TED Talks Daily

The global risk of flooding — and how to turn the tide | Virginia Smith

17 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

From village to metropolis, global flooding is on the rise, and traditional approaches to managing the swells won't cut it, says water resource engine...

Siri, Alexa, Google ... what comes next? | Karen Lellouche Tordjman

16 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

From Siri to Alexa to Google, virtual assistants already permeate our lives. What will the next generation of these digital helpers look and sound lik...

A new way to help young people with their mental health | Tom Osborn

15 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

TED Fellow Tom Osborn wants more young people to have access to the mental health support they need. With the Shamiri Institute, he and his team are t...

A vision of sustainable housing for all of humanity | Vishaan Chakrabarti

14 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

By 2100, the UN estimates that the world’s population will grow to just over 11 billion people. Architect Vishaan Chakrabarti wants us to start thin...

3 ways to prepare society for the next pandemic | Jennifer B. Nuzzo

13 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What if we treated the risk of pandemics the same way we treat the risk of fires? In this eye-opening talk, infectious disease epidemiologist Jennifer...

4 steps to hiring fairly -- and supporting criminal justice reform | Nyra Jordan

12 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Many companies have made strides when it comes to prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), but one group remains largely left out: people ...

Education is a fundamental right for every child | Makhtoum Abdalla

10 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For children growing up in refugee camps, education is a powerful tool of liberation. In this inspiring talk, Makhtoum Abdalla, displaced as a child i...

How going to Mars improves life on Earth | Eric Hinterman

09 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Memory foam, air purifiers, scratch-resistant lenses: these are just a few of the everyday items originally developed for space missions. Aerospace en...

The end of Roe v. Wade -- and what comes next | Kathryn Kolbert

08 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision protecting people’s right to have an abortion in the United States, will be overturned within ...

How to end the pandemic -- and prepare for the next | Maria Van Kerkhove

07 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We will get out of this pandemic, says Maria Van Kerkhove, the COVID-19 Technical Lead of the World Health Organization (WHO). The question is how fas...

Community investment is the missing piece of climate action | Dawn Lippert

06 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There’s been explosive investment in new technologies aimed at decarbonizing the planet. But climate investor Dawn Lippert says something key is mis...

The dream of educating Afghan girls lives on | Shabana Basij-Rasikh

03 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this deeply moving talk, educator Shabana Basij-Rasikh shares the harrowing story of evacuating more than 250 students, staff and family members fr...

The value of kindness at work | James Rhee

01 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kindness can go a long way when it comes to reshaping a business. Having saved a fashion company from the brink of bankruptcy, entrepreneur James Rhee...

The powerful women on the front lines of climate action | Farwiza Farhan

30 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to big problems like climate change, we tend to focus on big solutions -- but many of the best ideas come from people on the ground, fac...

Ancient wisdom for healing the planet | Shweta Narayan

29 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The doctrine of “first, do no harm” is the basis of the Hippocratic Oath, one of the world’s oldest codes of ethics. It governs the work of phys...

The forest is our teacher. It's time to respect it | Nemonte Nenquimo

25 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For thousands of years, the Amazon rainforest has provided food, water and spiritual connection for its Indigenous inhabitants and the world. But the ...

An action plan for solving the climate crisis | John Doerr and Ryan Panchadsaram

23 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

"How much more damage do we have to endure before we realize that it's cheaper to save this planet than to ruin it?" asks engineer and investor John D...

The science of preserving sight | Joshua Chu-Tan

22 Nov 2021

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...

Your self-driving robotaxi is almost here | Aicha Evans

19 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve been hearing about self-driving cars for years, but autonomous vehicle entrepreneur Aicha Evans thinks we need to dream more daringly. In this...

A program to empower Black teachers in the US | Larry Irvin

18 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

TED Fellow and education innovator Larry Irvin envisions a world where every child can see themselves reflected in their teachers. With his team at Br...

An ever-evolving map of everything on Earth | Jack Dangermond

17 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What if we had a map of ... everything? Jack Dangermond, a visionary behind the geographic information system (GIS) technology used to map and analyze...

The crucial intersection of climate and capital | Nili Gilbert

16 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The financial sector often talks of decarbonizing investment portfolios as a way to fight climate change. But portfolios can be “cleaned” without ...

Super speed, magnetic levitation and the vision behind the hyperloop | Josh Giegel

13 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What if your hour-long commute was reduced to just minutes? That's the promise of the hyperloop: a transit system designed around a pod that zooms thr...

Tracking the whole world’s carbon emissions -- with satellites and AI | Gavin McCormick

12 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What we know today about global greenhouse gas emissions is mostly self-reported by countries, and those numbers (sometimes tallied manually on paper!...

The rise of predatory scams — and how to prevent them | Jane Walsh

11 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Questionable phone calls, concerning emails, heart-rending stories from a sudden new friend in need of endless financial support: elder abuse can take...

How your brain invents your “self” | Anil Seth

10 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Who are you, really? Neuroscientist Anil Seth lays out his fascinating new theory of consciousness and self, centered on the notion that we “predict...

How small countries can make a big impact on climate change | Nicola Sturgeon

09 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to tackling climate change, the size of a country doesn't matter -- it's their ambition that counts, says First Minister of Scotland Nic...

How to reduce bias in your workplace | Kim Scott and Trier Bryant

08 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We all have bias -- especially the unconscious kind -- and it's preventing us from doing our best work. Gone unchecked, bias can make employees feel r...

A simple solution to maintaining life-saving vaccines | Nithya Ramanathan

06 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Refrigerators do much more than store your groceries -- they're also vital to preserving and distributing vaccines. Illustrating the realities of (and...

A tailored history of who wears what -- and why | Richard Thompson Ford

04 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

From puffy trousers to pantsuits and everything in between, law professor and author Richard Thompson Ford takes us on a fascinating tour through the ...

Why paternity leave benefits everyone | Shu Matsuo Post

03 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Paternity leave has many benefits for dads, their partners and their babies -- but did you know it also has surprising benefits for companies? This is...

How to make radical climate action the new normal | Al Gore

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A net-zero future is possible, but first we need to flip a mental switch to truly understand that we can stop the climate crisis if we try, says Nobel...

The fastest way to slow climate change now | Ilissa Ocko

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

"Cutting methane is the single fastest, most effective opportunity to reduce climate change risks in the near term," says atmospheric scientist Ilissa...

The haunting truth of ghost stories | Coya Paz Brownrigg

31 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ghost stories reveal much more than the ghouls and spirits that haunt them. Settle in for a spooky delight as theater educator Coya Paz Brownrigg lays...

A new perspective on the journey to net-zero | Amina J. Mohammed

30 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Climate action can be a vehicle to deliver dignity, opportunity and equality for all. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed invites us to reim...

AI isn’t as smart as you think -- but it could be | Jeff Dean

29 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What is AI, really? Jeff Dean, the head of Google’s AI efforts, explains the underlying technology that enables artificial intelligence to do all so...

How platform co-ops democratize work | Trebor Scholz

27 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Co-ops date back almost 200 years, run by groups of people that work together to own and operate a company. What does it look like when this tried-and...

Can China achieve its ambitious climate pledges? | Hongqiao Liu

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In 2020, China’s President Xi Jinping pledged that China would both peak its emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 -- a change th...

Visions for the future | Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Qiufan

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How will the rise of artificial intelligence change our world? Former head of Google China Kai-Fu Lee and science-fiction writer Chen Qiufan (aka Stan...

How your nature photos can help protect wild animals | Tanya Berger-Wolf

23 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We're losing animal and plant species at such a swift, unprecedented rate that it's nearly impossible to keep up. Computational biologist Tanya Berger...

3 tips for leaders to get the future of work right | Debbie Lovich

22 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Work that's dictated by a fixed schedule, place and job description doesn't make sense anymore, says leadership expert Debbie Lovich. In light of the ...

A close-to-home solution for accessible childcare | Chris Bennett

21 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Childcare needs a transformation -- but rather than investing billions in new buildings and schools, what if we could unlock the potential of people a...

How much clean electricity do we really need? | Solomon Goldstein-Rose

20 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

To fight climate change, we need to clean up the global electricity system by replacing fossil fuel power plants with clean generation -- right? Clima...

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

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What if you could eat chicken nuggets without harming a chicken? It’s possible through “cellular agriculture,” says Isha Datar. In a talk about ...

Introducing: Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi

18 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We all want to know if we're normal -- do I have enough friends? Should it take me this long to get over my ex? Should I move or stay where I am? Endl...

The first step towards more inclusive dermatology | Jenna C. Lester

15 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Skin is one of the most powerful predictors of health, yet nearly half of all new dermatologists admit to feeling uncomfortable identifying health iss...

The billion-dollar campaign to electrify transport | Monica Araya

14 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The roadmap to ending pollution from transportation is here, says electrification advocate Monica Araya. In conversation with head of TED Chris Anders...

A roadmap for young changemakers | Melati Wijsen

12 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Activism is a tough job, especially for young people yearning for immediate change -- something climate activist Melati Wijsen has learned over ten ye...

How humanity doubled life expectancy in a century | Steven Johnson

08 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Doubling human life expectancy in a century is our greatest achievement, says author Steven Johnson. How did we make it happen -- and can we keep it g...

A more accurate way to calculate emissions | Charlotte Degot

07 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Greenhouse gases are colorless, scentless and invisible, making them exceptionally hard to measure. Fortunately, some tools and techniques can help --...

The brain science of obesity | Mads Tang-Christensen

06 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Your belly and your brain speak to each other, says obesity researcher Mads Tang-Christensen. Offering scientific proof that obesity is a disease infl...

How NFTs are building the internet of the future | Kayvon Tehranian

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this revelatory talk, technologist Kayvon Tehranian explores why NFTs -- digital assets that represent a certificate of ownership on the internet -...

Want to truly succeed? Lift others up as you climb to the top | Amber Hikes

04 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s up to all of us to create a more inclusive and diverse workplace. No matter where you are in your career journey, it’s essential that you hel...

3 ways community creates a healthy life | Olivia Affuso

01 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Maintaining a healthy weight takes more than diet and exercise, says physical activity epidemiologist Olivia Affuso. In this actionable talk, she show...

The Black history of twerking -- and how it taught me self-love | Lizzo

30 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Twerking is mainstream now ... but do you know where it came from? Superstar Lizzo traces booty shaking to a traditional West African dance and tells ...

Why the passport needs an upgrade | Karoli Hindriks

29 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time to give paper passports a digital upgrade, says entrepreneur Karoli Hindriks. Looking to Estonia’s technology-driven government for insp...

How employers steal from workers — and get away with it | Rebecca Galemba

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When you work, you expect to be paid for it. Except, for millions of Americans employed across a range of industries like restaurants and construction...

3 rules for better work-life balance | Ashley Whillans

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Have you answered a work email during an important family event? Or taken a call from your boss while on vacation? According to behavioral scientist a...

Could you recover from illness ... using your own stem cells? | Nabiha Saklayen

24 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What if diseases could be treated with a patient’s own cells, precisely and on demand? Biotech entrepreneur Nabiha Saklayen explains how we could ha...

Has Apple Peaked? Plus, Celebrities Changing Hollywood | After Hours

23 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It's been 10 years since the death of Steve Jobs. Has Apple peaked after 10 years of Tim Cook's leadership, or is the best yet to come? Harvard Busine...

The genetic rescue of Earth’s endangered species | Ryan Phelan

22 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

From a special black-footed ferret to coral that can withstand warming waters, genetic rescue efforts that use genomics and synthetic biology are help...

The link between inequality and anxiety | Richard Wilkinson

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Why are global levels of anxiety and depression so high? Social epidemiologist Richard Wilkinson presents compelling data on the impact of inequality ...

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

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Get transported on a stunningly rendered, sci-fi safari through Planet City: an imaginary metropolis of 10 billion people, from the brain of director ...

The untapped energy source that could power the planet | Jamie C. Beard

17 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Deep beneath your feet is a molten ball of energy the same temperature as the surface of the sun -- an immense clean energy source that could power th...

The trans story includes you | Nicole Maines

15 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As actress Nicole Maines points out, we all unwittingly play supporting roles in each others' life stories -- for better or worse. With charm and aplo...

The false link between body ideals and health | Nancy N. Chen

14 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Global obesity rates are on the rise, but body shaming campaigns are doing more harm than good, says medical anthropologist Nancy N. Chen. Reflecting ...

A smart bra for better heart health | Alicia Chong Rodriguez

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Could an everyday clothing item help protect your health? In this quick talk, TED Fellow Alicia Chong Rodriguez introduces us to a smart bra designed ...

The mind-bending reality of the universe | Katie Mack

10 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this fascinating conversation, cosmologist and TED Fellow Katie Mack delves into everything from the Big Bang theory to what we see at the edge of ...

The big myth of government deficits | Stephanie Kelton

09 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Government deficits have gotten a bad rap, says economist Stephanie Kelton. In this groundbreaking talk, she makes the case to stop looking at governm...

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

08 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sci-fi writer Chen Qiufan doesn’t fear a dystopian future. Instead, he believes developments in artificial intelligence will make all of our lives b...

How to stop languishing and start finding flow | Adam Grant

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Have you found yourself staying up late, joylessly bingeing TV shows and doomscrolling through the news, or simply navigating your day uninspired and ...

When local news dies, so does democracy | Chuck Plunkett

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nearly 1,800 newsrooms have shuttered across the US since 2004, leaving many communities unseen, unheard and in the dark. In this passionate talk and ...

How language shapes the way we think | Lera Boroditsky

03 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world -- and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures. But do they shape the way ...

The unpaid work that GDP ignores -- and why it really counts | Marilyn Waring

02 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you: do laundry, are (or have been) pregnant, tidy up, shop for your household or do similar labor, then by GDP standards, you're unproductive. In ...

A taste of Mexico’s ancient chocolate-making tradition | Germán Santillán

01 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dating back more than 800 years, chocolate is deeply woven into the Indigenous history of Oaxaca, Mexico. TED Fellow Germán Santillán talks about hi...

A future with fewer cars | Freeman H. Shen

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What if your car could drop you off and then find parking by itself? According to electric vehicle entrepreneur Freeman H. Shen, this technology alrea...

Your insecurities aren't what you think they are | WorkLife with Adam Grant

27 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

"I can't do this." "I didn't deserve this promotion." "When will they find me out?" If you've had thoughts like these, you aren't alone. Nearly 70 per...

Can we choose to fall out of love? | Dessa

26 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What's the best way to get over heartbreak? Rapper and writer Dessa came up with an unconventional approach after a chance viewing of Helen Fisher's T...

How to design the life you want | TEDx SHORTS

25 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Offering tips from the well-known program he helped develop, Bill Burnett, executive director of Stanford's Life Design Lab, illustrates the ways desi...

This could be why you're depressed or anxious | Johann Hari

24 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In a moving talk, journalist Johann Hari shares fresh insights on the causes of depression and anxiety from experts around the world -- as well as som...

How playing an instrument benefits your brain | Anita Collins

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When you listen to music, multiple areas of your brain become engaged and active. But when you actually play an instrument, that activity becomes more...

What's normal anxiety and what's an anxiety disorder? | Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter

20 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Anxiety helps keep us alive. But how can you tell when it crosses the line from survival instinct to serious problem? For the more than 30 percent of ...

You can grow new brain cells. Here's how | Sandrine Thuret

19 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Can we, as adults, grow new neurons? Neuroscientist Sandrine Thuret says that we can, and she offers research and practical advice on how we can help ...

The benefits of a bilingual brain | Mia Nacamulli

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It's obvious that knowing more than one language can make certain things easier -- like traveling or watching movies without subtitles. But are there ...

How to pave a new career path | Elise Hu and Debbie Millman

17 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Elise Hu, host of TED Talk Daily, sits down with designer Debbie Millman to share advice on stepping into the unknown, paving a new career path and ex...

The brain-changing benefits of exercise | Wendy Suzuki

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What's the most transformative thing that you can do for your brain today? Exercise! says neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki. Get inspired to go to the gym a...

What happens to the plastic you throw away? | TED Climate

13 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Plastic is everywhere. We know we should cut down on it where we can, but is plastic ever the answer? In this episode of TED Climate, a whole world of...

Walk with Little Amal, a theatrical journey celebrating the refugee experience | Amir Nizar Zuabi

12 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In a staggering display of creativity and community, theater director Amir Nizar Zuabi introduces "The Walk": a theatrical journey following a nine-ye...

How COVID-19 reshaped US cities | Kevin J. Krizek

11 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The pandemic spurred an unprecedented reclamation of urban space, ushering in a seemingly bygone era of pedestrian pastimes, as cars were sidelined in...

An interactive map to track (and end) pollution in China | Ma Jun

10 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

China has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2060 -- and its citizens are helping industries across the country reach that goal. Environmentalist Ma Jun ...

Why are stolen African artifacts still in Western museums? | Jim Chuchu

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

African artifacts shown in museums worldwide are often not borrowed, but stolen -- and TED Fellow Jim Chuchu is on a mission to get them back. Learn t...

The deadly molecule that could signal alien life | Clara Sousa-Silva

06 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Is there life on Venus? Quantum astrochemist Clara Sousa-Silva makes the case for a new way to seek and possibly discover habitable planets -- and sha...

The tiny balls of fat that could revolutionize medicine | Kathryn A. Whitehead

05 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What if you were holding life-saving medicine ... but had no way to administer it? Zoom down to the nano level with engineer Kathryn A. Whitehead as s...

Don’t call people out -- call them in | Loretta J. Ross

04 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We live in a call-out culture, says activist and scholar Loretta J. Ross. You’re probably familiar with it: the public shaming and blaming, on socia...

Meet the scientist couple driving an mRNA vaccine revolution | Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As COVID-19 spread, BioNTech cofounders Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci had one goal: to make a safe, effective vaccine faster than ever before. In th...

Remembering climate change ... a message from the year 2071 | Kim Stanley Robinson

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Coming to us from 60 years in the future, legendary sci-fi writer Kim Stanley Robinson tells the “history” of how humanity ended the climate crisi...

3 secrets of resilient people | Lucy Hone

30 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone experiences loss, but how do you cope with the tough moments that follow? Resilience researcher Lucy Hone shares three hard-won strategies fo...

The informal settlements reshaping the world | Jota Samper

29 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Creative, sustainable solutions find their home in the thousands of informal neighborhoods across the world. Urban planner Jota Samper believes these ...

What you need to know about stalkerware | Eva Galperin

28 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

"Full access to a person's phone is the next best thing to full access to a person's mind," says cybersecurity expert Eva Galperin. In an urgent talk,...

The radical, revolutionary resilience of Black joy | Miracle Jones

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the face of trauma, happiness is resilience: a revolutionary act of thriving despite all odds, rather than wilting or surrendering. Community organ...