Why are we using tech from 100 years ago to deliver the world's electricity? Materials scientist Jason Huang shows how we could massively upgrade the global power grid by replacing the wires in existing transmission lines with new,...

As "beauty filters" proliferate on social media platforms like TikTok, journalist Elise Hu says we've entered the era of the technological gaze, where the digital world shapes real-world beauty standards. She explains how to navigate...

The option to work from home means that work truly works for everyone, says Avani Prabhakar, chief people officer of a large tech company. She explains how flexibility and asynchronous collaboration in a distributed workplace can unlock...

What happens when personal grief collides with your professional life? Drawing on her experience as the CEO of a crisis management firm and a hospice chaplain, Meredith Wilson Parfet breaks down the reality of grief — at work and beyond...

To get smarter, traditional AI models rely on exponential increases in the scale of data and computing power. Noam Brown, a leading research scientist at OpenAI, presents a potentially transformative shift in this paradigm. He reveals...

When reading "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," most readers visualize the queen’s croquet game play out in their heads. A few might see the scene in vivid detail. However, a small fraction of readers have a drastically different...

When anxiety rears its head, we often just want it to go away. Clinical psychologist David H. Rosmarin asks us to consider instead the positive role anxiety can play in our lives, sharing four practical steps to transform it from your...

Actor and writer Natasha Rothwell takes the stage for “On the Spot,” TED’s rapid-fire Q&A format. Answering a stream of unexpected questions, she dishes on everything from creativity and representation in TV to love, the first “pinch me”...

The average human, in theory, eats 3 spiders a year. If you're not eating them and I'm not eating them, who is?

A world without predators. It sounds like a safer, happier world, but come on, this is science…

Venezuela’s Lake Maracaibo is home to a legendary lightning storm that has been going on for over 500 years.

Life in Antarctica's ocean has followed a completely different evolutionary path from other ocean life because of how cold and isolated the ocean is.

From a boy setting off small explosions in his living room to the creator of world-famous pyrotechnic events, multidisciplinary artist Cai Guo-Qiang has always been drawn to gunpowder. He gives a stunning tour of his work — including his...

This conversation between the head of TED, Chris Anderson and NYU professor Scott Galloway explores the widespread impact of Galloway's recent TED talk, which received both overwhelmingly positive feedback and constructive pushback....

Amir Nizar Zuabi and Kristine McDivitt Tompkins discuss their shared concerns about humanity's lack of compassion and the interconnected crises of climate change, social injustice, and species extinction. Zuabi reflects on storytelling...

Yara Shahidi and Anil Seth explore the complexities of self-perception and identity, discussing how acting and neuroscience reveal the dynamic and multifaceted nature of the self. Shahidi reflects on how embodying characters deepens her...

In a conversation between cognitive neuroscientist Anil Seth and actor Yara Shahidi, they explore the interplay between perception, self-awareness, and acting. Seth delves into the neuroscience of experiencing oneself, while Shahidi...

Allyson Felix highlights the importance of addressing mental health in sports, advocating for improved resources like therapy and coaching training to create healthier environments for athletes. She emphasizes the need to reduce stigma,...

During the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, retired track star Allyson Felix joined the event as a spectator. In this discussion with TED's Whitney Pennington Rodgers, Felix reflects on her transition to life after competition while...

The recent charges against Telegram founder Pavel Durov by France, followed by similar actions from South Korea, highlight the growing tension between governments and global tech platforms. These cases underscore the challenges in...

Currently, governments individually regulate platforms like Telegram within their jurisdictions, leading to fragmented oversight despite the global nature of these platforms. This raises questions about how to create a balanced...

Long ago, an emperor decided to build a great wall to protect his new empire and ensure his power. He ordered men across China to leave their homes and submit to the grueling labor required for its construction. As years passed and the...

Today, some companies are working hard to prevent consumers from repairing products on their own. In many cases, repair can only be done by the original manufacturer, if at all. With limited repair options available, we end up buying new...

Humans have known about the toxicity of death cap mushrooms for millennia. Yet they continue to pose a significant threat to unsuspecting foragers and mushroom hunters throughout the world. Today, death caps are responsible for more than...