TED-Ed

For some reason, says educator Al Vernacchio, the metaphors for talking about sex in the US all come from baseball -- scoring, getting to first base, etc. The problem is, this frames sex as a competition, with a winner and a loser. Instead, he suggests a new metaphor, one that's more about shared pleasure, discussion and agreement, fulfillment and enjoyment. Let's talk about ... pizza. Talk by Al Vernacchio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-terrors-of-sleep-paralysis-ami-angelowiczImagine you're fast asleep and then suddenly awake. You want to move but can't, as if someone is sitting on your chest. And you can't even scream! This is sleep paralysis, a creepy but common phenomenon caused by an overlap in REM sleep and waking stages. Ami Angelowicz describes just how pervasive (but harmless) it is and introduces a cast of characters from sleep paralysis around the world. Lesson by Ami Angelowicz, animation by Pew36 Animation Studios. Learn more about your ad...

Discover the engineering innovations that made building Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper, possible.--In 2004, construction began on a new building in Dubai, promising a revolutionary design that would dwarf the rest of the world’s skyscrapers. Five years later, the 828-meter Burj Khalifa was complete, surpassing the previous record-holder by over 60%. What innovations allowed for such a huge leap in height? Alex Gendler digs into the architecture of this unprecedented project.Lesson by Alex Gendler, directed by WOW-HOW Studio.Support Our Non-Profit Mission----------------------------------------------Support us on P...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-s-below-the-tip-of-the-iceberg-camille-seamanIt's a well-known fact that the majority of an iceberg lies below the surface -- but just as stealthily hidden are their fascinating qualities. Traveling the seas, teeming with life, and sometimes even making a noise called "bergie seltzer," there's so much more than meets the eye. Camille Seaman gives homage to these icy isles.Lesson by Camille Seaman, animation by Bottomless Well Films. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore the circular reasoning fallacy, which occurs when the end of an argument comes back to the start without having proven itself.--It’s 1990. A prospective student has filed a complaint about Virginia Military institute’s admissions policy that excludes women. The state argues that VMI’s single sex education is an “important governmental objective” and that the exclusion of women from VMI is essential to that objective. Can you spot the problem with this argument? Elizabeth Cox explores the circular reasoning fallacy.Lesson by Elizabeth Cox, directed by TOGETHER.Support Ou...

Dig into how scientists are attempting to revive the functionally extinct northern white rhino through artificial reproduction.--In the savannahs of Kenya, two female northern white rhinos, Nájin and Fatu, munch contentedly on grass. They are the last two known northern white rhinos left on Earth. Their species is functionally extinct— without a male, they can’t reproduce. And yet, there’s still hope to revive the northern white rhino. How can that be? Jan Stejskal dives into the science of reviving a dying species.Lesson by Jan Stejskal, directed by Denis C...

Get to know the story of how truck driver Malcom McLean invented the shipping container, and how it transformed the global economy.--Sometimes a single unlikely idea can have massive impact across the world. Sir Harold Evans, the author of "They Made America," describes how frustration drove Malcom McLean, a small-town truck driver, to invent the shipping container. Containerization was born, and it transformed the modern global economy. Lesson by Sir Harold Evans, directed by Sunni Brown.Support Our Non-Profit Mission----------------------------------------------Support us on Patreon: http://bit...

Explore 3 strategies to control the flow of lava, and how scientists are using them to protect communities from future eruptions.--In December 2023, Icelandic citizens experienced their worst nightmare: a volcanic fissure opened and began spewing lava fountains 100 meters tall. While the molten rock narrowly avoided a small town, Iceland wasn’t willing to leave anyone's fate to chance again and began preparing for future eruptions. Arianna Soldati explores 3 potential strategies to control these red-hot rivers of destruction.Lesson by Arianna Soldati, directed by Anastasiia Falileieva, Studio Plastic Bag.Support Our No...

What can governments learn from the open-data revolution? In this stirring talk, Beth Noveck, the former deputy CTO at the White House, shares a vision of practical openness -- connecting bureaucracies to citizens, sharing data, creating a truly participatory democracy. Imagine the "writable society."Talk by Beth Noveck. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore how wind turbines convert wind into electricity, and the challenges of powering the world entirely with wind energy.--Every 24 hours, wind generates enough kinetic energy to produce roughly 35 times more electricity than humanity uses each day. And unlike coal or oil, this resource is totally renewed each day. So how can we harness this incredible amount of energy, and is it possible to create a world powered entirely by wind? Rebecca Barthelmie and Sara Pryor dig into the science of wind turbine technology.Lesson by Rebecca J. Barthelmie & Sara C. Pryor...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-s-wrong-with-our-food-system-birke-baehr 11-year-old Birke Baehr presents his take on a major source of our food -- far-away and less-than-picturesque industrial farms. Keeping farms out of sight promotes a rosy, unreal picture of big-box agriculture, he argues, as he outlines the case to green and localize food production. (Filmed atTEDxNextGenerationAshevillen.) Talk by Birke Baehr. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover what colors are the most rare to see in nature, and how physics and evolution drive their scarcity.--Plants, animals, or minerals found in nature bear almost every color imaginable. There are two factors that influence what hues you see in the wild: physics and evolution. So, which colors are you least likely to see in the natural world? Victoria Hwang explores one of nature’s rarest spectacles.Lesson by Victoria Hwang, directed by Tamara Bogovac, Artrake Studio.2:33 - Image referenced from paper by Eric R. Dufresne, Heeso Noh, Vino...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/mysteries-of-vernacular-dynamite-jessica-oreck-and-rachael-teelWith an explosive meaning, the word dynamite's past is as historical as it is etymological. Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel describe how Alfred Nobel invented dynamite.Lesson by Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel, animation by Jessica Oreck. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore the incredible adaptations of Elysia chlorotica, a species of sea slug that can photosynthesize food. --The species of slug known as Elysia chlorotica may not look like much— it resembles a bright green leaf— but it’s one of the most extraordinary creatures on our planet. Living in marshes along the coast of North America, it can go about a year without eating. During that time, it lives like a plant. How is this possible? Luka Seamus Wright digs into the incredible adaptations of these mixotrophs.Lesson by Luka Seamus Wright, direct...

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/mysteries-of-vernacular-venom-jessica-oreck-and-rachael-teelHow did venom get its poisonous meaning? Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel follow venom from something to desire to explicit reasons for avoiding a snake.Lesson by Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel, animation by Jessica Oreck. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travel into the auditory system to explore the constant ringing sensation of tinnitus, why it happens and how to treat it. --Tinnitus has been bothering humanity since Ancient Babylon, plaguing everyone from Leonardo da Vinci to Charles Darwin. Today, roughly one in seven people worldwide experiences this auditory sensation. So what exactly is tinnitus, and where does this persistent sound come from? Marc Fagelson travels into the auditory system to explore the loss of silence. Lesson by Marc Fagelson, directed by Zedem Media.Animator's website: https://www.zedemanimations.com/...

View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/if-molecules-were-people-george-zaidan-and-charles-mortonWhen molecules collide, chemical reactions can occur -- causing major structural changes akin to getting a new arm on your face! George Zaidan and Charles Morton playfully imagine chemical systems as busy city streets, and the colliding molecules within them as your average, limb-swapping joes.Lesson by George Zaidan and Charles Morton, animation by Neighbor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Gerzema says there's an upside to the recent financial crisis -- the opportunity for positive change. In this talk, he identifies four major cultural shifts driving new consumer behavior and shows how businesses are evolving to connect with thoughtful spending. (Filmed at TEDxKC.)Talk by John Gerzema. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trace the diverse and delicious history of dumplings, from their first recorded origins to their spread across the Asian continent and beyond.--As archaeologists pored over ancient tombs in western China, they discovered some surprisingly well-preserved and familiar relics. Though hardened over 1,000 years, there sat little crescent-shaped dumplings. So who invented these plump pockets of perfection, and how did they spread across the world? Miranda Brown traces the tangled, mysterious historical web of dumplings.Lesson by Miranda Brown, directed by Léon Moh-Cah, Andi Concha.This video made possible in c...

Contraception. The topic has become controversial in recent years. But should it be? Melinda Gates believes that many of the world's social change issues depend on ensuring that women are able to control their rate of having kids. In this significant talk, she makes the case for the world to re-examine an issue she intends to lend her voice to for the next decade. (Filmed at TEDxChange.)Talk by Melinda Gates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices