TED-Ed
byTED-Ed
EducationScienceTechnology
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...
Episodes(40 episodes)
How open data is shifting international aid - Sanjay Pradhan
How do we make sure that development and aid money actually goes to the people who most need it? Sanjay Pradhan of the World Bank Institute lays out three guidelines to help relief efforts make the most impact -- while curbing corruption. One key: connecting the players who are working to change broken systems with the data they need. Talk by Sanjay Pradhan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 20m 5s
Why you procrastinate even when it's unpleasant
Explore what happens in the brain to trigger procrastination, and what strategies you can use to break the cycle of this harmful practice.--The report you’ve been putting off is due tomorrow. It’s time to buckle down, open your computer ... and check your phone. Maybe watch your favorite YouTube channel? Or maybe you should just start in the morning? This is the cycle of procrastination. So, why do we procrastinate when we know it’s bad for us? Explore how your body triggers a procrastination response, and how you can break the cycle...
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 8m 30s
What is fat? - George Zaidan
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-is-fat-george-zaidanAs the narrative goes, fat is bad. Well, it's actually more nuanced than that. The type of fat you eat is more impactful on your health than the quantity. George Zaidan examines triglycerides, the varied molecules that make up fat, and how to identify which types of fat you are consuming.Lesson by George Zaidan, animation by Igor Coric. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 6m 6s
How was the Great Pyramid of Giza built? - Soraya Field Fiorio
Explore how the ancient Egyptians built the Great Pyramid, a tomb created for Pharaoh Khufu which took over 20 years to complete.--As soon as Pharaoh Khufu ascended the throne circa 2575 BCE, work on his eternal resting place began. The structure’s architect, Hemiunu, determined he would need 20 years to finish the royal tomb. But what he could not predict was that this monument would remain the world’s tallest manmade structure for over 3,800 years. Soraya Field Fiorio digs into the construction of the Great Pyramid.Lesson by Soraya Field Fiorio, directed by Luís...
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 8m 17s
Is capitalism actually malfunctioning?
Explore the different types of capitalism, how they operate, and how they impact issues like climate change and rising inequality.--People have become increasingly worried that the threats we face today, like climate change and rising inequality, can’t be solved by a capitalist economic system. So, is that true? And if it is, can we fix capitalism or do we need to tear the system down and build a new one from scratch? Explore the different types of capitalism and the role it plays in our society.Directed by Lorenzo Mercanti, AI...
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 9m 25s
The arts festival movement - David Binder
David Binder is a major Broadway producer, but last summer he found himself in a small Australian neighborhood, watching locals dance and perform on their lawns -- and loving it. He shows us the new face of arts festivals, which break the boundary between audience and performer and help cities express themselves. Talk by David Binder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 12m 49s
How do we develop a better economy?
Explore the model known as doughnut economics, which aims to meet the needs of people without overshooting Earth's ecological limits.--Can we call any economy “healthy” in the face of dwindling resources and growing inequality? What if we cut off our addiction to endless growth, and used a new compass for modern prosperity? One such compass is known as “doughnut economics,” which aims to meet the needs of people without overshooting Earth's ecological limits. Explore how this model reframes our economic systems.This video is based on interview excerpts from the TED Intervie...
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 8m 49s
Not all scientific studies are created equal - David H. Schwartz
View full lesson: Not all scientific studies are created equal - David H. Schwartz Every day, we are bombarded by attention grabbing headlines that promise miracle cures to all of our ailments -- often backed up by a "scientific study." But what are these studies, and how do we know if they are reliable? David H. Schwartz dissects two types of studies that scientists use, illuminating why you should always approach the claims with a critical eye.Lesson by David H. Schwartz, animation by Augenblick Studios. Learn more about your ad...
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 6m 11s
"Jabberwocky": One of literature's best bits of nonsense
Dive into Lewis Carroll’s epic nonsense poem, “Jabberwocky” from his novel "Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There."--As Alice wanders through the dreamscape of Looking-Glass Land in Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There," she happens across a book written in an unintelligible language. Inside, she discovers an epic poem filled with nonsense, fearsome creatures, and whimsical language. Dive into Carroll's legendary poem, "Jabberwocky" and see if you can make sense of the nonsense.Poem by Lewis Carroll, directed by Sjaak Rood.Sign up for ou...
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 3m 55s
What's the brightest age? - Shannon Odell
At what age are you smartest? Dig into how your brain development affects your skills at different stages of your life.--Tomorrow is the annual Brain Clash — a decathlon of mental challenges, trivia competitions, and puzzles. Amir needs a smart and capable teammate and must choose between three people; all of different ages and talents. So, who should Amir choose for the contest? Shannon Odell breaks down the idea of “smart” and explores how our brain development impacts our skills at various stages of our lives.Lesson by Shannon Odell, directed by Biljan...
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 6m 37s
Could a breathalyzer detect cancer? - Julian Burschka
Discover how scientists are analyzing compounds in the breath to create a versatile breathalyzer capable of detecting disease.--How is it that a breathalyzer can measure the alcohol content in someone’s blood, hours after they had their last drink, based on their breath alone? And could we use this same technology to detect disease by analyzing a person’s breath, without having to use more invasive diagnostic tools like biopsies, blood draws, and radiation? Julian Burschka details the complicated process.Lesson by Julian Burschka, directed by Cabong Studios.Animator's webs...
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 6m 24s
Could tissue engineering lead to personalized medicine? - Nina Tandon
Each of our bodies is utterly unique, which is a lovely thought until it comes to treating an illness -- when every body reacts differently, often unpredictably, to standard treatment. Tissue engineer Nina Tandon talks about a possible solution: Using pluripotent stem cells to make personalized models of organs on which to test new drugs and treatments, and storing them on computer chips. (Call it extremely personalized medicine.) Talk by Nina Tandon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 9m 4s
Is life meaningless? And other absurd questions - Nina Medvinskaya
Dive into Albert Camus’ philosophy of the absurd, and explore the question: if the world is meaningless, could our lives still hold value? --Albert Camus grew up surrounded by violence. His homeland of Algeria was mired in conflict. He lost his father in World War I. Seeing World War II's devastation, Camus grew despondent. What was the meaning behind all this endless bloodshed and suffering? And if the world was meaningless, could our individual lives still hold value? Nina Medvinskaya explores Camus’ philosophy of the absurd.Lesson by Nina Medvinskaya, directed by Avi...
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 8m 57s
The mysterious life and death of Rasputin - Eden Girma
Get to know the story of Rasputin, known as the “Mad Monk,” who was assassinated for his involvement with the Russian monarchy.--On a night in 1916, Russian aristocrats set a plot of assassination into motion. If all went as planned, a man would be dead by morning, though others had already tried and failed. The monarchy was on the brink of collapse, and they believed this man was the single cause of it all. Who was he, and why was he to blame for the fate of an empire? Eden Girma explores the life of t...
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 7m 58s
things all skilled listeners know
Dig into different strategies that can improve your listening skills so you can become a high quality listener.--It’s easy to tell when someone’s not paying attention, but it can be surprisingly tricky to know what good listening looks like. Good listening is one of the most important things we can do to improve our relationships, develop our worldview, and potentially change people’s minds. So what can we do to become better listeners? Dig into different strategies that can improve your listening skills.Directed by Maryna Buchynska, and action agency...
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 7m 51s
Crowdsource your health - Lucien Engelen
You can use your smartphone to find a local ATM, but what if you need a defibrillator? Lucien Engelen shows us online innovations that are changing the way we save lives, including a crowdsourced map of local defibrillators. (Filmed at TEDxMaastricht.)Talk by Lucien Engelen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 8m 57s
Why is this painting so shocking? - Iseult Gillespie
Discover the history and symbolism of Pablo Picasso’s powerful anti-war mural, “Guernica,” rendered in his signature Cubist style.--In 1937, in one of the worst civilian casualties of the Spanish Civil War, Fascist forces bombed the village of Guernica in Northern Spain. For Pablo Picasso, the tragedy sparked a frenzied period of work in which he produced a massive anti-war mural, titled “Guernica.” How can we make sense of this overwhelming image, and what makes it a masterpiece of anti-war art? Iseult Gillespie investigates.Lesson by Iseult Gillespie, directed by Avi Ofer.Sig...
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 8m 0s
Merits and limitations of public opinion polls - Jason Robert Jaffe
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/pros-and-cons-of-public-opinion-polls-jason-robert-jaffeHow do public opinion polls work? And, more importantly, are they accurate? Jason Robert Jaffe reveals the complexities and biases of polls and provides tips on how to think about polls as we make everyday decisions.Lesson by Jason Robert Jaffe, animation by Flaming Medusa Studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 6m 9s
What you don't know about marriage - Jenna McCarthy
In this funny, casual talk from TEDx, writer Jenna McCarthy shares surprising research on how marriages (especially happy marriages) really work. One tip: Do not try to win an Oscar for best actress. (Filmed at TEDxAmericanRiviera.)Talk by Jenna McCarthy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 15m 2s
Why plague doctors sported beaked masks
Explore the history of the European plague doctor, and find out where their iconic outfit of a beaked mask and robe came from.--The year is 1656. Your body is wracked by violent chills. Your head pounds and you're too weak to sit up. In your feverish state, you see a strange-looking man wearing a beak-like mask, his body covered from head to toe. Without seeing his face, you know: you have the plague. So, where did these iconic outfits come from? Stephanie Honchell Smith explores the history of plague doctors.Directed by...
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 8m 17s