TED Health
Episodes
How aerosols brighten clouds — and cool the planet | Sarah J. Doherty
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Here's a conundrum: the same aerosol pollutants that harm human health also help cool the climate, says atmospheric scientist Sarah J. Doherty. Is the...
Food expiration dates don't mean what you think | Carolyn Beans
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Countries around the world waste huge amounts of food every year: roughly a fifth of food items in the US are tossed because consumers aren't sure how...
The miracle of organ donation — and a breakthrough for the future | Abbas Ardehali
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Organ transplants save lives, but they come with challenges: every minute a healthy donated organ is on ice increases risk. And even if things go perf...
The vital data you flush down the toilet | Newsha Ghaeli
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Everybody pees and poops — and we know that urine and stool contain a rich source of information on our health," says data detective Newsha Ghaeli....
Why is it so hard to cure the common cold? | George Zaidan
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On average, adults catch more than 150 colds throughout their lives. Even with similar symptoms, the cause could be different each time. Common colds ...
What happens to sex in midlife? A look at the "bedroom gap" | Maria E. Sophocles
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Menopause isn't just hot flashes, says gynecologist and sexual medicine specialist Maria Sophocles. It's often accompanied by overlooked symptoms like...
How to make smart decisions more easily | Alexandra Panzer
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Everything our bodies do— whether physical or mental— uses energy. Studies have found that many individuals seem to have a daily threshold for mak...
The science of laughter | Sasha Winkler
07 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Isn’t it odd that, when something’s funny, you might show your teeth, change your breathing, become weak and achy in some places, and maybe even c...
What if a simple blood test could detect cancer? | Hani Goodarzi
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Catching cancer at its earliest stages saves lives. But in a body made up of trillions of cells, how do you spot a small group of rogue cancer cells? ...
The diseases that changed humanity forever | Dan Kwartler
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Since humanity’s earliest days, we’ve been plagued by countless disease-causing pathogens. Invisible and persistent, these microorganisms and the ...
A campaign for period positivity | Ananya Grover
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Having your period is exhausting — and for many people across the world, menstruation is even more challenging because of stigmas and difficulty get...
Do gut microbes control your personality? | Kathleen McAuliffe
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Biologist Kathleen McAuliffe dives into emerging research that explores how certain gut bacteria can influence major parts of who you are, from your p...
How to hack your brain when you're in pain | Amy Baxter
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have we misunderstood pain? This week we’re revisiting a talk by researcher and physician Amy Baxter as she unravels the symphony of connections tha...
What happens as we die? | Kathryn Mannix
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have we lost the practical wisdom of what happens as people die? With lessons from a career witnessing thousands of people's final breaths, palliative...
Is alternative meat the recipe for a healthier planet? | Tao Zhang
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A Chinese saying goes, "There's no pleasure in eating without meat." And the data backs that up: every year, China consumes 26 percent of the world's ...
What happens when we deny people abortions? | Diana Greene Foster
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How does getting an abortion — or not — influence a woman's life? Demographer Diana Greene Foster puts forward the results of The Turnaway Study, ...
My mission to change the narrative of mental health | Glenn Close
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Legendary actor and mental health advocate Glenn Close is on a quest to change how we think about mental health, starting with her decision to speak o...
Why you shouldn't trust boredom | Kevin H. Gary
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you actually bored, or is something else going on? Educator Kevin H. Gary shares three practical takeaways to deal with the doldrums, so you can t...
Racism has a cost for everyone | Heather C. McGhee
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Racism makes our economy worse — and not just in ways that harm people of color, says public policy expert Heather C. McGhee. From her research and ...
The science behind how sickness shapes your mood | Keely Muscatell
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Your immune system is more socially aware than you think, says social neuroscientist and psychology professor Keely Muscatell. Investigating the inter...
Are you really as good at something as you think? | Robin Kramer
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Does confidence equal competence? Not quite. In a talk that will make you better aware of yourself, experimental psychologist Robin Kramer delves into...
Which is better for you: "Real" meat or "fake" meat? | Carolyn Beans
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In 2021, a survey of over 1,000 Americans found that nearly two-thirds had eaten plant-based meat alternatives in the past year. Many cited potential ...
The truth about human population decline | Jennifer D. Sciubba
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With birth rates falling, the worldwide human population is getting older and smaller. According to traditional thinking, this spells a future of labo...
Why I gave my teenage daughter a vibrator | Robin Buckley
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Why does a vibrator make us uncomfortable, but Viagra does not?" asks cognitive-behavioral coach Robin Buckley. Sharing her own personal story of emp...
So much sitting, looking at screens. Can we combat our sedentary lives? | Body Electric
11 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is an episode we think you might enjoy of Body Electric. TED Radio Hour host Manoush Zomorodi investigates the relationship between our technolog...
Artificial skin? We made it — here's why | Anna Maria Coclite
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Material scientist Anna Maria Coclite unveils "smart skin" — artificial skin technology that responds to touch, temperature and humidity like your v...
Why you feel anxious socializing (and what to do about it) | Fallon Goodman
02 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In crowds, at meetings, get-togethers with friends, everyday interactions: social anxiety can show up as an unwelcome guest at any time. But why? Psyc...
The secret to a happy life — lessons from 8 decades of research | Robert Waldinger
26 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The happiest and healthiest people are those who have an abundance of warm connections with others, says psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, who leads the ...
Are life-saving medicines hiding in the world's coldest places? | Normand Voyer
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
CRISPR's next advance is bigger than you think | Jennifer Doudna
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You've probably heard of CRISPR, the revolutionary technology that allows us to edit the DNA in living organisms. Biochemist and 2023 Audacious Projec...
What did people do before anesthesia? | Sally Frampton
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The quest for anesthetics that could induce unconsciousness and enable more meticulous surgeries began around the early 3rd century CE. Before anesthe...
A flavorful field guide to foraging | Alexis Nikole Nelson
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Whether it's dandelions blooming in your backyard or purslane sprouting from the sidewalk, forager Alexis Nikole Nelson is on a mission to show how fr...
The single most important parenting strategy | Becky Kennedy
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone loses their temper from time to time — but the stakes are dizzyingly high when the focus of your fury is your own child. Clinical psycholog...
The world's rarest diseases — and how they impact everyone | Anna Greka
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Physician-scientist Anna Greka investigates the world's rarest genetic diseases, decoding the secrets of our cells through "molecular detective work."...
Can you change your sleep schedule? | Alexandra Panzer
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
An early bird rises with the sun, springing out of bed abuzz with energy. Meanwhile, a night owl groggily rises much later, not hitting their stride u...
How to hack your brain when you're in pain | Amy Baxter
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have we misunderstood pain? Researcher and physician Amy Baxter unravels the symphony of connections that send pain from your body to your brain, expl...
How targeted ads might just save your life | Sandersan Onie
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Could the tech industry's complex algorithms support people during their darkest times, rather than just deliver targeted ads? Drawing from his own ex...
Blindness isn't a tragic binary — it's a rich spectrum | Andrew Leland
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When does vision loss become blindness? Writer, audio producer and editor Andrew Leland explains how his gradual loss of vision revealed a paradoxical...
How to calm your anxiety, from a neuroscientist | Wendy Suzuki
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What if you could transform your anxiety into something you can actually use during your work day? Neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki shares two evidence-bas...
The epidemics that almost happened | George Zaidan
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 2013, an Ebola outbreak began in Guinea. The country had no formal response system and the outbreak became the largest Ebola epidemic in recorded h...
Introducing Body Electric
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve got a special 6-part series with an interactive twist coming your way: On Body Electric, TED Radio Hour host Manoush Zomorodi investigates the...
Sex education should start with consent | Kaz
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Consent can be a tricky topic to talk about in sex education curriculums, but it doesn't have to be. This week, we're revisiting a hilarious and relat...
Why is it so hard to get effective birth control in the US? | Mark Edwards
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, the result of millions of people being unable to get the birth control method that ...
Your right to mental privacy in the age of brain-sensing tech | Nita Farahany
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Neurotechnology, or devices that let you track your own brain activity, could help you deeply understand your health. But without privacy protections,...
The tragedy of air pollution -- and an urgent demand for clean air | Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"Breathing clean air is every child's human right," says grassroots campaigner Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, while sharing the heartbreaking story of he...
Why do we have crooked teeth when our ancestors didn't? | G. Richard Scott
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
According to the fossil record, ancient humans usually had straight teeth, complete with wisdom teeth. In fact, the dental dilemmas that fuel the dema...
Why thinking about death helps you live a better life | Alua Arthur
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As 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 pro...
Why having fun is the secret to a healthier life | Catherine Price
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you had your daily dose of fun? It's not just enjoyable, it's also essential for your health and happiness, says science journalist Catherine Pri...
Is someone you love suffering in silence? Here's what to do | Gus Worland
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lots of people talk about the need to be physically fit, but mentally fit? Not as much. In a powerful talk, mental health advocate Gus Worland shares ...
The Internet's First Main Character? | The Redemption of Jar Jar Binks
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What if the most exciting achievement in your career also created a cultural phenomenon that pushed your mental health to the brim? In this new podcas...
Lessons from losing my mind | Andy Dunn
25 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Neurodiversity and innovation often go hand in hand, but does that mean visionary entrepreneurs get a free pass to say and do anything they want? Bono...
What is a poop transplant, and how does it work? | Kathryn M. Stephenson and David L. Suskind
18 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
1,700 years ago, Chinese alchemist Ge Hong was renowned for his soup that could cure diarrhea-stricken patients. It had one surprising secret ingredie...
How to keep house while drowning (w/ KC Davis)
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s face it: if chores were fun, they probably wouldn’t be called that. Because for most people, life can be overwhelming – and that means it ...
How does alcohol cause hangovers? | Judy Grisel
04 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The molecule responsible for hangovers is ethanol, which we colloquially refer to as alcohol. Ethanol is present in all alcoholic beverages, and gener...
The science of preserving sight | Joshua Chu-Tan
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As you get older, your eyes worsen and become susceptible to a disease called age-related macular degeneration -- the leading cause of blindness, with...
The bias behind your undiagnosed chronic pain | Sheetal DeCaria
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While doctors take an oath to do no harm, there's a good chance their unconscious biases can seep into how seriously they treat pain. This week we are...
A sex therapist's secret to rediscovering your spark | Ian Kerner
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sex therapist Ian Kerner hears about a common problem from his patients: "failure to launch," or the inability to build and maintain sexual momentum. ...
Mental health care that disrupts cycles of violence | Celina de Sola
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In Latin American countries like El Salvador, homicide rates are alarmingly high thanks in large part to a vicious cycle of violence -- people don't h...
What girls and women in sports need to unlock their potential | Kate Ackerman
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As a sports scientist, athlete and director of the Female Athlete Program at Boston Children's Hospital, Kate Ackerman understands that women athletes...
Why nurses are key to medical innovation | Ben Gran
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nurses represent the front line of health care -- from first breaths to last moments, and everything in between. But there's a vital place nurses are ...
Why autism is often missed in women and girls | Kate Kahle
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Women and girls with autism spectrum disorder often don’t display the behaviors people typically associate with neurodivergence, greatly impacting w...
3 steps to help kids process traumatic events | Kristen Nguyen
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do we say to kids when intensely traumatic events interrupt everyday life? Whether you're a teacher, parent or community builder, educator Kriste...
May the 4th Be With You: Introducing The Redemption of Jar Jar Binks
04 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Love him or hate him, ever since his debut in Star Wars Episode 1, Jar Jar Binks has been one of the most divisive characters in movie history. And th...
Fixable: Kelli - “How do I deal with a communication breakdown?"
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kelli is a nurse at a leading teaching hospital where communication issues are not only leading to resentment – they could also be affecting patient...
The secret to a happy life -- lessons from 8 decades of research | Robert Waldinger
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The happiest and healthiest people are those who have an abundance of warm connections with others, says psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, who leads the ...
Where does your sense of self come from? A scientific look | Anil Ananthaswamy
18 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our memories and bodies give us clues about who we are, but what happens when this guidance shifts? In this mind-bending talk, science writer Anil Ana...
How puberty changes your brain | Shannon Odell
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While we often talk about puberty's effect on the body, what gets overlooked are the fascinating changes that happen in the brain. Puberty, in fact, b...
Why you feel anxious socializing (and what to do about it) | Fallon Goodman
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In crowds, at meetings, get-togethers with friends, everyday interactions: social anxiety can show up as an unwelcome guest at any time. But why? Psyc...
How to do laundry when you're depressed | KC Davis
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ever had a hard time doing daily household tasks -- cooking, cleaning, laundry -- and felt like a terrible person for struggling in the first place? T...
A disability-inclusive future of work | Ryan Gersava
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One billion people worldwide are living with a disability, and too many of them are left unemployed or feeling like they need to hide their conditions...
How to preserve your private life in the age of social media | Bryce Dallas Howard
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Growing up in the public eye, multi-hyphenate creator Bryce Dallas Howard experienced the familiar pressure to share her life with the world on social...
3 ways community creates a healthy life | Olivia Affuso
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Maintaining a healthy weight takes more than diet and exercise, says physical activity epidemiologist Olivia Affuso. In this episode of TED Health we ...
Why is it so hard to cure the common cold? | George Zaidan
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On average, adults catch more than 150 colds throughout their lives. Even with similar symptoms, the cause could be different each time. Common colds ...
The truth about faking orgasms | Karen Gurney
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Whose pleasure is prioritized during sex, and why? Psychosexologist Karen Gurney explains how a lack of equal pleasure in the bedroom actually reflect...
Introducing Good Sport
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on TED Health we’re excited to introduce TED’s newest podcast, Good Sport, hosted by veteran sports producer Jody Avirgan. What can spor...
An Olympic champion's mindset for overcoming fear | Allyson Felix
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Getting pregnant as a track and field athlete is often called the "kiss of death" -- a sign your athletic career will soon end. Olympic champion, entr...
How does heart transplant surgery work? | Roni Shanoada
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Your heart beats more than 100,000 times a day. In one minute, it pumps over five liters of blood throughout your body. But unlike skin and bones, the...
The bias behind your undiagnosed chronic pain | Sheetal DeCaria
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While doctors take an oath to do no harm, there's a good chance their unconscious biases can seep into how seriously they treat pain. Physician Sheeta...
How to squeeze all the juice out of retirement | Riley Moynes
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Despite common belief, retirement takes more than financial planning. And while you may be beyond ready to go on permanent vacation, you also have to ...
Why having fun is the secret to a healthier life | Catherine Price
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you had your daily dose of fun? It's not just enjoyable, it's also essential for your health and happiness, says science journalist Catherine Pri...
What's your happiness score? | Dominic Price
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you rediscover a happier, more purpose-driven (and less productivity-obsessed) version of yourself at the start of 2023? Quiz yourself alongsid...
The affordable, 3D-printed bionics of the future | Enzo Romero
27 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Creating functional prosthetics at a fraction of the cost of imported tech, bionic innovator and TED Fellow Enzo Romero shares a groundbreaking model ...
A brain implant that turns your thoughts into text | Tom Oxley
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What if you could control digital devices using just the power of thought? That's the incredible promise behind the Stentrode -- an implantable brain-...
Why the price of insulin is a danger to diabetics | Brooke Bennett
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The price of insulin in the US is both outrageous and deadly to those who can't live without it. Diabetes advocate Brooke Bennett shares her own strug...
Is there a link between cancer and heart disease? | Nicholas Leeper
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Does the key to stopping cancer lie in the heart? Cardiologist Nicholas Leeper digs into emerging scientific research on the link between the world's ...
It's impossible to have healthy people on a sick planet | Shweta Narayan
28 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week on TED Health, we are revisiting an episode focused on the Hippocratic Oath. It states: "first, do no harm" and is one of the world's oldest...
How to have great sex (with Siphumeze Khundayi and Tiffany Mugo) | How To Be A Better Human
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Sex is a normal part of human life, but it can also get complicated–whether you’re having it or not! The way we approach, think, and engage with o...
Surgeon Atul Gawande wants everyone to have a coach | ReThinking w/Adam Grant
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Atul Gawande was advised by a colleague to say yes to every opportunity until he turned 40. Since then he’s been a renowned surgeon, a public health...
Why public health messaging matters | Peter Hotez
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you're aware of it or not, public health messaging shapes many aspects of our lives. The way medical institutions and the government communica...
Are women more likely to get Alzheimer's? | Maria Shriver
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Does Alzheimer's disease disproportionately affect women? In this episode of TED Health, author and health advocate Maria Shriver joins our host Shosh...
How your body could become its own diagnostic lab | Aaron Morris
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we are revisiting a talk about an inside-out approach to how we diagnose disease. Immuno-engineer and TED Fellow Aaron Morris unveils...
How to protect your mental well-being online -- from a Gen-Z | Peachy Liv
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you have one follower or a million, we've all witnessed nastiness and hate speech on social media. YouTube content creator and mental well-bei...
Is the pandemic actually over? It’s complicated | Anthony Fauci
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
“Be spreaders of facts and truths,” says scientist and immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci. Having advised seven US presidents on various disease outbr...
How does alcohol cause hangovers? | Judy Grisel
04 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The molecule responsible for hangovers is ethanol, which we colloquially refer to as alcohol. Ethanol is present in all alcoholic beverages, and gener...
Why are eating disorders so hard to treat? | Anees Bahji
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Globally, about 10% of people will experience an eating disorder during their lifetime. And yet, eating disorders are profoundly misunderstood. Miscon...
The tragedy of air pollution -- and an urgent demand for clean air | Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Breathing clean air is every child's human right," says grassroots campaigner Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, while sharing the heartbreaking story of her...
A flavorful field guide to foraging | Alexis Nikole Nelson
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Whether it's dandelions blooming in your backyard or purslane sprouting from the sidewalk, forager Alexis Nikole Nelson is on a mission to show how fr...
Transforming the US social safety net | Amanda Renteria | TED Tech
06 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Digital public servant Amanda Renteria has seen that the millions of people who rely on government welfare services are often discouraged from seeking...
What happens to people's donated eggs and sperm after they die? | Ellen Trachman
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today, there are many ways to conceive a child, thanks to assisted reproductive technologies like IVF and egg-freezing. But the law lags behind these ...
Why ASMR is good for your brain | Craig Richard
23 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A curious, quiet revolution of sound has taken over the internet. Physiologist Craig Richard explains the soothing brain science of Autonomous Sensory...