TED Courses

A New Way to Explain Explanation

Physicist David Deutsch explores how scientific understanding revolutionized human knowledge, contrasting it with ancient myths and proposing a subtle explanation for this rapid transformation.

• YouTube
• 17 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

The Post-Crisis Consumer

Explore how the financial crisis has driven positive change in consumer behavior and business evolution, with insights on cultural shifts and thoughtful spending trends.

• YouTube
• 19 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

A Brain in a Supercomputer

Explore how supercomputers can model the brain's synapses to unravel mental mysteries, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of perception, memory, and mental illness.

• YouTube
• 17 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Life Lessons from an Ad Man

Explore how advertising changes perception and value, with insights on how this concept applies to various aspects of life and decision-making.

• YouTube
• 19 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

New York - Before the City

Explore Manhattan's pre-colonial ecology through a detailed 3D map, revealing a landscape of hills, rivers, and wildlife where modern New York City now stands.

• YouTube
• 17 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Optical Illusions Show How We See

Explore how optical illusions reveal the inner workings of our brain's visual processing, offering insights into perception and evolutionary adaptations that shape our view of reality.

• YouTube
• 19 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

The Danger of a Single Story

Novelist Chimamanda Adichie explores cultural identity, warns against the dangers of single narratives, and emphasizes the importance of diverse perspectives in understanding people and cultures.

• YouTube
• 19 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Tribal Leadership

Explore the five types of human tribes in various settings and learn how understanding these tribal tendencies can lead to personal and collective improvement.

• YouTube
• 17 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

How Food Shapes Our Cities

Explore the fascinating connection between urban development and food supply chains, revealing how ancient food routes have influenced modern city landscapes and daily life.

• YouTube
• 16 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

The Power of Time Off

Discover how a designer's yearlong sabbatical every seven years rejuvenates creativity, inspires innovative projects, and highlights the often-overlooked value of time off in professional life.

• YouTube
• 18 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

What's Inside a Star?

Explore the fascinating world of spectroscopy and its role in understanding stars' composition and behavior. Gain insights into the search for potentially habitable planets beyond our solar system.

• YouTube
• 17 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Tim Brown Urges Designers to Think Big

Explore how design thinking can address pressing global issues through local, collaborative, and participatory approaches, shifting focus from fashionable objects to impactful solutions.

• YouTube
• 17 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Maps the Future of Countries

Explore border conflicts' root causes and innovative solutions through historical and contemporary maps, offering insights into the enduring significance of geographical boundaries.

• YouTube
• 19 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

A Third Way to Think About Aid

Explore patient capital as an innovative approach to social change, bridging charity and market-driven solutions for effective foreign aid and entrepreneurial development.

• YouTube
• 17 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Taryn Simon Photographs Secret Sites

Explore hidden worlds through Taryn Simon's photography, revealing secret locations and portraits of wrongfully convicted individuals in this thought-provoking visual journey.

• YouTube
• 19 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk