Simplicity: We know it when we see it — but what is it, exactly? In this funny, philosophical talk, George Whitesides chisels out an answer. (Recorded at TED2010, February 2010 in Long Beach, CA. Duration: 18:35) Watch George Whitesides’ talk on TED.com, where you can download this TEDTalk, rate it, comment on it and find […]
Five years ago, Roz Savage quit her job to become an ocean rower. She’s crossed the Atlantic solo, and just started the third leg of a Pacific solo row, the first for a woman. Why does she do it? Hear her reasons, both deeply personal and urgently activist. (Recorded on the Mission Blue Voyage, April […]
Stephen Wolfram, creator of Mathematica, talks about his quest to make all knowledge computational — able to be searched, processed and manipulated. His new search engine, Wolfram Alpha, has no lesser goal than to model and explain the physics underlying the universe. (Recorded at TED2010, February 2010 in Long Beach, CA. Duration: 19:58) Watch Stephen […]
What does an empowered woman look like? Can she wear a burqa, a hijab, a sari? Kavita Ramdas talks about three remarkable women who celebrate their cultural heritage — while working to reform its oppressive traditions. (Recorded at TEDIndia, November 2009 in Mysore, India. Duration: 6:08) Watch Kavita Ramdas’ talk on TED.com, where you can […]
Politicians are strange creatures, says California politician Omar Ahmad. And the best way to engage them on your pet issue is a handwritten letter. He shows why old-fashioned correspondence is more effective than email, phone or even writing a check, and breaks down the four simple steps to writing a letter that works. (Recorded at […]
Tom Wujec presents his research into the “marshmallow problem” — a simple team-building exercise that involves dry spaghetti, one yard of tape and a marshmallow. Who can build the tallest tower with these ingredients? And why does a surprising group always beat the average? (Recorded at TED University 2010, February 2010 in Long Beach, CA. […]
Drugs alone can’t stop disease in sub-Saharan Africa: We need diagnostic tools to match. TED Senior Fellow Frederick Balagadde shows how we can multiply the power and availability of an unwieldy, expensive diagnostic lab — by miniaturizing it to the size of a chip. (Recorded at TED University 2010, February 2010 in Long Beach, CA. […]
“There will be very little volcano talk tonight,” said TED’s European Director Bruno Giussani, kicking off Monday night’s TED Salon at the Unicorn Theatre in London. The theme of the evening: “Different by Design.” Like most events in London, the Salon — organized with TEDGlobal partner frog design — had been disrupted by the Icelandic […]
TED BLOG EXCLUSIVE: Speaking at Sunday’s impromptu TEDxVolcano, Peter Greenberg, travel editor for CBS News, lays out the sobering realities of post-volcano travel. Listen for tips on how to get the truth out of an airlines reservation agent — and insight into when and why the planes will start flying again, ready or not. (Recorded […]
Some 80 to 90 percent of undersea creatures make light — and we know very little about how or why. Deep-sea biologist Edith Widder explores this glowing, sparkling, luminous world, sharing glorious images and surprising insight into the unseen depths (and brights) of the ocean. (Recorded on the Mission Blue Voyage, April 2010 on the […]
“Who’s stranded?” TED’s June Cohen asks the audience of 100+ at TEDxVolcano yesterday. Photo: TED / Robert Leslie Watch the saved livestream of TEDxVolcano >> See photos of TEDxVolcano from Robert Leslie >> Roundups, livetweets and post-event musings: From Marcia Stepanek at JustMeans >> … also from Marcia Stepanek at Cause Global >> From Think: […]
Stranded by the ash cloud, inspired by the just-concluded Skoll World Forum, and temporarily headquartered in one of the world’s greatest cities, a group of entrepreneurs, thinkers, tinkerers and creatives is throwing an unprecendented TEDx event: TEDxVolcano. Put together in 48 hours by TEDster Nathaniel Whittemore with the support of TED (including host June Cohen), […]
In this special guest blog, Teo Härén, co-founder of TEDxStockholm, explains the concept behind TEDxStockholm week, which will begin tomorrow (April 17) and run until April 24. It is all there in the TED tagline, isn’t it? — “Ideas worth spreading”: Three words that say it all. Three words that all TED lovers know. But […]
We’re thrilled to report that TED.com is nominated in five categories for the 2010 Webby Awards. Log in and vote for us! Best Copy / Writing: http://on.ted.com/8GGD Best Visual Design – Function: http://on.ted.com/8GGL Best Event: http://on.ted.com/8GGM Best Radio / Podcast: http://on.ted.com/8GGN Best Religion / Spiritual, for the Charter for Compassion: http://on.ted.com/8GGU The field of five […]
Underwater filmmaker Mike deGruy has spent decades looking intimately at the ocean. A consummate storyteller, he takes the stage at Mission Blue to share his awe and excitement — and his fears — about the blue heart of our planet. (Recorded on the Mission Blue Voyage, April 2010 on the National Geographic Endeavor, the Galápagos […]
In a short, funny, data-packed talk at TED U, Catherine Mohr walks through all the geeky decisions she made when building a green new house — looking at real energy numbers, not hype. What choices matter most? Not the ones you think. (Recorded at TED University 2010, February 2010 in Long Beach, CA. Duration: 6:13) […]