TED Courses

Does Democracy Stifle Economic Growth?

Economist Yasheng Huang compares China and India's economic growth, challenging assumptions about democracy's impact on development and offering surprising insights on authoritarian rule's role.

• YouTube
• 19 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

Making Matter Come Alive

Explore the possibility of creating inorganic life through chemical evolution, challenging traditional views on the origin and nature of living systems.

• YouTube
• 15 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

Unintended Consequences

Historian explores the gap between innovation and foresight, illustrating unexpected consequences of new inventions through compelling stories.

• YouTube
• 16 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

DNA Clues to Our Inner Neanderthal

Geneticist reveals DNA evidence of human-Neanderthal interbreeding and identifies new humanoid species through innovative analysis of a tiny bone fragment.

• YouTube
• 17 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

One Day of Peace

Inspiring talk on creating a global day of peace, showcasing the journey from idea to reality and its impact on millions, especially children in conflict zones.

• YouTube
• 18 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

Ending Hunger Now

Explore global hunger issues and solutions with UN World Food Program head Josette Sheeran. Learn why hunger persists despite food abundance and discover collaborative approaches to end starvation worldwide.

• YouTube
• 19 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

The Origins of Pleasure

Explore the psychological roots of pleasure as Paul Bloom reveals how our beliefs about an object's history profoundly influence our experiences, challenging our understanding of human perception and value.

• YouTube
• 16 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

The Surprising Math of Cities and Corporations

Discover how simple mathematical laws govern cities' properties, from wealth to crime rates, based on population size. Explore similar patterns in organisms and corporations.

• YouTube
• 18 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

Fighting Viruses, Defending the Net

Computer security expert Mikko Hyppönen discusses the evolution of PC viruses over 25 years, from minor annoyances to sophisticated tools for crime and espionage, and explores strategies to protect the internet's future.

• YouTube
• 18 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

Trial, Error and the God Complex

Discover how successful complex systems are built through trial and error, and learn to embrace randomness for better problem-solving in this thought-provoking talk by economics writer Tim Harford.

• YouTube
• 18 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

A Global Culture to Fight Extremism

Former Islamist extremist explores why extremist organizations succeed and proposes grassroots stories and global social activism to spread democracy in the face of nationalism and xenophobia.

• YouTube
• 18 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

Meet e-Patient Dave

Dave deBronkart shares his inspiring journey of overcoming terminal cancer through online patient communities, advocating for patient empowerment and collaborative healthcare to improve medical outcomes.

• YouTube
• 17 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

Computing a Rosetta Stone for the Indus Script

Discover how modern computational techniques are being used to decipher the 4000-year-old Indus script, unlocking secrets of an ancient civilization in this fascinating TED talk by Rajesh Rao.

• YouTube
• 17 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

A Future Beyond Traffic Gridlock

Bill Ford envisions a sustainable future of mobility, addressing environmental concerns and global gridlock through smart roads, advanced public transport, and innovative green technologies.

• YouTube
• 17 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

A Manifesto for Play, for Bulgaria and Beyond

Steve Keil advocates for embracing playfulness to revitalize Bulgaria's economy, education, and society, challenging the prevailing "serious meme" and promoting creativity and innovation.

• YouTube
• 18 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk