TED Talks Science and Medicine

TED•www.ted.com

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.

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Episodes

How vultures can help solve crimes | Lauren Pharr

Lauren Pharr, a forensic anthropologist, highlights the often-overlooked role of vultures in criminal investigations. She debunks common myths about vulture behavior and demonstrates how their scavenging patterns drastically impact decomposition timelines, leading to more accurate time-of-death estimates. Through a compelling kidnapping case study, Pharr illustrates how subtle vulture evidence, like feathers and specific feeding patterns, can provide detectives with vital clues to piece together crime scene events and secure convictions.

May 31, 2018•11 min

Scientists must be free to learn, to speak and to challenge | Kirsty Duncan

Kirsty Duncan, Canada's first Minister of Science, argues passionately for the fundamental freedom of scientists. She recounts instances of scientific suppression, including a Canadian government scientist silenced on climate change and her own expedition where "failure" led to crucial advancements. Duncan shares her personal journey from a frustrated professor to a politician, highlighting her efforts to restore an open culture of science in Canada. She concludes with a powerful call to action for everyone to defend science against stifling or suppression for a brighter future.

May 16, 2018•14 min

The doctors, nurses and aid workers rebuilding Syria | Rola Hallam

Rola Hallam highlights the horrific reality of hospitals being bombed as a weapon of war in Syria, emphasizing the extraordinary courage of local humanitarians. She exposes the systemic failure of international aid to adequately support these local groups. Hallam then introduces Can Do, her startup that empowers local responders by connecting them with global citizens through crowdfunding, leading to the creation of Hope Hospital, the first crowdfunded medical facility, which has treated thousands of children and renewed global faith in humanity.

May 15, 2018•7 min

The "dead zone" of the Gulf of Mexico | Nancy Rabalais

Ocean expert Nancy Rabalais details the causes and impacts of the Gulf of Mexico's "dead zone," where agricultural nitrogen and phosphorus lead to oxygen depletion, harming fisheries. She outlines how scientists detect these zones and the urgent need for sustainable farming practices. Rabalais emphasizes the importance of translating science into bipartisan policy and suggests individual actions to reduce one's nitrogen footprint, advocating for collective will to reverse these harmful environmental effects.

Apr 18, 2018•12 min

Should we create a solar shade to cool the earth? | Danny Hillis

Danny Hillis champions solar geoengineering as a viable approach to global warming, explaining how reflecting a small amount of sunlight back into space could cool the Earth. He details methods like injecting chalk dust into the stratosphere, highlighting the surprisingly minimal quantities required. Hillis addresses common concerns that such solutions might divert attention from fossil fuel reduction, arguing that we are already impacting the atmosphere and need scientific research to mitigate effects.

Apr 05, 2018•7 min

How fungi recognize (and infect) plants | Mennat El Ghalid

Fungi cause billions in crop losses annually, impacting food security and farmer incomes. Mycologist Mennat El Ghalid discusses the limitations of current treatments and a breakthrough discovery: identifying the molecular signals plants send that guide fungal infection, and the corresponding fungal receptors. This understanding paves the way for new antifungal strategies to disrupt this interaction, protecting crops amidst growing global demand.

Mar 27, 2018•4 min

The wonderful world of life in a drop of water | Simone Bianco and Tom Zimmerman

Inventors Simone Bianco and Tom Zimmerman reveal the unseen world of plankton using a 3D microscope, demonstrating how these 'elders' produce two-thirds of our oxygen and are foundational to the food chain. They emphasize the alarming 40% decline in plankton populations due to climate change, a threat to all life. The talk then transitions into an immersive 'scuba dive' into a water drop, showcasing rotifers, stentors, and algae, before concluding with a powerful call to transition to renewable energy to protect these essential creatures and secure humanity's future.

Mar 07, 2018•11 min

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