An autonomous car may seem like a thing of the distant future, but mechanical engineer Chris Gerdes is racing to make it a reality today.

Peter van Manen is the Managing Director of McLaren Electronics, which provides data systems to major motorsports series.

Cards that fly all over the table, spill onto the floor, and disappear beneath a laser beam. Welcome to the chaotic and flabbergasting magical world of Lennart Green, grand master of close-up card trickery.

Race car entrepreneur

Mark Pollock was the first blind person to race to the South Pole. Now he's exploring the intersection where humans and technology collide on a new expedition to cure paralysis in our lifetime.

To determine how life might persist on Mars, Nathalie Cabrol explores one of Earth’s most extreme environments: high-elevation Andean lakes and deserts.

Dr. Irwin Redlener spends his days imagining the worst: He studies how humanity might survive natural or human-made disasters of unthinkable severity. He's been an outspoken critic of half-formed government recovery plans (especially after Katrina).

Anjali Tripathi explores planets to uncover the processes that make and destroy them.

Lucy Marcil is providing fiscal services to low-income families in the doctor’s waiting room.

Using empathy and a clear-eyed view of mortality, BJ Miller shines a light on health care's most ignored facet: preparing for death.

Eldra Jackson III works daily to connect to his most authentic self -- and his calling is to support others in doing the same.

Stacy Smith shows how Hollywood’s homogenous (and overwhelmingly male) culture systematically excludes women and minorities.

Abigail Disney advocates for real changes to the way capitalism operates in today's world.

David R. Williams asks: What if we decided to tackle the striking levels of early death and poor health that are due to the color of one's skin?

Lucy Kalanithi is dedicated to helping others choose the health care and end-of-life experiences that best align with their values.

Joel Levine studies the atmospheres of Earth and Mars, looking at their origin, evolution, structure and chemistry and climate change. He's the principal investigator of the proposed ARES Mars Airplane Mission.

Using unexpected channels like the pulpit and the barber’s chair, Dr. Joseph Ravenell delivers basic health care information to an at-risk demographic -- African-American men.

A research scientist at Intel, Jennifer Healey develops the mobile internet devices of the future.

Biodiversity warrior Cary Fowler wants to save the world from agricultural collapse, one seed at a time.

Cara E. Yar Khan is an international human rights advocate promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities within all facets of society.

Boniface Mwangi is an award-winning Kenyan photographer, artist and activist. He is a TED Fellow.

Leslie Morgan Steiner is a writer and outspoken advocate for survivors of domestic violence -- which includes herself.

A record-setting triathlete, Minda Dentler is a polio survivor committed to inspiring people to move beyond their fear of failure and achieve their goals.

Dave Meslin is a "professional rabble-rouser." Based in Toronto, he works to make local issues engaging and even fun to get involved in.

Samy Nour Younes is a trans actor and activist who highlights the diversity of the trans experience -- not just in their struggles, but also in their triumphs.

Nagin Cox explores Mars as part of the team that operates NASA's rovers.

At Novalia, Kate Stone and her team use ordinary printing presses to manufacture interactive electronics, which combine touch-sensitive ink technology and printed circuits into unique and cost-effective products.

David R. Liu leads a research group that combines chemistry and evolutionary techniques to create revolutionary new medicines.

Susan Solomon enables support for human stem cell research, aiming to cure major diseases and empower more personalized medicine.

Iraqi-born Zainab Salbi founded and runs Women for Women International, and has dedicated her life to helping women in war-torn regions rebuild their lives and communities.