This video is about the famous 'Twins paradox' of special relativity, how time can appear to be faster for two different observers at the same time, and which twin really is older (or younger) - the one who stays on earth or the one who...

From rockets to stock markets, many of humanity's most thrilling creations are powered by math. So why do kids lose interest in it? Conrad Wolfram says the part of math we teach -- calculation by hand -- isn't just tedious, it's mostly...

In Libya, Zahra' Langhi was part of the "days of rage" movement that helped topple the dictator Gaddafi. But -- then what? In their first elections, Libyans tried an innovative slate of candidates, the "zipper ballot," that ensured equal...

This video is about how we don't just need energy to power our lives, we need *low entropy* energy! Thanks to Google Making and Science for supporting this series, and to Sean Carroll for collaborating on it!...

There was a lot of bad stuff going on in Europe in the 17th century. We've seen wars, plagues, and unrest of all types. But, there is some good news. Huge advances were underway in the scientific community in Europe at this time. In this...

"I was the mystery of an anatomy, a question asked but not answered," says poet Lee Mokobe, a TED Fellow, in this gripping and poetic exploration of identity and transition. It's a thoughtful reflection on bodies, and the meanings poured...

Thanks to humans, old school apex predators are struggling to hold onto their perch at the top of the food chain. And now a new class of adaptable mesopredators are remaking the ecosystems they take...

How do you tell a plane from a bird? The vertical tail, of course! By why can birds fly without a vertical tail, and how do planes use their vertical tails to stay in the air?

Sampling isn't about "hijacking nostalgia wholesale," says Mark Ronson. It's about inserting yourself into the narrative of a song while also pushing that story forward. In this mind-blowingly original talk, watch the DJ scramble 15 TED...

Hank and PhD Candidate Joanna Kreitinger discuss research being performed on dendritic cells in relation to the immune system. Later, Jessi from Animal Wonders joins to show us the emperor scorpions.

Somewhere between "boiling lava" and "the surface of Pluto" is the perfect shower temperature, but why is it so elusive?

Long jealous of his older brother Osiris, the god who ruled all of Egypt, the warrior god Set plotted to overthrow him. Hosting an extravagant party as a ruse, Set announced a game— whoever could fit perfectly in a wooden chest could...

Check out life under a rock to see what you can learn about insects, spiders, and other animals!

Problem 2 from the 2011 IMO

Diabetes has a history dating back to Ancient Greece. Our treatment of it, however, is more recent and was originally made possible with the help of man's best friend. Due to physiological traits shared with humans, dogs have saved...

In this video Paul Andersen shows conceptual thinking in a mini-lesson on simulating systems.

T
ERMS:
Simulations - imitation of a situation
or process
Interactions - reciprocal (two-way) acti
on or...

Problem 2 from the 2011 IMO

The Higgs Boson. What more need be said?

You might think that you’re pretty familiar with your body, but it turns out that our bodies still have some surprises for us!

How much more damage do we have to endure before we realize that it's cheaper to save this planet than to ruin it? asks engineer and investor John Doerr. In conversation with Countdown cofounder Lindsay Levin, Doerr and systems innovator...

TeD Fellow Negin Farsad weaves comedy and social commentary to cleverly undercut stereotypes of her culture. In this uproarious talk/stand-up hybrid, Farsad speaks on her documentary, The Muslims Are Coming!, narrates her fight with the...

You're going to bed, and you take a sip of cool delicious water, and it's so refreshing. But, when you wake up and take a swig, that water now tastes like bleh. What's going on here? Watch this SciShow Quick Question to find out!

Chimpanzees and bonobos may be very close to us humans on the tree of life, but one of our differences is the way we store fat. That difference comes down to types of fat cells and our DNA.

Scientists report that humans might be quick to judge, but we we may have also evolved to be quick to forgive. And in another paper out this week, scientists have discovered a new type of human stem cell!