TED Talks Daily

What's your happiness score? | Dominic Price

09 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do you rediscover a happier, more purpose-driven (and less productivity-obsessed) self in the wake of the pandemic? Quiz yourself alongside work f...

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

08 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As climate change accelerates, finding clean alternatives to fossil fuels is more urgent than ever. Social entrepreneur Vaitea Cowan believes green hy...

What if you could sing in your favorite musician's voice? | Holly Herndon

07 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What if you could create new music using your favorite musician's voice? Sharing her melodic gifts with the world, multidisciplinary artist Holly Hern...

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

06 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Among the dinosaurs, giant sea dragons roamed the ancient ocean. Millions of years later, paleontologist Dean R. Lomax and his team freed the remains ...

Fun, fierce and fantastical African art | Wanuri Kahiu

05 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We're so used to narratives out of Africa being about war, poverty and devastation, says TED Fellow Wanuri Kahiu. Where's the fun? Introducing "AfroBu...

What capitalism gets right -- and governments get wrong | Katherine Mangu-Ward

02 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is capitalism a good thing? Journalist Katherine Mangu-Ward makes the case that “weirdos” left alone to innovate and explore far-out ideas in a fr...

Give yourself permission to be creative | Ethan Hawke

01 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Reflecting on moments that shaped his life, actor Ethan Hawke examines how courageous expression promotes healing and connection with one another -- a...

The root cause of undiagnosed pain | Sheetal DeCaria

31 Aug 2022

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 take your pain. Physician Sh...

The most powerful yet overlooked resource in schools | Heejae Lim

30 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"When teachers and families work together, everyone wins," says education technology entrepreneur and TED Fellow Heejae Lim. She shines a light on an ...

How to transform the chemical industry -- one reaction at a time | Miguel A. Modestino

29 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Chemical plants create many of the materials found in everyday items, from the shoes you wear to the car you drive to the cell phone in your pocket. B...

Empathy is not endorsement | Dylan Marron

26 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Digital creator Dylan Marron has racked up millions of views for projects like "Every Single Word" and "Sitting in Bathrooms With Trans People" -- but...

Why the price of insulin is a danger to diabetics | Brooke Bennett

25 Aug 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...

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

24 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Neuroscientist Sergiu P. Pasca has made it his life's work to understand how the human brain builds itself -- and what makes it susceptible to disease...

Is humanity smart enough to survive itself? | Jeanette Winterson

23 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With quick wit and sharp insight, writer Jeanette Winterson lays out a vision of the future where human and machine intelligence meld -- forming what ...

How to stop the metaverse from becoming the internet's bad sequel | Micaela Mantegna

22 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"The metaverse is already on fire, and we haven't even built it yet," says TED Fellow and video game lawyer Micaela Mantegna. She lays out why the met...

Art that imagines new ways of living with machines | Anicka Yi

19 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Taking cues from soft robotics and the natural world, conceptual artist Anicka Yi builds lighter-than-air machines that roam and react like autonomous...

How to build an equitable and just climate future | Peggy Shepard

18 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone has the right to a clean environment -- but major disparities exist when it comes to who faces the consequences of pollution. Environmental j...

What silence can teach you about sound | Dallas Taylor

17 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What can you hear in silence? In this exploration of sound, host of the podcast "Twenty Thousand Hertz" Dallas Taylor tells the story of arguably the ...

The problem with plastics -- and how to start cleaning up the mess | Patricia Villarrubia-Gómez

16 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Plastics are everywhere -- they're in our favorite electronic devices, they package our food and insulate our homes. Today, the total mass of plastic ...

What it takes to make change | Jacqueline Novogratz

15 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What can you do to build a better world? Sharing stories from her pioneering career dedicated to tackling poverty, Jacqueline Novogratz offers three p...

Writing, comedy and storytelling in a messed-up world | Maeve Higgins

12 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On a list of the least funny topics imaginable, the global refugee crisis, border disputes and questions of citizenship are probably close to the top....

The hidden power of sad songs and rainy days | Susan Cain

11 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wondered why you like sad music? Do you find comfort or inspiration in rainy days? In this profound, poetic talk, author Susan Cain invi...

Storytelling in a data-hooked world | The TED Interview

10 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Egan is a journalist and writer whose novel "A Visit from the Goon Squad" won both the 2011 Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circ...

Being You: A New Science of Consciousness | Anil Seth

09 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Who are you, really? In conversation with TED science curator David Biello, neuroscientist Anil Seth lays out his fascinating new theory of consciousn...

The Island of Missing Trees | Elif Shafak

08 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"From populist demagogues, we will learn the indispensability of democracy," says novelist Elif Shafak. "From isolationists, we will learn the need fo...

How will Icelandic survive the digital age? | Far Flung

05 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, an episode of Far Flung with Saleem Reshamwala, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective. Icelandic is an ancient and iconic language that...

The Menopause Manifesto | Jen Gunter

04 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There are only two mammals who have evolved to survive after their childbearing years: toothed whales and humans. This stage of life is called menopau...

Discovering my love of words | Jacqueline Woodson

03 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jacqueline Woodson writes books to be savored. She is best known for her memoir "Brown Girl Dreaming" along with her works "After Tupac and D Foster,"...

Your Turn: How to Be an Adult | Julie Lythcott-Haims

02 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With passion and wry humor, the former Dean of Freshmen at Stanford makes the case for parents to stop defining their children's success via grades an...

A photographic journey through the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan | Kiana Hayeri

01 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Exposing what life looks like in Afghanistan after a 20-year US occupation and the Taliban's stunning and rapid takeover, TED Fellow and documentary p...

The meaning of home – and the joy of traveling | Pico Iyer

01 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the TED Talks Daily summer book club, a series featuring talks and interviews to inspire your next great read. Up first, a meditation on th...

How the US fails working parents -- and what they need to thrive | Reshma Saujani

28 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The pandemic brought into sharp focus the crisis in caregiving in the United States, which woefully under provides support for parents. Activist and G...

The US can move past immigration prisons -- and towards justice | César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández

27 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine seeking safety abroad and instead being detained and forced to defend yourself in a high-stakes legal battle — alone. Law professor César C...

Could a DAO build the next great city? | Scott Fitsimones

26 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Could DAOs, or "decentralized autonomous organizations", be the key to building the next great city? Experimental urbanist Scott Fitsimones shares how...

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

25 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Your closet is likely full of all kinds of materials -- leather, cotton, nylon and polyester, to name a few -- that contribute to fashion’s sustaina...

A new understanding of human history and the roots of inequality | David Wengrow

22 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What if the commonly accepted narratives about the foundation of civilization are all wrong? Drawing on groundbreaking research, archaeologist David W...

How schools can nurture every student's genius | Trish Millines Dziko

21 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Forget home economics and standardized tests, education visionary Trish Millines Dziko has a much more engaging and fulfilling way for students to dev...

Why fun is the secret to a healthier life | Catherine Price

20 Jul 2022

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...

How hip-hop can make climate action cool | Samir Ibrahim, MyVerse and Kristen Warren

19 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Music can amplify social issues and inspire people to care about new (and sometimes unexpected) topics. But can it take something as dire as climate c...

A 3-part plan to take on extreme heat waves | Eleni Myrivili

18 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The deadliest severe weather phenomenon is something you might not realize: extreme heat. Eleni Myrivili, chief heat officer of the city of Athens, Gr...

How to write less but say more | Jim VandeHei

15 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As the saying goes, less is more. The same goes for words. Listen as Politico and Axios co-founder Jim VandeHei shares what he's learned leading two m...

The profound power of gratitude and "living eulogies" | Andrea Driessen

14 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we often wait so long to recognize each other's gifts? Why are the truest compliments for the people we love often said only after they're no l...

Where on Earth will people live in the future? | Parag Khanna

13 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

From the return of nomadic living to a climate-disrupted world, author and global strategist Parag Khanna has some predictions for humanity. Get a fas...

The eco-creators helping the climate through social media | Zahra Biabani

12 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"Climate doom-ism," or a pessimistic outlook on the future of the planet, rivals climate denialism in holding up the fight against climate change, say...

How we could solve the dark matter mystery | Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

11 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 an...

My 105 days in Taliban prison -- and a call to aid Afghanistan | Safi Rauf

08 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sharing his experience of being held captive in a Taliban prison for 105 days, humanitarian Safi Rauf talks about his life's mission to get food, medi...

How ethics can help you make better decisions | Michael Schur

07 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What would Immanuel Kant say about a fender bender? In a surprisingly funny trip through the teachings of some of history’s great philosophers, TV w...

The rise of boring architecture -- and the case for radically human buildings | Thomas Heatherwick

06 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Where did all the lumps and bumps on buildings go? When did city architecture become so ... dull? Here to talk about why cities need inspiring archite...

How to alter the perception of mental health care in Russia | Olga Kitaina

05 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

During the Soviet Union era, therapy was often used as a tool of political oppression. Since then, Russia has seen major reforms in mental health care...

The blind spots of the green energy transition | Olivia Lazard

04 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The world needs clean power, but decarbonization calls for a massive increase in the mining and extraction of minerals like lithium, graphite and coba...

Caracas' magic bus | Far Flung

03 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We all know that information is power, but what if you live in a country without a free press or regular access to the internet? You have to be creati...

How data-driven journalism illuminates patterns of injustice | Alison Killing

01 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A blank spot on a digital map can signal much more than a gap in data -- it can mean something is being intentionally hidden. Sharing the remarkable d...

The humans at the center of the US immigration debate | Ali Noorani

30 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How does a nation reconcile when its identity is at odds with its policies? Ali Noorani traces the arc of the US immigration debate to show a safer an...

Why healthy soil matters now more than ever | Jane Zelikova

29 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

From nourishing our foods to storing massive amounts of carbon, soil is teeming with diverse microbial life that could slow global warming. Climate ch...

An invitation to reexamine your familiar world | Gillian Tett

28 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Before entering the world of financial journalism, Gillian Tett was a cultural anthropologist who studied how the past influences our present thoughts...

Why art is a tool for hope (with JR) | How to Be a Better Human

27 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Art can move us in deep, meaningful ways. A beautiful song, a good book, or a great film can change our perspectives and attitudes toward ideas, and s...

Africa’s great carbon valley -- and how to end energy poverty | James Irungu Mwangi

24 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our lives depend on curbing climate change, but so many priorities seem to be in competition. What’s the most urgent thing humanity can do right now...

SpaceX's supersized Starship rocket -- and the future of galactic exploration | Jennifer Heldmann

23 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

SpaceX's Starship launch vehicle has the potential to explore the solar system in a bold, new -- and super-sized -- way. Planetary scientist Jennifer ...

What happens to people's donated eggs and sperm after they die? | Ellen Trachman

22 Jun 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 ...

How to find joy in climate action | Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

21 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We can all play a role in the climate movement by tapping into our skills, resources and networks in ways that bring us satisfaction, says climate lea...

The mission to safeguard Black history in the US | Julieanna L. Richardson

19 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Black history in the US is rich, profound -- and at risk of being lost forever, if not for the monumental efforts of Julieanna L. Richardson. As the f...

The actual cost of preventing climate breakdown | Yuval Noah Harari

17 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Nobody really knows how much it would cost to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Yet historian Yuval Noah Harari’s analysis, based on the wo...

The link between sex and imagination | Gina Gutierrez

15 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sex is as much mental as it is physical -- and imagination is the most powerful tool we have to expand our personal agency and capacity for pleasure, ...

5 ethical principles for digitizing humanitarian aid | Aarathi Krishnan

14 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Over the last decade, humanitarian organizations have digitized many of their systems, from registering refugees with biometric IDs to transporting ca...

How Black girls can reclaim their voice in music | Kyra Gaunt

10 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How does music shape us? Digital ethnomusicologist and TED Fellow Kyra Gaunt studies how Black girls can preserve the integrity of their own voices wh...

Esports and the new era of play | James Hodge

09 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As the line between the physical and digital worlds blur, so does the line between real-world and virtual sports. Reframing our understanding of compe...

A sci-fi story of climate optimism | Vandana Singh

08 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"The world is a living tapestry ... As the weave of life is torn apart in one place, the threads unravel in another," says author and physics professo...

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

07 Jun 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...

How to preserve your private life in the age of social media | Bryce Dallas Howard

06 Jun 2022

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...

Why bittersweet emotions underscore life's beauty | Susan Cain

04 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Life is a constant state of both joy and sorrow, dark and light, bitter and sweet. In a meditative conversation, author Susan Cain explores how being ...

Build your own metaverse -- and share it! | Agnes Larsson

03 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the multitude of metaverses that exist there are infinite possibilities for inclusivity and creativity. Inviting us to craft our own digital univer...

How to master a life transition | Bruce Feiler

02 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do you navigate life's growing number of transitions with meaning, purpose and skill? Writer Bruce Feiler offers a powerful way to handle uncertai...

A brain implant that turns your thoughts into text | Tom Oxley

01 Jun 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 brai...

How innovation and technology can fight global hunger | Bernhard Kowatsch

31 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Social entrepreneur Bernhard Kowatsch shares real-life examples of how a business approach focused on accelerating tech (like a blockchain-supported w...

Wikipedia's enduring, nuanced perspective on truth | Katherine Maher

30 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Even with public trust at an all-time low, Wikipedia continues to maintain people's confidence. How do they do it? Former CEO of Wikimedia Foundation ...

How to manage your stress like an ER doctor | Darria Long

29 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do doctors in the emergency room stay calm and focused amidst the chaos? Drawing on years of experience, ER doctor Darria Long shares a straightfo...

Our longing for cosmic truth and poetic beauty | Maria Popova

28 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Linking together the histories of Henrietta Swan Leavitt, Edwin Hubble and Tracy K. Smith, poet and thinker Maria Popova crafts an astonishing story o...

The future of US reproductive rights after Roe v. Wade | Mary Ziegler, Loretta J. Ross, Erika Bachiochi, Joshua Prager

27 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The recent leak of the US Supreme Court’s draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade -- the nearly 50-year-old ruling to legalize abortion nationwide -- ...

A flavorful field guide to foraging | Alexis Nikole Nelson

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Whether it’s dandelions blooming in your backyard or purslane sprouting from the sidewalk, vegan forager Alexis Nikole Nelson is on a mission to sho...

3 ways to make flying more climate-friendly | Ryah Whalen

25 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Air travel opens our eyes to the world, but it also comes at a high cost to the environment. Piloting us into a future of green aviation, innovator Ry...

How is your city tackling the climate crisis? | Marvin Rees

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

“If we can unlock the full potential of our cities, we can minimize the price the planet pays for hosting us in our growing numbers,” says Marvin ...

How labor unions shape society | Margaret Levi

23 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The weekend. Social security. Health insurance. What do these things have in common? They're all thanks to the advocacy of labor unions. Political eco...

Breaking up with perfectionism | WorkLife with Adam Grant

22 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Perfectionism is on the rise -- and not just in job interviews when people claim it's their greatest weakness. But the desire to be flawless is not al...

The real reason you feel so busy (and what to do about it) | Dorie Clark

21 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

These days, almost all of us feel pressed for time. Leadership expert Dorie Clark shares three hidden reasons people fall into an endless loop of feel...

How to discover your authentic self -- at any age | Bevy Smith

20 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In a talk packed with wry wisdom, pop culture queen Bevy Smith shares hard-earned lessons about authenticity, confidence, mature success and why, if y...

How great leaders innovate -- responsibly | Ken Chenault

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In times of uncertainty, leaders have a responsibility to inspire hope. Sharing hard-won wisdom, business leader Ken Chenault talks about what it take...

The workplace, redefined by women of color | Deepa Purushothaman

18 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Corporate inclusion visionary Deepa Purushothaman shares how women of color can advocate for themselves in workplace settings where they are undervalu...

A creator-led internet, built on blockchain | Adam Mosseri

17 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As digital assets like cryptocurrency and NFTs become more mainstream, design thinker and head of Instagram Adam Mosseri believes that creators are un...

The local guardians protecting African lions | Resson Kantai Duff

16 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Conservation efforts in Africa have typically been led by “parachute conservationists” -- outsiders who drop in thinking they have all the answers...

Listen now: Season 2 | Body Stuff with Jen Gunter

15 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Can you really boost your metabolism? Is blue light actually ruining your sleep? How much vaginal yeast is healthy, and when is it ... too much? Body ...

The future of the food ecosystem -- and the power of your plate | Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli

14 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Many people across the world don't have access to healthy food -- while in other places tons of food go to waste. Social entrepreneur Ndidi Okonkwo Nw...

The crime-fighting power of cross-border investigative journalism | Bektour Iskender

13 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Organized crime operates across national borders -- to keep up, investigative journalists need to do the same. TED Fellow Bektour Iskender gives the i...

How to stop banks from investing in dirty energy | Lucie Pinson

12 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Money is pollution's biggest driving force -- particularly, the cash invested in dirty energy projects, says financial responsibility campaigner Lucie...

My long walk across India for women's freedom | Srishti Bakshi

10 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There are 600 million women in India -- yet they are rarely seen outdoors after sunset because of safety concerns like harassment and catcalls. On a m...

The most powerful untapped resource in health care | Shahed Alam and Edith Elliott

09 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Whether we're rushing a child to the emergency room after a fall or making chicken soup for a feverish spouse, love inspires us to act when a family m...

A bold plan for transforming access to the US social safety net | Amanda Renteria

08 May 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...

A transparent, easy way for smallholder farmers to save | Anushka Ratnayake

07 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A safe space to save money is life-changing -- especially for the 60 million smallholder farmers in West Africa (the majority being women) who often l...

An election redesign to restore trust in US democracy | Tiana Epps-Johnson

06 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Election infrastructure in the United States is crumbling, says technologist Tiana Epps-Johnson, and, even worse, election officials are increasingly ...

Mental health care that disrupts cycles of violence | Celina de Sola

05 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In Latin American countries like El Salvador, where local changemaker Celina de Sola lives, homicide rates are alarmingly high due to a vicious cycle ...

How ancient Arctic carbon threatens everyone on the planet | Sue Natali

04 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What will happen to the planet if climate change melts what's left of Arctic permafrost? Shedding light on this overlooked threat, Arctic geologist Su...