TED Talks Science and Medicine - podcast cover

TED Talks Science and Medicine

Some of the world's greatest scientists, doctors and medical researchers share their discoveries and visions onstage at the TED conference, TEDx events and partner events around the world. You can also download these and many other videos free on TED.com, with an interactive English transcript and subtitles in up to 80 languages. TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading.

Episodes

Are life-saving medicines hiding in the world's coldest places? | Normand Voyer

Could the next wonder drug be somewhere in Canada's snowy north? Take a trip to this beautiful, frigid landscape as chemist Normand Voyer explores the mysterious molecular treasures found in plants thriving in the cold. These scarcely investigated organisms could hold immense medical promise, he says – so long as we work quickly enough to discover them.

May 25, 202312 min

What to do when there's a polar bear in your backyard | Alysa McCall

As Arctic ice melts, polar bears are being forced on land -- and they're hungry. With the apex predators frequently turning to human junkyards for a snack, northern towns have had to get creative in order to keep both their people and wildlife safe. Biologist and conservationist Alysa McCall shares lessons from the field on how to safely navigate contact with these magnificent animals and plan for a future where climate change forces us all a little closer.

Apr 11, 202311 min

The fantastically weird world of photosynthetic sea slugs | Michael Middlebrooks

Meet the fantastically colorful and astonishingly adaptable sea slugs that found a way to photosynthesize (or create energy from sunlight) like plants. Diving deep into these often overlooked creatures, invertebrate zoologist Michael Middlebrooks introduces the solar-powered slugs that lost their shells -- but gained the ability to directly harness the power of the sun.

Mar 06, 202313 min

Where does your sense of self come from? A scientific look | Anil Ananthaswamy

Anil Ananthaswamy explores the constructed nature of the self through the lens of altered self-experiences like schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, and foreign limb syndrome. He discusses how our narratives, sense of body ownership, and agency are not as concrete as we perceive them to be. The talk challenges our assumptions about identity and encourages empathy towards those with altered selves.

Jan 19, 202312 min

Can we feed ourselves without devouring the planet? | George Monbiot

George Monbiot discusses the detrimental impact of farming on the planet, identifying it as a primary driver of habitat destruction and species extinction. He warns of a potential collapse of the global food system due to corporate concentration and systemic vulnerabilities. Monbiot proposes innovative solutions such as perennial grain crops and precision fermentation to shift food production off the land, reduce environmental impact, and ensure food security.

Jan 18, 202316 min

How to harness the ancient partnership between forests and fungi | Colin Averill

If we want to better understand the environment and combat climate change, we need to look deep underground, where diverse microscopic fungal networks mingle with tree roots to form symbiotic partnerships, says microbiologist Colin Averill. As we learn more about which of these fungi are most beneficial to forest health, we can reintroduce them into the soil -- potentially enhancing the growth and resilience of carbon-trapping trees and plants. Hear more about the emerging science aiming to supe...

Jan 06, 202312 min

The wheat field that could change the world | Guntur V. Subbarao

Crop physiologist Guntur V. Subbarao and his team have developed an antibiotic-infused strain of wheat that naturally combats harmful, fertilizer-eating bacteria -- a "monster" contributor to climate change. Learn more about how this breakthrough could once again revolutionize agriculture, increasing crop yields and protecting our planet at the same time.

Nov 14, 202211 min

A virus-resistant organism -- and what it could mean for the future | Jason W. Chin

What if we could use the power of DNA to create a sustainable, circular economy? In a talk about breakthrough science, synthetic biologist Jason W. Chin describes his team's work rewriting the genetic blueprint of cells to create a virus-resistant organism -- the largest synthetic genome ever made and a first step towards reimagining what life can become. Learn more about how this advancement could lay the groundwork for the sustainable factories of the future, capable of producing plastics, ant...

Oct 28, 202211 min

How green hydrogen could end the fossil fuel era | Vaitea Cowan

As climate change accelerates, finding clean alternatives to fossil fuels is more urgent than ever. Social entrepreneur Vaitea Cowan believes green hydrogen is the answer. Watch as she shares her team's work mass producing electrolyzers -- devices that separate water into its molecular components: hydrogen and oxygen -- and shows how they could help make green, carbon-free fuel affordable and accessible for everyone. "This is how we end the fossil fuel era," Cowan says.

Sep 08, 20229 min

A giant Jurassic sea dragon, unearthed | Dean R. Lomax

Among the dinosaurs, giant sea dragons roamed the ancient ocean. Millions of years later, paleontologist Dean R. Lomax and his team freed the remains of one of these colossal creatures from the Earth. Settle in to learn about the once-in-a-lifetime discovery of the 10-meter-long Rutland ichthyosaur: the largest and most complete ichthyosaur ever unearthed in Britain and one of the greatest finds in the country's paleontological history.

Sep 06, 202215 min

How we're reverse engineering the human brain in the lab | Sergiu P. Pasca

Sergiu Pasca discusses his work on growing brain organoids and assembloids in the lab to study human brain development and disease. He explains how skin cells can be transformed into stem cells and then coaxed into becoming brain cells that form circuits. These models are used to understand brain disorders like autism and to discover potential therapeutic avenues.

Aug 24, 202213 min

The future of fashion -- made from mushrooms | Dan Widmaier

Your closet is likely full of all kinds of materials -- leather, cotton, nylon and polyester, to name a few -- that contribute to fashion's sustainability crisis. Biomaterials investigator Dan Widmaier explains how we could look to nature for sustainable replacements for these much-used materials and introduces a leather alternative made from mushrooms that looks great and doesn't harm the environment. "We can make fashion sustainable, and we're going to do it with science," Widmaier says....

Jul 25, 202211 min

The search for the invisible matter that shapes the universe | Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

The universe that we know, with its luminous stars and orbiting planets, is largely made up of elements we can't actually see -- like dark energy and dark matter -- and therefore don't fully understand. Theoretical physicist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein takes us inside the search for this cosmos-shaping invisible matter and explains how, with the help of a new generation of telescopes, we could be closer to demystifying it than ever before. "The universe is more queer and fantastical than it looks t...

Jul 11, 202215 min

The brain science (and benefits) of ASMR | Craig Richard

Craig Richard explores the phenomenon of ASMR, discussing its personal and scientific aspects. He shares his experiences and the common themes found in ASMR triggers, such as positive personal attention and gentle sounds. The episode further explores brain scan studies and health benefits and open questions about ASMR's mechanisms and potential as a therapeutic tool.

Jun 07, 202212 min

Humanity's search for cosmic truth and poetic beauty | Maria Popova

Linking together the histories of Henrietta Swan Leavitt, Edwin Hubble and Tracy K. Smith, poet and thinker Maria Popova crafts an astonishing story of how humanity came to see the edge of the observable universe. (Followed by an animated excerpt of "My God, It's Full of Stars," by Tracy K. Smith)

May 23, 20227 min

How mRNA medicine will change the world | Melissa J. Moore

Melissa Moore discusses how mRNA technology is revolutionizing medicine, from vaccines to personalized cancer treatments. She explains how mRNA instructs our bodies to produce proteins, addressing diseases and correcting genetic errors. Moore highlights the rapid development and deployment of mRNA vaccines, and the potential for future applications in regenerative medicine and autoimmune disorders.

Apr 27, 202218 min

We can make COVID-19 the last pandemic | Bill Gates

Bill Gates discusses the importance of learning from the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent future global health crises. He proposes creating a Global Epidemic Response and Mobilization (GERM) team and investing in disease monitoring, research and development, and improved health systems. Gates emphasizes the need for global cooperation and funding to build a healthier, more equitable world and prevent the next pandemic.

Apr 22, 202215 min

5 promising factors propelling climate action | Gabriel Kra

Given the scale of the challenge, the conversation around climate change is often tinged with doom and gloom. But climate tech investor Gabriel Kra thinks we need to reframe the crisis as a source of tremendous opportunity. He offers five big reasons to be optimistic about climate -- starting with the fact that many of the world's best minds are focused and working on building a clean future for all.

Apr 06, 202211 min

The deep sea's medicinal secrets | Sam Afoullouss

Under the sea, untold wonders await in the form of untapped medicinal potential. Chemist Sam Afoullouss dives into the science behind natural remedies, explaining why the ocean's great (and still largely unexplored) biodiversity is ideal for deriving and inspiring future treatments -- if we protect its waters and the marine life within them.

Mar 17, 202213 min

What seaweed and cow burps have to do with climate change | Ermias Kebreab

Scientists have long known that cows are a huge source of the greenhouse gas methane, contributing up to four percent of emissions globally. But could there be a way to make cattle less -- ahem -- gassy? Animal scientist Ermias Kebreab talks through an ingenious solution to reduce methane-rich cow burps by feeding cattle something growing below the surface of the ocean: seaweed.

Mar 03, 20229 min

The incredible cancer-detecting potential of photoacoustic imaging | Lei Li

Could we use the energy from light and sound to detect disease? TED Fellow Lei Li shares the exciting promise of photoacoustic imaging: an affordable, painless and accurate method of converting light into sound in order to create high-resolution images of what's going on inside our bodies. From early detection of breast cancer to steering medicine-delivering micro-robots, learn how this cutting-edge technology could open up a new world of possibility when it comes to seeing, tracking and diagnos...

Feb 02, 20227 min

Could we treat Alzheimer's with light and sound? | Li-Huei Tsai

What if we could use brain waves to treat Alzheimer's? Professor and neuroscientist Li-Huei Tsai details a promising new approach to artificially stimulate gamma brain waves using light and sound therapy, to increase connectivity and synchrony and delay the onset of this deadly disease. This non-invasive therapy has already been shown to work in mice -- now it's on to human clinical trials, with the potential to usher in a brighter future for everyone. (Followed by a Q&A with head of TED Chris A...

Jan 24, 202213 min

How biochar removes CO2 from the air -- and helps farmers thrive | Axel Reinaud

Biochar is a kind of charcoal that removes CO2 from the atmosphere, helping yield healthy crops and even producing abundant renewable energy in the form of electricity as it's made. This exciting climate change fighter is ready for scaling now. Entrepreneur Axel Reinaud outlines three ways to make this material more accessible to farmers -- so that our food system, energy grid and the climate can all reap the benefits.

Jan 10, 202211 min

A king cobra bite -- and a scientific discovery | Gowri Shankar

A king cobra has enough venom to kill 10 people in a single bite. Recounting his near-death experience after being bitten by one of these majestic yet deadly snakes, conservationist and TED Fellow Gowri Shankar shares the epiphany he had when the antivenom failed: there's more than one unique species of king cobra.

Dec 17, 20215 min

The science of extreme weather — and how to reduce the harm | Al Roker, Al Gore, David Biello and Latif Nasser

Floods, droughts, heat waves and cold blasts -- why is the weather becoming more extreme? Environmentalist and "America's weatherman" Al Roker discusses the link between climate change and disruptions to weather patterns worldwide, followed by a conversation between Nobel laureate Al Gore and TED science curator David Biello about the science of extreme weather and emerging solutions to reduce the risk of these events. (This segment, introduced by radio researcher Latif Nasser, was part of TED's...

Nov 23, 20216 min

The problem of vaccine spoilage -- and a smart sensor to help | Nithya Ramanathan

Refrigerators do much more than store your groceries -- they're also vital to preserving and distributing vaccines. Illustrating the realities of (and threats to) global vaccine supply chains, technologist and TED Fellow Nithya Ramanathan describes how smart sensors placed in fridges that store medical supplies can provide crucial, real-time data and ensure people get the life-saving care they need.

Nov 03, 20216 min

How we could eat real meat without harming animals | Isha Datar

What if you could eat chicken nuggets without harming a chicken? It's possible through "cellular agriculture," says Isha Datar. In a talk about cutting-edge science, she explains how this new means of food production makes it possible to eat meat without the negative consequences of industrial farming -- and how it could fundamentally change our food systems for the better. "It's our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a second chance at agriculture," she says.

Oct 19, 202112 min

The brain science of obesity | Mads Tang-Christensen

Your belly and your brain speak to each other, says obesity researcher Mads Tang-Christensen. Offering scientific proof that obesity is a disease influenced by genetics and the environment, he introduces a molecule discovered in both the brain and gut that helps control appetite -- and which could be engineered to promote healthy weight loss for those living with obesity.

Oct 06, 202110 min

Planet City -- a sci-fi vision of an astonishing regenerative future | Liam Young

Get transported on a stunningly rendered, sci-fi safari through Planet City: an imaginary metropolis of 10 billion people, from the brain of director and architect Liam Young. Explore the potential outcomes of an urban space designed to house the entire population of the earth -- and imagine answers to what is possible, and what is sustainable, for the planet.

Sep 20, 202110 min

A sci-fi vision of life in 2041 | Chen Qiufan

Sci-fi writer Chen Qiufan doesn't fear a dystopian future. Instead, he believes developments in artificial intelligence will make all of our lives better, healthier and safer. He takes us on a tour of the next 20 years of AI and shares some astonishing predictions for the advancements in science and technology that could await us. "For every future we wish to create, we must first learn to imagine it," he says.

Sep 08, 20218 min
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