A collection of histories textbooks leave out.

Social media is an undeniable force in today's world. These talks highlight its impact -- from big history-defining moments to the silliness we’ve come to expect.

Backed by stunning illustrations, David Christian narrates a complete history of the universe, from the Big Bang to the Internet, in a riveting 18 minutes. This is "Big History": an enlightening, wide-angle look at complexity, life and humanity, set against our slim share of the cosmic timeline.

Robots and algorithms are getting good at jobs like building cars, writing articles, translating -- jobs that once required a human. So what will we humans do for work? Andrew McAfee walks through recent labor data to say: We ain't seen nothing yet. But then he steps back to look at big history, and comes up with a surprising view of what comes ...

David Christian teaches an ambitious world history course that tells the tale of the entire universe -- from the Big Bang 13 billion years ago to present day.

Cell phones, while small, are mighty. From loans to a life-saving crisis line, learn all about the ways our phones (smart, or otherwise) are paving pathways to a brighter, more accessible future.

This original TED series celebrates the lasting genius of everyday objects so perfectly designed that they changed the world around them.

Becky Barker aims to create awareness around how important tattooing can be for the healing process.

David Macaulay gets under the skins of skyscrapers, mosques, pyramids, subways, and a host of other ancient and modern marvels. His lavish and micro-detailed renderings expose the world's secret engineering to dazzled readers of all ages.

Paul Romer's research on catch-up growth in low- and middle-income countries has emphasized the importance of government policies that encourage orderly urban expansion.

Bhu Srinivasan writes about economics, history and statecraft.

Jared Diamond investigates why cultures prosper or decline -- and what we can learn by taking a broad look across many kinds of societies.

Sanjay Pradhan is vice president of the World Bank Institute, helping leaders in developing countries learn skills for reform, development and good governance.

Get a bird's eye view of Earth's mesmerizing beauty, from the sky and outer space.

The best-selling author of "Nonzero," "The Moral Animal" and "The Evolution of God," Robert Wright draws on his wide-ranging knowledge of science, religion, psychology, history and politics to figure out what makes humanity tick -- and what makes us moral.

A self-described "human Venn diagram," Christina Wallace has crafted a career at the intersection of business, the arts and technology.

A breadth of talks that explore and highlight the future of emerging markets across the globe.

A Silicon Valley executive, entrepreneur and marketing specialist, Peter Hirshberg might just be the definitive voice on how new technology affects business and culture.

Edward Tenner is an independent writer, speaker and editor who analyzes the cultural aspects of technological change.

At the Royal Institution in 1991, Richard Dawkins asks us to look at our universe with new eyes. Packed with big questions and illuminating visuals, this memorable journey through the history of life magnifies the splendor of evolution and our place in it.

We’ve known how to cure malaria since the 1600s, so why does the disease still kill hundreds of thousands every year? It’s more than just a problem of medicine, says journalist Sonia Shah. A look into the history of malaria reveals three big-picture challenges to its eradication. Photos: Adam Nadel.

If you're wondering why blackface -- mimicking people of African descent via stereotypes and makeup-darkened skin -- is a big deal, then perhaps a little history lesson can help demystify the outcry. Dwan Reece, curator at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, explains how this practice permeates the American psyche and cu...

Behind the "big house" in pre-Civil War America, there was often another house, smaller, rougher, and filled with chattel slaves, people who lived and died as another person's property. It's a large piece of American history, but it's too often overlooked or even hidden. How can modern people feel the weight of this history? Joseph McGill, found...

Throughout humankind's history, we've driven species after species extinct: the passenger pigeon, the Eastern cougar, the dodo ... But now, says Stewart Brand, we have the technology (and the biology) to bring back species that humanity wiped out. So -- should we? Which ones? He asks a big question whose answer is closer than you may think.

Artist-technologist Honor Harger listens to the weird and wonderful noises of stars and planets and pulsars. In her work, she tracks the radio waves emitted by ancient celestial objects and turns them into sound, including "the oldest song you will ever hear," the sound of cosmic rays left over from the Big Bang.

What does a cultural Big Bang look like? For Amit Sood, director of Google's Cultural Institute and Art Project, it's an online platform where anyone can explore the world's greatest collections of art and artifacts in vivid, lifelike detail. Join Sood and Google artist in residence Cyril Diagne in a mind-bending demo of experiments from the Cul...

Honor Harger explores the cultural impact of scientific ideas and how technology shapes society.

Jeanette Winterson is an acclaimed novelist and writer whose work helps us think about the past and future a little differently.

The Afro pick is much more than a styling tool. It's a major player in Black history, explains artist Jon Gray.

The hoodie is a lot more than just a comfy sweatshirt. Design curator Paola Antonelli takes us through its history.