“I have a brain cancer.” Data artist and TED Fellow Salvatore Iaconesi posted these words this morning, along with a video of himself speaking. With his long ponytail reduced to a scruffy mohawk, he shares this story: Yesterday I went to get my digital medical records: I have to show them to many doctors. Sadly […]
Yet another TED speaker is set to play a part in the Paralympics, now happening in London. At the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, Charles Hazlewood will be conducting the British Paraorchestra – a 17-person ensemble composed entirely of disabled musicians. The orchestra has grown rapidly since its four-member debut at TEDxBrussels in November 2011, above. […]
How long do you want to live, and why? These are the questions that bestselling author and science writer David Ewing Duncan asks in the new TED ebook, When I’m 164: The New Science of Radical Life Extension, and What Happens If It Succeeds. Duncan examines the increasingly legitimate science of radical life extension — from genetics […]
Astronomer Jill Tarter wants us all to ask the question, “Are we alone?” As director of the SETI Institute (it stands for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), Tarter is dedicated to seeking the answer, as well as to imparting upon one and all the importance of the search. In 2009, Tarter was awarded the prestigious […]
As Barry Schwartz explained in his classic TED Talk “The paradox of choice,” the more options you have, the more confounding making a decision can feel. This is the logic behind our new Surprise Me feature, a serendipity engine that lets you decide what kind of talks you’d like to see and how long you […]
Some TED Talks are memorable for their big, overarching themes. Others we remember for the small details — a random anecdote, the speaker’s facial hair. The anthropologist who swallowed a sword? The talk with huge photos of people’s faces everywhere? The famous writer who runs into the house to write down an idea before it’s lost forever? Because of […]
Has the red tape of the political process gotten you down? In the step-by-step handbook Citizen Advocate: Get Government to Move Mountains and Change the World, Omar Ahmad, the former mayor of San Carlos, California, explains what it takes to move a great idea down the often-confusing path from hope to law. Written before Ahmad’s […]
The 2012 Paralympic Games are underway in London, and several TED speakers are right there on the front lines. During Wednesday night’s dazzling Opening Ceremony, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking took the stage to expound on the evening’s theme of Enlightenment. “What is it,” he asked, as the performers around him brought Big Bang imagery to life, “that […]
As we crisscrossed the globe to find you fresh perspectives for TED2013 in our worldwide Talent Search, a common theme emerged: cultural heritage in the 21st century. The tangible, intangible and natural elements that define our ways of life touch every aspect of our existence — from language to landscapes to religion to architecture. And they […]
Grab your new backpack and sharpen your pencils. It’s back to school time, and here is my playlist of six talks about the essentials. Work your way through the classic school day, as told in TEDTalks. No finals required. [ted id=670] 1st period: Math Marcus du Sautoy: Symmetry, reality’s riddle Mathematician Marcus du Sautoy takes […]
Why does the time we spend cramming for life’s most trying tests always escape us before our focus is shifted to battling a more complex problem? During the college years, an unforeseen dichotomy develops where rushing becomes a normal state, whether it be to register for classes or to get through your last semester. But, […]
As humans, we fail to think of ourselves as incorporated into the animal kingdom, But with these eight talks, you might see how we factor into the food chain. From extinct species, to warding off growing ones, these speakers from the 14-city TED Talent Search have seen it all, so listen to their stories of […]
With summer dwindling to its last few days, it’s time to put away the beach reads and get the mind back in gear with heartier fare. Why not start with some of the amazing books written by recent TED speakers? Here, some picks. Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer Retells the tale of a forgetful […]
I’m an anthropology major gearing up for my senior year and all that comes with it — job applications, extracurricular responsibilities and my senior honors thesis. After a semester abroad, I’m looking forward to returning to the familiarity and challenges that my college, the University of Pennsylvania, presents while incorporating the new perspectives I gained […]
From now until August 31, anyone in the TED community — from speakers to fans — can nominate a leader with a wish to inspire the word for the 2013 TED Prize. To nominate a mentor, colleague, family member or friend — even yourself — visit the TED Prize nominations page for all the appropriate […]
For those of you who depend on your iPad, Android or iPhone for your daily dose of TED, get ready to hit the update button. To make your on-the-go TED experience that much more thought inspiring, we’ve made some wonderful updates to our apps. Android owners, here’s what’s new for you with version 1.1 For […]