TED Talks
Derren Brown: Mentalism, mind reading and the art of getting inside your head
"Magic is a great analogy for how we edit reality and form a story -- and then mistake that story for the truth," says psychological illusionist Derren Brown. In a clever talk wrapped around a dazzling mind-reading performance, Brown...
TED Talks
Marco Tempest: The magic of truth and lies (and iPods)
Using three iPods like magical props, Marco Tempest spins a clever, surprisingly heartfelt meditation on truth and lies, art and emotion.
TED Talks
TED: Simple hacks for life with Parkinson's | Mileha Soneji
Simple solutions are often best, even when dealing with something as complicated as Parkinson's. In this inspiring talk, Mileha Soneji shares accessible designs that make the everyday tasks of those living with Parkinson's a bit easier....
TED Talks
TED: A lyrical bridge between past, present and future | David Whyte
With his signature charm and searching insight, David Whyte meditates on the frontiers of the past, present and future, sharing two poems inspired by his niece's hike along el Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
TED Talks
TED: Insightful human portraits made from data | R. Luke DuBois
Artist R. Luke DuBois makes unique portraits of presidents, cities, himself and even Britney Spears using data and personality. In this talk, he shares nine projects -- from maps of the country built using information taken from millions...
TED Talks
Virginia Postrel: On glamour
In a timely talk, cultural critic Virginia Postrel muses on the true meaning, and the powerful uses, of glamour -- which she defines as any calculated, carefully polished image designed to impress and persuade.
TED Talks
Al Seckel: Visual illusions that show how we (mis)think
Al Seckel, an expert on illusions, explores the perceptual illusions that fool our brains. He shares loads of cool tricks to prove that not only are we easily fooled, we kind of like it.
TED Talks
Jonathan Drori: What we think we know
Starting with four basic questions (that you may be surprised to find you can't answer), Jonathan Drori looks at the gaps in our knowledge -- and specifically, what we don't about science that we might think we do.
TED Talks
Dan Ariely: Are we in control of our own decisions?
Behavioral economist Dan Ariely, the author of Predictably Irrational, uses classic visual illusions and his own counterintuitive (and sometimes shocking) research findings to show how we're not as rational as we think when we make...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Does Time Exist? - Andrew Zimmerman Jones
The earliest time measurements were observations of cycles of the natural world, using patterns of changes from day to night and season to season to build calendars. More precise time-keeping eventually came along to put time in more...
SciShow
This Illusion Might Not Work Depending on Where You're From
Optical illusions are a fun way to play with the way your brain interprets what your eyes see, but if some of them don't work for you, it might be because of where you live.
SciShow
How Well Do You Know Your Own Hand?
Tricking your brain isn't just fun,it can be therapeutic, too!
TED Talks
Don Levy: A cinematic journey through visual effects
It's been 110 years since Georges Méliès sent a spaceship slamming into the eye of the man on the moon. So how far have visual effects come since then? Working closely with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Don Levy takes...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: Why is Vermeer's "Girl with the Pearl Earring" considered a masterpiece? - James Earle
Is she turning towards you or away from you? No one can agree. She's the subject of Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer's "Girl with the Pearl Earring," a painting often referred to as the 'Mona Lisa of the North.' But what makes this painting...
TED Talks
TED: The beauty of what we'll never know | Pico Iyer
Almost 30 years ago, Pico Iyer took a trip to Japan, fell in love with the country and moved there. A keen observer of the human spirit, Iyer professes that he now feels he knows far less about Japan -- or, indeed, about anything -- than...
TED Talks
Marco Tempest: A magical tale (with augmented reality)
Marco Tempest spins a beautiful story of what magic is, how it entertains us and how it highlights our humanity -- all while working extraordinary illusions with his hands and an augmented reality machine.
Crash Course
Special Effects: Crash Course Film Production
Chances are, when you hear the phrase "Special Effects," you may have images pop into your mind. The Hulk smashing a city, a lightsaber fight, or maybe an alien world. But effects can be much more subtle and have been around really since...
Crash Course
Vision: Crash Course A&P
Next stop in our tour of your sensory systems? VISION. With a little help from an optical illusion, we take a look inside your eyes to try to figure out how your sense of vision works -- and how it can be tricked. *** Table of Contents...
TED Talks
TED: And for my next trick, a robot | Marco Tempest
Marco Tempest uses charming stagecraft to demo EDI, the multi-purpose robot designed to work very closely with humans. Less a magic trick than an intricately choreographed performance, Tempest shows off the robot’s sensing technology,...
SciShow
8 Mind-Blowing Optical Illusions
Your brain does its best to inform you about the world around you, but sometimes it gets tricked. Enjoy eight optical illusions to test your brain's sensory input.
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Are we living in a simulation? | Zohreh Davoudi
All life on Earth— living and inanimate, microscopic and cosmic— is governed by mathematical laws with apparently arbitrary constants. And this opens up a question: If the universe is completely governed by these laws, couldn't a...
TED Talks
Vik Muniz: Art with wire, sugar, chocolate and string
Vik Muniz makes art from pretty much anything, be it shredded paper, wire, clouds or diamonds. Here he describes the thinking behind his work and takes us on a tour of his incredible images.
TED Talks
Michael Shermer: Why people believe weird things
Why do people see the Virgin Mary on a cheese sandwich or hear demonic lyrics in "Stairway to Heaven"? Using video and music, skeptic Michael Shermer shows how we convince ourselves to believe -- and overlook the facts.
Curated Video
The Power of Faith and Hope: Exploring Cultures and Illusions
In this video, children learn about the concept of faith and its importance in believing in something even when it seems impossible. The video explores how faith can be based on personal beliefs or cultural influences, and emphasizes the...