TED Talks with English transcript

Allan Adams: The discovery that could rewrite physics

TED2014

Allan Adams: The discovery that could rewrite physics
1,865,923 views

On March 17, 2014, a group of physicists announced a thrilling discovery: the “smoking gun” data for the idea of an inflationary universe, a clue to the Big Bang. For non-physicists, what does it mean? TED asked Allan Adams to briefly explain the results, in this improvised talk illustrated by Randall Munroe of xkcd.

TED staff: It's TED, the Musical

TED Studio

TED staff: It's TED, the Musical
800,223 views

Do you have a TED Talk inside, just bursting to come out? Take this tongue-in-cheek musical journey to "Give Your Talk." A musical love letter to our speakers -- written, directed and performed by the TED staff.

Geena Rocero: Why I must come out

TED2014

Geena Rocero: Why I must come out
3,445,887 views

When fashion model Geena Rocero first saw a photo of herself in a bikini, "I thought ... you have arrived!" As she reveals, that's because she was born with the gender assignment "boy." In this moving talk, Rocero tells the story of becoming who she always knew she was.

Lawrence Lessig: The unstoppable walk to political reform

TED2014

Lawrence Lessig: The unstoppable walk to political reform
1,149,165 views

Seven years ago, Internet activist Aaron Swartz convinced Lawrence Lessig to take up the fight for political reform. A year after Swartz's tragic death, Lessig continues his campaign to free US politics from the stranglehold of corruption. In this fiery, deeply personal talk, he calls for all citizens to engage, and offers a heartfelt reminder to never give up hope.

Hugh Herr: The new bionics that let us run, climb and dance

TED2014

Hugh Herr: The new bionics that let us run, climb and dance
13,277,876 views

Hugh Herr is building the next generation of bionic limbs, robotic prosthetics inspired by nature's own designs. Herr lost both legs in a climbing accident 30 years ago; now, as the head of the MIT Media Lab's Biomechatronics group, he shows his incredible technology in a talk that's both technical and deeply personal — with the help of ballroom dancer Adrianne Haslet-Davis, who lost her left leg in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, and performs again for the first time on the TED stage.

Del Harvey: Protecting Twitter users (sometimes from themselves)

TED2014

Del Harvey: Protecting Twitter users (sometimes from themselves)
993,199 views

Del Harvey heads up Twitter’s Trust and Safety Team, and she thinks all day about how to prevent worst-case scenarios -- abuse, trolling, stalking -- while giving voice to people around the globe. With deadpan humor, she offers a window into how she works to keep 240 million users safe.

Jennifer Golbeck: Your social media "likes" expose more than you think

TEDxMidAtlantic 2013

Jennifer Golbeck: Your social media "likes" expose more than you think
2,366,837 views

Do you like curly fries? Have you Liked them on Facebook? Watch this talk to find out the surprising things Facebook (and others) can guess about you from your random Likes and Shares. Computer scientist Jennifer Golbeck explains how this came about, how some applications of the technology are not so cute -- and why she thinks we should return the control of information to its rightful owners.

Bran Ferren: To create for the ages, let's combine art and engineering

TED2014

Bran Ferren: To create for the ages, let's combine art and engineering
1,083,902 views

When Bran Ferren was just 9, his parents took him to see the Pantheon in Rome — and it changed everything. In that moment, he began to understand how the tools of science and engineering become more powerful when combined with art, with design and beauty. Ever since, he's been searching for a convincing modern-day equivalent to Rome's masterpiece. Stay tuned to the end of the talk for his unexpected suggestion.

Ed Yong: Zombie roaches and other parasite tales

TED2014

Ed Yong: Zombie roaches and other parasite tales
1,829,488 views

In this fascinating, hilarious and ever-so-slightly creepy talk, science writer Ed Yong tells the story of his favorite parasites -- animals and organisms that live on the bodies (and brains!) of other organisms, causing them to do their bidding. Do humans have them too? Maybe ...

Ziauddin Yousafzai: My daughter, Malala

TED2014

Ziauddin Yousafzai: My daughter, Malala
2,536,881 views

Pakistani educator Ziauddin Yousafzai reminds the world of a simple truth that many don't want to hear: Women and men deserve equal opportunities for education, autonomy, an independent identity. He tells stories from his own life and the life of his daughter, Malala, who was shot by the Taliban in 2012 simply for daring to go to school. "Why is my daughter so strong?" Yousafzai asks. "Because I didn't clip her wings."

Larry Page: Where's Google going next?

TED2014

Larry Page: Where's Google going next?
2,575,315 views

Onstage at TED2014, Google CEO Larry Page talks about his far-off vision for the company. It includes aerial bikeways and internet balloons ... and then it gets even more interesting, as Page talks through the company's recent acquisition of Deep Mind, an AI that is learning some surprising things.

Richard Ledgett: The NSA responds to Edward Snowden's TED Talk

TED2014

Richard Ledgett: The NSA responds to Edward Snowden's TED Talk
1,250,044 views

After a surprise appearance by Edward Snowden at TED2014, Chris Anderson said: "If the NSA wants to respond, please do." And yes, they did. Appearing by video, NSA deputy director Richard Ledgett answers Anderson's questions about the balance between security and protecting privacy.

Chris Hadfield: What I learned from going blind in space

TED2014

Chris Hadfield: What I learned from going blind in space
8,557,375 views

There's an astronaut saying: In space, “there is no problem so bad that you can’t make it worse.” So how do you deal with the complexity, the sheer pressure, of dealing with dangerous and scary situations? Retired colonel Chris Hadfield paints a vivid portrait of how to be prepared for the worst in space (and life) -- and it starts with walking into a spider’s web. Watch for a special space-y performance.

Edward Snowden: Here's how we take back the Internet

TED2014

Edward Snowden: Here's how we take back the Internet
4,806,355 views

Appearing by telepresence robot, Edward Snowden speaks at TED2014 about surveillance and Internet freedom. The right to data privacy, he suggests, is not a partisan issue, but requires a fundamental rethink of the role of the internet in our lives — and the laws that protect it. "Your rights matter," he says, "because you never know when you're going to need them." Chris Anderson interviews, with special guest Tim Berners-Lee.

Charmian Gooch: My wish: To launch a new era of openness in business

TED2014

Charmian Gooch: My wish: To launch a new era of openness in business
914,154 views

Anonymous companies protect corrupt individuals – from notorious drug cartel leaders to nefarious arms dealers – behind a shroud of mystery that makes it almost impossible to find and hold them responsible. But anti-corruption activist Charmian Gooch hopes to change all that. At TED2014, she shares her brave TED Prize wish: to know who owns and controls companies, to change the law, and to launch a new era of openness in business.

Steven Pinker and Rebecca Newberger Goldstein: The long reach of reason

TED2012

Steven Pinker and Rebecca Newberger Goldstein: The long reach of reason
1,110,252 views

Here's a TED first: an animated Socratic dialog! In a time when irrationality seems to rule both politics and culture, has reasoned thinking finally lost its power? Watch as psychologist Steven Pinker is gradually, brilliantly persuaded by philosopher Rebecca Newberger Goldstein that reason is actually the key driver of human moral progress, even if its effect sometimes takes generations to unfold. The dialog was recorded live at TED, and animated, in incredible, often hilarious, detail by Cognitive.

Norman Spack: How I help transgender teens become who they want to be

TEDxBeaconStreet

Norman Spack: How I help transgender teens become who they want to be
1,359,735 views

Puberty is an awkward time for just about everybody, but for transgender teens it can be a nightmare, as they grow overnight into bodies they aren't comfortable with. In a heartfelt talk, Norman Spack tells a personal story of how he became one of the few doctors in the US to treat minors with hormone replacement therapy. By staving off the effects of puberty, Spack gives trans teens the time they need.

Daniel Reisel: The neuroscience of restorative justice

TED2013

Daniel Reisel: The neuroscience of restorative justice
885,475 views

Daniel Reisel studies the brains of criminal psychopaths (and mice). And he asks a big question: Instead of warehousing these criminals, shouldn't we be using what we know about the brain to help them rehabilitate? Put another way: If the brain can grow new neural pathways after an injury ... could we help the brain re-grow morality?

Toby Shapshak: You don't need an app for that

TEDGlobal 2013

Toby Shapshak: You don't need an app for that
1,529,135 views

Are the simplest phones the smartest? While the rest of the world is updating statuses and playing games on smartphones, Africa is developing useful SMS-based solutions to everyday needs, says journalist Toby Shapshak. In this eye-opening talk, Shapshak explores the frontiers of mobile invention in Africa as he asks us to reconsider our preconceived notions of innovation.

Anne-Marie Slaughter: Can we all "have it all"?

TEDGlobal 2013

Anne-Marie Slaughter: Can we all "have it all"?
1,963,355 views

Public policy expert Anne-Marie Slaughter made waves with her 2012 article, "Why women still can't have it all." But really, is this only a question for women? Here Slaughter expands her ideas and explains why shifts in work culture, public policy and social mores can lead to more equality -- for men, women, all of us.

Gabe Barcia-Colombo: My DNA vending machine

TED Fellows Retreat 2013

Gabe Barcia-Colombo: My DNA vending machine
828,455 views

Vending machines generally offer up sodas, candy bars and chips. Not so for the one created by TED Fellow Gabe Barcia-Colombo. This artist has dreamed up a DNA Vending Machine, which dispenses extracted human DNA, packaged in a vial along with a collectible photo of the person who gave it. It’s charming and quirky, but points out larger ethical issues that will arise as access to biotechnology increases.

Manu Prakash: A 50-cent microscope that folds like origami

TEDGlobal 2012

Manu Prakash: A 50-cent microscope that folds like origami
2,182,867 views

Perhaps you’ve punched out a paper doll or folded an origami swan? TED Fellow Manu Prakash and his team have created a microscope made of paper that's just as easy to fold and use. A sparkling demo that shows how this invention could revolutionize healthcare in developing countries … and turn almost anything into a fun, hands-on science experiment.

Christopher Soghoian: Government surveillance — this is just the beginning

TED Fellows Retreat 2013

Christopher Soghoian: Government surveillance — this is just the beginning
893,397 views

Privacy researcher Christopher Soghoian sees the landscape of government surveillance shifting beneath our feet, as an industry grows to support monitoring programs. Through private companies, he says, governments are buying technology with the capacity to break into computers, steal documents and monitor activity — without detection. This TED Fellow gives an unsettling look at what's to come.

Mary Lou Jepsen: Could future devices read images from our brains?

TED2013

Mary Lou Jepsen: Could future devices read images from our brains?
1,035,856 views

As an expert on cutting-edge digital displays, Mary Lou Jepsen studies how to show our most creative ideas on screens. And as a brain surgery patient herself, she is driven to know more about the neural activity that underlies invention, creativity, thought. She meshes these two passions in a rather mind-blowing talk on two cutting-edge brain studies that might point to a new frontier in understanding how (and what) we think.

Philip Evans: How data will transform business

TED@BCG San Francisco

Philip Evans: How data will transform business
1,635,687 views

What does the future of business look like? In an informative talk, Philip Evans gives a quick primer on two long-standing theories in strategy -- and explains why he thinks they are essentially invalid.

Annette Heuser: The 3 agencies with the power to make or break economies

TEDGlobal 2013

Annette Heuser: The 3 agencies with the power to make or break economies
1,237,713 views

The way we rate national economies is all wrong, says rating agency reformer Annette Heuser. With mysterious and obscure methods, three private US-based credit rating agencies wield immense power over national economies across the globe, and the outcomes can be catastrophic. But what if there was another way? In this bold talk, Heuser shares her vision for a nonprofit agency that would bring more equality and justice into the mix.

Henry Lin: What we can learn from galaxies far, far away

TEDYouth 2013

Henry Lin: What we can learn from galaxies far, far away
1,400,407 views

In a fun, exciting talk, teenager Henry Lin looks at something unexpected in the sky: distant galaxy clusters. By studying the properties of the universe's largest pieces, says the Intel Science Fair award winner, we can learn quite a lot about scientific mysteries in our own world and galaxy.

Siddharthan Chandran: Can the damaged brain repair itself?

TEDGlobal 2013

Siddharthan Chandran: Can the damaged brain repair itself?
1,388,092 views

After a traumatic brain injury, it sometimes happens that the brain can repair itself, building new brain cells to replace damaged ones. But the repair doesn't happen quickly enough to allow recovery from degenerative conditions like motor neuron disease (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease or ALS). Siddharthan Chandran walks through some new techniques using special stem cells that could allow the damaged brain to rebuild faster.