TED Talks
How common knowledge shapes the world | Steven Pinker
New ReviewCommon knowledge is the secret engine of social life, letting us coordinate everything from meet-ups to markets to international diplomacy. In this fascinating talk, experimental cognitive scientist Steven Pinker explores its momentous...
TED Talks
How AI could generate new life-forms | Eric Nguyen
New ReviewIf DNA is just a string of letters, could AI learn to read it … or even write it? Bioengineering researcher Eric Nguyen reveals how AI has upended the rules of biology, potentially creating a future where disease is cured with...
Be Smart
Why OOH Sounds Different Than AHH
New ReviewHuman language is an incredible thing: a combination of mouth sounds that we combine into words, sentences, poems, and constitutions. They carry meaning, emotion, and power. But underneath it all, language is really just physics. In this...
Be Smart
The Real (Weird) Way We See Numbers
New ReviewWould it surprise you to learn that fish and birds count in pretty much the same way that we do? And that infants can do math? Our animal brains deal with quantities in very specific ways, from quick counts of a few dots to how we...
SciShow
What’s The Fastest Language?
Correction: This episode has some mistakes in our on-screen credits. The Writer is Tom Rivlin, the script Script Editor is JD Voyek, and the Fact Checker is Angela Reed. Have you ever listened to someone speaking a foreign language and...
SciShow
This Famous Medieval Book May Be a Hoax
The Voynich manuscript is a subject of fascination with its mysterious drawings of plants, people, and stars, as well as its indecipherable text. But rather than hiding ancient secrets, this book might be a medieval fraud, created by an...
SciShow
What You Don't Know About The Rosetta Stone
We've all heard of the Rosetta Stone, either the language-learning software or the stone itself. But how much do you really know about it? Let's get into the full history of this icon of ancient Egypt, what we learned from studying it,...
TED Talks
The poetry of family | Duncan Keegan
Duncan Keegan doesn't consider himself a poet, but this deeply beautiful talk shows otherwise. With simple grace and quiet eloquence, he celebrates family, connection and togetherness, often most called for at the hardest of times.
TED Talks
Let's get real about free speech | Greg Lukianoff
Too many people believe in something closer to freedom from speech rather than freedom of speech, says attorney Greg Lukianoff. In a timely talk, he warns against the rise of "mob censorship" — and reminds us why free speech is the best...
TED Talks
Can AI help us speak with wolves? | Jeffrey T. Reed
Why do wolves howl? With the help of AI, we're getting closer to an answer. Linguist and software engineer Jeffrey T. Reed shares his research on wolf sounds in the wild, revealing the surprisingly complex range of vocalizations — barks,...
TED Talks
Why love is harder in a second language | Magdalena Hoeller
Saying “I love you” often feels more meaningful in your first language than in any other language you learn later in life, explains linguist and polyglot Magdalena Hoeller. Unpacking the hidden challenges of intercultural relationships —...
TED Talks
Don't fear superintelligent AI | Grady Booch
New tech spawns new anxieties, says scientist and philosopher Grady Booch, but we don't need to be afraid an all-powerful, unfeeling AI. Booch allays our worst (sci-fi induced) fears about superintelligent computers by explaining how...
TED Talks
How distributed work can unlock your potential | Avani Prabhakar
The option to work from home means that work truly works for everyone, says Avani Prabhakar, chief people officer of a large tech company. She explains how flexibility and asynchronous collaboration in a distributed workplace can unlock...
MinuteEarth
Why is the Number of Languages Increasing?
Lots of languages and species are going extinct, but because others keep getting found or described, the official counts of languages and species are still increasing.
MinuteEarth
Why Monkeys Can Only Count To Four
There’s an island in the Caribbean where David used to perform magic tricks for monkeys. And it was super cool because it suggested that they have the ability to count! (but only up to four)
TED Talks
The Future of American Democracy After a Trump Assassination Attempt
Following an assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a campaign rally, president and founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media Ian Bremmer joins TED’s Helen Walters to discuss the broader implications for American politics. They explore...
TED Talks
TED: 3 ideas for communicating across the political divide | Isaac Saul
How does language shape our politics? Journalist Isaac Saul explores how subtle word choices can inhibit productive dialogue about significant issues — and shows how small (but important) changes can help us all have better conversations...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Why don't "tough" and "dough" rhyme? | Arika Okrent
Spelling reformers have been advocating for changes to make English spelling more intuitive and less irregular. One example of its messiness: take the “g-h” sound from “enough,” the “o” sound from “women” and the “t-i” sound from...
TED Talks
TED: Courage, the most important virtue | Bari Weiss
In an unflinching look at issues that widen the political divide in the US, journalist and editor Bari Weiss highlights why courage is the most important virtue in today's polarized world. She shares examples of people who have spoken up...
TED Talks
TED: With AI, anyone can be a coder now | Thomas Dohmke
What if you could code just by talking out loud? GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke shows how, thanks to AI, the barrier to entry to coding is rapidly disappearing — and creating software is becoming as simple (and joyful) as building LEGO. In a...
TED Talks
TED: Welcome to the world of audio computers | Jason Rugolo
In an exclusive preview of unreleased technology, designer and inventor Jason Rugolo unveils an entirely new kind of computer you can talk to like a friend. This "audio computer" — which can augment the sounds around you, translate...
TED Talks
TED: A new national park to reclaim Indigenous land | Tracie Revis
In a part of the United States with more than 17,000 years of human history, cultural preservation advocate Tracie Revis is working to turn the Ocmulgee Mounds into Georgia's first national park and preserve. This park would be...
PBS
Grammy-Winning Teacher Annie Ray on the Importance of Music Education for All
The end of the school year often means year-end concerts for student orchestras and choirs. For high school music educator Annie Ray, it’s time to look back on a busy year that included a Grammy award and look ahead at her vision of what...
TED Talks
TED: Advice for leaders on creating a culture of belonging | Melonie D. Parker
Google's chief diversity officer Melonie D. Parker joins journalist and host of the "TED Tech" podcast Sherrell Dorsey for a conversation on fostering belonging and opportunity in the workplace. Learn more about how companies can...