TED Talks Daily

How humans and AI can work together to create better businesses | Sylvain Duranton

29 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s a paradox: as companies try to streamline their businesses by using artificial intelligence to make critical decisions, they may inadvertentl...

A new type of medicine, custom-made with tiny proteins | Christopher Bahl

28 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Some common life-saving medicines, such as insulin, are made of proteins so large and fragile they must be injected instead of ingested as pills. But ...

My story of magic, kindness and survival during the Holocaust

27 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Holocaust survivor Werner Reich recounts his harrowing adolescence as a prisoner transported between concentration camps — and shares how a small, k...

3 psychological tricks to help you save money | Wendy De La Rosa

27 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We all want to save more money -- but overall, people today are doing less and less of it. Behavioral scientist Wendy De La Rosa studies how everyday ...

What ocean microbes reveal about the changing climate | Angelicque White

24 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When the ocean changes, the planet changes -- and it all starts with microbes, says biological oceanographer Angelicque White. Backed by decades of da...

Does photographing a moment steal the experience from you? | Erin Sullivan

23 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When we witness something amazing, many of us instinctively pull out our phones and snap pictures. Is this obsession with photographing everything imp...

A personal health coach for those living with chronic diseases | Priscilla Pemu

22 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There's no shortage of resources to help people change their health behaviors -- but far too often, these resources aren't accessible in underserved c...

Are indoor vertical farms the future of agriculture? | Stuart Oda

21 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

By 2050, the global population is projected to reach 9.8 billion. How are we going to feed everyone? Investment-banker-turned-farmer Stuart Oda points...

A path to security for the world’s deadliest countries | Rachel Kleinfeld

21 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

You are more likely to die violently if you live in a middle-income democracy with high levels of inequality and political polarization than if you li...

8 lessons on building a company people enjoy working for | Patty McCord

20 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Most companies operate on a set of policies: mandated vacation days, travel guidelines, standard work hours, annual goals. But what happens when a com...

Why can't we talk about periods? | Jen Gunter

17 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"It shouldn't be an act of feminism to know how your body works," says gynecologist and author Jen Gunter. In this revelatory talk, she explains how m...

Why are drug prices so high? Investigating the outdated US patent system | Priti Krishtel

16 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Between 2006 and 2016, the number of drug patents granted in the United States doubled -- but not because there was an explosion in invention or innov...

How supply chain transparency can help the planet | Markus Mutz

15 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Given the option, few would choose to buy products that harm the earth -- yet it’s nearly impossible to know how most consumer goods are made or whe...

How guest worker visas could transform the US immigration system | David J. Bier

14 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The United States can create a more humane immigration system; in fact, it’s been done before, says policy analyst David J. Bier. Pointing to the hi...

The perks of being a pirate | Tom Nash

14 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this deeply charming and humorous talk, DJ and self-professed pirate Tom Nash meditates on how facing adversity due to disability invited patience,...

Why "biofabrication" is the next industrial revolution | Suzanne Lee

13 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What if we could "grow" clothes from microbes, furniture from living organisms and buildings with exteriors like tree bark? TED Fellow Suzanne Lee sha...

Why you should bring your whole self to work | Dan Clay

13 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dan Clay was worried about being dismissed as "too gay" at work, so he dialed down his personality. But then his alter ego, Carrie Dragshaw, went vira...

What a digital government looks like | Anna Piperal

09 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What if you never had to fill out paperwork again? In Estonia, this is a reality: citizens conduct nearly all public services online, from starting a ...

This is the side hustle revolution | Nicaila Matthews Okome

08 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Past generations found a company to work for and then stayed there for decades. But today, we rarely stay in the same job (let alone on the same caree...

The urgent case for antibiotic-free animals | Leon Marchal

07 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The UN predicts that antimicrobial resistance will be our biggest killer by 2050. "That should really scare the hell out of all of us," says bioproces...

The past, present and future of nicotine addiction | Mitch Zeller

06 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, killing more people each year than alcohol, AIDS, car acc...

The "opportunity gap" in US public education -- and how to close it | Anindya Kundu

03 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How can we tap into the potential of all students, especially those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds? Sociologist Anindya Kundu invites us to t...

To challenge the status quo, find a “co-conspirator” | Ipsita Dasgupta

02 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In a complex and changing world, how can we make sure unconventional people and their ideas thrive? Business executive Ipsita Dasgupta introduces the ...

Dangerous times call for dangerous women | Pat Mitchell

02 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Pat Mitchell has nothing left to prove and much less to lose -- she's become a "dangerous woman." Not dangerous as in feared, she says, but fearless: ...

Sleep is your superpower | Matt Walker

01 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sleep is your life-support system and Mother Nature's best effort yet at immortality, says sleep scientist Matt Walker. In this deep dive into the sci...

Helping others makes us happier — but it matters how we do it

31 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Research shows that helping others makes us happier. But in her groundbreaking work on generosity and joy, social psychologist Elizabeth Dunn found th...

Why working from home is good for business | Matt Mullenweg

30 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As the popularity of remote working continues to spread, workers today can collaborate across cities, countries and even multiple time zones. How does...

How civilization could destroy itself -- and 4 ways we could prevent it | Nick Bostrom

27 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Humanity is on its way to creating a "black ball": a technological breakthrough that could destroy us all, says philosopher Nick Bostrom. In this inci...

How we can protect truth in the age of misinformation | Sinan Aral

26 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Fake news can sway elections, tank economies and sow discord in everyday life. Data scientist Sinan Aral demystifies how and why it spreads so quickly...

We don't "move on" from grief. We move forward with it | Nora McInerny

25 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In a talk that's by turns heartbreaking and hilarious, writer and podcaster Nora McInerny shares her hard-earned wisdom about life and death. Her cand...

7 common questions about workplace romance | Amy Nicole Baker

24 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Should you date your coworker? Should workplace couples keep their relationships secret? And why are coworkers so often attracted to each other? Organ...

The beautiful balance between courage and fear | Cara E. Yar Khan

23 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After being diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that deteriorates muscle, Cara E. Yar Khan was told she'd have to limit her career ambitions and d...

How we can turn the tide on climate | Christiana Figueres and Chris Anderson

21 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Witness the unveiling of Countdown, a major global campaign to cut greenhouse gas emissions. TED has partnered with scientists, policy makers, organiz...

How to turn off work thoughts during your free time | Guy Winch

19 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Feeling burned out? You may be spending too much time ruminating about your job, says psychologist Guy Winch. Learn how to stop worrying about tomorro...

To help solve global problems, look to developing countries | Bright Simons

18 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

To address the problem of counterfeit goods, African entrepreneurs like Bright Simons have come up with innovative and effective ways to confirm produ...

Jasmine Crowe: What we’re getting wrong in the fight to end hunger

18 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In a world that's wasting more food than ever before, why do one in nine people still go to bed hungry each night? Social entrepreneur Jasmine Crowe c...

Your body was forged in the spectacular death of stars | Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz

17 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We are all connected by the spectacular birth, death and rebirth of stars, says astrophysicist Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz. Journey through the cosmic history...

How the gut microbes you're born with affect your lifelong health | Henna-Maria Uusitupa

16 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Your lifelong health may have been decided the day you were born, says microbiome researcher Henna-Maria Uusitupa. In this fascinating talk, she shows...

This is what makes employees happy at work | Michael C. Bush

16 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There are three billion working people on this planet, and only 40 percent of them report being happy at work. Michael C. Bush shares his insights int...

A guide to collaborative leadership | Lorna Davis

12 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What's the difference between heroes and leaders? In this insightful talk, Lorna Davis explains how our idolization of heroes is holding us back from ...

An honest look at price, innovation and who powers the economy | Mariana Mazzucato

11 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Where does wealth come from, who creates it and what destroys it? In this deep dive into global economics, Mariana Mazzucato explains how we lost sigh...

Why I protest for climate justice | Jane Fonda

10 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

At age 81, actor and activist Jane Fonda is putting herself on the line for the planet -- literally. In a video interview with TEDWomen curator Pat Mi...

The increasing pace of modern life -- and how we can adapt | Kathryn Bouskill

09 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Why does modern technology promise efficiency, but leave us constantly feeling pressed for time? Anthropologist Kathryn Bouskill explores the paradoxe...

The profound power of an authentic apology | Eve Ensler

06 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Genuine apology goes beyond remorse, says legendary playwright Eve Ensler. In this frank, wrenching talk, she shares how she transformed her own exper...

A video game that helps us understand loneliness | Cornelia Geppert

05 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Step into artist Cornelia Geppert's visually stunning video game "Sea of Solitude," which explores how battling the "monsters" of loneliness and self-...

The problem of light pollution -- and 5 ridiculously easy ways to fix it | Kelsey Johnson

04 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Ever gaze up at the starry night sky? This stunning view is at risk of disappearing -- unless we act now, says astrophysicist Kelsey Johnson. In this ...

Want to change the world? Learn the art of fundraising | Kara Logan Berlin

03 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How do you raise money to get an idea off the ground, support a community, help change the world? Take a crash course on the secret art of successful ...

How I'm using biological data to tell better stories -- and spark social change | Heidi Boisvert

02 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What kinds of stories move us to act? To answer this question, creative technologist Heidi Boisvert is measuring how people's brains and bodies uncons...

A healthy economy should be designed to thrive, not growth | Kate Raworth

29 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What would a sustainable, universally beneficial economy look like? "Like a doughnut," says Oxford economist Kate Raworth. In a stellar, eye-opening t...

My journey to thank all the people responsible for my morning coffee | AJ Jacobs

28 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Author AJ Jacobs embarked on a quest with a deceptively simple idea at its heart: to personally thank every person who helped make his morning cup of ...

How smartphones really work | Cathy Mulzer

27 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered how your smartphone works? Take a journey down to the atomic level with scientist Cathy Mulzer, who reveals how almost every component o...

How you can use impostor syndrome to your benefit | Mike Cannon-Brookes

26 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever doubted your abilities, feared you were going to be discovered as a "fraud"? That's called "impostor syndrome," and you're definitely no...

3 questions we should ask about nuclear weapons | Emma Belcher

25 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There are more than 10,000 nuclear weapons in existence today, each one capable of causing immense destruction. Why don't we talk about this threat as...

The search for our solar system's ninth planet | Mike Brown

22 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Could the strange orbits of small, distant objects in our solar system lead us to a big discovery? Planetary astronomer Mike Brown proposes the existe...

How to save a language from extinction | Daniel Bögre Udell

21 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As many as 3,000 languages could disappear within the next 80 years, all but silencing entire cultures. In this quick talk, language preserver Daniel ...

A creative solution for the water crisis in Flint, Michigan | LaToya Ruby Frazier

20 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Artist LaToya Ruby Frazier spent five months living in Flint, Michigan, documenting the lives of those affected by the city’s water crisis for her p...

For better health care, embrace irrationality | David Asch

19 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we make poor decisions that we know are bad for our health? In this frank, funny talk, behavioral economist and health policy expert David Asch...

How to change your behavior for the better | Dan Ariely

18 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What's the best way to get people to change their behavior? In this funny, information-packed talk, psychologist Dan Ariely explores why we make bad d...

Why gender-based marketing is bad for business | Gaby Barrios

15 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Companies often target consumers based on gender, but this kind of advertising shortcut not only perpetuates outdated stereotypes -- it’s also bad f...

What's really happening at the US-Mexico border -- and how we can do better | Erika Pinheiro

14 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

At the US-Mexico border, policies of prolonged detention and family separation have made seeking asylum in the United States difficult and dangerous. ...

How can we support the emotional wellbeing of teachers? | Sydney Jensen

13 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Teachers emotionally support our kids -- but who’s supporting teachers? In this eye-opening talk, educator Sydney Jensen explores how teachers are a...

Cryptographers, quantum computers and the war for information | Craig Costello

13 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this glimpse into our technological future, cryptographer Craig Costello discusses the world-altering potential of quantum computers, which could s...

Hope and justice for women who’ve survived ISIS | Rabiaa El Garani

11 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Human rights protector Rabiaa El Garani shares the challenging, heartbreaking story of sexual violence committed against Yazidi women and girls in Ira...

A historical musical that examines black identity in the 1901 World's Fair | Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin

08 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this lively talk and performance, artist and TED Fellow Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin offers a sneak peek of her forthcoming musical "At Buffalo." D...

What obligation do social media platforms have to the greater good? | Eli Pariser

07 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Social media has become our new home. Can we build it better? Taking design cues from urban planners and social scientists, technologist Eli Pariser s...

Our immigration conversation is broken -- here’s how to have a better one | Paul A. Kramer

06 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How did the US immigration debate get to be so divisive? In this informative talk, historian and writer Paul A. Kramer shows how an “insider vs. out...

What happens to people in solitary confinement | Laura Rovner

05 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine living with no significant human contact for years, even decades, in a cell the size of a small bathroom. This is the reality for those in lon...

The business case for working with your toughest critics | Bob Langert

04 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As a “corporate suit” (his words) and former VP of sustainability at McDonald’s, Bob Langert works with companies and their strongest critics to...

The next software revolution: programming biological cells | Sara-Jane Dunn

01 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The cells in your body are like computer software: they’re “programmed” to carry out specific functions at specific times. If we can better unde...

Change your story, change your life | Lori Gottlieb

01 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Stories help you make sense of your life -- but when these narratives are incomplete or misleading, they can keep you stuck instead of providing clari...

What vaccinating vampire bats can teach us about pandemics | Daniel Streicker

31 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Could we anticipate the next big disease outbreak, stopping a virus like Ebola before it ever strikes? In this talk about frontline scientific researc...

What productive conflict can offer a workplace | Jess Kutch

31 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Got an idea to make your workplace better? Labor organizer and TED Fellow Jess Kutch can show you how to put it into action. In this quick talk, she e...

Lessons from fungi on markets and economics | Toby Kiers

30 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Resource inequality is one of our greatest challenges, but it’s not unique to humans. Like us, mycorrhizal fungi that live in plant and tree roots s...

The price of a "clean" internet | Hans Block and Moritz Riesewieck

29 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Millions of images and videos are uploaded to the internet each day, yet we rarely see shocking and disturbing content in our social media feeds. Who'...

The medical potential of AI and metabolites | Leila Pirhaji

29 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Many diseases are driven by metabolites -- small molecules in your body like fat, glucose and cholesterol -- but we don’t know exactly what they are...

How to bring affordable, sustainable electricity to Africa | Rose M. Mutiso

28 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Energy poverty, or the lack of access to electricity and other basic energy services, affects nearly two-thirds of Sub-Saharan Africa. As the region's...

The revolutionary power of diverse thought | Elif Shafak

25 Oct 2019

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 you can help transform the internet into a place of trust | Claire Wardle

24 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How can we stop the spread of misleading, sometimes dangerous content while maintaining an internet with freedom of expression at its core? Misinforma...

The link between fishing cats and mangrove forest conservation | Ashwin Naidu

24 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mangrove forests are crucial to the health of the planet, gobbling up CO2 from the atmosphere and providing a home for a diverse array of species. But...

The pride and power of representation in film | Jon M. Chu

23 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On the heels of the breakout success of his film "Crazy Rich Asians," director Jon M. Chu reflects on what drives him to create -- and makes a resound...

How motivation can fix public systems | Abhishek Gopalka

23 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How do you fix broken public systems? You spark people's competitive spirit. In a talk about getting people motivated to make change, public sector st...

Fashion that celebrates all body types -- boldly and unapologetically | Becca McCharen-Tran

22 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Fashion designers have the power to change culture -- and Becca McCharen-Tran is using her platform to expand the industry's narrow definition of beau...

Why we have an emotional connection to robots | Kate Darling

21 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We're far from developing robots that feel emotions, but we already have feelings towards them, says robot ethicist Kate Darling, and an instinct like...

An app that helps incarcerated people stay connected to their families | Marcus Bullock

18 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Over his eight-year prison sentence, Marcus Bullock was sustained by his mother's love -- and by the daily letters and photos she sent of life on the ...

How a handful of fishing villages sparked a marine conservation revolution | Alasdair Harris

17 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We need a radically new approach to ocean conservation, says marine biologist Alasdair Harris. In a visionary talk, he lays out a surprising solution ...

A circular economy for salt that keeps rivers clean | Tina Arrowood

16 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

During the winter of 2018-2019, one million tons of salt were applied to icy roads in the state of Pennsylvania alone. The salt from industrial uses l...

How family separation at the US-Mexico border affects children’s mental health | Luis H. Zayas

15 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How does psychological trauma affect children's developing brains? In this powerful talk, social worker Luis H. Zayas discusses his work with refugees...

How we can eliminate child sexual abuse material from the internet | Julie Cordua

15 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Social entrepreneur Julie Cordua works on a problem that isn’t easy to talk about: the sexual abuse of children in images and videos on the internet...

The cosmic war between monotony and creativity | David Deutsch

14 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Theoretical physicist David Deutsch delivers a mind-bending meditation on the "great monotony" -- the idea that nothing novel has appeared in the univ...

The psychology of your future self | Dan Gilbert

11 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

"Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they're finished." Dan Gilbert shares recent research on a phenomenon he calls the "end of h...

What Bruce Lee can teach us about living fully | Shannon Lee

10 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Most of us know Bruce Lee as the famous martial artist and action film star -- but he was also a philosopher who taught “self-actualization”: the ...

Laura Boykin: How we're using DNA tech to help farmers fight crop diseases 10, 2019

10 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Nearly 800 million people worldwide depend on cassava for survival -- but this critical food source is under attack by entirely preventable viruses, s...

A personal plea for humanity at the US-Mexico border | Juan Enriquez

09 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this powerful, personal talk, author and academic Juan Enriquez shares stories from inside the immigration crisis at the US-Mexico border, bringing...

A radical plan to end plastic waste | Andrew Forrest

09 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Plastic is an incredible substance for the economy -- but it’s the worst substance possible for the environment, says entrepreneur Andrew Forrest. I...

How we’re helping local reporters turn important stories into national news | Gangadhar Patil

08 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Local reporters are on the front lines of important stories, but their work often goes unnoticed by national and international news outlets. TED Fello...

The transformative power of video games | Herman Narula

08 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A full third of the world’s population -- 2.6 billion people -- play video games, plugging into massive networks of interaction that have opened up ...

An ancient rock suggests a new theory for how life started | Tara Djokic

07 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exactly when and where did life on Earth begin? Scientists have long thought that it emerged three billion years ago in the ocean -- until astrobiolog...

Why language is humanity’s greatest invention | David Peterson

05 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Civilization rests upon the existence of language, says language creator David Peterson. In a talk that’s equal parts passionate and hilarious, he s...

Innovation is the antidote to corruption | Efosa Ojomo

04 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Traditional thinking on corruption goes like this: if you put good laws in place and enforce them well, then economic development increases and corrup...

What the US health care system assumes about you | Mitchell Katz

02 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The US health care system assumes many things about patients: that they can take off from work in the middle of the day, speak English, have a working...