TED Talks Daily (SD video)
1,485 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago - ★★★★ - 1.7K ratingsTED is a nonprofit devoted to ideas worth spreading. On this video feed, you'll find TED Talks to inspire, intrigue and stir the imagination from some of the world's leading thinkers and doers, speaking from the stage at TED conferences, TEDx events and partner events around the world. This podcast is also available in high-def video and audio-only formats.
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Episodes
Why you should stop setting goals (yes, really) | Emmanuel Acho
September 06, 2023 14:58 - 11 minutes VideoIn athletics, in business, in life, everyone sets goals. But that's not the way to excel, according to former NFL player Emmanuel Acho, now an author and TV sports analyst. Here's what he says to do instead.
How to hack your brain when you're in pain | Amy Baxter
September 05, 2023 14:50 - 16 minutes VideoHave we misunderstood pain? Researcher and physician Amy Baxter unravels the symphony of connections that send pain from your body to your brain, explaining practical neuroscience hacks to quickly block those signals. Her groundbreaking research offers alternatives for immediate pain relief -- without the need for addictive opioids. (Followed by a Q&A with TED current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers)
How "digital twins" could help us predict the future | Karen Willcox
September 01, 2023 14:59 - 15 minutes VideoFrom health-tracking wearables to smartphones and beyond, data collection and computer modeling have become a ubiquitous part of everyday life. Advancements in these areas have given birth to "digital twins," or virtual models that evolve alongside real-world data. Aerospace engineer Karen Willcox explores the incredible possibilities these systems offer across engineering, climate studies and medicine, sharing how they could lead to personalized medicine, better decision-making and ...
The AI-powered tools supercharging your imagination | Bilawal Sidhu
August 31, 2023 14:57 - 6 minutes VideoHow is AI changing the nature of human imagination and creativity? Through a mind-bending tour of new techniques he's been tinkering with, creative technologist Bilawal Sidhu shows how anyone can use AI-powered tools -- like 3D scans that let you redesign the physical world in real time -- to expand the possibilities of artistic expression, often within just minutes.
Why rivals are working together to transform shipping | Bo Cerup-Simonsen
August 29, 2023 14:45 - 7 minutes VideoWhat would it take to make global supply chains cleaner and greener? Bo Cerup-Simonsen -- who's helping decarbonize the maritime industry as CEO of the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping -- discusses why tenacious collaboration is key to orchestrating systemic change. In conversation with TED's Lindsay Levin, he shares important lessons on collective problem-solving and decision-making that could benefit any industry making a green transition.
The first-ever cargo ship powered by green fuel | Morten Bo Christiansen
August 29, 2023 14:42 - 8 minutes VideoThe shipping industry is vital to the global economy, but it's also a huge contributor to the climate crisis. Morten Bo Christiansen, a leader of the energy transition for the global shipping company A.P. Moller – Maersk, talks to TED's Lindsay Levin about the launch of the first-ever cargo ship powered by green methanol, the industry's urgent need to shift away from fossil fuels -- and what it could all mean for people's pockets.
The dream of digital ownership, powered by the metaverse | Yat Siu
August 28, 2023 15:00 - 10 minutes VideoTechnologist Yat Siu believes the "open metaverse" -- a decentralized version of the internet also known as web3 -- is laying the foundation for a freer, fairer, more prosperous society. In a future-focused talk, he explores the transformative possibilities of web3, from enabling digital ownership and the creator economy to providing a much-needed update to capitalism.
The "adjacent possible" -- and how it explains human innovation | Stuart Kauffman
August 25, 2023 15:00 - 12 minutes VideoFrom the astonishing evolutionary advances of the Cambrian explosion to our present-day computing revolution, the trend of dramatic growth after periods of stability can be explained through the theory of the "adjacent possible," says theoretical biologist Stuart Kauffman. Tracing the arc of human history through the tools and technologies we've invented, he explains the impact human ingenuity has had on the planet -- and calls for a shift towards more protection for all life on Eart...
How AI art could enhance humanity's collective memory | Refik Anadol
August 24, 2023 14:58 - 5 minutes VideoWith data as his paintbrush, media artist Refik Anadol trains AI algorithms to visualize the disappearing wonders of nature. He gives a beautiful tour of his recent work -- imagery of artificial coral reefs, flowers, rainforests -- and ponders: Can we use AI to preserve our memories of the fading natural world?
What's it like to be a giant sequoia tree? | Ersin Han Ersin
August 23, 2023 14:57 - 9 minutes VideoArtist Ersin Han Ersin invites us to step inside a giant sequoia tree, peering through the bark into the tapestry of life within. Discover how his multisensory installations explore the concept of "umwelt," or the unique sensory experience of different organisms, and reveal the deep interconnectedness of humanity with the natural world.
The molecular love story that could help power the world | Olivia Breese
August 22, 2023 14:57 - 12 minutes VideoThe key to revolutionizing the world's energy landscape may lie in an unlikely love story, says energy innovator Olivia Breese. She details the fateful marriage of a green electron and a water molecule -- a powerful source of carbon-free, sustainable energy -- and calls for universal investment in this potentially transformative resource. "A world which runs entirely on green energy, it's not a luxury. It's a necessity," she says.
How to meet your child's difficult behavior with compassion | Yvonne Newbold
August 21, 2023 14:38 - 17 minutes VideoYvonne Newbold's son, Toby, is one of the millions of young people living with a disability. Parenting Toby has offered her some lessons on how to help children move from anxiety-led behavior towards happier times. Drawing on her personal experience, she outlines some of the most effective and actionable of these strategies -- starting with a dash of curiosity, kindness and creative thinking.
The climate crisis is expensive -- here's who should pay for it | Avinash Persaud
August 17, 2023 14:47 - 12 minutes VideoThe developing world is most affected by climate change but has contributed the least to the problem. Meanwhile, rich countries historically exacerbated the environmental crisis and grew wealthy as a result -- but aren't helping developing countries build climate resilience, which is now more crucial than ever to slowing climate change everywhere. Economist Avinash Persaud has an ambitious proposal to reimagine that dynamic: the Bridgetown Initiative, a groundbreaking vision of how r...
Why real change is about more than just going viral | Taylor Cassidy
August 16, 2023 15:00 - 14 minutes VideoTikTok content creator Taylor Cassidy has a hot take: going viral won't necessarily change the world. Inviting us to rethink what it means to be successful online, she shares how to retain your voice on social media -- and reminds us all where true impact lies.
A mysterious design that appears across millennia | Terry Moore
August 15, 2023 14:49 - 6 minutes VideoWhat can we make of a design that shows up over and over in disparate cultures throughout history? Theorist Terry Moore explores "Penrose tiling" -- two shapes that fit together in infinite combinations without ever repeating -- and ponders what it might mean.
Is the US headed towards another civil war? | Barbara F. Walter
August 14, 2023 14:53 - 12 minutes VideoBased on her work for a CIA task force aimed at predicting civil wars, political scientist Barbara F. Walter examines the rise in extremism and threats to democracies around the globe -- and paints an unsettling picture of the increasing likelihood of a second civil war in the United States.
How targeted ads might just save your life | Sandersan Onie
August 09, 2023 15:19 - 10 minutes VideoCould the tech industry's complex algorithms support people during their darkest times, rather than just deliver targeted ads? Drawing from his own experience with depression, global mental health researcher Sandersan Onie shows how internet search behaviors can provide valuable insights into suicide risk and potentially help save lives by reaching people in a deeply personal way, at a crucial moment.
In the age of AI art, what can originality look like? | Eileen Isagon Skyers
August 08, 2023 14:52 - 6 minutes VideoWhat happens when human and machine creativity meet? From an AI model trained on classic works to generate a seemingly infinite stream of portraits to a neural network that envisions otherworldly life-forms in impossible detail, media art curator Eileen Isagon Skyers showcases mind-bending art that embraces our increasingly technological future, showing how AI can stretch the scope of human imagination and help create worlds we could never design alone.
What the fossil fuel industry doesn't want you to know | Al Gore
August 07, 2023 14:59 - 25 minutes VideoIn a blistering talk, Nobel Laureate Al Gore looks at the two main obstacles to climate solutions and gives his view of how we might actually solve the environmental crisis in time. You won't want to miss his searing indictment of fossil fuel companies for walking back their climate commitments -- and his call for a global rethink of the roles of polluting industries in politics and finance.
The magic of a creative career | Michael Sheen
August 04, 2023 15:05 - 16 minutes VideoThe city of Port Talbot in South Wales is known for a few things: a steel mill, a proudly working class population and a passionate commitment to the arts that produced Hollywood superstars Richard Burton and Anthony Hopkins. In this sweet, personal talk, actor Michael Sheen shares how he was also able to take advantage of all the city had to offer, why he's worried that a change in approach to arts education means that kids now don't get the same kind of chances -- and the steps he'...
Climate action is on the cusp of exponential growth | Simon Stiell
August 03, 2023 14:47 - 7 minutes VideoClimate action is speeding up -- and we each have the power to push that transformation forward. As the head of the UNFCCC, the UN's entity supporting the global response to climate change, Simon Stiell points to clear social and technological signals that show we're at the tipping points of a green revolution -- and invites us all to apply our unique skills to defending the planet against the catastrophic impacts of the climate crisis.
Why I built my own time machine | Lucas Rizzotto
August 02, 2023 14:50 - 12 minutes VideoExperiential artist Lucas Rizzotto was going through a tough breakup, so he did what anyone would do: he built a personal time machine. In a playful talk, he shares how his free-ranging experimentation led to various delightful, unexpected innovations that are changing how people think about the relationship between technology and art. "Technology gives us the tools, but art shows us the way," he says.
The power of an image -- and the mind behind it | Misan Harriman
August 01, 2023 14:59 - 12 minutes VideoAs a neurodivergent child going to school far from home, Misan Harriman found solace in the internet -- "an endless library of the extraordinary," as he calls it. In this powerful talk, he shares his journey as a self-taught photographer of extraordinary range, from covering the greatest civil rights movements of our lifetimes to becoming the first Black man to shoot a cover for British Vogue. A reminder that each one of us can find our own ways to create a better world for all.
The beauty of building with mud and trash | Vinu Daniel
July 31, 2023 14:53 - 13 minutes VideoWhat if we could use waste to create resilient and sustainable buildings? Bringing out the beauty of the dirt beneath our feet, climate-responsive architect Vinu Daniel shares how he and his team are giving local and discarded materials (think: mud, plastic and used tires) a second life by using them to create dreamlike homes, schools and other public spaces.
How today's scraps will be tomorrow's sustainable buildings | Vinu Daniel
July 31, 2023 14:53 - 9 minutes VideoWhat if we could use waste to create resilient and sustainable buildings? Bringing out the beauty of the dirt beneath our feet, climate-responsive architect Vinu Daniel shares how he and his team are giving local and discarded materials (think: mud, plastic and used tires) a second life by using them to create dreamlike homes, schools and other public spaces.
Blindness isn't a tragic binary -- it's a rich spectrum | Andrew Leland
July 28, 2023 14:46 - 5 minutes VideoWhen does vision loss become blindness? Writer, audio producer and editor Andrew Leland explains how his gradual loss of vision revealed a paradoxical truth about blindness -- and shows why it might have implications for how all of us see the world.
A case for color blindness | Coleman Hughes
July 28, 2023 14:17 - 13 minutes VideoRacial inequality provokes passionate opinions and varied ideas of how to build a fair, equitable society. One topic that's been contentiously debated for generations is color blindness: the concept that we should look beyond race when thinking about equity. In this talk, writer and podcast host Coleman Hughes makes a case in favor of the idea, sharing why he thinks the key to reducing inequality and easing racial tensions is replacing race-based policies with class-based ones.
Can global food companies make the shift to regenerative agriculture? | Steve Presley
July 27, 2023 14:47 - 10 minutes VideoSharing the inside scoop on how the world's largest food company aims to reach net zero by 2050, Nestlé North America CEO Steve Presley joins TED's Lindsay Levin to discuss the progress they've made so far and where they're investing for sustainability. A big focus will be regenerative agriculture -- producing food in a way that helps the planet instead of harming it -- by working with farmers and other partners across the entire food production process.
How to make sure materials get reused -- again and again | Garry Cooper
July 26, 2023 14:21 - 12 minutes VideoWhat if we could harness the power and value of all that we discard? Circular economy builder Garry Cooper presents a compelling vision for transforming cities into sustainable, circular economies, citing real-world examples of how repurposing materials from buildings to office furniture can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs and foster economic growth. A hopeful reminder of the profound impact individual actions can have on our shared future.
How to make sure materials get reused — again and again | Garry Cooper
July 26, 2023 14:21 - 12 minutes VideoWhat if we could harness the power and value of all that we discard? Circular economy builder Garry Cooper presents a compelling vision for transforming cities into sustainable, circular economies, citing real-world examples of how repurposing materials from buildings to office furniture can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs and foster economic growth. A hopeful reminder of the profound impact individual actions can have on our shared future.
Why change is so scary -- and how to unlock its potential | Maya Shankar
July 25, 2023 14:44 - 13 minutes VideoUnexpected change like an accident, an illness or a relationship that suddenly ends is inevitable -- and disorienting. With a heartfelt and optimistic take on life's curveballs, cognitive scientist Maya Shankar shares how these challenging moments can inspire transformation, offering three questions to ask when facing uncertainty, so you can let go of rigidity and embrace change.
The tree-growing movement restoring Africa's vital landscapes | Wanjira Mathai
July 21, 2023 14:47 - 8 minutes Video2023 Audacious Project grantee Wanjira Mathai is at the forefront of re-greening the planet. Through the forest restoration initiative Restore Local, she's working to help both Africa's people and its landscapes flourish. Learn more about how her team invests in local restoration projects across the continent -- including a tree-growing movement that aims to revitalize 100 million hectares of African land by 2030. (This ambitious idea is a part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiat...
How to be a leader for climate justice | David Lammy and Justin J. Pearson
July 20, 2023 14:48 - 13 minutes VideoClimate justice is taking center stage -- geopolitically, socially and morally. In a contagiously courageous conversation, Member of Parliament in the UK David Lammy and Tennessee state representative Justin J. Pearson discuss how brave leadership can shepherd global movements and uplift historically marginalized communities in the face of humanity's greatest challenge: climate change. "We must have outrage, but we must have optimism as well," says Lammy.
The growing megafire crisis -- and how to contain it | George T. Whitesides
July 19, 2023 14:59 - 10 minutes VideoMegafires, or fires that burn more than 100,000 acres, are becoming more frequent worldwide, wreaking havoc on landscapes and communities -- and fire experts say the problem is only going to get worse. George T. Whitesides is focused on fighting these devastating natural disasters through innovative technologies and intentional changes to how we build communities. He presents three emerging solutions to this blazing dilemma, calling for us to redefine our relationship with fire in or...
Is remote work better than being in the office? It's complicated | Mark Mortensen
July 18, 2023 14:44 - 7 minutes VideoOpinions about remote work are plentiful and conflicting -- but what does the research say? Organizational design expert Mark Mortensen identifies the challenges of navigating the hybrid work debate and shares three conversation topics every workplace should explore as people change the way they show up on the job.
Could an orca give a TED Talk? | Karen Bakker
July 17, 2023 14:51 - 13 minutes VideoWhat if we could hear nature's ultrasonic communication -- and talk back? From a bat's shrill speech to a peacock's infrasound mating call, conservation technology researcher Karen Bakker takes us through a sound bath of animal noises that are far outside humanity's range of hearing, demonstrating how artificial intelligence has translated the incredible complexity of nature's soundtrack. She asks us to consider the moral weight of such transformative technology and explores the futu...
Why are we making pizza boxes out of endangered trees? | Nicole Rycroft
July 14, 2023 14:59 - 8 minutes VideoIf we're going to solve the climate crisis, we need to talk about supply chains, says biodiversity champion and 2023 Audacious Project grantee Nicole Rycroft. Her organization, Canopy, partners with key industry leaders to overhaul their base materials in favor of more sustainable alternatives. Learn more about how they're shifting production of everything from T-shirts to the Harry Potter book series out of the world's ancient and endangered forests -- and how solutions for every se...
Detroit's climate crisis -- and how to build a resilient future everywhere | Anika Goss
July 13, 2023 14:50 - 9 minutes VideoHow can cities become resilient to the shocks of climate change? As a leading force behind Detroit's ongoing revitalization, Anika Goss spends a lot of time thinking about this question. Connecting the city's industrial past to its sustainable future, she explores the link between climate vulnerability and economic inequity, offering a vision for responding to both challenges at once.
The renewable energy revolution happening in Ukraine | Maxim Timchenko
July 12, 2023 15:21 - 5 minutes VideoWhat's it like keeping the lights on during war? Ukrainian energy executive Maxim Timchenko shares how his company has diversified Ukraine's power structures to survive Russian attacks, highlighting the resilience of renewable energy. Hear more about Ukraine's present-day challenges, how it's become a testing ground in the global fight against climate change and the transformative path towards sustainable energy independence.
Will superintelligent AI end the world? | Eliezer Yudkowsky
July 11, 2023 14:40 - 10 minutes VideoDecision theorist Eliezer Yudkowsky has a simple message: superintelligent AI could probably kill us all. So the question becomes: Is it possible to build powerful artificial minds that are obedient, even benevolent? In a fiery talk, Yudkowsky explores why we need to act immediately to ensure smarter-than-human AI systems don't lead to our extinction.
War, AI and the new global arms race | Alexandr Wang
July 10, 2023 14:56 - 9 minutes VideoLethal drones with facial recognition, armed robots, autonomous fighter jets: we're at the dawn of a new age of AI-powered warfare, says technologist Alexandr Wang. He explores why data will be the secret weapon in this uncharted landscape and emphasizes the need to consider national security when developing new tech -- or potentially face all-out AI warfare.
School is just the start. Here's how to help girls succeed for life | Angeline Murimirwa
July 07, 2023 14:51 - 8 minutes VideoEducation activist and 2023 Audacious Project grantee Angeline Murimirwa knows the power of educating girls, especially in places where they may not have easy access to schooling. But she says that's not enough. In an inspiring talk, she clarifies why a support network around girls -- from the moment they enter the classroom to years after they graduate -- makes a radical difference for their lives in school and beyond. Learn how how her nonprofit CAMFED is building a sisterhood to d...
Why thinking about death helps you live a better life | Alua Arthur
July 06, 2023 14:49 - 18 minutes VideoAs a death doula, or someone who supports dying people and their loved ones, Alua Arthur spends a lot of time thinking about the end of life. In a profound talk that examines our brief, perfectly human time on this planet, she asks us to look at our lives through the lens of our deaths in seeking to answer the question: "What must I do to be at peace with myself so that I may live presently and die gracefully?"
How life on Earth adapts to you and me | Shane Campbell-Staton
July 05, 2023 14:55 - 12 minutes VideoWe tend to think of evolution as a slow, gradual process playing out over millions of years. But evolutionary biologist Shane Campbell-Staton says nature is now changing at breakneck speed to keep up with the world humanity has built. From tuskless elephants who escape poachers to wolves living in the radioactive Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Campbell-Staton unpacks how life is rapidly adapting in surprising ways -- and asks us to rethink how we can protect the planet's biodiversity.
How your company can gain a global talent advantage | Johann Daniel Harnoss
July 03, 2023 15:00 - 11 minutes VideoIf a diverse workforce makes a better company, why don't more businesses hire internationally? Innovation and migration strategist Johann Daniel Harnoss details the advantage of global talent and how to best build the systems and culture to welcome immigrants to your staff.
How to unleash your inner maximalist through costume | Machine Dazzle
June 30, 2023 14:51 - 14 minutes VideoTapping into the transformational power of costume, concept artist Machine Dazzle takes us on a maximalist journey through art, history and fashion. From a jaw-droppingly intricate '60s bouffant ensemble to a 24-hour show of extravagant outfits, Dazzle shares pieces that channel unrealized dreams, urging us all to fully embrace the beautiful complexity of being ourselves.
A liberating vision of identity that transcends labels | Jioji Ravulo
June 29, 2023 14:59 - 16 minutes VideoHow can we move past society's inclination to box people in with binary thinking and labels? Social work professor Jioji Ravulo believes we need to embrace multiplicity, exploring how Indigenous perspectives can help create more welcoming, collective communities for everyone.
How to fund real change in your community | Rebecca Darwent
June 28, 2023 14:47 - 12 minutes VideoIs there a way to give back that benefits everyone? Citing the success of collective giving practices from around the world, philanthropic advisor Rebecca Darwent asks donors to let communities lead decision-making, ushering in a new era of philanthropy that's rooted in interconnected humanity.
A powerful new neurotech tool for augmenting your mind | Conor Russomanno
June 27, 2023 14:56 - 12 minutes VideoIn an astonishing talk and tech demo, neurotechnologist Conor Russomanno shares his work building brain-computer interfaces that could enable us to control the external world with our minds. He discusses the quickly advancing possibilities of this field -- including the promise of a "closed-loop system" that could both record and stimulate brain activity -- and invites neurohacker Christian Bayerlein onto the TED stage to fly a mind-controlled drone by using a biosensing headset.
A modern argument for the rights of animals | Peter Singer
June 26, 2023 14:59 - 35 minutes VideoWhy do we prioritize human rights over those of other species? Philosopher Peter Singer dives into what he calls "speciesism," the root of the widely ignored mistreatment of animals around the world, from factory farms to product-testing facilities. He makes the case for ending the commercial exploitation of animals for food and invites everyone to reexamine the environmental and moral weight of the status quo. This conversation, hosted by head of TED Chris Anderson, was part of an e...