TEDBlog April, 2009 Archive
21 April 2009
J.J. Abrams guest-edits Wired; watch the TEDTalk that inspired it
Star Trek‘s J.J. Abrams guest-edits this month’s Wired magazine — packed with puzzles and mysteries and little jokes, some unsolvable. And it was all inspired (says the New York Times) by Abrams’ 2007 TEDTalk, where he first opened up about his love of riddles and intricate secrets:
20 April 2009
Crocheting in hyperbolic space: Exclusive interview with Margaret Wertheim on TED.com
Masterminding a project to model a coral reef in crochet, Margaret Wertheim hopes to share some of the most complicated mathematical models embodied in our universe with the minds (and hands) of the masses. TED’s film + video editor Kari Mulholland talked with Margaret Wertheim last week about the Crochet Coral Reef — as well as her theories of kindergarten, the beauty of pi, and the next homes for the Reef. For the full interview, hit the jump. A sample:
There is no such thing as a perfect hyperbolic surface in nature. After crocheting mathematically curved surfaces for about two years, Chrissy came in one day and said, you know what? I’m really sick of crocheting perfectly, I’m sick of all the geometry. I want to try something irregular. So what would happen, for instance, if I crocheted at variable rates? What would happen if I increase a bit faster on this side of the model and a bit slower on that side?
As soon as we started to mix these variations, the whole thing immediately looked more natural. And we realized this is what nature’s doing. Nature doesn’t feel compelled to stick to a mathematically precise algorithm; in fact, nature probably can’t stick to an algorithm. Conditions in the water, amount of sunlight, availability of nutrients would all cause an organism to grow a bit faster in one direction then in the other. That’s what we realized we were doing with these varying rates of increase; we were simulating various conditions that might happen in nature.
Watch Margaret Wertheim’s TEDTalk >> (more…)
20 April 2009
Apply to become a Fellow at TEDIndia
Apply now to become one of 100 TED Fellows to attend TEDIndia in Mysore, held Nov. 4-7, 2009.
TED Fellows will attend TEDIndia, join a two-day Fellows pre-conference event before TED starts, and then take advantage of all that the TEDIndia conference has to offer — amazing TED talks, performances and demos; conversation and connection with TED attendees and speakers; mind-expanding insight. It’s an experience that may be life-changing … see the TED Fellows blog for insights from current fellows.
TEDIndia Fellows will be drawn from many disciplines that reflect the diversity of TED’s members: technology, entertainment, design, the sciences, the humanities, the arts, NGOs, business … and we’re especially looking for international applicants. Tell your friends!
Find out more about the TED Fellows program >>
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Applications close June 15, 2009, at noon.
PS: Read our Facebook note full of tips for applying to become a TED Fellow >>
20 April 2009
The beautiful math that links coral, crochet and hyperbolic geometry: Margaret Wertheim on TED.com
Margaret Wertheim leads a project to re-create the creatures of the coral reefs using a crochet technique invented by a mathematician — celebrating the amazements of the reef, and deep-diving into the hyperbolic geometry underlying coral creation. (Recorded at TED2009, February 2009, in Long Beach, California. Duration: 15:34.)
Watch Margaret Wertheim’s talk on TED.com, where you can download this TEDTalk, rate it, comment on it and find other talks and performances from our archive of 400+ TEDTalks.
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19 April 2009
The week in comments
We’re on to our second week of picking our favorite comments from the pile, and it already seems to be getting harder. Your voices are many, and your quips are witty.
Here are the long deliberated choices:
On Shai Agassi’s TEDTalk: A bold plan for mass adoption of electric cars:
Brilliant. Persuasive. Visionary. I’m not hoping it will work. I’m actually convinced that it will work. — Joshua
I am humbled by Shai Agassi and his TEDtalk about his org, Better Place. I share his dream for a network supporting electric car ownership. — rusharound via Twitter
On the TEDBlog’s interview with Shai Agassi:
All electric Nano would be a killer appliance for transportation in India — Jack via facebook
On JoAnn Kuchera-Morin’s TEDTalk: Tour the AlloSphere, a stunning new way to see scientific data:
I have been to the AlloSphere at UCSB and knew the last guy that ran it. He had developed a MIDI Violin using LightWave as his Doctoral Project. One half the AlloSphere is run by Macs and the other half is run by PC’s. Left Brain, Right Brain?? — Jim via facebook
On Matthew Childs’ TEDTalk: Hang in there! 9 life lessons from rock climbing:
Sounds great! Now we need a TED about 9 ways to thwart a pirate attack! — Elizabeth via facebook
On our new intro music:
I’m watching Shai Agassi’s excellent TED talk, my ears are appreciating the more toned down TED intro theme. — aramc via Twitter
Thanks for another week of dialog. We’ll see you tomorrow with a new TEDTalk and another reason for you to talk.
17 April 2009
John R. Wooden Awards announced
A week ago today, the John R. Wooden Award was given to the best college basketball players of the year. Back in 2001, Coach Wooden (the namesake of the award and former UCLA basketball coach) gave a touching TEDTalk which proved why he is so revered and respected in the basketball and academic communities.
The recipients of the Wooden award, Blake Griffin of Oklahoma and Maya Moore of Connecticut, both led their teams into the NCAA Division I Championship Tournament (with Moore’s Huskies winning the women’s title). Both players regularly put up double-doubles in points and rebounds throughout the season (30 for Griffin, 16 for Moore) and are also the first from their respective universities to win the award.
But winning and filling stat sheets aren’t enough to earn the Wooden trophy, which demands candidates “exhibit strength of character, both on and off the court.” This is something Coach Wooden has in spades.
In his 2001 TEDTalk, Coach Wooden affectionately recalls his early teaching and coaching career to illustrate how he arrived at his own personal definition of success. By sharing his father’s wisdom, quoting poetry and bible verses, Coach Wooden uses his talk to encourage the pursuits of self-improvement and satisfaction. He reminds us all that while “your reputation is what you’re perceived to be, your character is what you really are … ” (Recorded at TED2001, February 2001, in Monterey, California. Duration: 17:36.)
Watch John Wooden’s talk from TED2001 on TED.com, where you can download this TEDTalk, rate it, comment on it and find other talks and performances from our archive of 400+ TEDTalks — including more sports.
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17 April 2009
Hang in there! 9 life lessons from rock climbing: Matthew Childs on TED.com
In this talk from TED University 2009, veteran rock climber Matthew Childs shares nine pointers for rock climbing. These handy tips bear on an effective life at sea level, too. (Recorded at TED U 2009, February 2009, in Long Beach, California. Duration: 4:48.)
Watch Matthew Childs’ talk on TED.com, where you can download this TEDTalk, rate it, comment on it and find other talks and performances from our archive of 400+ TEDTalks.
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16 April 2009
How to feel like the Incredible Hulk: Tim Ferriss on TED.com
Productivity guru Tim Ferriss‘ fun, encouraging anecdotes show how one simple question — “What’s the worst that could happen?” — is all you need to learn to do anything. (Recorded at EG 2008, December 2008, in Monterey, California. Duration: 16:26.)
Watch Tim Ferriss’ talk on learning on TED.com, where you can download this TEDTalk, rate it, comment on it and find other talks and performances from our archive of 400+ TEDTalks.
Get TED delivered:
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15 April 2009
Mapping terrain in space and time: Exclusive interview with JoAnn Kuchera-Morin of the AlloSphere
Dr. JoAnn Kuchera-Morin works on the AlloSphere, one of the largest scientific and artistic instruments in the world. Based at UC Santa Barbara, the AlloSphere maps complex data in time and space. Dr. Kuchera-Morin, a composer, demoed the AlloSphere at TED2009 in February, showing five films of scientific data mapped visually and sonically into compelling art. Last week I talked with Dr. Kuchera-Morin about the AlloSphere — what it does, how it works, who uses it, and how you turn raw data into sound. From the interview:
Some of my mathematician colleagues are working with 6-dimensional figures. What happens when your math starts to get so complex that you can’t draw it by hand anymore? Scientists have such tremendously rich math data that the instruments they use now can’t actually see it. You get measurements from it, but can you take those math coordinates that describe it and map it visually and sonically?
There are scientists who have lost the ability to perceive their data. Now they might have the ability to perceive this data again through portals that let them see and hear their data, not just see a string of numbers.
More: If you’re around Santa Barbara next week, hear JoAnn Kuchera-Morin’s work at the Primavera Festival
More: For a celebration of boundary-breaking science research, read “In search of the black swans,” Physicsworld April 2009 (more…)
15 April 2009
TED nominated for 3 Webby Awards!
The Webbies are here again and TED has been nominated in 3 categories for 2009. TED.com is in the running for Best Use of Video or Moving Image and Podcasts. The third nomination is for Pangea Day in the Movie and Film category. Pangea Day is the progeny of TED Prize and Razorfish Inc., maintaining a site alive with amazing short films, documentaries and performances.
In 2008, TED was nominated for and won 3 Webby Awards. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for another clean sweep.
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