Travel into the digestive system to see how food is turned into waste, and what causes the different colors and textures of poop. -- The average person poops out approximately 11,030 kilograms of cumulative waste in a lifetime. That’s the equivalent of more than 6 SUVs. Oftentimes, that poop is brown. Why is that, considering all the comestibles one consumes? And what’s going on when poop appears in different colors and textures? Hannibal Person explains the colorful choreography going on inside...
May 22, 2026•9 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-oddities-of-the-first-american-election-kenneth-c-davis How did George Washington become the first president of the United States in 1789? Who got to decide--or vote--who would become president, and how did they decide the winner? Kenneth C. Davis unveils the surprising story behind America's first presidential election. Lesson by Kenneth C. Davis, animation by Buzzco Associates, inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
May 22, 2026•6 min
Episode 5: Learn to develop your voice and body language so that you are conveying meaning authentically, confidently, and comfortably. -- This is episode 5 of the animated series, “Public Speaking 101.” Ideas change everything — and since language lets us share our ideas, learning how to use it well gives speakers the power to inspire people and even change how they think. This 11-episode course will teach you how to identify, develop, and share your best ideas, while mastering essential commun...
May 22, 2026•14 min
Dig into the Maya myth of the moon goddess, Ix Chel, and follow her story as she falls in— and out of— love with the sun god. -- The sun god was in love with the moon goddess, Ix Chel. But the goddess’ grandfather was very possessive, and would not let the sun god anywhere near his beloved granddaughter. Desperate to be together, they escaped and were ready to light up the sky with their powerful rays. Unfortunately, their love story doesn’t end happily ever after. Cynthia Fay Davis details the ...
May 22, 2026•6 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/does-your-vote-count-the-electoral-college-explained-christina-greer You vote, but then what? Discover how your individual vote contributes to the popular vote and your state's electoral vote in different ways--and see how votes are counted on both state and national levels. Lesson by Christina Greer, animation by Marked Animation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
May 22, 2026•8 min
Get to know the story of Antigone, daughter of Oedipus, who was determined to give her slain brother Polyneices a proper burial. -- The gods watched as Oedipus’ daughter, Antigone, stole out of the palace in Thebes the morning after a devastating battle. Antigone was on a dangerous mission to do what she felt was right, though it meant risking her life. She sought to abide by divine law and honor her late brother Polyneices through burial— but the king had other plans. Stephen Esposito shares th...
May 22, 2026•8 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/beware-of-nominalizations-aka-zombie-nouns-helen-sword Few mistakes sour good writing like nominalizations, or, as Helen Sword likes to call them, zombie nouns. Zombie nouns transform simple and straightforward prose into verbose and often confusing writing. Keep your nouns away from the elongating nominalizations! Lesson by Helen Sword, animation by Bran Dougherty-Johnson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
May 22, 2026•8 min
Episode 6: Find a way to build trust, interest, and a connection with your audience so that they will be open to what you have to say. -- This is episode 6 of the animated series, “Public Speaking 101.” Ideas change everything — and since language lets us share our ideas, learning how to use it well gives speakers the power to inspire people and even change how they think. This 11-episode course will teach you how to identify, develop, and share your best ideas, while mastering essential communi...
May 22, 2026•11 min
Computer science began in the '30s ... the 1830s. John Graham-Cumming tells the story of Charles Babbage's mechanical, steam-powered "analytical engine" and how Ada Lovelace, mathematician and daughter of Lord Byron, saw beyond its simple computational abilities to imagine the future of computers. (Filmed at TEDxImperialCollege.) Talk by John Graham-Cumming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 22, 2026•16 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/a-3-minute-guide-to-the-bill-of-rights-belinda-stutzman Daily, Americans exercise their rights secured by the Constitution. The most widely discussed and debated part of the Constitution is known as the Bill of Rights. Belinda Stutzman provides a refresher course on exactly what the first ten amendments grant each and every American citizen. Lesson by Belinda Stutzman, animation by Jacques Khouri. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...
May 22, 2026•5 min
Dig into what circumstances allow for an accidentally amputated limb to be reattached, and what options you have when it can't be. -- In order to reattach a severed limb after an accident, a number of things need to go right— and quickly. A clean cut, properly preserving the limb, and getting it to a skilled surgeon in time are just a few of these challenges. And unfortunately, there are countless complications that come up with most accidental amputations. So, when is limb reattachment possible...
May 22, 2026•9 min
Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an animation: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletter Welcome to the world of Lucius Popidius Secundus, a 17-year old living in Rome in 73 AD. His life is a typical one of arranged marriages, coming-of-age festivals, and communal baths. Take a look at this exquisitely detailed lesson on life of a typical Roman teenager two thousand years ago. Lesson by Ray Laurence, animation by Cognitive Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
May 22, 2026•9 min
Explore the Big Whack theory, and how the event could have created the Moon and given Earth its all-important axial tilt. -- 4.5 billion years ago, Earth was struck by a rock the size of Mars flying 9 kilometers a second. The force of this collision temporarily turned Earth’s surface into an ocean of molten magma. Today, some scientists call this cosmic crash the Big Whack, and we’re still dealing with the impacts of this impact. Elise Cutts explores the pivotal role Earth’s obliquity plays in o...
May 22, 2026•7 min
Trace the history of the eugenics movement in the US, and discover how the belief in ideal genetics led to forced sterilizations. -- Since ancient Greece, humans have controlled populations via reproduction, retaining some traits and removing others. But in the 19th century, a new scientific movement dedicated to this endeavor emerged: eugenics. Scientists believed they could improve society by ensuring that only desirable traits were passed down. Alexandra Minna Stern and Natalie Lira detail th...
May 22, 2026•7 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/gerrymandering-how-drawing-jagged-lines-can-impact-an-election-christina-greer District lines, and the groups of voters within them, may seem arbitrary, but a lot of thought (and political bickering) is put into these carefully drawn lines. From "packing" a district to "cracking" a district--learn how the shape of districts impacts political parties during election season. Lesson by Christina Greer, animation by Smart Bubble Society. Learn more about y...
May 22, 2026•6 min
Learn more at https://brilliant.org/TedEd -- In one of Aesop’s fables, a crow is searching for water. It spies a pitcher— but the water inside is beyond its reach. So, the crow begins dropping in pebbles. One-by-one, they displace the water, and the crow quenches its thirst. This is just one of many fascinating displays of intelligence from corvids. Katharina Brecht digs into what makes this bold, brainy family of songbirds so smart. Lesson by Katharina Brecht, directed by Irida Zhonga. This vid...
May 21, 2026•7 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/diagnosing-zombies-brain-and-behavior-tim-verstynen... How are different brain stimulations involved with human behaviors--and how can observing a zombie help us understand the brain? In the second part of the Diagnosing Zombies series, two scientists continue to ponder the erratic behaviors of a zombie to explore the relationship between the brain and behavior. Lesson by Tim Verstynen & Bradley Voytek, animation by TED-Ed. Learn more about your ad...
May 21, 2026•5 min
Dig into the science of how and why fireflies glow, and how their bioluminescent signals differ between males and females. -- The first firefly is thought to have lived over 100 million years ago, illuminating the night with a glowing green light. And today, there are around 2,000 firefly species, found all over the world, from forests and grasslands to marshes and deserts. So, why do these insects glow? Emily A. Geest digs into the bioluminescent signals of fireflies. Lesson by Emily A. Geest, ...
May 21, 2026•8 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/equality-sports-and-title-ix-erin-buzuvis-and-kristine-newhall In 1972, U.S. Congress passed Title IX, a law which prohibited discrimination against women in schools, colleges, and universities -- including school-sponsored sports. Before this law, female athletes were few and far between, and funding was even scarcer. Erin Buzuvis and Kristine Newhall explore the significance and complexity of Title IX. Lesson by Erin Buzuvis and Kristine Newhall, ani...
May 21, 2026•6 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/who-made-the-american-constitution-judy-walton How did a meeting intended to revise the Articles of Confederation lead to the new Constitution for the United States? Discover how a handful of men--sitting in sweltering heat and shrouded by secrecy--changed the course of history for America in 1787. Lesson by Judy Walton, animation by Ace & Son Moving Picture Co., LLC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
May 21, 2026•6 min
Explore how saunas can affect your body, and dig into the health benefits and limitations of this millennia-old tradition. -- Finnish sauna, Roman balneae, Japanese onsen, and Indigenous American sweat lodges are just a few examples of how cultures across the globe have long considered exposure to extreme temperatures therapeutic. But today scientists are only just beginning to unravel how and why this may be the case. So, what exactly is happening in your body when you feel the heat? Max G. Lev...
May 21, 2026•8 min
Trace the ancient history of the pigeon, and discover how these birds became one of the most abundant species on the planet. -- Seeing their meat as a protein source and their poop as the perfect fertilizer, humans brought pigeons into captivity as far back as 10,000 years ago. As we carried pigeons around the world, they formed the wild urban flocks we're familiar with today and became one of the most abundant species on the planet. Elizabeth Carlen and Joanna Moles track the feathery flier's r...
May 21, 2026•6 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/diagnosing-a-zombie-tim-verstynen-brad-voytek Zombies eat brains. They are also, like all of us, driven by brain functions. What is happening in their brains to make them act as they do? In this intriguing dialogue, Tim Verstynen & Brad Voytek apply the various human medical possibilities that make zombies...zombies. Lesson by Tim Verstynen & Brad Voytek, animation by TED-Ed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
May 21, 2026•6 min
Explore how big-headed ants have changed an entire ecosystem in Kenya, from its insects and plants to its biggest predators. -- In the early 2000s, one of the world’s most widespread invasive species landed in Kenya’s Laikipia Plateau: big-headed ants. They expanded rapidly into super-colonies, preying on other insects, spiders, and even small birds. Their presence has wreaked havoc on the ecosystem and significantly changed the landscape. So, how did these tiny creatures have such a huge impact...
May 21, 2026•9 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-game-changing-amniotic-egg-april-tucker 350 million years ago, eggs could not survive far from water, therefore animals were water-bound. That is, until the amniotic egg, which allowed animals to live a fully terrestrial life. April Tucker peels back each layer of the amniotic egg, revealing how truly extraordinary this evolutionary marvel is. Lesson by April Tucker, animation by Pew36 Animation Studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit mega...
May 21, 2026•6 min
The world owes much of its cultural legacy to Constantinople's walls. When Constantinople was under seige by neighboring enemies, the Roman city's elaborate system of moats, outer walls, and inner walls stood tall. Surviving numerous fire attacks, the walls were eventually brought down by more modern tools of warfare, but, thankfully, classical culture survived. Lesson by Lars Brownworth, animation by Woland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
May 21, 2026•6 min
Trace the evolution of dog breeds, and find out why their characteristics, behaviors, and personalities vary so widely. -- The immense physical variety of dogs makes them among the world’s most diverse species and likely the one with the greatest range in size. A Pomeranian, for example, might weigh 2 kilograms, while a Mastiff could tip the scale to 100. So, why is this? And what does a dog’s breed actually say about them? Kathleen Morrill Pirovich explores the dizzying diversity of dogs. Lesso...
May 21, 2026•8 min
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-inventions-change-history-for-better-and-for-worse-kenneth-c-davis Invented in 1793, the cotton gin changed history for good and bad. By allowing one field hand to do the work of 10, it powered a new industry that brought wealth and power to the American South -- but, tragically, it also multiplied and prolonged the use of slave labor. Kenneth C. Davis lauds innovation, while warning us of unintended consequences. Lesson by Kenneth C. Davis, animat...
May 21, 2026•8 min
Puzzle through this classic ethical dilemma and decide: should parents be able to choose genetic traits for their children? -- Andre and Leslie are a deaf couple who have decided to have a child, and they’re considering using a process to ensure deafness in their child. As deaf parents, they feel they could provide better guidance to a child that would share their lived experience and grow up immersed in deaf culture. But is this genetic intervention ethical? Michael Vazquez and Raye Ploeger exp...
May 21, 2026•8 min
Learn how to spot some of the most common signs of emotional abuse and what you can do if someone is experiencing these behaviors. -- Emotional abuse can be incredibly damaging, increasing a person’s chances of developing depression and anxiety. But these behaviors can be subtle and difficult to spot, both from within and outside a relationship. It also often makes people doubt their perceptions of their own mistreatment. How can we recognize these patterns in real life? Viann Nguyen-Feng shares...
May 21, 2026•6 min
