TED Talks
Donald Hoffman: Do we see reality as it is?
Cognitive scientist Donald Hoffman is trying to answer a big question: Do we experience the world as it really is ... or as we need it to be? In this ever so slightly mind-blowing talk, he ponders how our minds construct reality for us.
TED-Ed
TED-ED: Can you solve the river crossing riddle? - Lisa Winer
As a wildfire rages through the grasslands, three lions and three wildebeest flee for their lives. To escape the inferno, they must cross over to the left bank of a crocodile-infested river. Can you help them figure out how to get across...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: What would happen if you didn't sleep? - Claudia Aguirre
In 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...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Inside your computer - Bettina Bair
How does a computer work? The critical components of a computer are the peripherals (including the mouse), the input/output subsystem (which controls what and how much information comes in and out), and the central processing unit (the...
SciShow
Do Humans Have Pheromones?
Ever wonder if there's something about your scent that might be sending signals to the people around you? Well as it turns out, it's possible- but it winds up being a lot more complicated than you might think. Chapters View all A...
SciShow
How Smells Trigger Memories
SciShow explains how smells can bring back early memories -- even memories that your brain didn't know you had.
TED Talks
Andres Lozano: Parkinson's, depression and the switch that might turn them off
Deep brain stimulation is becoming very precise. This technique allows surgeons to place electrodes in almost any area of the brain, and turn them up or down -- like a radio dial or thermostat -- to correct dysfunction. Andres Lozano...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: The Turing test: Can a computer pass for a human? - Alex Gendler
What is consciousness? Can an artificial machine really think? For many, these have been vital considerations for the future of artificial intelligence. But British computer scientist Alan Turing decided to disregard all these questions...
TED Talks
TED: 3 ways to make better decisions -- by thinking like a computer | Tom Griffiths
If you ever struggle to make decisions, here's a talk for you. Cognitive scientist Tom Griffiths shows how we can apply the logic of computers to untangle tricky human problems, sharing three practical strategies for making better...
TED Talks
Carmen Agra Deedy: Once upon a time, my mother ...
Storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy spins a funny, wise and luminous tale of parents and kids, starring her Cuban mother. Settle in and enjoy the ride -- Mama's driving!
TED-Ed
TED-ED: How to practice effectively...for just about anything - Annie Bosler and Don Greene
Mastering 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...
SciShow
Napping Is Awesome but Is It for Everyone
Study after study has shown that napping is awesome. This might make you wonder: should everyone be napping? The answer is more complicated than you might think.
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: What's the fastest way to alphabetize your bookshelf? - Chand John
You work at the college library. You're in the middle of a quiet afternoon when suddenly, a shipment of 1,280 books arrives. The books are in a straight line, but they're all out of order, and the automatic sorting system is broken. How...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: How high can you count on your fingers? (Spoiler: much higher than 10) - James Tanton
How high can you count on your fingers? It seems like a question with an obvious answer. After all, most of us have ten fingers -- or to be more precise, eight fingers and two thumbs. This gives us a total of ten digits on our two hands,...
TED Talks
Herramientas para decidir mejor
Herramientas para decidir mejor Nuestra capacidad colectiva de aprender, actuar y adaptarse es lo que permite a nuestra sociedad superar los desafíos y evolucionar. Emiliano Chamorro ofrece seis consejos para superar las falacias y...
SciShow
How To Make Eyewitness Testimony More Reliable
Eyewitness testimony can be really important when investigating crimes, but how can we make them more reliable?
TED Talks
Antonio Damasio: The quest to understand consciousness
Every morning we wake up and regain consciousness -- that is a marvelous fact -- but what exactly is it that we regain? Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio uses this simple question to give us a glimpse into how our brains create our sense of...
TED Talks
TED: What you can do to prevent Alzheimer's | Lisa Genova
Alzheimer's doesn't have to be your brain's destiny, says neuroscientist and author of "Still Alice," Lisa Genova. She shares the latest science investigating the disease -- and some promising research on what each of us can do to build...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: Should we get rid of standardized testing? - Arlo Kempf
Although standardized testing is a particularly hot topic in education right now, this approach to measurement has been in use for two millennia. And while the results of standardized testing can help us understand some things, they can...
TED Talks
Sandrine Thuret: You can grow new brain cells. Here's how
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 our brains better perform neurogenesis—improving mood, increasing memory formation and...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: The benefits of a good night's sleep - Shai Marcu
It'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...
Amoeba Sisters
Antibiotics, Antivirals, and Vaccines
Explore the basics of how antibiotics, antivirals, and vaccines work to help your immune system in the fight against pathogens! This Amoeba Sisters video also briefly introduces the lines of defense in the immune system and discusses how...
SciShow
Do Bacterial Cells Store Memories?
Some bacteria seem to be using a type of memory to help them alter future behaviors, based on their past experiences.
SciShow
This Flatworm Remembers Things After You Cut Off Its Brain
Planarians are flatworms most known for being able to grow a new head if it gets cut off, but perhaps even stranger is the fact that their new head retains some of the memories from the old one.