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TED Talks List

TEDTalks (video)
Creative Commons: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
Each year, the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conference hosts some of the world's most fascinating people: Trusted voices and convention-breaking mavericks, icons and geniuses. These podcasts (also available in audio format) capture the most extraordinary presentations delivered from the TED stage.

TEDTalks : Eric Mead: The magic of the placebo - Eric Mead (2009)
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.)
TEDTalks : Dan Barber: How I fell in love with a fish - Dan Barber (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.
TEDTalks : Gary Lauder's new traffic sign: Take Turns - Gary Lauder (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.
TEDTalks : Tim Berners-Lee: The year open data went worldwide - Tim Berners-Lee (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.
TEDTalks : The LXD: In the Internet age, dance evolves ... - The LXD (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’s upcoming Web series, this astonishing troupe show off their superpowers.
TEDTalks : James Cameron: Before Avatar ... a curious boy - James Cameron (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."
TEDTalks : Gary Flake: is Pivot a turning point for web exploration? - Gary Flake (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.
TEDTalks : Harsha Bhogle: The rise of cricket, the rise of India - Harsha Bhogle (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Daniel Kahneman: The riddle of experience vs. memory - Daniel Kahneman (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.
TEDTalks : Raghava KK: Five lives of an artist - Raghava KK (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.
TEDTalks : Pawan Sinha on how brains learn to see - Pawan Sinha (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Temple Grandin: The world needs all kinds of minds - Temple Grandin (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.
TEDTalks : Eric Topol: The wireless future of medicine - Eric Topol (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Philip K. Howard: Four ways to fix a broken legal system - Philip K. Howard (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.
TEDTalks : Kevin Kelly tells technology's epic story - Kevin Kelly (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Aimee Mullins: The opportunity of adversity - Aimee Mullins (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : David Cameron: The next age of government - David Cameron (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.
TEDTalks : Bill Gates on energy: Innovating to zero! - Bill Gates (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.
TEDTalks : Blaise Aguera y Arcas demos augmented-reality maps - Blaise Aguera y Arcas (2010)
In a demo that drew gasps at TED2010, Blaise Aguera y Arcas demos new augmented-reality mapping technology from Microsoft.
TEDTalks : Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food - Jamie Oliver (2010)
Sharing powerful stories from his anti-obesity project in Huntington, W. Va., TED Prize winner Jamie Oliver makes the case for an all-out assault on our ignorance of food.
TEDTalks : Peter Eigen: How to expose the corrupt - Peter Eigen (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Tom Shannon: The painter and the pendulum - Tom Shannon (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : David Agus: A new strategy in the war on cancer - David Agus (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : George Whitesides: A lab the size of a postage stamp - George Whitesides (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Jamie Heywood: The big idea my brother inspired - Jamie Heywood (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Sendhil Mullainathan: Solving social problems with a nudge - Sendhil Mullainathan (2009)
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?
TEDTalks : Derek Sivers: Weird, or just different? - Derek Sivers (2009)
"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.
TEDTalks : Jane Chen: A warm embrace that saves lives - Jane Chen (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Eve Ensler: Embrace your inner girl - Eve Ensler (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Joshua Prince-Ramus: Building a theater that remakes itself - Joshua Prince-Ramus (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Bill Davenhall: Your health depends on where you live - Bill Davenhall (2009)
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."
TEDTalks : Sivamani: Rhythm is everything, everywhere - Sivamani (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Anthony Atala on growing new organs - Anthony Atala (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Ravin Agrawal: 10 young Indian artists to watch - Ravin Agrawal (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : David Blaine: How I held my breath for 17 min - David Blaine (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Charles Fleischer insists: All things are Moleeds - Charles Fleischer (2005)
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."
TEDTalks : Lalitesh Katragadda: Making maps to fight disaster, build economies - Lalitesh Katragadda (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Kiran Bir Sethi teaches kids to take charge - Kiran Sethi (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Kartick Satyanarayan: How we rescued the "dancing" bears - Kartick Satyanarayan (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Herbie Hancock's all-star set - Herbie Hancock (2009)
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."
TEDTalks : Romulus Whitaker: The real danger lurking in the water - Romulus Whitaker (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Dan Buettner: How to live to be 100+ - Dan Buettner (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Nick Veasey: Exposing the invisible - Nick Veasey (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : VS Ramachandran: The neurons that shaped civilization - Vilayanur Ramachandran (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Bertrand Piccard's solar-powered adventure - Bertrand Piccard (2009)
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.
TEDTalks : Asher Hasan's message of peace from Pakistan - Asher Hasan (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.
TEDTalks : Steven Cowley: Fusion is energy's future - Steven Cowley (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.
TEDTalks : Shaffi Mather: A new way to fight corruption - Shaffi Mather (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.
TEDTalks : James Geary, metaphorically speaking - James Geary (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.
TEDTalks : Charles Anderson discovers dragonflies that cross oceans - Charles Anderson (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.
TEDTalks : Alexis Ohanian: How to make a splash in social media - Alexis Ohanian (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.
TEDTalks : Ryan Lobo: Photographing the hidden story - Ryan Lobo (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.
TEDTalks : Loretta Napoleoni: The intricate economics of terrorism - Loretta Napoleoni (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.
TEDTalks : Shereen El Feki: Pop culture in the Arab world - Shereen El Feki (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.
TEDTalks : Thulasiraj Ravilla: How low-cost eye care can be world-class - Thulasiraj Ravilla (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.
TEDTalks : Marc Pachter: The art of the interview - Marc Pachter (2008)
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.
TEDTalks : Rory Bremner's one-man world summit - Rory Bremner (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.
TEDTalks : Scott Kim takes apart the art of puzzles - Scott Kim (2008)
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.
TEDTalks : Sunitha Krishnan fights sex slavery - Sunitha Krishnan (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.
TEDTalks : Anupam Mishra: The ancient ingenuity of water harvesting - Anupam Mishra (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.
TEDTalks : Andrea Ghez: The hunt for a supermassive black hole - Andrea Ghez (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.
TEDTalks : Gordon Brown on global ethic vs. national interest - Gordon Brown (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.
TEDTalks : Magnus Larsson: Turning dunes into architecture - Magnus Larsson (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.
TEDTalks : Rob Hopkins: Transition to a world without oil - Rob Hopkins (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.
TEDTalks : Hans Rosling: Asia's rise -- how and when - Hans Rosling (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.
TEDTalks : Tom Wujec demos the 13th-century astrolabe - Tom Wujec (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.
TEDTalks : Fields Wicker-Miurin: Learning from leadership's "missing manual" - Fields Wicker-Miurin (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.
TEDTalks : Mathieu Lehanneur demos science-inspired design - Mathieu Lehanneur (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.
TEDTalks : Shashi Tharoor: Why nations should pursue "soft" power - Shashi Tharoor (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.
TEDTalks : Mallika Sarabhai: Dance to change the world - Mallika Sarabhai (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.
TEDTalks : Devdutt Pattanaik: East vs. West -- the myths that mystify - Devdutt Pattanaik (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.
TEDTalks : Pranav Mistry: The thrilling potential of SixthSense technology - Pranav Mistry (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.
TEDTalks : Cynthia Schneider: The surprising spread of "Idol" TV - Cynthia Schneider (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.
TEDTalks : Edward Burtynsky photographs the landscape of oil - Edward Burtynsky (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.
TEDTalks : Rachel Pike: The science behind a climate headline - Rachel Pike (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.
TEDTalks : Cameron Sinclair: The refugees of boom-and-bust - Cameron Sinclair (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.
TEDTalks : Stefana Broadbent: How the Internet enables intimacy - Stefana Broadbent (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.
TEDTalks : Matthew White gives the euphonium a new voice - Matthew White (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."
TEDTalks : Marcus du Sautoy: Symmetry, reality's riddle - Marcus du Sautoy (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.
TEDTalks : Becky Blanton: The year I was homeless - Becky Blanton (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.
TEDTalks : Rachel Armstrong: Architecture that repairs itself? - Rachel Armstrong (2009)
Venice, Italy 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.
TEDTalks : David Deutsch: A new way to explain explanation - David Deutsch (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.
TEDTalks : Ian Goldin: Navigating our global future - Ian Goldin (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.
TEDTalks : Marc Koska: 1.3m reasons to re-invent the syringe - Marc Koska (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.
TEDTalks : Itay Talgam: Lead like the great conductors - Itay Talgam (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.
TEDTalks : Paul Debevec animates a photo-real digital face - Paul Debevec (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.
TEDTalks : John Gerzema: The post-crisis consumer - John Gerzema (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.
TEDTalks : Julian Treasure: The 4 ways sound affects us - Julian Treasure (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.
TEDTalks : Henry Markram builds a brain in a supercomputer - Henry Markram (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.
TEDTalks : Rory Sutherland: Life lessons from an ad man - Rory Sutherland (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.
TEDTalks : David Hanson: Robots that "show emotion" - David Hanson (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.
TEDTalks : Eric Sanderson pictures New York -- before the City - Eric Sanderson (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.
TEDTalks : Sam Martin: The quirky world of "manspaces" - Sam Martin (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.
TEDTalks : Beau Lotto: Optical illusions show how we see - Beau Lotto (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.
TEDTalks : Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (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.
TEDTalks : David Logan on tribal leadership - David Logan (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.
TEDTalks : How we are deceived by our own miscalculations of the future - Dan Gilbert (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : Does happiness have a price tag? - Benjamin Wallace (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.
TEDTalks : The design of the universe - George Smoot (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.
TEDTalks : The powerful link between creativity and play - Tim Brown (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).
TEDTalks : Products (and toys) from the future - Keith Schacht / Zach Kaplan (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : Healing and other natural wonders - Dean Ornish (2004)
Dean Ornish talks about simple, low-tech and low-cost ways to take advantage of the body's natural desire to heal itself.
TEDTalks : A brief digression on matters of lost time - John Hodgman (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.
TEDTalks : A beautiful new theory of everything - Garrett Lisi (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.
TEDTalks : Creativity, fulfillment and flow - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (2004)
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."
TEDTalks : Why societies collapse - Jared Diamond (2003)
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.
TEDTalks : Sound stylings by a human beatbox - James Burchfield (2003)
Human beatbox James "AudioPoet" Burchfield performs an intricate three-minute breakdown -- sexy, propulsive hip-hop rhythms and turntable textures -- all using only his voice.
TEDTalks : Will videogames become better than life? - David Perry (2006)
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.
TEDTalks : Stefan Sagmeister: Things I have learned in my life so far - Stefan Sagmeister (2008)
Rockstar designer Stefan Sagmeister delivers a short, witty talk on life lessons, expressed through surprising modes of design (including ... inflatable monkeys?).
TEDTalks : Chalking it up to the blank slate - Steven Pinker (2003)
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.
TEDTalks : A digital library, free to the world - Brewster Kahle (2007)
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.
TEDTalks : The deep oceans: a ribbon of life - David Gallo (1998)
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.
TEDTalks : The real difference between liberals and conservatives - Jonathan Haidt (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.
TEDTalks : Talking and squawking TED2006 - Einstein the Parrot (2006)
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.
TEDTalks : Why we don't understand as much as we think we do - Jonathan Drori (2007)
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.
TEDTalks : Close-up card magic - Lennart Green (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : Photography connects us with the world - David Griffin (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.
TEDTalks : Idea + square = origami - Robert Lang (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.
TEDTalks : Predicting the next 5,000 days of the web - Kevin Kelly (2007)
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?
TEDTalks : The art of collecting stories - Jonathan Harris (2007)
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."
TEDTalks : What positive psychology can help you become - Martin Seligman (2004)
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?
TEDTalks : Brain magic - Keith Barry (2004)
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.
TEDTalks : Technology, faith and human shortcomings - Billy Graham (1998)
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.
TEDTalks : The brain in love - Helen Fisher (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.
TEDTalks : My year of living biblically - A.J. Jacobs (2007)
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.
TEDTalks : A girl, a photograph, a homecoming - Rick Smolan (2007)
Photographer Rick Smolan tells the unforgettable story of a young Amerasian girl, a fateful photograph, and an adoption saga with a twist.
TEDTalks : Classical music with shining eyes - Benjamin Zander (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.
TEDTalks : A new vision for refrigeration - Adam Grosser (2007)
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.
TEDTalks : How engineers learn from evolution - Robert Full (2002)
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.
TEDTalks : Picturing excess - Chris Jordan (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.
TEDTalks : Stories from the birth of the computer - George Dyson (2003)
Historian George Dyson tells stories from the birth of the modern computer -- from its 17th-century origins to the hilarious notebooks of some early computer engineers.
TEDTalks : Do all languages have a common ancestor? - Murray Gell-Mann (2007)
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.
TEDTalks : Institutions vs. collaboration - Clay Shirky (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : The worldwide web of belief and ritual - Wade Davis (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.
TEDTalks : How ordinary people become monsters ... or heroes - Philip Zimbardo (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.
TEDTalks : 4 ways to improve the lives of the "bottom billion" - Paul Collier (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.
TEDTalks : Memes and "temes" - Susan Blackmore (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
TEDTalks : Creating objects that tell stories - Yves Behar (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."
TEDTalks : Exploring the ocean's hidden worlds - Robert Ballard (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?
TEDTalks : What's wrong with what we eat - Mark Bittman (2007)
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; too much fast food, too little home cooking), and why it's putting the entire planet at risk.
TEDTalks : The amazing intelligence of crows - Joshua Klein (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.
TEDTalks : Juggling rhythm and motion - Michael Moschen (2002)
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.
TEDTalks : 6 ways mushrooms can save the world - Paul Stamets (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.
TEDTalks : An inside tour of the world's biggest supercollider - Brian Cox (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.
TEDTalks : Your genes are not your fate - Dean Ornish (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.
TEDTalks : The universe on a string - Brian Greene (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : Where does creativity hide? - Amy Tan (2008)
Novelist Amy Tan digs deep into the creative process, looking for hints of how hers evolved.
TEDTalks : Why we know less than ever about the world - Alisa Miller (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.
TEDTalks : Open-source economics - Yochai Benkler (2005)
Yochai Benkler explains how collaborative projects like Wikipedia and Linux represent the next stage of human organization.
TEDTalks : Releasing the music in your head - Tod Machover / Dan Ellsey (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.
TEDTalks : Creating tech marvels out of a $40 Wii Remote - Johnny Lee (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.
TEDTalks : New thinking on the climate crisis - Al Gore (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.
TEDTalks : Asking big questions about the universe - Stephen Hawking (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.
TEDTalks : Rethinking the music video - Jakob Trollback (2007)
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.
TEDTalks : 18 minutes with an agile mind - Clifford Stoll (2006)
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."
TEDTalks : Looking inside the brain in real time - Christopher deCharms (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.
TEDTalks : The true face of Leonardo Da Vinci? - Siegfried Woldhek (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.
TEDTalks : 2008 TED Prize wish: Charter for Compassion - Karen Armstrong (2008)
People want to be religious, says scholar Karen Armstrong; we should help make religion a force for harmony. She asks the TED community to help build a Charter for Compassion -- to restore the Golden Rule as the central global religious doctrine.
TEDTalks : 2008 TED Prize wish: Once Upon a School - Dave Eggers (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
TEDTalks : 2008 TED Prize wish: An African Einstein - Neil Turok (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.
TEDTalks : From 1984, 4 predictions about the future (3 of them correct) - Nicholas Negroponte (1984)
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.
TEDTalks : My stroke of insight - Jill Bolte Taylor (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.
TEDTalks : A powerful idea about teaching ideas - Alan Kay (2007)
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.
TEDTalks : On the verge of creating synthetic life - Craig Venter (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.
TEDTalks : WorldWide Telescope - Roy Gould / Curtis Wong (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.
TEDTalks : Welcome to Vaudeville 2.0 - Raspyni Brothers (2002)
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...
TEDTalks : The Jill and Julia Show - Julia Sweeney / Jill Sobule (2007)
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.
TEDTalks : Let's take a nuclear-powered rocket to Saturn - George Dyson (2002)
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.
TEDTalks : What makes a building unique? - Moshe Safdie (2002)
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.
TEDTalks : Theremin, the untouchable music - Pamelia Kurstin (2002)
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."
TEDTalks : Way-new collaboration - Howard Rheingold (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : All roads lead to Rome Antics - David Macaulay (2002)
David Macaulay relives the winding and sometimes surreal journey toward the completion of Rome Antics, his illustrated homage to the historic city.
TEDTalks : The omnivore's next dilemma - Michael Pollan (2007)
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.
TEDTalks : Rebuilding America, one slide show at a time - Bill Strickland (2002)
Bill Strickland tells a quiet and astonishing tale of redemption through arts, music, and unlikely partnerships.
TEDTalks : The story of a passionate life - Ben Dunlap (2007)
Wofford College president Ben Dunlap tells the story of Sandor Teszler, a Hungarian Holocaust survivor who taught him about passionate living and lifelong learning.
TEDTalks : Underwater astonishments - David Gallo (2007)
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.
TEDTalks : The mystery box - J.J. Abrams (2007)
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.
TEDTalks : Tales of passion - Isabel Allende (2007)
Author and activist Isabel Allende discusses women, creativity, the definition of feminism -- and, of course, passion -- in this talk.
TEDTalks : Help fight local warming - Yossi Vardi (2007)
Investor and prankster Yossi Vardi delivers a careful lecture on the dangers of blogging. Specifically, for men.
TEDTalks : 5 dangerous things you should let your kids do - Gever Tulley (2007)
Gever Tulley, founder of the Tinkering School, spells out 5 dangerous things you should let your kids do. From TED University 2007.
TEDTalks : Why aren't we all Good Samaritans? - Daniel Goleman (2007)
Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, asks why we aren't more compassionate more of the time.
TEDTalks : Lightning calculation and other "Mathemagic" - Arthur Benjamin (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : African fractals, in buildings and braids - Ron Eglash (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.
TEDTalks : Why design? - Philippe Starck (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.
TEDTalks : A 4-minute medley on the music wars - David Pogue (2007)
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.
TEDTalks : Secrets of movement, from geckos and roaches - Robert Full (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : Beauty and truth in physics - Murray Gell-Mann (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?
TEDTalks : Why can't we grow new energy? - Juan Enriquez (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.
TEDTalks : A surprising idea for "solving" climate change - David Keith (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?
TEDTalks : Habits of happiness - Matthieu Ricard (2004)
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.
TEDTalks : Our cell phones, ourselves - Jan Chipchase (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.
TEDTalks : My history of electroshock therapy - Sherwin Nuland (2001)
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.
TEDTalks : How creativity is being strangled by the law - Larry Lessig (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.
TEDTalks : A journey to the center of your mind - Vilayanur Ramachandran (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.
TEDTalks : Casting spells with DNA - Paul Rothemund (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.
TEDTalks : The illustrated woman - Maira Kalman (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.
TEDTalks : Life at 30,000 feet - Richard Branson (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.
TEDTalks : Hip-hop dance and a little magic - Kenichi Ebina (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.
TEDTalks : Fly me to the moons of Saturn - Carolyn Porco (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.
TEDTalks : The case for informed optimism - Larry Brilliant (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
TEDTalks : Flying on solar wings - Paul MacCready (2003)
Paul MacCready -- aircraft designer, environmentalist, and lifelong lover of flight -- talks about his long career.
TEDTalks : Can kids teach themselves? - Sugata Mitra (2007)
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?
TEDTalks : Building on the green agenda - Norman Foster (2007)
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; www.dld-conference.com
TEDTalks : Simplicity patterns - John Maeda (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.
TEDTalks : Making movies that make change - Jeff Skoll (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.
TEDTalks : 10 ways the world could end - Stephen Petranek (2002)
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?
TEDTalks : Robots that are "self-aware" - Hod Lipson (2007)
Hod Lipson demonstrates a few of his cool little robots, which have the ability to learn, understand themselves and even self-replicate.
TEDTalks : The stuff of thought - Steven Pinker (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : A brief history of violence - Steven Pinker (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.
TEDTalks : The art of creating creatures - Theo Jansen (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.
TEDTalks : Redefining the dictionary - Erin McKean (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.
TEDTalks : Tackling poverty with "patient capital" - Jacqueline Novogratz (2007)
Jacqueline Novogratz shares stories of how "patient capital" can bring sustainable jobs, goods, services -- and dignity -- to the world's poorest.
TEDTalks : Educating a new generation of African leaders - Patrick Awuah (2007)
Patrick Awuah makes the case that a liberal arts education is critical to forming true leaders.
TEDTalks : How I built my family a windmill - William Kamkwamba (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.
TEDTalks : Cheetahs vs. Hippos for Africa's future - George Ayittey (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.
TEDTalks : Is 4 a.m. the new midnight? - Rives (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.
TEDTalks : Fantastic voyage inside a cell - David Bolinsky (2007)
Medical animator David Bolinsky presents 3 minutes of stunning animation that show the bustling life inside a cell.
TEDTalks : Toys that make worlds - Will Wright (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.
TEDTalks : How do ants know what to do? - Deborah Gordon (2003)
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.
TEDTalks : The Web's secret stories - Jonathan Harris (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.
TEDTalks : What do we really know about the spread of AIDS? - Emily Oster (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.
TEDTalks : Why can't we grow new body parts? - Alan Russell (2006)
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.
TEDTalks : Journey to the center of the Earth ... and beyond! - Bill Stone (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.
TEDTalks : New insights on poverty and life around the world - Hans Rosling (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.
TEDTalks : BumpTop desktop is a beautiful mess - Anand Agarawala (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."
TEDTalks : Becoming Buddha -- on the Web - Robert Thurman (2006)
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.
TEDTalks : Jaw-dropping Photosynth demo - Blaise Aguera y Arcas (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.
TEDTalks : John Doerr sees salvation and profit in greentech - John Doerr (2007)
"I don't think we're going to make it," John Doerr says in an emotional talk about climate change and investment. To create a world fit for his daughter to live in, he says, we need to invest now in clean, green energy.
TEDTalks : Swim with giant sunfish in the open ocean - Tierney Thys (2003)
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.
TEDTalks : Brain science is about to fundamentally change computing - Jeff Hawkins (2003)
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.
TEDTalks : The future of design is human-centered - David Kelley (2002)
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.
TEDTalks : The tragedy of suburbia - James Howard Kunstler (2004)
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.
TEDTalks : "Black Men Ski" - Stew (2006)
What happens when a black man visits Aspen? Singer/songwriter Stew and his band are about to let you know.
TEDTalks : Inside the Google machine - Sergey Brin and Larry Page (2004)
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.
TEDTalks : Technology's Long Tail - Chris Anderson (Wired) (2004)
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.
TEDTalks : Ants, terrorism, and the awesome power of memes - Dan Dennett (2002)
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.
TEDTalks : "La Vie en Rose" - Thomas Dolby / Rachelle Garniez (2004)
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."
TEDTalks : A comic send-up of TED2006 - Tom Rielly (2006)
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.
TEDTalks : An atheist's call to arms - Richard Dawkins (2002)
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.
TEDTalks : How could God have allowed the tsunami? - Tom Honey (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : After the gold rush, there's innovation ahead - Jeff Bezos (2003)
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.
TEDTalks : The wisdom of designing Cradle to Cradle - William McDonough (2005)
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."
TEDTalks : How to listen to music with your whole body - Evelyn Glennie (2003)
In this soaring demonstration, deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie illustrates how listening to music involves much more than simply letting sound waves hit your eardrums.
TEDTalks : Can we know our own minds? - Dan Dennett (2003)
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.
TEDTalks : The universe is queerer than we can suppose - Richard Dawkins (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : Why are we happy? Why aren't we happy? - Dan Gilbert (2004)
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.
TEDTalks : Why we do what we do, and how we can do it better - Tony Robbins (2006)
Tony Robbins discusses the "invisible forces" that motivate everyone's actions -- and high-fives Al Gore in the front row.
TEDTalks : New prosthetic arm for veterans - Dean Kamen (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.
TEDTalks : What separates us from the apes? - Jane Goodall (2002)
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.
TEDTalks : Nice building. Then what? - Frank Gehry (2002)
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.
TEDTalks : 12 sustainable design ideas from nature - Janine Benyus (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : Sliced bread and other marketing delights - Seth Godin (2003)
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.
TEDTalks : Are children's carseats necessary? - Steven Levitt (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : Art with wire, thread, sugar, chocolate - Vik Muniz (2003)
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.
TEDTalks : The Pentagon's new map for war and peace - Thomas Barnett (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : A lyrical view of life on Earth - Frans Lanting (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : The double helix and today's DNA mysteries - James Watson (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : Humanity's biggest problems aren't what you think they are - Nick Bostrom (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : Design is in the details - Paul Bennett (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : We must win the oil endgame - Amory Lovins (2005)
In this energizing talk, Amory Lovins lays out his simple plan for weaning the US off oil and revitalizing the economy.
TEDTalks : Yes, design can make you happy - Stefan Sagmeister (2004)
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.
TEDTalks : Inspired ideas for a sustainable future - Alex Steffen (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : Apes that write, start fires and play Pac-Man - Susan Savage-Rumbaugh (2004)
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.
TEDTalks : Measuring the fastest animal on earth - Sheila Patek (2004)
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.
TEDTalks : Your brain is badly wired -- enjoy it! - Al Seckel (2004)
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.
TEDTalks : Decoding the future with genomics - Juan Enriquez (2003)
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.
TEDTalks : TED Prize wish: Let's build a health care system in Rwanda - Bill Clinton (2007)
Accepting the 2007 TED Prize, Bill Clinton asks for help in bringing health care to Rwanda -- and the rest of the world.
TEDTalks : TED Prize wish: Help build the Encyclopedia of Life - E.O. Wilson (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.
TEDTalks : TED Prize wish: Share a vital story with the world - James Nachtwey (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.
TEDTalks : A secular, scientific rebuttal to Rick Warren - Dan Dennett (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.
TEDTalks : The paradox of choice - Barry Schwartz (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : Debunking third-world myths with the best stats you've ever seen - Hans Rosling (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."
TEDTalks : Slowing down in a world built for speed - Carl Honore (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : A performance merging dance and biology - Pilobolus (2005)
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; "Fratres," Arvo Part; "Morango…Almost a Tango," Thomas Oboe Lee.
TEDTalks : The rise of the amateur professional - Charles Leadbeater (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : Earth in its final century? - Martin Rees (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : How cooperation (eventually) trumps conflict - Robert Wright (2006)
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.
TEDTalks : Cultures at the far edge of the world - Wade Davis (2003)
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.
TEDTalks : Our priorities for saving the world - Bjorn Lomborg (2005)
Given $50 billion to spend, which would you solve first, AIDS or global warming? Danish political scientist Bjorn Lomborg comes up with surprising answers.
TEDTalks : The world now eats (and dies) like Americans - Dean Ornish (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.
TEDTalks : "If I controlled the Internet" (a poem) - Rives (2006)
How many poets could cram eBay, Friendster and Monster.com into 3-minute poem worthy of a standing ovation? Enjoy Rives' unique talent.
TEDTalks : Secrets of success in 8 words, 3 minutes - Richard St. John (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : How technology's accelerating power will transform us - Ray Kurzweil (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : Why people believe strange things - Michael Shermer (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.
TEDTalks : How juries are fooled by statistics - Peter Donnelly (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : TED Prize wish: Share the story of Earth's manufactured landscapes - Edward Burtynsky (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : TED Prize wish: Finding new cures for migraine, depression, malpractice - Robert Fischell (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : TED Prize wish: Join my call to action on Africa - Bono (2005)
Musician and activist Bono accepts the 2005 TED Prize with a riveting talk, arguing that aid to Africa isn't just another celebrity cause; it's a global emergency.
TEDTalks : Entrepreneurs are the future of space flight - Burt Rutan (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.
TEDTalks : Investing in Africa's own solutions - Jacqueline Novogratz (2005)
Jacqueline Novogratz applauds the world's heightened interest in Africa and poverty, but argues persuasively for a new approach.
TEDTalks : My dream about the future of medicine - Eva Vertes (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : Why we age and how we can avoid it - Aubrey de Grey (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : What we can learn from spaghetti sauce - Malcolm Gladwell (2004)
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.
TEDTalks : Why do crack dealers still live with their moms? - Steven Levitt (2004)
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.
TEDTalks : What is our place in the cosmos? - David Deutsch (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : The science of love, and the future of women - Helen Fisher (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.
TEDTalks : Finding happiness in body and soul - Eve Ensler (2004)
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.
TEDTalks : What's so funny about the Web? - Ze Frank (2004)
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.
TEDTalks : Goodbye, textbooks; hello, open-source learning - Richard Baraniuk (2006)
Rice University professor Richard Baraniuk explains the vision behind Connexions, his open-source, online education system. It cuts out the textbook, allowing teachers to share and modify course materials freely, anywhere in the world.
TEDTalks : How a ragtag band created Wikipedia - Jimmy Wales (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : The power and beauty of organic design - Ross Lovegrove (2005)
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.
TEDTalks : Dazzling set by 11-year-old violinist - Sirena Huang (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.
TEDTalks : Magical improv from 14-year-old pianist - Jennifer Lin (2004)
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.
TEDTalks : The vision behind One Laptop Per Child - Nicholas Negroponte (2006)
Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the MIT Media Laboratory, describes how the One Laptop Per Child project will build and distribute the "$100 laptop."
TEDTalks : Unveiling the genius of multi-touch interface design - Jeff Han (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.
TEDTalks : TED Prize wish: Open-source architecture to house the world - Cameron Sinclair (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.
TEDTalks : TED Prize wish: Unite the world on Pangea Day, a global day of film - Jehane Noujaim (2006)
In this hopeful talk, Jehane Noujaim unveils her 2006 TED Prize wish: to bring the world together for one day a year through the power of film.
TEDTalks : TED Prize wish: Help stop the next pandemic - Larry Brilliant (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.
TEDTalks : Living a life of purpose - Rick Warren (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.
TEDTalks : "Letting Go of God" (an excerpt) - Julia Sweeney (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.
TEDTalks : 15 ways to avert a climate crisis - Al Gore (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.
TEDTalks : When it comes to tech, simplicity sells - David Pogue (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.
TEDTalks : Greening the ghetto - Majora Carter (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 neighborhoods suffer most from flawed urban policy.
TEDTalks : Do schools kill creativity? - Ken Robinson (2006)
Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity.

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