Who is telling a story, and from what perspective, are some of the most important choices an author makes. Told from a different point of view, a story can transform completely. Third person, first person, and second person perspectives each have unique possibilities and constraints. So how do you choose a point of view for your story? Rebekah B...

When Ramona Pierson was 22, she was hit by a drunk driver and spent 18 months in a coma. In this talk, she tells the remarkable story of her recovery -- drawing on the collective skills and wisdom of a senior citizens' home.

From Twitter to word of mouth, explore the ways ideas spread so quickly from person to person.

Rita Pierson, a teacher for 40 years, once heard a colleague say, "They don't pay me to like the kids." Her response: "Kids don't learn from people they don't like.'" A rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level.

For the past 70 years, scientists in Britain have been studying thousands of children through their lives to find out why some end up happy and healthy while others struggle. It's the longest-running study of human development in the world, and it's produced some of the best-studied people on the planet while changing the way we live, learn and ...

While it may not be simple or easy, these fascinating talks make aerospace engineering a little more accessible to the average person.

What do we do with all this online venom and in-person vitriol? An exploration of where this hate comes from -- and bold ways to dismantle it.

What if your attachment to being a "good" person is holding you back from actually becoming a better person? In this accessible talk, social psychologist Dolly Chugh explains the puzzling psychology of ethical behavior — like why it's hard to spot your biases and acknowledge mistakes — and shows how the path to becoming better starts with owning...

Fascinating, insightful talks on what it means to be human and live a good life.

Today, some companies are working hard to prevent consumers from repairing products on their own. In many cases, repair can only be done by the original manufacturer, if at all. With limited repair options available, we end up buying new and throwing more items out. So, how exactly do companies prevent repair? And what can consumers do about it?...

Which TED Talks did you watch and share most in 2016? These talks about being a better listener, parent, person ... and, um, spam email recipient.

Being the new person is never easy. Let these talks help you in walking into your workplace with your shoulders back and head held high.

Cross-country skier Janine Shepherd hoped for an Olympic medal -- until she was hit by a truck during a training bike ride. She shares a powerful story about the human potential for recovery. Her message: you are not your body, and giving up old dreams can allow new ones to soar.

What if two different fish species, living thousands of miles apart from each other, hold the key to Earth's history? Evolutionary biologist and ichthyologist Prosanta Chakrabarty demonstrates the vitality of studies in nature, using 21st century tools to trace Earth's distant history, explain why it is the way it is today -- and theorize its po...

Did humans evolve from monkeys or from fish? In this enlightening talk, ichthyologist and TED Fellow Prosanta Chakrabarty dispels some hardwired myths about evolution, encouraging us to remember that we're a small part of a complex, four-billion-year process -- and not the end of the line. "We're not the goal of evolution," Chakrabarty says. "Th...

Two sisters take the same DNA test. The results show that one sister is 10% French, the other 0%. Both sisters share the same two parents, and therefore the same set of ancestors. So how can one be 10% more French than the other? Tests like these rely on our DNA to answer questions about our ancestry, but DNA actually can't tell us everything. P...

TED Fellow Prosanta Chakrabarty explores hidden parts of the world in search of new species of cave-dwelling fish. These subterranean creatures have developed fascinating adaptations, and they provide biological insights into blindness as well as geological clues about how the continents broke apart million of years ago. Contemplate deep time in...

Ramona Pierson develops tools to revolutionize learning management and assessment systems -- her fourth career after aviation, neuropsychology and software development.

Helen Pearson's book, "The Life Project," tells the extraordinary story of the longest-running study of human development in the world.

Imagine you're watching a runaway trolley barreling down the tracks, straight towards five workers. You happen to be standing next to a switch that will divert the trolley onto a second track. Here's the problem: that track has a worker on it, too — but just one. What do you do? Do you sacrifice one person to save five? Eleanor Nelsen details th...

How to Be a Better Human How to let go of being a "good" person (with Dolly Chugh) (Transcript) August 15, 2022 Chris Duffy: I’m your host Chris Duffy, and this is How to Be A Better Human. In today’s episode, we’re going to dive a little bit deeper into the whole premise of this show. If you’ve been listening for a while, you’ve probably heard...

Why are we so obsessed with age? From quests for youth to immortality, these speakers explore the science of staying alive.

In 1943, Irena Sendler and Janina Grabowska froze when they heard Gestapo pounding on the front door. Knowing she was minutes from arrest, Irena tossed Janina her most dangerous possession: a glass jar containing the names of over 2,000 Jewish children she'd smuggled to safety from the Warsaw Ghetto. Who was this courageous woman? Iseult Gillesp...

Living life as an embodiment of capitalism makes some things in life much easier. But no matter how wrong things go the important thing is to keep providing shareholder value, which in this case is pretty close to friendship. Mike Merrill decided thirteen years ago to become a publicly traded person, offering shareholders a degree of influence o...

A collection of studies and photography series that showcase the intrigue, beauty and diversity of human life.

Around the world, people who work hard are often seen as morally good -- even if they produce little to no results. Social psychologist Azim Shariff analyzes the roots of this belief and suggests a shift towards a more meaningful way to think about effort, rather than admiring work for work's sake.

Emily Parsons-Lord re-creates air from distinct moments in Earth's history -- from the clean, fresh-tasting air of the Carboniferous period to the soda-water air of the Great Dying to the heavy, toxic air of the future we're creating. By turning air into art, she invites us to know the invisible world around us. Breathe in the Earth's past and f...

Justin J. Pearson is a Tennessee state representative, community organizer and advocate for social and environmental justice.

What challenges lie ahead of a staggering 12,700-kilometer paddle around the entire continent of Australia? Crocodiles and sharks were just the beginning, says Ironwoman Bonnie Hancock. Reflecting on her remarkable feat of becoming the fastest person to paddle around Australia, she shares lessons on perseverance, resilience and finding meaning i...

We often find ourselves stuck in narrow social circles with similar people. What habits confine us, and how can we break them? Organizational psychologist Tanya Menon considers how we can be more intentional about expanding our social universes -- and how it can lead to new ideas and opportunities.