TED-Ed’s mission is to create lessons worth sharing. Feed and expand your curiosity with our award-winning animated shorts - published on YouTube and available with supplemental learning materials on ed.ted.com. Want to suggest an idea for a TED-Ed animation, nominate an educator or animator? Visit our website at: http://ed.ted.com/get_involved. Consider backing us on Patreon. By doing so, you directly support our nonprofit mission to create free, high-quality educational content: https://www.patreon.com/teded For more information on using TED-Ed content for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film, or in...
Listen in the Podli app 🎧
Follow your favourite podcasts, listen offline and in the car with CarPlay and Android Auto, and always pick up where you left off. Free to try.
Sep 29, 2026 · 8:56
The adventure continues! Episode 3: Ethic and Hedge must sabotage the furnace-bots to get to the first artifact. Can they find a way out? --This is episode 3 of our animated…
Sep 29, 2026 · 8:21
Explore the eye-opening science of LASIK: corrective laser eye surgery that focuses on reshaping the cornea to fix blurry vision.--In 1948, Spanish ophthalmologist Jose Ignacio…
Sep 29, 2026 · 4:52
The TED-Ed team provides an in depth look at the powerful features of the newly-launched TED-ED Beta website. You'll learn how TED-Ed videos are created, how they are arranged,…
Sep 29, 2026 · 7:59
Explore the psychology behind why children invent imaginary companions and what skills they can develop through pretend play.--Amia and her friend Zelba have been inseparable for…
Sep 29, 2026 · 6:43
Trace the history of how wolves, one of humanity’s oldest rivals, evolved into the domesticated dogs we call “man’s best friend.”--Since their emergence over 200,000 years ago,…
Sep 29, 2026 · 25:59
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/james-watson-on-how-he-discovered-dnaNobel laureate James Watson opens TED2005 with the frank and funny story of how he and his…
Sep 29, 2026 · 8:44
Get to know the story of Radio Venceremos, an underground radio collective that fought US-backed fascism during the Salvadoran Civil War.--Since the 1800s, a handful of oligarchs…
Sep 29, 2026 · 8:33
View full lesson on TED-Ed BETA: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-real-origin-of-the-franchiseOne of the most successful business models is the franchise, but it didn't originate…
Sep 29, 2026 · 9:25
Dig into sortition, a system where officials are selected via lottery, and how it could address the problems of modern democracies.--Elections are tools that ensure a nation’s…
Sep 29, 2026 · 5:33
Check out our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/tededCan folding a piece of paper 45 times get you to the moon? By seeing what happens when folding just one piece of paper,…
Sep 29, 2026 · 6:38
Learn how to identify, develop, and share your best ideas with TED Masterclass: http://bit.ly/tedmasterclass -- The average 20-year-old knows between 27,000 and 52,000 different…
Sep 29, 2026 · 3:46
Long, fancy words designed to show off your intelligence and vocabulary are all very well, but they aren't always the best words. In this short, playful video Terin Izil explains…
Sep 29, 2026 · 8:54
Explore how the microplastics in your body can affect your health, and how we can regulate the amount of plastic in our world.--Plastic is everywhere. It’s in our clothes, our…
Sep 29, 2026 · 6:42
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-does-your-brain-respond-to-pain-karen-d-davisOuch! Everyone experiences pain -- but why do some people react to the same painful…
Sep 29, 2026 · 6:42
Trace the illustrious history of hats dating back to the Paleolithic Era, and explore how they were used in different periods.--Humans have been fashioning caps since the dawn of…
Sep 29, 2026 · 9:16
Explore the science of hypnosis, and dig into how the practice can affect your body and brain when hypnotic suggestions work.--In the 19th century, Scottish surgeon James Braid…
Sep 29, 2026 · 8:17
Practice more problem-solving at https://brilliant.org/TedEd/ --You’re a biologist on a mission to keep the rare honeybee Apis Trifecta from going extinct. The last 60 bees of…
Sep 29, 2026 · 5:41
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-color-is-tuesday-exploring-synesthesia-richard-e-cytowicHow does one experience synesthesia -- the neurological trait that…
Sep 29, 2026 · 8:46
Check out Lucy Cooke's "The Truth About Animals": https://bit.ly/TruthAboutAnimals --From Ancient Greece to the 20th century, Aristotle, Freud, and numerous other scholars were…
Sep 29, 2026 · 7:54
Explore why zero-carbon technologies are vulnerable to the valley of death in product development and how we can change it.--All new products must pass through the "valley of…
Sep 29, 2026 · 4:02
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/mysteries-of-vernacular-robot-jessica-oreck-and-rachael-teelIn 1920, Czech writer Karel Čapek wrote a play about human-like machines,…
Sep 29, 2026 · 5:09
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-deadly-irony-of-gunpowder-eric-rosadoIn the mid-ninth century, Chinese chemists, hard at work on an immortality potion, instead…
Sep 29, 2026 · 5:51
Learn about the life and art of Mexican surrealist painter Frida Kahlo, who explored disability, relationships and Mexican culture in her work. --In 1925, Frida Kahlo was on her…
Sep 29, 2026 · 15:52
Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an animation: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletterIn the first of a new TED-Ed series designed to catalyze curiosity, TED Curator Chris…
Sep 29, 2026 · 8:13
Explore how two main types of emergency contraception work to prevent pregnancy by disrupting or delaying ovulation.--In a 2021 study, researchers asked over 500 participants to…
Sep 28, 2026 · 25:02
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/carl-honore-praises-slownessJournalist Carl Honoré believes the Western world's emphasis on speed erodes health, productivity and…
Sep 28, 2026 · 20:16
Calling them "our bodies' own repair kits," Susan Solomon advocates research using lab-grown stem cells. By growing individual pluripotent stem cell lines, her team creates…
Sep 28, 2026 · 8:40
Get to know Auguste Rodin’s infamous sculpture “The Thinker,” and find out who was the inspiration for this masterpiece.--Contrary to popular belief, "The Thinker" sculpture…
Sep 28, 2026 · 6:31
Get to know the life of Mexican nun, poet and scholar, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, who was censored by the Church for her critical writings. --Juana Ramírez de Asbaje sat before a…
Sep 28, 2026 · 18:04
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/let-s-talk-about-dying-peter-saulWe can't control if we'll die, but we can "occupy death," in the words of Dr. Peter Saul. He calls on…
Sep 28, 2026 · 19:30
Call it "fuel without fossils": Jonathan Trent is working on a plan to grow new biofuel by farming micro-algae in floating offshore pods that eat wastewater from cities. Hear his…
Sep 28, 2026 · 5:47
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-languages-evolve-alex-gendlerOver the course of human history, thousands of languages have developed from what was once a much…
Sep 28, 2026 · 9:08
Trace the history and evolution of beer, from its first known existence 13,000 years ago to the modern beverage we know today.--Today, there are over 100 distinct beer varieties,…
Sep 28, 2026 · 7:49
Dig into the incredible fighting, feeding, and flying capabilities of hummingbirds.--In just a matter of seconds, hummingbirds can perform astonishing aerial acrobatics, eat…
Sep 28, 2026 · 8:12
Just how small are atoms? And what's inside them? The answers turn out to be astounding, even for those who think they know. This fast-paced animation uses spectacular metaphors…
Sep 28, 2026 · 22:55
Why, why, why does our education system look so similar to the way it did 50 years ago? Millions of students were failing then, as they are now -- and it's because we're clinging…
Sep 28, 2026 · 9:00
By dissecting a cockroach ... yes, live on stage ... TED Fellow and neuroscientist Greg Gage shows how brains receive and deliver electric impulses -- and how legs can…
Sep 28, 2026 · 7:51
Get to know Jin Yong’s “Legend of the Condor Heroes,” an epic tale of adventure and war, romance, brotherhood and betrayal.--In the 1950s, citizens flocked to newsstands to pick…
Sep 28, 2026 · 9:41
Dig into the science and superstition behind the myth of vampires, and how it has persisted from ancient Mesopotamia to today.--The myth of the bloodsucking vampire has stalked…
Sep 28, 2026 · 4:22
An animated interpretation of Tim Seibles' poem "First Kiss"--Watch an interview with the poet here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xiv3kKHpwk4This animation is part of our…
Sep 28, 2026 · 8:48
Stand by for an animated exploration of the famous Fermi Paradox. Given the vast number of planets in the universe, many much older than Earth, why haven't we yet seen obvious…
Sep 28, 2026 · 4:07
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/symbiosis-a-surprising-tale-of-species-cooperationDifferent species often depend on one another. David Gonzales describes the…
Sep 28, 2026 · 8:21
Explore the science of silica gel, and find out why these packets are everywhere and if they're actually dangerous to ingest.--Of the many, many things we’re not supposed to…
Sep 28, 2026 · 8:08
Explore the cognitive benefits of risky play and how we can design better playgrounds that promote fun, agency, and development.--The best play environments offer freedom and…
Sep 28, 2026 · 8:07
Practice more problem-solving at https://brilliant.org/TedEd--Bad news: your worst enemies are at the gate. Your fledgling kingdom guards the world’s only herd of tiny dino…
Sep 28, 2026 · 10:28
Professional songwriters share their writing process, how they collaborate with other artists, and what it takes to be a songwriter.--"Think Like A Musician" connects you with…
Sep 28, 2026 · 20:57
Some of the world's most baffling social problems, says Peter Eigen, can be traced to systematic, pervasive government corruption, hand-in-glove with global companies. In his…
Sep 28, 2026 · 8:04
Explore the technique known as the Socratic Method, which uses questions to examine a person’s values, principles, and beliefs. --Socrates, one of the founding fathers of Western…
Sep 28, 2026 · 19:36
Bernie Krause has been recording wild soundscapes -- the wind in the trees, the chirping of birds, the subtle sounds of insect larvae -- for 45 years. In that time, he has seen…
Sep 28, 2026 · 12:48
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/a-digital-reimagining-of-gettysburg-anne-knowlesGeographer Anne Knowles uses digital technologies to reimagine the past. In this…
Sep 28, 2026 · 8:15
Download a free audiobook version of "The Three-Body Problem" and support TED-Ed's nonprofit mission: https://www.audible.com/ted-ed --In 2009, researchers ran a simple…
Sep 28, 2026 · 6:04
Puzzle through the ethical dilemma of lying to a friend, and decide: is lying always wrong or can it be justifiable?--Your plan to set up your friend Carey with your acquaintance…
Sep 28, 2026 · 5:29
Explore the psychology of the cognitive bias known as the conjunction fallacy, where we assume specific conditions are more probable than general ones. --Meet Lucy. She was a…
Sep 28, 2026 · 8:13
Dig into how the simple game of peek-a-boo contributes to babies developing their cognitive, motor, and social skills.--In Italy, it’s called il gioco del cucù. Palestinians say…
Sep 28, 2026 · 6:32
Dive into the Irish myth of Táin Bò Cuailnge, where Queen Meadhbh of Connaught seeks to capture the fabled brown bull of Ulster. --Cú Chulainn, hero of Ulster, stood at the ford…
Sep 28, 2026 · 8:07
Trace the 9,000 year old history of the domestication of corn, or maize, and its effects on global agriculture. --Corn currently accounts for more than one tenth of our global…
Sep 28, 2026 · 1:47
Until recently, many teachers only got one word of feedback a year: "satisfactory." And with no feedback, no coaching, there's just no way to improve. Bill Gates suggests that…
Sep 28, 2026 · 9:17
Dig into the era of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, which perpetuated a genocide that killed a quarter of the country’s population. --From 1975 to 1979, the Communist Party of…
Sep 28, 2026 · 7:46
Learn the techniques and tricks that pyramid schemes use to recruit new members and how to avoid being fooled yourself. --In 2004, a nutrition company offered a life-changing…
Sep 28, 2026 · 8:18
Take a look at 3 English language grammar rules to find out where they come from and if you actually need to follow them.--Grammatical rules have caused heated debate in various…
Sep 28, 2026 · 3:56
TED-Ed's mission is to capture and amplify the voices of great educators around the world. We do this by pairing extraordinary educators with talented animators to produce a new…
Sep 28, 2026 · 8:00
Using newts, coyotes and mice, Jason Munshi-South shows how animals develop genetic differences in evolution, even within an urban city."Evolution in a Big City" was animated by…
Sep 28, 2026 · 6:27
View the full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-many-un...The fact that no one knows the answer to this question is what makes it exciting. The story of physics has been one…
Sep 28, 2026 · 21:17
In this wide-ranging, thought-provoking talk, Kevin Kelly muses on what technology means in our lives -- from its impact at the personal level to its place in the cosmos. (Filmed…
Sep 28, 2026 · 11:12
In the deepest, darkest parts of the oceans are ecosystems with more diversity than a tropical rainforest. Taking us on a voyage into the ocean -- from the deepest trenches to…
Sep 28, 2026 · 3:55
In the first of a new TED-Ed series designed to catalyze curiosity, TED Curator Chris Anderson shares his boyhood obsession with quirky questions that seem to have no answers.…
Sep 28, 2026 · 10:16
Adam Savage walks through two spectacular examples of profound scientific discoveries that came from simple, creative methods anyone could have followed -- Eratosthenes'…
Sep 28, 2026 · 5:11
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-fundamentals-of-space-time-part-3-andrew-pontzen-and-tom-whyntieView part 1:…
Sep 28, 2026 · 14:42
You don't need to plan an exotic trip to find creative inspiration. Just look up, says Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society. As he shares charming…
Sep 28, 2026 · 9:31
Explore how snakes evolved, and find out how their jaw-dropping anatomy allows them to take down prey several times their size.--Since slithering onto the scene some 150 million…
Sep 28, 2026 · 8:15
Dig into the false cause fallacy, which assumes that one event causes another, and learn how to distinguish between correlation and causation.--It’s 1843, and a debate is raging…
Sep 28, 2026 · 7:49
Discover the quirky creature known as the parrotfish, and the key role it plays in keeping coral reefs healthy and thriving. --As the sun rises over a quiet coral reef, one…
Sep 28, 2026 · 12:46
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/stories-legacies-of-who-we-areStoryteller and educator Awele Makeba combines performing arts and history to tell a powerful story from…
Sep 28, 2026 · 20:03
We all use our body on a daily basis, and yet few of us think about our physicality the way Wayne McGregor does. He demonstrates how a choreographer communicates ideas to an…
Sep 28, 2026 · 5:32
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-strengths-and-weaknesses-of-acids-and-bases-george-zaidan-and-charles-mortonVinegar may have a powerful smell, but did you know…
Sep 28, 2026 · 6:18
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-we-conquered-the-deadly-smallpox-virus-simona-zompiFor 10,000 years, humanity suffered from the scourge of smallpox. The virus…
Sep 28, 2026 · 8:04
Explore the ancient methods of growing glaciers, the homemade bodies of ice used as water sources, and how they can be used to combat climate change. --In the 13th century,…
Sep 28, 2026 · 16:10
Building a skyscraper? Forget about steel and concrete, says architect Michael Green, and build it out of ... wood. As he details in this intriguing talk, it's not only possible…
Sep 28, 2026 · 8:24
Discover what causes acid rain, and how scientists were able to largely eliminate this major environmental threat. --In 1963, scientists studying Hubbard Brook Experimental…
Sep 27, 2026 · 8:45
Singer, songwriter, and producer Breland shares insights into the creative process of songwriting and how to build your skills.--"Think Like A Musician" connects you with working…
Sep 27, 2026 · 16:07
Nearly 450 million people are affected by mental illness worldwide. In wealthy nations, just half receive appropriate care, but in developing countries, close to 90 percent go…
Sep 27, 2026 · 8:18
Learn more at https://brilliant.org/TedEd--Scanning the crime scene, Officer Stone sees a disorderly room, visible red-brown stains and a partial shoe track— all hinting at a…
Sep 27, 2026 · 9:28
Explore how marijuana’s two main active compounds, THC and CBD, affect your brain and body, and what risk factors to watch out for. --In 1970, marijuana was classified as a…
Sep 27, 2026 · 8:53
Take a tour of the vast, underground network of the Paris Catacombs, and find out how this 18th century cemetery came to be.--For centuries, Parisians had buried their dead in…
Sep 27, 2026 · 13:52
Wael Ghonim is the Google executive who helped jumpstart Egypt's democratic revolution ... with a Facebook page memorializing a victim of the regime's violence. Speaking at…
Sep 27, 2026 · 6:12
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-the-heart-actually-pumps-blood-edmond-huiFor most of history, scientists weren't quite sure why our hearts were beating or even…
Sep 27, 2026 · 8:34
Practice more problem-solving at https://brilliant.org/TedEd/--You’re the chief advisor to an eccentric king who needs to declare his successor. He wants his heir to be good at…
Sep 27, 2026 · 8:52
Discover the engineering innovations that made building Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper, possible.--In 2004, construction began on a new building in Dubai, promising…
Sep 27, 2026 · 10:44
Dig into the history of pandemics to learn how viruses and disease spreads and what we can do to stop future outbreaks.--In our increasingly globalized world, a single infected…
Sep 27, 2026 · 6:43
Why aren’t commercial flights getting faster? Dig into the technological and environmental problems facing supersonic flight. --In 1996, a British Airways plane flew from New…
Sep 27, 2026 · 6:36
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-s-below-the-tip-of-the-iceberg-camille-seamanIt's a well-known fact that the majority of an iceberg lies below the surface -- but…
Sep 27, 2026 · 21:10
In Western society, bats are often characterized as creepy, even evil. Zoologist Emma Teeling encourages us to rethink our attitude toward bats, whose unique and fascinating…
Sep 27, 2026 · 14:20
In her talk, longtime English teacher Patricia Ryan asks a provocative question: Is the world's focus on English preventing the spread of great ideas in other languages? (For…
Sep 27, 2026 · 6:38
Take a look at the theories behind why earthquakes occur, what makes them so hard to predict and the warning system technologies we rely on today. --In 132 CE, Zhang Heng…
Sep 27, 2026 · 4:00
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/mysteries-of-vernacular-dynamite-jessica-oreck-and-rachael-teelWith an explosive meaning, the word dynamite's past is as historical as…
Sep 27, 2026 · 9:01
Explore the circular reasoning fallacy, which occurs when the end of an argument comes back to the start without having proven itself.--It’s 1990. A prospective student has filed…
Sep 27, 2026 · 5:31
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-emergence-of-drama-as-a-literary-art-mindy-ploeckelmannWhen presented with the problem of hoards of illiterate commoners, English…
Sep 27, 2026 · 7:56
Find out whether a honeybee, a tarantula hawk wasp, or a bullet ant has the most painful insect sting, and what each of their stings feel like. --One of these three creatures is…
Sep 27, 2026 · 7:56
Explore the incredible adaptations of Elysia chlorotica, a species of sea slug that can photosynthesize food. --The species of slug known as Elysia chlorotica may not look like…
Sep 27, 2026 · 8:16
Dig into how scientists are attempting to revive the functionally extinct northern white rhino through artificial reproduction.--In the savannahs of Kenya, two female northern…
Listen in the Podli app 🎧
Follow your favourite podcasts, listen offline and in the car with CarPlay and Android Auto, and always pick up where you left off. Free to try.
Your podcast? Get the Podli badge for your site
