The most popular TED-Ed animations of 2023

Countries around the world waste huge amounts of food every year: roughly a fifth of food items in the US are tossed because consumers aren't sure how to interpret expiration labels. But most groceries are still perfectly safe to eat past their expiration dates. If the dates on our food don't tell us that something's gone bad, what do they tell us? Carolyn Beans shares how to prevent food waste. [Directed by Anton Bogaty, narrated by Alexandra Panzer, music by Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio].

Right now, invisible signals are flying through the air all around you. Massive radio waves carry information between computers, GPS systems, cell phones, and more. And the sky is flooded with interference from routers, satellites, and, of course, people flying who haven't put their phones on airplane mode. So, what exactly does airplane mode do? Lindsay DeMarchi explains the setting's importance. [Directed by Sofia Pashaei, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by João Pamplona Mendes, AIM Creative Studios].

Imagine that your life began as one of the planet's first humans. After dying, you're reincarnated as the second human ever to live. You then return as the third person, the fourth, the fifth, and so on – living the lives of every human that's ever walked the Earth. How will your actions in one life impact your future selves? Explore the ethics of the philosophy known as longtermism. [Directed by Jay Septimo, Khoo Siew May, AIM Creative Studios, narrated by George Zaidan, music by André Aires].

A 2006 study took a class of surgical residents and split them into two groups. Each received the same study materials, but one group was told to use specific study methods. When tested a month later, this group performed significantly better than the other residents. So, what were these methods? Explore how the brain learns and stores information and how to apply this to your study habits. [Directed by Biljana Labović, narrated by Addison Anderson].

Medieval Europe. Where unbathed, sword-wielding knights ate rotten meat, thought the Earth was flat, defended chastity-belt wearing maidens, and tortured their foes with grisly gadgets. Except... this is more fiction than fact. So, where do all the myths about the Middle Ages come from? And what were they actually like? Stephanie Honchell Smith debunks common misconceptions about the time period. [Directed by Avi Ofer, narrated by Christina Greer, music by Stephen LaRosa].

After a week of studying, you feel confident that you'll ace your exam. But when you get your grade back, it's much lower than you expected. You're devastated, and the disappointment is hard to shake. Should you be trying to look on the bright side? And is controlling your emotions even possible? Explore techniques to help you identify, understand, and regulate your emotions. [Directed by Daniel Stankler, narrated by Jack Cutmore-Scott, music by Zing Audio].

Flow is more than just concentrating or paying attention; it's a unique mental state of effortless engagement. And those who more frequently experience flow report higher levels of positive emotions, creativity, and feelings of accomplishment. But what exactly is flow? And how can we find it in our daily lives? Explore steps you can take to increase your chances of finding flow. [Directed by Leah Putnam, narrated by Alexandra Panzer, music by Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio].