logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2025
14m 22s

How we’re turning pollution into toys, t...

TED
About this episode
tail spinning
Up next
Today
My bank called in the middle of my TED Talk | Mike Albo
In this TED Talk gone wrong, comedian Mike Albo receives an unexpected call from his bank. The result: a hilariously uncomfortable tour of his purchase history, and a reminder that in the digital age, our data knows us a little too well.Learn more about our flagship conference ha ... Show More
7m 58s
Yesterday
3 ways to create a truly original design | Lope Gutierrez-Ruiz
In a world where design trends are quietly converging — same color palettes, same typography, same illustration styles — how do you make work that actually looks different? Designer and TED Fellow Lope Gutierrez-Ruiz distills his answer into three sharp, counterintuitive ideas, t ... Show More
7m 52s
Mar 23
Life on the frontlines of war reporting | Jane Ferguson (re-release)
Covering global war stories can be hard and thankless — but it's critical work if the rest of us are to understand what's really going on in the world. For nearly two decades, journalist Jane Ferguson has reported on hostilities across Africa and the Middle East, and she's witnes ... Show More
15m 34s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2025
The science of making fruits and veggies last longer | Jenny Du
It's a hard nut to crack: in order to prevent food waste, we rely on plastic packaging and refrigeration, which harm the environment. What if we could turn to nature to address these challenges? Engineer and chemist Jenny Du shares how a simple plant-based innovation — using the ... Show More
13m 32s
Sep 2025
The emerging science of finding critical metals | Mfikeyi Makayi
Your smartphone, computer and electric car all depend on one thing — critical minerals buried deep underground. But there’s a catch: the mining industry has gotten dramatically worse at discovering new deposits just when we need them most, says mining innovator Mfikeyi Makayi. Sh ... Show More
10m 3s
Aug 2023
Super Detergent, Nanobubbles & Living Water: A Whole New World of Wellness - Saba Yussouf : 1080
<p>Dialing in from Dubai, today, we hear from global inventor and investor, Saba Yussouf, about how to position STEM technologies – science, technology, engineering, and math – to prevent infection, treat water, and even fight 100-year problems like climate change.</p><p>Half bus ... Show More
46m 28s
Apr 2025
Why is Mars red? A new clue to the history of habitability in Martian dust
<p>For decades, scientists hypothesized that Mars&rsquo; reddish color came from hematite, an iron oxide thought to have formed through dry oxidation after Mars lost its water. But new research suggests the story is more complex&mdash;and more watery&mdash;than we once imagined.< ... Show More
54m 56s
Sep 2025
Most countries fail at clean energy. Here’s how mine succeeded | Sebastián Kind
Energy expert Sebastián Kind helped Argentina go from virtually no renewable energy to generating nearly 40 percent of its electricity from wind and solar in just six years, despite economic crises and skepticism. How did the country's transition off fossil fuels happen so quickl ... Show More
12m 49s
Oct 2021
Ted Nordhaus Deconstructs Degrowth
<p>I am joined by returning guest and co-founder of The Breakthrough Institute, Ted Nordhaus, to discuss degrowth as a proposed solution to climate change and other environmental issues.</p> <p>Nordhaus has written forcefully against the idea of degrowth, which posits that growth ... Show More
49m 17s
Jun 2025
The best invention since sliced bread? | Rachel Yang
Industrial manufacturers spend a huge amount of energy generating heat to make everyday materials and objects, like cement, steel, and paper. And since most companies use fossil fuels to reach these high temperatures, industrial heat accounts for 20% of our annual global carbon p ... Show More
6m 48s
Sep 2025
Collagen's dirty secret — and its clean future | Fei Luo
From cosmetics to nutrition, collagen is seemingly everywhere — but we don't often discuss its ethically questionable sources, says chemical engineer Fei Luo. She delves into the groundbreaking technology that uses genetically modified yeast to brew animal-free collagen, a proces ... Show More
8m 29s
Sep 2025
Floating farms, sponge cities and the climate solutions already working | Harjeet Singh
What if every dollar you spend today could save you 10 dollars tomorrow? Development expert Harjeet Singh reveals how climate solutions like floating farms and “sponge cities” that absorb floodwater aren’t just clever adaptations — they’re smart economics. He explains why wealthy ... Show More
12m 32s
Oct 2025
Why change is so scary — and how to unlock its potential | Maya Shankar (re-release)
Unexpected change like an accident, an illness or a relationship that suddenly ends is inevitable -- and disorienting. With a heartfelt and optimistic take on life's curveballs, cognitive scientist Maya Shankar shares how these challenging moments can inspire transformation, offe ... Show More
15m 45s