TED-Ed

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 the TED-Ed Animation Team (Jeremiah Dickey, Biljana Labovic, Celeste Lai, Kari Mulholland and Franz Palomares)View the full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/evolution-in-a-big-city Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam Savage walks through two spectacular examples of profound scientific discoveries that came from simple, creative methods anyone could have followed -- Eratosthenes' calculation of the Earth's circumference around 200 BC and Hippolyte Fizeau's measurement of the speed of light in 1849. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 animal breaks the morning silence. Named for its vibrant scales and beak-like teeth, the parrotfish devours a particularly crunchy breakfast: rocks. Why would any creature take bites out of the seafloor? Mike Gil explores how these quirky and flashy foragers play a key role in defending the essential coral reef ecosystem.Lesson by Mike Gil, directed by Franz Palomares....

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 up the latest edition of a story set hundreds of years in the past — a multigenerational tale of adventure and war, romance and intrigue, brotherhood and betrayal. Jin Yong’s epic "Legend of the Condor Heroes" is considered one of Hong Kong’s most important works of fiction. Gladys Mac digs into this beloved sweeping saga of the steppes.Lesson by Gladys Mac...

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 snack on, perhaps the most common forbidden food is silica gel. This tiny packet pops up in packaging for everything — from TVs and guitar cases to sunscreen and snack foods. So why is silica gel everywhere, and what would actually happen if you ate it? Vivian Jiang digs into the science of this pervasive product.Lesson by Vivian Jiang, directed by Deny...

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 talk, Eigen describes the thrilling counter-attack led by his organization Transparency International. (Filmed at TEDxBerlin.)Talk by Peter Eigen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Emerson is finally coming together. You’ve made them a dinner reservation, but suddenly realize that there's a problem: Carey is always late. You really want this relationship to work— what if you told Carey dinner was at 6 instead of 6:30, so they arrived on time? Is it okay to lie? Sarah Stroud explores this classic ethical dilemma.Lesson by Sarah Stro...

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 Kampuchea ruled Cambodia with an iron fist, perpetrating a genocide that killed one fourth of the country’s population. Roughly one million people were executed as suspected political enemies or due to their ethnicities, and another million died of starvation, disease, or overwork. How did this happen? Timothy Williams details the rise of the Khmer Rouge.Lesson by Timothy Williams, directed by Héloïse...

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 of an ever-expanding understanding of the sheer scale of reality, to the point where physicists are now postulating that there may be far more universes than just our own. Chris Anderson explores the thrilling implications of this idea.Lesson by Chris Anderson, animation by Andrew Park. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 photos of nature's finest aerial architecture, Pretor-Pinney calls for us all to take a step off the digital treadmill, lie back and admire the beauty in the sky above. Talk by Gavin Pretor-Pinney. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 the American civil rights movement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 musicians who want to help the music-curious and music-passionate hone and share the gift of music with the world. Part interview, part animated course, our second season "Think Like A Songwriter" features artists sharing their insight on the ins and outs of fine-tuning your songwriting and crafting timeless, memorable music.Each episode features free supplemental learning materials developed by Education Through Music (https://etmonline.org) — a...

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 the Cemetery of the Innocents. By the 18th century, the grounds had become overcrowded — spewing foul odors across the city. Residents worried that it posed a public health threat, and petitioned the government for a solution. But where could they move millions of remains? Stephanie H. Smith explores the vast, underground network of the Catacombs.Lesson by Stephanie H. Smith, directed by...

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 person can board a plane and spread a virus across continents. Mark Honigsbaum describes the history of pandemics and how that knowledge can help halt future outbreaks. Lesson by Mark Honigsbaum, directed by Patrick Blower. Animator's website: http://www.patrickblower.comEducator's website: http://www.markhonigsbaum.co.ukSign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletter...

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 untreated because psychiatrists are in such short supply. Vikram Patel outlines a highly promising approach -- training members of communities to give mental health interventions, empowering ordinary people to care for others. Talk by Vikram Patel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 philosophical thought, was on trial. Many believed he was an enemy of the state, accusing the philosopher of corrupting the youth and refusing to recognize their gods. But Socrates wasn’t feared for claiming to have all the answers, but rather, for asking too many questions. Erick Wilberding digs into the technique known as the Socratic Method.Lesson by Erick Wilberding, directed by Draško Iv...

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 at Cooley, ready to face an entire army single handedly— all for the sake of a single bull. The army in question belonged to Queen Meadhbh of Connaught. Enraged at her husband’s possession of a white bull of awesome strength, she set out to capture the fabled brown bull of Ulster at any cost. Iseult Gillespie details the Irish myth Táin Bò...

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 regions and languages for centuries. But while we know people take grammar seriously, what’s less clear is, why? Where do these seemingly random rules come from, and which, if any, actually matter? Arika Okrent takes a closer look at three famous examples from the English language that have been the source of numerous grammatical arguments.Lesson by Arika Okrent, directed by...

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 the remains of the Titanic -- marine biologist David Gallo explores the wonder and beauty of marine life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 years ago, evolving length and limbless-ness out of their ancestral lizard forms, snakes have diversified rapidly. Their noodly bodies and flexible heads granted them access to novel places and prey. And today, there are nearly 4,000 snake species, spanning habitats high and low. Niko Zlotnik explores how snakes evolved into incredible predators.Lesson by Niko Zlotnik, directed by Anna Benner.Support Our Non-Profit...