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How simple ideas lead to scientific discoveries

Filmed Nov 2011 • Posted Mar 2012TED-Ed
TED-Ed
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Adam Savage walks through two spectacular examples of profound scientific discoveries that came from simple, creative methods anyone could have followed -- Eratosthenes' calculation of the Earth's circumference around 200 BC and Hippolyte Fizeau's measurement of the speed of light in 1849. Find more TED-Ed videos on our new YouTube channel: youtube.com/TEDEd.

Adam Savage, the host of "MythBusters" on the Discovery Channel, is a longtime special-effects artist and a minor obsessive. Full bio »

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