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12 minutes
[ Art ]
Synesthesia: Wiring the Senses Together
Synesthesia could be called a superpower, so what is life like for people who can see music or taste color? This is the fascinating science behind it all!
4 minutes
[ Art ]
The (Actual) Magic of Mona Lisa’s Smile
Great art can be hard to “get”, but here’s how Leonardo da Vinci used his masterful understanding of human perception to craft the Mona Lisa and transfix us 500 years later!
6 minutes
Why Does Human Skin Come in So Many Shades?
By Sam Burns
The way humans have adapted to suit life in all corners of the planet tells the extraordinary story of our history as a species. Here’s the science behind it all!
8 minutes
Visit the Water Park of an Inspired Future!
Morgan’s Inspiration Island is the world’s first ultra-accessible water park, and this remarkable place not only connects kids with the power of fun but is spurring on meaningful innovation!
12 minutes
[ Animals ]
Meet Lucas the Spider, Your Cure for Arachnophobia!
If you’re one of the many people who suffer from a fear of spiders, we may have found a very adorable way to lessen your fears! (And if you are already a spider fan, well, you’ll love this.)
15 minutes
[ Art ]
Why Does van Gogh’s The Starry Night Captivate Us?
We’ve all seen this painting before, but why do we love it so much? The answer is a fascinating mix of science, legend, mathematics, and our place in the universe.
16 minutes
[ Conservation & Sustainability ]
Abundance is Our Future!
By Dr. Lynda
It’s easy to concede that the world is going to hell in a handbasket, but the data shows the opposite! Here’s the CEO of the X-Prize foundation to clue us in on where we are headed and why!
9 minutes
Exploring Emergence, The Universal Property That Shapes Us
At what point do you become you? How many neurons does it take to make you who you are? How many cells? Today, we celebrate emergence, the universal property that makes us who we are and shapes every corner of our world.
21 minutes
[ Culture ]
Vesuvius and Reading the Ancient Knowledge in a Charred Library
By Dr. Lynda
When Mt. Vesuvius erupted, an entire society was preserved in moments. This is the kind of story that brings us some truly amazing insights and silver linings, especially when two very smart people, some ancient scrolls, and particle accelerator are involved.
7 minutes
[ Animals ]
It’s a Dog, It’s a Deer, It’s a… Whale?
Whale evolution is a remarkable story in the history of life on earth! Here’s how the whale went from a tiny deer-like animal to the creatures we know now.
9 minutes
Turning Pollution into Paint: A Kickstarter Success Story!
By Dr. Lynda
Here’s an update on a project we featured two years ago when it was still a primordial concept. Now it’s an inspirational story with all the elements of the best kind of progress!
14 minutes
[ Business ]
The Best Way to Improve the World Around Us
By Dr. Lynda
Here is a TED Talk that could be a prescription for solving many of the world’s most vexing problems! What if we emulated some of the quirkier characteristics of the most original thinkers and idea people?
9 minutes
[ Animals ]
Venomous Animals Prove It’s Still an Amazing World
By Dr. Lynda
Ever wondered why some animals developed this deadly cocktail? Or why there seems to be a pattern to where these creatures are located? There are pieces to this puzzle that may just surprise you…
6 minutes
[ Creativity ]
A World More Beautiful Through the Lens of Physics
By Dr. Lynda
What if there is an almost magical world of symmetry behind a curtain of knowledge that only some people decide to pull back? Here’s a small window into a world full of wonder and precious imperfections!
8 minutes
So… Why Are Plants Green and Not Black?
By Sam Burns
There are a LOT of plants out there and the majority of them seem to be wearing various shades of the same color. So, why is this?
17 minutes
Sustainable Energy from Algae and Much More!
By Dr. Lynda
As we argue about the future of our fuel sources, we may be swimming right past the answer! Algae can produce Sustainable Energy and much more!
10 minutes
[ Culture ]
Let Us Bridge Some #GenerationalDifference
Let’s talk about a controversy that we’ve all had to experience. What do you call this little symbol: “#”? Whether you call it a hashtag or a pound sign, today we explore its fascinating origins.
13 minutes
[ Business ]
How “The Internet of Things” is Transforming Our Lives
We are hearing more and more about the “Internet of Things”, but this wave of the future is going to be about much more than controlling our thermostats! It is going to yield a much smarter world.
The Amazing “Year of the Quad” in the Olympics!
By Dr. Lynda
2018 is said to be the “Year of the Quad” in the Olympics, but what does this mean? Why is landing a quad a big deal? Here’s the science and math behind a nearly impossible feat.
6 minutes
You’re Probably an Optimist, You Just Might Not Know It Yet
It turns out that optimism is hard-wired into our brains, but is this actually a good thing? What does it help us accomplish?
9 minutes
The Power of Giving People a “Lollipop Moment”
By Dr. Lynda
Heard anything about “Lollipop Moments”? Here’s an amazing metaphor to remember how easy it is to fundamentally improve someone’s life with just a simple turn of a phrase!
6 minutes
[ Animals ]
Can Rats Make us Be Better People?
Rats get a bum rap, but they may have something to teach us when it comes to solving problems more effectively. Here’s what we can learn from rats!
10 minutes
[ Art ]
Unleashing Creativity… A Simple Guide for All
By Sam Burns
If you’ve ever tried to create something, you know the whole process can be quite frustrating. From finding that great idea to showing the final piece to someone, here are 3 short videos (from a few creative minds you may recognize) that can help us rethink how well we’re doing.
6 minutes
You Should Really Thank the Fruit Flies
By Sam Burns
Would you believe that your genes are super similar to a fruit fly’s? They’ve been helping us discover our own bodies for years, here’s how…
20 minutes
[ Business ]
A Tour of the Wonders of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming a reality, and most of us barely understand what it means. No wonder there is a lot of fear and a shortage of wonder on the topic. Today we change all that with an expert guide!
12 minutes
Take a Walk in a Real Life Holodeck
Let’s face it, virtual reality has its limitations, but what if you could take off that clunky headset and actually experience new worlds in a real life holodeck?
15 minutes
When You (Really) Can’t Smell the Roses
By Sam Burns
Your sense of smell is one of the most powerful and elusive of all the senses. But how does it even work? And what is it like when it doesn’t?
12 minutes
Reviving Culture Through Music
Music provides some of our richest cultural heritage, so how is it being preserved for generations to come? Here are a few remarkable people working hard to preserve the sounds from our past.
12 minutes
[ Culture ]
Embracing a Language that Brings Us Closer 🙂
By Sam Burns
You’ve probably shared a few of these in your messages if you’ve communicated through technology in the past decade, but could emotion depicting icons have an even longer history than we assume? And where could these emojis bring the human race in the future? Jenna Schilstra discusses this on the TED stage.
