TEDGlobal 2009, to be held in Oxford, UK, is titled “The Substance of Things Not Seen,” and will feature more than 40 remarkable speakers presenting over the course of four days, from July 21-24, 2009. “TEDGlobal is TED’s twin conference, with the same focus on identifying novel voices and bringing to the stage inspired ideas, […]
Steven Pinker‘s book The Blank Slate argues that all humans are born with some innate traits and abilities. Here, Pinker talks about why some people found this idea incredibly upsetting. (Recorded February 2003 in Monterey, California. Duration: 22:42.) Watch Steven Pinker’s 2003 talk on TED.com, where you can download this TEDTalk, rate it, comment […]
Pleo the robot dinosaur acts like a living pet — exploring, cuddling, playing, reacting and learning. Inventor Caleb Chung (he’s the mind behind the Furby) talks about Pleo and his wild career in toys at EG07, on the week that Pleo shipped to stores for the first time. (Recorded February 2008 in Monterey, California. Duration: […]
In this deceptively simple 3-minute talk, Laura Trice muses on the power of the magic words “thank you” — to deepen a friendship, to repair a bond, to make sure another person knows what they mean to you. Try it. (Recorded February 2008 in Monterey, California. Duration: 03:34.) Watch Laura Trice’s 2008 talk on […]
Psychologist Philip Zimbardo knows how easy it is for nice people to turn bad. In this talk, he shares his insights — and graphic, unsettling, unseen photos — from the Abu Ghraib trials, where he served as an expert witness. But he also studies the flip side of this question — how easy it is […]
Listen closely — Marvin Minsky‘s arch, eclectic, charmingly offhand talk on health, overpopulation and the human mind is packed with subtlety: wit, wisdom and just an ounce of wily, is-he-joking? advice. (Recorded February 2003 in Monterey, California. Duration: 13:33.) Watch Marvin Minsky’s talk on TED.com, where you can download this TEDTalk, rate it, comment […]
Overfishing is the number-one threat to the oceans’ ability to provide food and sustain life. Under current conditions, we’re closer than we think to a world of no more tuna-fish sandwiches, sushi, or protein for more than a billion people. Back in 2003, the Environmental Defense Fund’s Oceans Program asked TED and its parent, the […]
Thinking startup? David S. Rose’s rapid-fire TED U talk on pitching to a venture capitalist tells you the 10 things you need to know — and prove to a VC — before you fire up your slideshow. (Recorded February 2007 in Monterey, California. Duration: 14:45.) Watch David S. Rose’s 2007 talk on TED.com, where […]
The Rock the Vote bus is parked in Philadelphia today and tomorrow, and the TED Blog dropped by to visit. A special playlist of TED Talks is in rotation on the bus monitors (Hans Rosling is shown in the photo). Also on the bus are four kiosks where soon-to-be voters can register to vote and […]
Playwright Eve Ensler, the founder of V-Day, explores our modern craving for security — and why it makes us less secure. Listen for inspiring, heartbreaking stories of women making change — and the growth of a powerful new class of warrior. (Recorded July 2005 in Oxford, UK. Duration: 13:45.) Watch Eve Ensler’s 2005 talk […]
Psychologist Jonathan Haidt studies the five moral values that form the basis of our political choices, whether we’re left, right or center. In this eye-opening talk, he pinpoints the moral values that liberals and conservatives tend to honor most. And he challenges all of us to step outside of our moral Matrix and pledge to […]
Michael Lee at the blog Addison Road is trying a new teaching style this semester — and a key part of it is adopting the TED time limit: I’ve made it a goal to never “lecture” for more than 20 minutes at a time. At the 20-minute mark, I stop, and we do something else. […]
Speaking at the 2007 EG conference, “renegade lunch lady” Ann Cooper shares her passionate belief in remaking the school lunch. She uses scathing language to describe how most American kids are fed at the noon bell, out of cans, boxes and plastic bags — sowing the seeds of the obesity epidemic that is spreading from […]
Keith Bellows gleefully (and profanely) outlines the engineering marvels of the camel, a vital creature he calls “the SUV of the desert.” Though he couldn’t bring a live camel to TED, he gets his National Geographic camera crew as close as humanly possible to a one-ton beast in full rut. (Recorded February 2002 in Monterey, […]
The Rock the Vote bus kicks off Road Trip ’08 today in Nashville, Tennessee — launching a month-long, nonpartisan road trip to register voters and get out the vote before the U.S. presidential elections in November. If the Rock the Vote bus stops in your town, come by and check out the playlist of TEDTalks […]
Storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy spins a funny, wise and loving tale of parents and kids, starring her Cuban mother. Settle in and enjoy the ride — Mama’s driving! (Recorded February 2005 in Monterey, California. Duration: 17:57.) Watch Carmen Agra Deedy’s 2005 talk on TED.com, where you can download this TEDTalk, rate it, comment on […]