TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Mysteries of Vernacular: Tuxedo
How did tuxedo's roots extend from Native American history to black tie evening wear? Jessica Oreck reveals what the Delaware Indians and formal fashion have in common. [2:04]
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Mysteries of Vernacular: Miniature
Miniature's root may be Latin, but its meaning is rooted in books, where red pigment was used to denote chapter breaks. Jessica Oreck explains how we got from there to the meaning of miniature today: something smaller than others of its...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Mysteries of Vernacular: Noise
The words noise, nausea, and naval all stem from the same Latin root. Jessica Oreck divulges how their spellings and meanings diverged from the original naus. [2:02]
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Mysteries of Vernacular: Hearse
Today, we recognize the word hearse as a vehicle that carries a coffin to a funeral. Jessica Oreck explains how this word has, at various times, described a wolf, a rake, and a frame, eventually landing at its meaning today. [2:13]
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: What Is Verbal Irony?
In the final of a three part series on irony, Christopher Warner gets into the irony you may use most often and most casually: verbal irony. [3:29]
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: In on a Secret? That's Dramatic Irony
Christopher Warner identifies the storytelling device of dramatic irony. [2:50]
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Slowing Down Time (In Writing & Film)
Certain moments in our lives seem to last forever. Whether it is a first kiss or a car crash, time can seem to stretch or even stop. Aaron Sitze explains how this sensation is conveyed in cinema and how the same conventions can be used...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Tales of Passion
Author and activist Isabel Allende discusses women, creativity, the definition of feminism, and, of course, passion in this Talk. [18:30]
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Why Is There a "B" in Doubt?
Say the word "doubt" aloud. What is that "b" doing there? Does it have any purpose? Gina Cooke explains the long and winding history of "doubt" and why the spelling, though it seems random, is a wink to its storied past. [3:28]
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Are You the Girl From "The Wonder Years"?
After a childhood spent acting a pretty iconic role, Danica McKellar learned that she was capable of being more than just Winnie Cooper. [3:30]
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: The Elliptical Pool Table: A Mathematician's Dream
Learn what an elliptical pool table can teach us about mathematics. [3:40]
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Can You Solve the Three Gods Riddle?
You and your team have crash-landed on an ancient planet. Can you appease the three alien overlords who rule it and get your team safely home? Created by logician Raymond Smullyan, and popularized by his colleague George Boolos, this...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: A Brief History of Numerical Systems
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0. With just these ten symbols, we can write any rational number imaginable. But why these particular symbols? Why ten of them? And why do we arrange them the way we do? Alessandra King gives a brief history...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Can You Solve the Counterfeit Coin Riddle?
You're the realm's greatest mathematician, but ever since you criticized the Emperor's tax laws, you've been locked in the dungeon. Luckily for you, one of the Emperor's governors has been convicted of paying his taxes with a counterfeit...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: How High Can You Count on Your Fingers? Spoiler:much Higher Than 10
How high can you count on your fingers? It seems like a question with an obvious answer. After all, most of us have ten fingers- or to be more precise, eight fingers and two thumbs. This gives us a total of ten digits on our two hands,...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Can You Solve the Airplane Riddle?
Professor Fukano, the famous scientist, has embarked on a new challenge - piloting around the world in a plane of his own design. There's just one problem: there's not enough fuel to complete the journey. Luckily, there are two other...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Winning at Rock Paper Scissors
Hannah Fry from Numberphile shares a few strategies to help you win your next game of Rock Paper Scissors. [5:48]
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Can You Solve the River Crossing Riddle?
As a wildfire rages through the grasslands, three lions and three wildebeest flee for their lives. To escape the inferno, they must cross over to the left bank of a crocodile-infested river. Can you help them figure out how to get across...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Can You Solve the Prisoner Boxes Riddle?
Your favorite band is great at playing music but not so great at being organized. They keep misplacing their instrucments on tour.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: What Is a Vector?
Physicists, air traffic controllers, and video game creators all have at least one thing in common: vectors. But what exactly are they, and why do they matter? David Huynh explains how vectors are a prime example of the elegance, beauty,...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: How the Konigsberg Bridge Problem Changed Mathematics
You'd have a hard time finding the medieval city Konigsberg on any modern maps, but one particular quirk in its geography has made it one of the most famous cities in mathematics. Dan Van der Vieren explains how grappling with...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Why the Metric System Matters
For the majority of recorded human history, units like the weight of a grain or the length of a hand weren't exact and varied from place to place. Now, consistent measurements are such an integral part of our daily lives that it's hard...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Can You Solve the Passcode Riddle?
In a dystopian world, your resistance group is humanity's last hope. Unfortunately, you've all been captured by the tyrannical rulers and brought to the ancient coliseum for their deadly entertainment. Will you be able to solve the...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: What if Everyone Jumped at the Same Time?
If every action has an equal and opposite reaction, what kind of physical action would it take for the earth to notice us? Check out Vsauce's video on what would happen if everyone on Earth got together and jumped. [7:13]