TED Talks. Ideas worth spreading

These animals are also plants … wait, what? - Luka Seamus Wright

The species of slug known as Elysia chlorotica may not look like much — it resembles a bright green leaf — but it’s one of the most extraordinary creatures on our planet.
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Living in marshes along the coast of North America, it can go about a year without eating. During that time, it lives like a plant. How is this possible?

Luka Seamus Wright digs into the incredible adaptat??ions of these mixotrophs.

Esports and the New Era of Play | James Hodge | TED

As the line between the physical and digital worlds blur, so does the line between real-world and virtual sports.

Reframing our understanding of competition, data-drivenShow more technologist James Hodge explains how far esports (like virtual Formula 1 race car driving) have come in replicating the conditions of physical sports, making elite competition more accessible than ever before.

“This really is the new era for play - and it’s open to every?one," he says.

The wild sex lives of marine creatures - Luka Seamus Wright

On a reef in the Pacific Ocean, 17,000 camouflage groupers dart about in the cloudy water. It is, in fact, an underwater orgy — turned feeding frenzy.
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An orgy might seem like a rather flamboyant way to breed, but sex in the sea is a surprisingly inventive affair.

So what other sneaky escapades are happening under the sea? Luka Seamus Wright offers a peek beneath the ocean’s covers.

Published Nov 23, 2021

The myth of bringing your full, authentic self to work | Jodi-Ann Burey

Calls for authenticity at work ask for passionate people with diverse, fresh perspectives who challenge old ways of thinking. But too often workplace culture fails to support the authenticity of professionals of color and other underrepresented groups, leading instead toShow more backlash and fewer opportunities.

Writer Jodi-Ann Burey outlines steps toward exposing privilege and achieving true equity on the job - and implores those in leadership positions to accept responsibility for change.

Published Mar 30, 2021

What causes panic attacks, and how can you prevent them? - Cindy J. Aaronson

Countless poets and writers have tried to put words to the experience of a panic attack — a sensation so overwhelming, many people mistake it for a heart attack, stroke, or other life-threatening crisis.
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Studies suggest that almost a third of us will experience at least one panic attack in our lives.

So what exactly is a panic attack, and can we prevent them? Cindy J. Aaronson investigates.

Published Oct 8, 2020

Can you outsmart a troll (by thinking like one)? - Claire Wardle

Your town is holding a mayoral election and the stakes have never been higher. You suspect one of the candidates will begin pushing false information to swing the election.
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As the cybersecurity expert, your job is to inoculate the townspeople against false information. First, you must learn the strategies of disinformation trolls.

Claire Wardle exp?lores the tactics of disinformation campaigns.

Do larger animals take longer to pee? - David L. Hu

A cat’s bladder can only store a golf ball’s worth of urine. For humans, it’s a coffee mug and for elephants, a kitchen trash can.

An elephant’s bladder is 400 times the size of a cat’s, but itShow more doesn’t take an elephant 400 times longer to pee. So, how does this work?

David L. Hu ?digs into what scientists call the “Other Golden Rule.”

Which bag should you use? - Luka Seamus Wright and Imogen Ellen Napper

You’ve filled up your cart and made it to the front of the grocery line when you’re confronted with yet another choice: what kind of bag should you use?
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It might seem obvious that plastic is bad for the environment, and that a paper bag or a cotton tote would be the better option. But is that really true?

Luka Seamus Wright and Imogen Ellen Napp??er explo??re the environmental impact of each material.

Why are eating disorders so hard to treat? - Anees Bahji

Globally, about 10% of people will experience an eating disorder during their lifetime. And yet, eating disorders are profoundly misunderstood.

Misconceptions about everything from symptoms to treatment make itShow more difficult to navigate an eating disorder or support someone you love as they do so.

Anees Bahji s??hares what is — and isn’t — true about eating disorders??.