous unintended consequence: We get trapped in a "filter bubble" and don't get exposed to information that could challenge or broaden our worldview. Eli Pariser argues powerfully that this will ultimately prove to be bad for us and bad for democracy.
9/11 healing: The mothers who found forgiveness, friendship, por Aicha el-Wafi + Phyllis Rodriguez, (TEDWomen, 0:09:54;5/2/2011)
Phyllis Rodriguez and Aicha el-Wafi have a powerful friendship born of unthinkable loss. Rodriguez' son was killed in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001
Carlo Ratti: Architecture that senses and responds, por Carlo Ratti, (0:15:46, 5/3/2011)
With his team at SENSEable City Lab, MIT's Carlo Ratti makes cool things by sensing the data we create. He pulls from passive data sets -- like the calls we make, the garbage we throw away -- to create surprising visualizations of city life. And he and his team create dazzling interactive environments from moving water and flying light, powered by simple gestures caught through sensors.
Suzanne Lee: Grow your own clothes, por Suzanne Lee, (0:06:40, 5/4/2011)
Designer Suzanne Lee shares her experiments in growing a kombucha-based material that can be used like fabric or vegetable leather to make clothing. The process is fascinating, the results are beautiful (though there's still one minor drawback ...) and the potential is simply stunning.
Sean Carroll: Distant time and the hint of a multiverse, por Sean Carroll, (0:15:54, 5/5/2011)
At TEDxCaltech, cosmologist Sean Carroll attacks -- in an entertaining and thought-provoking tour through the nature of time and the universe -- a deceptively simple question: Why does time exist at all? The potential answers point to a surprising view of the nature of the universe, and our place in it.
Louie Schwartzberg: The hidden beauty of pollination, por Louie Schwartzberg, (0:07:48, 5/6/2011)
Pollination: it's vital to life on Earth, but largely unseen by the human eye. Filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg shows us the intricate world of pollen and pollinators with gorgeous high-speed images from his film "Wings of Life," inspired by the vanishing of one of nature's primary pollinators, the honeybee.
Paul Nicklen: Tales of ice-bound wonderlands, por Paul Nicklen, (0:17:55, 5/9/2011)
Diving under the Antarctic ice to get close to the much-feared leopard seal, photographer Paul Nicklen found an extraordinary new friend. Share his hilarious, passionate stories of the polar wonderlands, illustrated by glorious images of the animals who live on and under the ice.
Fiorenzo Omenetto: Silk, the ancient material of the future, por Fiorenzo Omenetto, (0:09:40, 5/10/2011)
Fiorenzo Omenetto shares 20+ astonishing new uses for silk, one of nature's most elegant materials -- in transmitting light, improving sustainability, adding strength and making medical leaps and bounds. On stage, he shows a few intriguing items made of the versatile stuff.
Ron Gutman: The hidden power of smiling, por Ron Gutman, (0:07:26, 5/11/2011)
Ron Gutman reviews a raft of studies about smiling, and reveals some surprising results. Did you know your smile can be a predictor of how long you'll live -- and that a simple smile has a measurable effect on your overall well-being? Prepare to flex a few facial muscles as you learn more about this evolutionarily contagious behavior.
Amit Sood: Building a museum of museums on the web, por Amit Sood, (0:05:35, 5/12/2011)
Imagine being able to see artwork in the greatest museums around the world without leaving your chair. Driven by his passion for art, Amit Sood tells the story of how he developed Art Project to let people do just that.
Leonard Susskind: My friend Richard Feynman, por Leonard Susskind, (0:14:41, 5/13/2011)
What's it like to be pals with a genius? Onstage at TEDxCaltech, physicist Leonard Susskind spins a few stories about his friendship with the legendary Richard Feynman, discussing his unconventional approach to problems both serious and ... less so.
Ed Boyden: A light switch for neurons, por Ed Boyden, (0:18:24, 5/15/2011)
Ed Boyden shows how, by inserting genes for light-sensitive proteins into brain cells, he can selectively activate or de-activate specific neurons with fiber-optic implants. With this unprecedented level of control, he's managed to cure mice of analogs of PTSD and certain forms of blindness. On the horizon: neural prosthetics. Session host Juan Enriquez leads a brief post-talk Q&A.
Thomas Heatherwick: Building the Seed Cathedral, por Thomas Heatherwick, (0:16:52, 5/17/2011)
A future more beautiful? Architect Thomas Heatherwick shows five recent projects featuring ingenious bio-inspired designs. Some are remakes of the ordinary: a bus, a bridge, a power station ... And one is an extraordinary pavilion, the Seed Cathedral, a celebration of growth and light.
Elliot Krane: The mystery of chronic pain, por Elliot Krane, (0:08:14, 5/18/2011)
We think of pain as a symptom, but there are cases where the nervous system develops feedback loops and pain becomes a terrifying disease in itself. Starting with the story of a girl whose sprained wrist turned into a nightmare, Elliot Krane talks about the complex mystery of chronic pain, and reviews the facts we're just learning about how it works and how to treat it.
Edith Widder: The weird, wonderful world of bioluminescence, por Edith Widder, (0:12:45, 5/19/2011)
In the deep, dark ocean, many sea creatures make their own light for hunting, mating and self-defense. Bioluminescence expert Edith Widder was one of the first to film this glimmering world. At TED2011, she brings some of her glowing friends onstage, and shows more astonishing footage of glowing undersea life.
Terry Moore: How to tie your shoes, por Terry Moore, (0:02:59, 5/20/2011)
Terry Moore found out he'd been tying his shoes the wrong way his whole life. In the spirit of TED, he takes the stage to share a better way. (Historical note: This was the very first 3-minute audience talk given from the TED stage, in 2005.)
Gel: Gotta share!, por Improv Everywhere, (Gel Conference, 0:03:20;5/22/2011)
At the onstage introduction of Twirlr, a new social-sharing platform, someone forgets to silence their cell phone. And then ... this happens. (Song by Scott Brown and Anthony King
Aaron Koblin: Artfully visualizing our humanity, por Aaron Koblin, (0:18:18, 5/23/2011)
Artist Aaron Koblin takes vast amounts of data -- and at times vast numbers of people -- and weaves them into stunning visualizations. From elegant lines tracing airline flights to landscapes of cell phone data, from a Johnny Cash video assembled from crowd-sourced drawings to the "Wilderness Downtown" video that customizes for the user, his works brilliantly explore how modern technology can make us more human.
Bruce Aylward: How we'll stop polio for good, por Bruce Aylward, (0:23:09, 5/24/2011)
Polio is almost completely eradicated. But as Bruce Aylward says: Almost isn't good enough with a disease this terrifying. Aylward lays out the plan to continue the scientific miracle that ended polio in most of the world -- and to snuff it out everywhere, forever.
Shirin Neshat: Art in exile, por Shirin Neshat, (0:10:44, 5/25/2011)
Iranian-born artist Shirin Neshat explores the paradox of being an artist in exile: a voice for her people, but unable to go home. In her work, she explores Iran pre- and post-Islamic Revolution, tracing political and societal change through powerful images of women.
Mustafa Akyol: Faith versus tradition in Islam, por Mustafa Akyol, (0:17:11, 5/26/2011)
At TEDxWarwick, journalist Mustafa Akyol talks about the way that some local cultural practices (such as wearing a headscarf) have become linked, in the popular mind, to the articles of faith of Islam. Has the world's general idea of the Islamic faith focused too much on tradition, and not enough on core beliefs?
Robert Gupta and Joshua Roman duet on "Passacaglia", por Robert Gupta and Joshua Roman, (0:09:21, 5/27/2011)
It's a master class in collaboration as violinist Robert Gupta and cellist Joshua Roman perform Halvorsen's "Passacaglia" for violin and viola. Roman takes the viola part on his Stradivarius cello. It's powerful to watch the two musicians connect moment to moment (and recover from a mid-performance hiccup). The two are both TED Fellows, and their deep connection powers this sparkling duet.
Malcolm McLaren: Authentic creativity vs. karaoke culture, por Malcolm McLaren, (0:46:01, 5/30/2011)
How does one find authentic creativity? In his last talk before passing away, Malcolm McLaren tells remarkable stories from his own life, from failing school to managing the Sex Pistols. He argues that we're living in a karaoke culture, with false promises of instant success, and that messiness and failure are the key to true learning.
Dennis Hong: Making a car for blind drivers, por Dennis Hong, (0:09:08, 5/31/2011)
Using robotics, laser rangefinders, GPS and smart feedback tools, Dennis Hong is building a car for drivers who are blind. It's not a "self-driving" car, he's careful to note, but a car in which a non-sighted driver can determine speed, proximity and route -- and drive independently.
Stefan Sagmeister: 7 rules for making more happiness, por Stefan Sagmeister, (0:09:33, 6/1/2011)
Using simple, delightful illustrations, designer Stefan Sagmeister shares his latest thinking on happiness -- both the conscious and unconscious kind. His seven rules for life and design happiness can (with some customizations) apply to everyone seeking more joy.
Aaron O'Connell: Making sense of a visible quantum object, por Aaron O'Connell, (0:07:51, 6/2/2011)
Physicists are used to the idea that subatomic particles behave according to the bizarre rules of quantum mechanics, completely different to human-scale objects. In a breakthrough experiment, Aaron O'Connell has blurred that distinction by creating an object that is visible to the unaided eye, but provably in two places at the same time. In this talk he suggests an intriguing way of thinking about the result.
Jessi Arrington: Wearing nothing new, por Jessi Arrington, (0:05:24, 6/3/2011)
Designer Jessi Arrington packed nothing for TED but 7 pairs of undies, buying the rest of her clothes in thrift stores around LA. It's a meditation on conscious consumption -- wrapped in a rainbow of color and creativity.
Damon Horowitz calls for a "moral operating system", por Damon Horowitz, (0:16:18, 6/6/2011)
At TEDxSiliconValley, Damon Horowitz reviews the enormous new powers that technology gives us: to know more -- and more about each other -- than ever before. Drawing the audience into a philosophical discussion, Horowitz invites us to pay new attention to the basic philosophy -- the ethical principles -- behind the burst of invention remaking our world. Where's the moral operating system that allows us to make sense of it?
Jack Horner: Building a dinosaur from a chicken, por Jack Horner, (0:16:36, 6/7/2011)
Renowned paleontologist Jack Horner has spent his career trying to reconstruct a dinosaur. He's found fossils with extraordinarily well-preserved blood vessels and soft tissues, but never intact DNA. So, in a new approach, he's taking living descendants of the dinosaur (chickens) and genetically engineering them to reactivate ancestral traits ? including teeth, tails, and even hands ? to make a "Chickenosaurus".
Janet Echelman: Taking imagination seriously, por Janet Echelman, (0:09:26, 6/7/2011)
Janet Echelman found her true voice as an artist when her paints went missing -- which forced her to look to an unorthodox new art material. Now she makes billowing, flowing, building-sized sculpture with a surprisingly geeky edge. A transporting 10 minutes of pure creativity.
Paul Romer: The world's first charter city?, por Paul Romer, (0:09:13, 6/9/2011)
Back in 2009, Paul Romer unveiled the idea for a "charter city" -- a new kind of city with rules that favor democracy and trade. This year, at TED2011, he tells the story of how such a city might just happen in Honduras ... with a little help from his TEDTalk.
Alice Dreger: Is anatomy destiny?, por Alice Dreger, (0:18:48, 6/10/2011)
Alice Dreger works with people at the edge of anatomy, such as conjoined twins and intersexed people. In her observation, it's often a fuzzy line between male and female, among other anatomical distinctions. Which brings up a huge question: Why do we let our anatomy determine our fate?
JD Schramm: Break the silence for suicide survivors, por JD Schramm, (0:04:14, 6/11/2011)
Even when our lives appear fine from the outside, locked within can be a world of quiet suffering, leading some to the decision to end their life. At TEDYou, JD Schramm asks us to break the silence surrounding suicide and suicide attempts, and to create much-needed resources to help people who reclaim their life after escaping death. Resources: http://t.co/wsNrY9C
Daniel Kraft: Medicine's future? There's an app for that, por Daniel Kraft, (0:18:21, 6/13/2011)
At TEDxMaastricht, Daniel Kraft offers a fast-paced look at the next few years of innovations in medicine, powered by new tools, tests and apps that bring diagnostic information right to the patient's bedside.
Shea Hembrey: How I became 100 artists, por Shea Hembrey, (0:16:48, 6/14/2011)
How do you stage an international art show with work from 100 different artists? If you're Shea Hembrey, you invent all of the artists and artwork yourself -- from large-scale outdoor installations to tiny paintings drawn with a single-haired brush. Watch this funny, mind-bending talk to see the explosion of creativity and diversity of skills a single artist is capable of.
Steve Keil: A manifesto for play, for Bulgaria and beyond, por Steve Keil, (0:17:56, 6/15/2011)
At TEDxBG in Sofia, Steve Keil fights the "serious meme" that has infected his home of Bulgaria -- and calls for a return to play to revitalize the economy, education and society. A sparkling talk with a universal message for people everywhere who are reinventing their workplaces, schools, lives.
Camille Seaman: Haunting photos of polar ice, por Camille Seaman, (0:04:11, 6/16/2011)
Photographer Camille Seaman shoots icebergs, showing the world the complex beauty of these massive, ancient chunks of ice. Dive in to her photo slideshow, "The Last Iceberg."
Onyx Ashanti: This is beatjazz, por Onyx Ashanti, (0:06:29, 6/17/2011)
Musician and inventor Onyx Ashanti demonstrates "beatjazz" -- his music created with two handheld controllers, an iPhone and a mouthpiece, and played with the entire body. At TED's Full Spectrum Auditions, after locking in his beats and loops, he plays a 3-minute song that shares his vision for the future of music.
Maya Beiser(s) and her cello(s), por Maya Beiser, (0:20:09, 6/17/2011)
Cellist Maya Beiser plays a gorgeous eight-part modern etude with seven copies of herself, and segues into a meditative music/video hybrid -- using tech to create endless possibilities for transformative sound. Music is Steve Reich's "Cello Counterpoint," with video from Bill Morrison, then David Lang's "World to Come," with video by Irit Batsry.
Bill Ford: A future beyond traffic gridlock, por Bill Ford, (0:16:47, 6/20/2011)
Bill Ford is a car guy -- his great-grandfather was Henry Ford, and he grew up inside the massive Ford Motor Co. So when he worries about cars' impact on the environment, and about our growing global gridlock problem, it's worth a listen. His vision for the future of mobility includes "smart roads," even smarter public transport and going green like never before.
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