In 2011 three young women swept the top prizes of the first Google Science Fair. Lauren Hodge, Shree Bose and Naomi Shah describe their extraordinary projects -- and their route to a passion for science.

Poet C.K. Williams reads his work at TED2001. As he colors scenes of childhood resentments, college loves, odd neighbors and the literal death of youth, he reminds us of the unique challenges of living.

In 2009, 11,341 untested rape kits -- some dating back to the 1980s -- were found in an abandoned warehouse once used by the Detroit police to store evidence. When this scandal was uncovered, prosecutor Kym Worthy set a plan into action to get justice for the thousands of victims affected. In this powerful, eye-opening talk, Worthy explains how ...

How can architects build a new world of sustainable beauty? By learning from nature. Michael Pawlyn describes three habits of nature that could transform architecture and society: radical resource efficiency, closed loops, and drawing energy from the sun.

Jane Poynter tells her story of living two years and 20 minutes in Biosphere 2 -- an experience that provoked her to explore how we might sustain life in the harshest of environments.

Author and activist Isabel Allende discusses women, creativity, the definition of feminism -- and, of course, passion -- in this talk.

(NOTE: Research and statements in this talk have been challenged by other scientists working in this field. Please read "Criticisms & Updates" below for more details.) What drives our desire to behave morally? Neuroeconomist Paul Zak shows why he believes oxytocin (he calls it "the moral molecule") is responsible for trust, empathy and other...

A clay cylinder covered in Akkadian cuneiform script, damaged and broken, the Cyrus Cylinder is a powerful symbol of religious tolerance and multi-culturalism. In this enthralling talk Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, traces 2600 years of Middle Eastern history through this single object.

Willard Wigan tells the story of how a difficult and lonely childhood drove him to discover his unique ability -- to create art so tiny that it can't be seen with the naked eye. His slideshow of figures, as seen through a microscope, can only be described as mind-boggling.

What can you do when the wheels of justice don't turn fast enough? Or when they don't turn at all? Vivek Maru is working to transform the relationship between people and law, turning law from an abstraction or threat into something that everyone can understand, use and shape. Instead of relying solely on lawyers, Maru started a global network of...

Childhood is surreal. Why shouldn't children's books be? In this whimsical talk, award-winning author Mac Barnett speaks about writing that escapes the page, art as a doorway to wonder -- and what real kids say to a fictional whale.

In the United States, two institutions guide teenagers on the journey to adulthood: college and prison. Sociologist Alice Goffman spent six years in a troubled Philadelphia neighborhood and saw first-hand how teenagers of African-American and Latino backgrounds are funneled down the path to prison — sometimes starting with relatively minor infra...

Performance poet (and math student) Harry Baker spins a love poem about his favorite kind of numbers -- the lonely, love-lorn prime. Stay on for two more lively, inspiring poems from this charming performer.

As human beings, we get used to "the way things are" really fast. But for designers, the way things are is an opportunity ... Could things be better? How? In this funny, breezy talk, the man behind the iPod and the Nest thermostat shares some of his tips for noticing -- and driving -- change.

For architect Ole Scheeren, the people who live and work inside a building are as much a part of that building as concrete, steel and glass. He asks: Can architecture be about collaboration and storytelling instead of the isolation and hierarchy of a typical skyscraper? Visit five of Scheeren's buildings -- from a twisted tower in China to a flo...

You procrastinate because you're lazy, right? Wrong. The truth is more complex -- and far more interesting. Learn how to stop putting off important tasks ... with a little help from master procrastinator Margaret Atwood. (Audio only) Listen to more of WorkLife at TED.com/podcasts

Sam and Shaka take us on an inspired journey describing the genesis of their “Global Village”, the synergy required and exchange of not only skills and craft, but values and passions. In their words, "the 'global village', speaks to a world viewed as a community in which distance and isolation have been dramatically reduced by electronic media."...

High school sophomore Alexandra Gómez examines the role social media and media tools play in the mental and emotional health of societies, past and present. She urges us to consider how the complexities of the social media vortex, cyber bullying, and mishandling of information leave individuals and communities susceptible to self-destruction.

Dan Kimzey is the principal of Hamilton High School. He served in the US Army, National Guard, and Army Reserve for 23 years, having achieved the position of Command Sergeant Major as his final posting before retirement. He is the past president of the Montana Association of Secondary School Principals and has been an educator for more than twen...

Carlos Andrés Gómez shares his eight lessons from fatherhood.

Özlem Kaymaz TEDx Konuşması'nda oğlu Daniel'in hastalığını ve bir annenin koşulsuz bir sevgi ile büyük mücadelesini anlatıyor.

Aidan Gomez is a doctoral student at the University of Oxford focusing on machine learning. His talk will attempt to highlight some of the more substantial threats that artificial intelligence poses to individuals, in governance, and at war.

Mezcla de sensaciones entre la paz y el miedo, controlando el estado de resiliencia, como estar en lo mas profundo del mar donde la luz no existe y los miedo se hacen mas latentes por lo tanto la vida va disminuyendo. Ahondar en las profundidades de nuestros miedos, nos puede llevar en un escenario de meditación donde encontramos la luz y así p...

Para la antropóloga Mariana Gómez, la conexión entre el ser humano y la naturaleza es tan poderosa que surgen movimientos sociales para proteger una visión integral de la vida. Además, la solidaridad con lo colectivo es una manera de la realización personal.

PT | O que faz de um povo um povo? A cultura, as tradições, uma maneira de falar, de cantar, de vestir, de dançar? E de onde vem e começa isto tudo? O Ricardo é director do Rancho Folclórico de Geraldes e um apaixonado por contar histórias que normalmente ficam por contar. É uma destas histórias que ele vem partilhar connosco no dia 3 de Novembr...

Oftentimes we isolate artistic from academic interests to compartmentalize our lives. After witnessing her passions for neuroscience and dance blend into one unique experience, Ava Goumas shares how we can act on our intersectional curiosities.

La profesora Laura nos cuenta desde su perspectiva porque existen unas personas que no tienen ese amor por las matemáticas. A que se debe este desamor y nos muestra que aunque no lo queramos las matemáticas están presentes en todo lo que nos rodea aunque no nos demos cuenta de esto.

Cardiac disease is a major killer of people across Australia and the world. Early detection and treatment by a qualified cardiac specialist can be life-saving. But while people living in major cities take this access to services for granted, people in rural and regional communities are going without. If you live outside a major city in Austral...