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Ted Talks

Curious? Watch a Ted-Ed Animation

What are TED-Ed Animations?

Ted-Ed Animations TED-Ed Animations are our signature content: short, award-winning animated videos about ideas that spark the curiosity of learners everywhere. Every TED-Ed Animation represents a creative collaboration between experts. Such experts may include TED Speakers and TED Fellows, as well as educators, designers, animators, screenwriters, directors, science writers, historians, journalists and editors. These original animated videos, paired with questions and resources, make up what we refer to as TED-Ed Lessons.

The surprising link between stress and memory - Elizabeth CoxYou spend weeks studying for an important test. On the big day, you wait nervously as your teacher hands it out. You’re working your way through, when you’re asked to define "ataraxia." You know you’ve seen the word before, but your mind goes blank. What just happened? Elizabeth Cox details the complex relationship between stress and memory.

The surprising similarities between Twister and intelligence It turns out that the flexibility of our brain’s connections can indicate how quickly we can learn or multitask – and is a top predictor of intelligence. BrainCraft shows how the game of Twister functions similarly to how our brain reconfigures as it learns.

Why are we so obsessed with memes?Memes! Everyone loves them. Everyone shares them. But why? And is there any benefit to them? Life Noggin investigates.

Greeting the world in peace - Jackie JenkinsConflict and cultural clashes are a part of our global reality, but so is the universal desire for peace. From Bangladesh to Myanmar to Lesotho, discover this inspiring common sentiment in traditional greetings of peace.

Are you a body with a mind or a mind with a body? - Maryam AlimardaniOur bodies – the physical, biological parts of us — and our minds — the thinking, conscious aspects — have a complicated, tangled relationship. Which one primarily defines you or your self? Are you a body with a mind or a mind with a body? Maryam Alimardani investigates.

How to practice effectively...for just about anything - Annie Bosler and Don GreeneMastering any physical skill takes practice. Practice is the repetition of an action with the goal of improvement, and it helps us perform with more ease, speed, and confidence. But what does practice actually do to make us better at things? Annie Bosler and Don Greene explain how practice affects the inner workings of our brains.

Why should you read sci-fi superstar Octavia E. Butler? - Ayana Jamieson and Moya BaileyMuch science fiction features white male heroes who blast aliens or become saviors of brown people. Octavia E. Butler knew she could tell a better story. She built stunning worlds rife with diverse characters, and brought nuance and depth to the representation of their experiences. Ayana Jamieson and Moya Bailey dive into the works of the visionary storyteller who upended science fiction.

The benefits of a bilingual brain - Mia NacamulliIt’s obvious that knowing more than one language can make certain things easier — like traveling or watching movies without subtitles. But are there other advantages to having a bilingual (or multilingual) brain? Mia Nacamulli details the three types of bilingual brains and shows how knowing more than one language keeps your brain healthy, complex and actively engaged.

Debunking the myths of OCD - Natascha M. SantosThere’s a common misconception that if you like to meticulously organize your things, keep your hands clean, or plan out your weekend to the last detail, you might be OCD. In fact, OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) is a serious psychiatric condition that is frequently misunderstood by society and mental health professionals alike. Natascha M. Santos debunks the myths surrounding OCD.

What happens when you have a concussion? - Clifford RobbinsEach year in the United States, players of sports and recreational activities receive between 2.5 and 4 million concussions. How dangerous are all those concussions? The answer is complicated and lies in how the brain responds when something strikes it. Clifford Robbins explains the science behind concussions.

What would happen if you didn’t sleep? - Claudia AguirreIn the United States, it’s estimated that 30 percent of adults and 66 percent of adolescents are regularly sleep-deprived. This isn’t just a minor inconvenience: staying awake can cause serious bodily harm. Claudia Aguirre shows what happens to your body and brain when you skip sleep.

Why don't country flags use the color purple? There are 196 countries in the world today and virtually none of them have purple on their national flag. So what’s wrong with purple? After Skool explains how the color was worth more than gold.

The benefits of a good night's sleep - Shai MarcuIt’s 4am, and the big test is in 8 hours. You’ve been studying for days, but you still don’t feel ready. Should you drink another cup of coffee and spend the next few hours cramming? Or should you go to sleep? Shai Marcu defends the latter option, showing how sleep restructures your brain in a way that’s crucial for how our memory works.

Why the ancient Greeks couldn't see blue Why is the color “blue” barely mentioned in ancient writings and texts? Did ancient civilizations just see color differently? Were they all color blind? AsapSCIENCE digs into the neuroscience of how we see different colors. 

The artist who won a Nobel Prize... in medicine - Melanie E. Peffer In the 1860s, scientists believed they were on the verge of uncovering the brain’s biggest secret: how the brain’s signals travel through the body. They believed these impulses travelled uninterrupted along a massive web of tissue. But soon, a young artist would cut down this hypothesis, and sketch a bold new vision of how our brains work. Melanie Peffer details the discoveries of Golgi and Cajal.

A day in the life of an ancient Babylonian business mogul - Soraya Field Fiorio It’s 1762 BCE. As dawn breaks in the Babylonian city of Sippar, Beltani— a priestess and businesswoman— receives an urgent visit from her brother. He makes a troubling accusation: her tavern keeper has been undermining the business Beltani relies on in her old age. Now she has just a few short hours to find out the truth. Soraya Field Fiorio details a day in the life of a Babylonian naditu.

A glimpse of teenage life in ancient Rome - Ray LaurenceWelcome to the world of Lucius Popidius Secundus, a 17-year old living in Rome in 73 AD. His life is a typical one of arranged marriages, coming-of-age festivals, and communal baths. Take a look at this exquisitely detailed lesson on life of a typical Roman teenager two thousand years ago.

What makes the Great Wall of China so extraordinary - Megan Campisi and Pen-Pen ChenThe Great Wall of China is a 13,000-mile dragon of earth and stone that winds its way through the countryside of China. As it turns out, the wall’s history is almost as long and serpentine as its structure. Megan Campisi and Pen-Pen Chen detail the building and subsequent decay of this massive, impressive wall.

How An Igloo Keeps You WarmIf you ever find yourself stranded in the snowy Arctic (or bored in Minecraft), you’re gonna need to know how to build an igloo. But how can building a house made of ice keep you warm? It's Okay To Be Smart explains. 

Why some countries are poor and others richThe reason why some countries are rich and others poor depends on many things, from the quality of their institutions to what latitude they're on. The School of Life helps to explain why some countries prosper and others stagnate. 

When times are tough, Don't give up!

4 famous failures that became massive successesFrom Apple to Disney to KFC, the shared thread among these companies is massive failure before massive success.

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