View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/conserving-our-spectacular-vulnerable-coral-reefs-joshua-drew How do coral reef conservationists balance the environmental needs of the reefs with locals who need the reefs to survive? Joshua Drew draws on the islands of Fiji and their exemplary system of protection, called "connectivity," which also keep the needs of fishermen in mind. Lesson by Joshua Drew, animation by Veronica Wallenberg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic...
Feb 12, 2026•5 min
Dig into the tragic myth of Tristan and Princess Isolde, and how they fall in love despite her being promised to another. -- After witnessing a bird carrying a single golden hair, King Mark of Cornwall declared his future bride must have equally radiant locks. The only royal matching this description was Princess Isolde of Ireland. So the king sent Tristan, his bravest knight, to extend an olive branch to the royal family and deliver his proposal of marriage. Iseult Gillespie shares the tale of ...
Feb 12, 2026•8 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-photography-connects-us-david-griffin 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 discusses how we all use photos to tell our stories. Talk by David Griffin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Feb 12, 2026•20 min
Ada imagines a life where she could have children without giving birth. Would artificial wombs give us more choice or less? -- This is episode 3 of the animated series, “Ada.” This 5-episode narrative follows the young library assistant Ada as she juggles two worlds: her daily mundane reality and the future she vividly imagines for all humanity. Traveling through her visions of potential futures, Ada grapples with the ethical and social implications of new technologies and how they could shape t...
Feb 12, 2026•14 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/jonathan-haidt-on-the-moral-roots-of-liberals-and-conversatives 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. Jonathan Haidt studies how -- and why -- we evolved to be moral. By understanding more about our moral roots, his hope is that we can learn to...
Feb 11, 2026•24 min
Learn more at https://brilliant.org/TedEd -- When reading "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," most readers visualize the queen’s croquet game play out in their heads. A few might see the scene in vivid detail. However, a small fraction of readers have a drastically different experience: within their heads, they "see" absolutely nothing. Why do some people have an inability to visualize images? Adam Zeman explores the science of aphantasia. Lesson by Adam Zeman, directed by Biljana Labović. Anima...
Feb 11, 2026•8 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/erin-mckean-redefines-the-dictionary 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. As the CEO and co-founder of new online dictionary Wordnik, Erin McKean is reshaping not just dictionaries but how we interact with language itself. Talk by Erin McKean. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph...
Feb 11, 2026•21 min
Ada imagines what an AI librarian system could be capable of. What are the consequences of creating superintelligent AI systems? -- This is episode 4 of the animated series, “Ada.” This 5-episode narrative follows the young library assistant Ada as she juggles two worlds: her daily mundane reality and the future she vividly imagines for all humanity. Traveling through her visions of potential futures, Ada grapples with the ethical and social implications of new technologies and how they could sh...
Feb 11, 2026•15 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/chip-conley-measuring-what-makes-life-worthwhile When the dot-com bubble burst, hotelier Chip Conley went in search of a business model based on happiness. In an old friendship with an employee and in the wisdom of a Buddhist king, he learned that success comes from what you count. Chip Conley creates joyful hotels, where he hopes his employees, customers and investors alike can realize their full potential. His books share that philosophy with the wid...
Feb 11, 2026•23 min
Travel into a computer chip to explore how these devices are manufactured and what can be done about their environmental impact. -- Globally, we produce more than a trillion computer chips every year. Which means about 20 trillion transistors are built every second— and this process is done in fewer than 500 fabrication plants. How do we build so many tiny, intricately-connected devices, so incredibly fast? George Zaidan and Sajan Saini explore how photolithography helps build these devices and ...
Feb 11, 2026•8 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/nadia-al-sakkaf-see-yemen-through-my-eyes As political turmoil in Yemen continues, the editor-in-chief of the Yemen Times, Nadia Al-Sakkaf, talks at TEDGlobal with host Pat Mitchell. Al-Sakkaf's independent, English-language paper is vital for sharing news -- and for sharing a new vision of Yemen and of that country's women as equal partners in work and change. Talk by Nadia Al-Sakkaf. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Feb 10, 2026•18 min
Ada imagines how eradicating invasive species would impact our ecosystems. Who decides which species, and how many are too many? -- This is episode 5 of the animated series, “Ada.” This 5-episode narrative follows the young library assistant Ada as she juggles two worlds: her daily mundane reality and the future she vividly imagines for all humanity. Traveling through her visions of potential futures, Ada grapples with the ethical and social implications of new technologies and how they could sh...
Feb 10, 2026•14 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/susan-cain-the-power-of-introverts In a culture where being social and outgoing are prized above all else, it can be difficult, even shameful, to be an introvert. But, as Susan Cain argues in this passionate talk, introverts bring extraordinary talents and abilities to the world, and they should be encouraged and celebrated. Susan Cain makes a case for the quiet and contemplative. Talk by Susan Cain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm...
Feb 10, 2026•25 min
Dig into the Bengali tale of brothers Neelkamal and Lalkamal, two princes seeking to end the reign of demons in their kingdom. -- Achinpur was on the precipice of demonic takeover. A mysterious woman beguiled the king and infiltrated the royal family. But she wasn’t human; under her beautiful façade lurked an insatiable appetite for flesh. One night, the demon queen devoured the king's sons — but the princes managed to evade death. Malay Bera shares the tale of their quest to free the kingdom fr...
Feb 10, 2026•8 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/nina-jablonski-breaks-the-illusion-of-skin-color Nina Jablonski says that differing skin colors are simply our bodies' adaptation to varied climates and levels of UV exposure. Charles Darwin disagreed with this theory, however, as Jablonski explains, Darwin did not have access to NASA. Nina Jablonski is author of Skin: A Natural History, a close look at human skin's many remarkable traits: its colors, its sweatiness, the fact that we decorate it. Talk ...
Feb 10, 2026•20 min
Meet the microscopic arachnids that live on your face, and find out why Demodex mites are part of the human microbiome. -- Two species of Demodex mites specifically inhabit human follicles. And not just some people’s— nearly everyone is thought to host mites. One person’s face might harbor hundreds or even thousands of individual mites. On any given day, these microscopic arachnids are probably eating, mating, and laying eggs inside your pores. So, is this… okay? M. Alejandra Perotti investigate...
Feb 10, 2026•8 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/sylvia-earle-s-ted-prize-wish-to-protect-our-oceans Legendary ocean researcher Sylvia Earle shares astonishing images of the ocean -- and shocking stats about its rapid decline -- as she makes her TED Prize wish: that we will join her in protecting the vital blue heart of the planet. Sylvia Earle has been at the frontier of deep ocean exploration for four decades. She's led more than 50 undersea expeditions, and she's been an equally tireless advocate ...
Feb 09, 2026•24 min
Dig into the science of thermal batteries, and how this technology can generate heat more efficiently than fossil fuels. -- Industrial manufacturers spend a huge amount of energy generating heat to make everyday materials and objects, like cement, steel, and paper. And since most companies use fossil fuels to reach these high temperatures, industrial heat accounts for 20% of our annual global carbon pollution. Thankfully, this is where a century-old technology comes in. Rachel Yang explores how ...
Feb 09, 2026•6 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/curiosity-discovery-and-gecko-feet-robert-full The scientific method is widely used to make many scientific discoveries, but Robert Full suggests the possibility of finding world-changing results with less formulaic approaches. In his TEDYouth Talk, Full describes the unlikely way he studied gecko's feet and how these beneficial discoveries could eventually save lives. Talk by Robert Full. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Feb 09, 2026•13 min
Dig into what makes head lice so difficult to get rid of, and the effectiveness of our most common treatments. -- For as long as humans have had lice, we’ve fought hard to get rid of them. Nit combs, the fine-tooth brushes used to remove lice and their sticky eggs, have been found among the ancient remains of cultures across the globe. Today it’s estimated we spend billions of dollars each year treating infestations. So why are lice so difficult to get rid of? Nazzy Pakpour digs into these stubb...
Feb 09, 2026•7 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/a-tap-dancer-s-craft-andrew-nemr Tap dance, born out of the marriage of African and European dance traditions, went from extremely popular to barely existent to grand revival, all in under a century. Professional tap dancer and TED Fellow Andrew Nemr taps into the history of this truly American art form. Lesson by Andrew Nemr, produced by TED-Ed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Feb 09, 2026•9 min
Explore how seawater desalination methods transform saltwater into potable freshwater, and what drawbacks this technology has. -- Humans have been transforming seawater into potable freshwater for millennia. Today, billions of people can’t access clean drinking water, and 87 different countries are projected to be “water-scarce” by 2050. So, how can we use seawater desalination to combat water scarcity? And can we do it without further harming the environment? Manish Kumar digs into how scientis...
Feb 09, 2026•8 min
Watch the whole lesson on http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-do-we-see-color-colm-kelleher Have you ever wondered what color is? In this first installment of a series on light, Colm Kelleher describes the physics behind colors-- why the colors we see are related to the period of motion and the frequency of waves. Lesson by Colm Kelleher, animation by Vitreous. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Feb 08, 2026•5 min
Take a turn behind the wheel to discover 5 helpful and simple tips to improve your driving and build confidence in your skills. -- As one of the agency’s best employees, you’ve been selected as a finalist to take on a new top-secret mission. You’ve already shown your aptitude for surveillance and disguise, but the agency’s looking to test one last critical skill: how well you can drive. Can you prove that you're a good driver? Iseult Gillespie shares tips on how to best tackle the challenges of ...
Feb 08, 2026•7 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/beyond-the-shadow-of-a-doubt-gina-cooke Say the word "doubt" aloud. What is that "b" doing there? Does it have any purpose? Gina Cooke explains the long and winding history of "doubt" and why the spelling, though it seems random, is a wink to its storied past. Lesson by Gina Cooke, animation by The Leading Sheep Studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Feb 08, 2026•5 min
Dig into the science of enhanced rock weathering, a technology which takes carbon dioxide out of the air and stores it in rocks. -- Mount Teide is one of the world’s largest active volcanoes, and there may be a way to use the basalt rock inside it to save humanity. Obviously, destroying an ancient volcano would cause catastrophic and unpredictable ecological fallout. But what if we harvested only some of that basalt— could it really stop climate change? Elise Cutts explores the fascinating scien...
Feb 08, 2026•8 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/philip-zimbardo-the-demise-of-guys Psychologist Philip Zimbardo asks, "Why are boys struggling?" He shares some stats (lower graduation rates, greater worries about intimacy and relationships) and the reasons behind them, while challenging the TED community to think about solutions. Talk by Philip Zimbardo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Feb 08, 2026•7 min
Dig into the history that inspired Shakespeare’s tragedy, “Macbeth,” and find out just how much of the play is based on real events. -- Of all Shakespeare’s plays, perhaps none is stranger than “Macbeth”— a parable on power rife with supernatural elements. But according to texts from the 11th century, this tragedy has its roots in reality. What’s more, other accounts mention witches, prophecies, and arboreal armies. Which raises the question: just how much of Shakespeare’s strange story is true?...
Feb 08, 2026•9 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/maajid-nawaz-a-global-culture-to-fight-extremism Why do transnational extremist organizations succeed where democratic movements have a harder time taking hold? Maajid Nawaz, a former Islamist extremist, asks for new grassroots stories and global social activism to spread democracy in the face of nationalism and xenophobia in this powerful Talk from TEDGlobal 2011. Talk by Maajid Nawaz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Feb 07, 2026•24 min
Dig into the challenges of modern pastoralism, a form of agriculture where farmers guide livestock to seasonal grazing areas. -- For millennia, livestock farmers strategically guided animals to seasonal grazing areas. This mobile way of life, known as pastoralism, provided them with wealth, social status, and political independence into the 20th century. But in the last century, political and economic policies have worked against these communities. Take a closer look at the challenges of modern ...
Feb 07, 2026•9 min
