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TED-Ed

TED-Ed’s mission is to create lessons worth sharing. Feed and expand your curiosity with our award-winning animated shorts - published on YouTube and available with supplemental learning materials on ed.ted.com. Want to suggest an idea for a TED-Ed animation, nominate an educator or animator? Visit

New episodes: Several times a day
Typical length: 7 min
Latest: 15 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

15 Oct 2026 · 7 minNew

Why is English so complicated? - Arika Okrent

Explore the evolution of English spelling conventions throughout history, and find out why it's such an inconsistent language.--Spelling reformers have been advocating for changes to make English spelling more intuitive and less irregular. One example of its messiness: take the “g-h” sound from “enough,” the “o” sound from “women” and the “t-i” sound from “action,” and you could argue that “g-h-o-t-i” spells “fish.” So, how did English get like this? Arika Okrent explores the complexity of English spelling conventions.Lesson by Arika Okrent, directed by Emily Howells, Aaron Brady.Support Our…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

15 Oct 2026 · 7 minNew
Does math possess a critical flaw? - Jacqueline Doan and Alex Kazachek
Practice more problem-solving at https://brilliant.org/teded--A mathematician with a knife and ball begins slicing and distributing the ball into an infinite number of boxes. She then recombines the parts into five precise sections. Moving and rotating these sections around, she recombines them to form two identical, flawless, and complete copies of the original ball. How is this possible? Jacqueline Doan and Alex Kazachek explore the Banach-Tarski paradox.Lesson by Jacqueline Doan and Alex Kazachek, directed by Mads Lundgård.This video made possible in collaboration with BrilliantLearn more…
15 Oct 2026 · 9 minNew
Cloudy climate change: How clouds affect Earth's temperature - Jasper Kirkby
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/cloudy-climate-change-how-clouds-affect-earth-s-temperature-jasper-kirkbyUploaded 25-09-14As the Earth’s surface temperature gradually rises, it has become vital for us to predict the rate of this increase with as much precision as possible. In order to do that, scientists need to understand more about aerosols and clouds. Jasper Kirkby details an experiment at CERN that aims to do just that. Lesson by Jasper Kirkby, animation by Cedric Richer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
15 Oct 2026 · 6 minNew
The uncomplicated story of photosynthesis and food - Amanda Ooten
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-simple-but-fascinating-story-of-photosynthesis-and-food-amanda-ootenPhotosynthesis is an essential part of the exchange between humans and plants. Amanda Ooten walks us through the process of photosynthesis, also discussing the relationship between photosynthesis and carbohydrates, starch, and fiber -- and how the air we breathe is related to the food we ingest.Lesson by Amanda Ooten, animation by Bouncepad Collective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
15 Oct 2026 · 8 minNew
The rise and fall of the Lakota Empire - Pekka Hämäläinen
Trace the rise and fall of the Lakota Empire which, at their height, were the most dominant power in the American West.Uploaded 07-09-21--In 1776, a powerful empire was born in North America. The Lakotas had reached the Black Hills, the most sacred place and most coveted buffalo hunting grounds in the western plains. Located in what is now South Dakota, control of the Black Hills, or Paha Sapa, marked the tribe as the dominant power in the American West. Pekka Hämäläinen explores the rise and fall of the Lakota Empire.Lesson by Pekka Hämäläinen, directed by Mohammad Babakoohi and Yijia…
15 Oct 2026 · 6 minNew
The contrast between classical and operant conditioning - Peggy Andover
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-difference-between-classical-and-operant-conditioning-peggy-andoverWhy is it that humans react to stimuli with certain behaviors? Can behaviors change in response to consequences? Peggy Andover explains how the brain can associate unrelated stimuli and responses, proved by Ivan Pavlov's famous 1890 experiments, and how reinforcement and punishment can result in changed behavior. Lesson by Peggy Andover, animation by Alan Foreman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
15 Oct 2026 · 14 minNew
How state budgets are damaging US schools - Bill Gates
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-state-budgets-are-breaking-us-schools-bill-gatesAmerica's school systems are funded by the 50 states. In this fiery talk, Bill Gates says that state budgets are riddled with accounting tricks that disguise the true cost of health care and pensions and weighted with worsening deficits -- with the financing of education at the losing end.Talk by Bill Gates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
15 Oct 2026 · 5 minNew
Can you solve the giant iron riddle? - Alex Gendler
Practice more problem-solving at https://brilliant.org/TedEd/Solution to bonus riddle: https://brilliant.org/TedEdGiantIron/Uploaded 27-11-18The family of giants you work for is throwing a fancy dinner party, but there’s a problem — the elder giant’s favorite shirt is wrinkled! To fix it, you’ll need to power up the giant iron. It needs two batteries to work, but the baby giant mixed the working battery pile with the dead pile. Can you test the batteries so that you get a working pair in seven tries or less? Alex Gendler shows how. Lesson by Alex Gendler, directed by Artrake Studio.Thank you…
15 Oct 2026 · 6 minNew
Can you solve the dark matter fuel riddle? - Dan Finkel
An ancient, abandoned alien space station has been discovered. Can you beat everyone in the galaxy and reach it first?Uploaded 16-07-19--It’s an incredible discovery: an abandoned alien space station filled with precursor technology. Now every species in the galaxy is in a mad dash to get there first, but you’ve got a problem. Your ship can’t hold enough fuel to get you there unless you vent caches of it into space at precise points and then come back for the fuel later. Can you reach the alien space station? Dan Finkel shows how.Lesson by Daniel Finkel, directed by Artrake Studio.Sign up…
15 Oct 2026 · 8 minNew
The world’s largest organism - Alex Rosenthal
Discover the world’s largest organism: Pando, an enormous and ancient quaking aspen, and find out how it became so huge.Uploaded 07-12-20--The largest animal in the world is the blue whale, which weighs a massive 150 metric tons. Even so, it’s not remotely close to being the largest organism by weight. That title goes to an organism so huge that it’s estimated to weigh the equivalent of 40 blue whales. So what is this behemoth? And… where is it? Alex Rosenthal shares the story of the enormous and ancient Pando.Lesson by Alex Rosenthal, directed by Lisa LaBracio.Support Our Non-Profit…
15 Oct 2026 · 7 minNew
The most fascinating stuff animals can do with their tongues - Cella Wright
Explore the incredible variety of tongues in the animal kingdom, and find out how different species utilize the appendage to survive.--An alligator snapping turtle lures its prey using a blood-engorged tongue that resembles a wriggling worm. And it’s far from the only animal doing tongue trickery. Tongues in the animal kingdom vary widely — from texture and length, to shape and dexterity. So, what's the point of having so many different kinds of tongues? Cella Wright explores how different species use the appendage to survive.Lesson by Cella Wright, directed by Igor Ćorić, Artrake…
15 Oct 2026 · 8 minNew
Visualize a perfect society. What does it resemble? - Joseph Lacey
Dig into political philosopher John Rawls’ classic thought experiment about what principles we need to design a fair society.--A group of strangers have gathered to design a just society. To ensure none of them rig the system, they’ve been placed under a veil of ignorance. Under this veil, they’re blind to information about age, sex, profession, wealth, religion, and so on. Can they build a fair society where everyone has the resources they need? Joseph Lacey details John Rawls' classic thought experiment.Lesson by Joseph Lacey, directed by Eoin Duffy.Support Our Non-Profit…
15 Oct 2026 · 6 minNew
How cosmic rays help us understand the universe - Veronica Bindi
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-cosmic-rays-help-us-understand-the-universe-veronica-bindiUploaded 23-09-14We only know 4% of what the universe is made up of. Can we also know what lies beyond our galaxy ... and if there are undiscovered forms of matter? Luckily, we have space messengers — cosmic rays — that bring us physical data from parts of the cosmos beyond our reach. Veronica Bindi explains what cosmic rays are, and how they transmit information about our universe from the great beyond. Lesson by Veronica Bindi, animation by TED-Ed. Learn more about your ad choices.…
15 Oct 2026 · 7 minNew
What triggers addiction, and why is it so difficult to treat? - Judy Grisel
Take a look at the science of how addictive drugs affect your body and why substance addiction can be so difficult to treat.--As of 2021, more than 36 million people were estimated to be experiencing substance use disorder. This condition spans a spectrum of patterned drug use that causes issues in a person’s life, with substance addiction at the more severe end. Why are some people more susceptible to addiction, and why can it be so difficult to treat? Judy Grisel takes a look at how addictive drugs affect the body.Lesson by Judy Grisel, directed by Gabriella Marsh.Support Our Non-Profit…
15 Oct 2026 · 19 minNew
The hazard of dismissing science - Michael Specter
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-danger-of-science-denial-michael-specterVaccine-autism claims, "Frankenfood" bans, the herbal cure craze: All point to the public's growing fear (and, often, outright denial) of science and reason, says Michael Specter. He warns the trend spells disaster for human progress.Talk by Michael Specter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
15 Oct 2026 · 22 minNew
How to spot a liar - Pamela Meyer
On any given day we're lied to from 10 to 200 times, and the clues to detect those lie can be subtle and counter-intuitive. Pamela Meyer, author of Liespotting, shows the manners and "hotspots" used by those trained to recognize deception -- and she argues honesty is a value worth preserving. Uploaded 09-08-13Talk by Pamela Meyer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
15 Oct 2026 · 6 minNew
How do gas masks truly work? - George Zaidan
Explore the science behind how gas masks work, and how the technology protects us from airborne threats and pollutants.--You might think of gas masks as clunky military-looking devices. But in the near future, we may need to rely on these filters as part of our everyday lives. In addition to emerging diseases, wildfire frequency has more than tripled, and climate change has increased toxic ground level ozone. So how do these masks work, and can they protect us from airborne threats? George Zaidan investigates.Lesson by George Zaidan, directed by Michael Kalopaidis, Zedem Media.This video…
15 Oct 2026 · 7 minNew
Why should you read Kurt Vonnegut? - Mia Nacamulli
Download a free audiobook version of "Slaughterhouse Five" and support TED-Ed's nonprofit mission: https://adbl.co/2DPI5YsUploaded 29-11-18Check out our full book recommendation: https://shop.ed.ted.com/products/slaughterhouse-fiveKurt Vonnegut found the tidy, satisfying arcs of many stories at odds with reality, and he set out to explore the ambiguity between good and bad fortune in his own novels. He tried to make sense of human behavior by studying the shapes of stories — ditching straightforward chronologies and clear-cut fortunes. Mia Nacamulli dives into the sometimes dark, yet hopeful…
15 Oct 2026 · 18 minNew
Advice to young scientists - E.O. Wilson
"The world needs you, badly," begins celebrated biologist E.O. Wilson in his letter to a young scientist. Previewing his upcoming book, he gives advice collected from a lifetime of experience -- reminding us that wonder and creativity are the center of the scientific life. (Filmed at TEDMED.)Uploaded 05-07-13Talk by E.O. Wilson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
14 Oct 2026 · 7 minNew
The imaginary king who changed the real world - Matteo Salvadore
Get to know the legend of the king known as Prester John, whose myth would impact the decisions of European leaders for 400 years. Uploaded 19-03-20--In 1165, copies of a strange letter began to circulate throughout Europe. It spoke of a fantastical realm, containing the Tower of Babel and the Fountain of Youth— all ruled over by the letter’s mysterious author: Prester John. Who was this powerful ruler, and was he even real? Matteo Salvadore shares the legend of a mythical king who impacted the decisions of European leaders for 400 years.Lesson by Matteo Salvadore, directed by Anna…
14 Oct 2026 · 8 minNew
The most colorful gemstones on Earth - Jeff Dekofsky
What gives opals their signature shimmering colors? Dig into the science of the gemstone’s formation, millions of years in the making.Uploaded 03-12-20--In November 1986, Australian miners climbed Lunatic Hill and bored 20 meters into the Earth. They were rewarded with a fist-sized, record breaking gemstone, which they named the Hailey’s Comet opal. Thanks to a characteristic called “play of color,” no two opals look the same. So what causes these vibrant displays? Jeff Dekofsky digs into the rock’s shimmering, dancing displays of light.Lesson by Jeff Dekofsky, directed by Ivana Bošnjak and…
14 Oct 2026 · 6 minNew
The world's English fever - Jay Walker
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-world-s-english-mania-jay-walkerJay Walker explains why two billion people around the world are trying to learn English. He shares photos and spine-tingling audio of Chinese students rehearsing English -- "the world's second language" -- by the thousands.Talk by Jay Walker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
14 Oct 2026 · 6 minNew
Where do genes come from? - Carl Zimmer
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/where-do-genes-come-from-carl-zimmerUploaded 22-09-14When life emerged on Earth about 4 billion years ago, the earliest microbes had a set of basic genes that succeeded in keeping them alive. In the age of humans and other large organisms, there are a lot more genes to go around. Where did all of those new genes come from? Carl Zimmer examines the mutation and multiplication of genes. Lesson by Carl Zimmer, animation by TOGETHER. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
14 Oct 2026 · 6 minNew
How to order, add and multiply matrices - Bill Shillito
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-to-organize-add-and-multiply-matrices-bill-shillitoWhen you're working on a problem with lots of numbers, as in economics, cryptography or 3D graphics, it helps to organize those numbers into a grid, or matrix. Bill Shillito shows us how to work with matrices, with tips for adding, subtracting and multiplying (but not dividing!).Lesson by Bill Shillito, animation by The Leading Sheep Studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
14 Oct 2026 · 6 minNew
An athlete uses physics to shatter world records - Asaf Bar-Yosef
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/an-athlete-uses-physics-to-shatter-world-records-asaf-bar-yosefUploaded 18-02-14When Dick Fosbury couldn't compete against the skilled high jumpers at his college, he tried jumping in a different way -- backwards. Fosbury improved his record immediately and continued to amaze the world with his new technique all the way to Olympic gold. Asaf Bar-Yosef explains the physics behind the success of the now dominant Fosbury Flop.Lesson by Asaf Bar-Yosef, animation by NEIGHBOR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more…
14 Oct 2026 · 6 minNew
Why do Americans and Canadians celebrate Labor Day? -Kenneth C. Davis
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-do-americans-and-canadians-celebrate-labor-day-kenneth-c-davisUploaded 30-08-13In the United States and Canada, the first Monday of September is a federal holiday, Labor Day. Originally celebrated in New York City's Union Square in 1882, Labor Day was organized by unions as a rare day of rest for the overworked during the Industrial Revolution. Kenneth C. Davis illustrates the history of Labor Day from Union Square to today. Lesson by Kenneth C. Davis, animation by TED-Ed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn…
14 Oct 2026 · 6 minNew
What is an aurora? - Michael Molina
Explore the science behind what causes the incredible light and color of the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis.Uploaded 03-07-13-- Why do we see those stunning lights in the northern- and southernmost portions of the night sky? The Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis occur when high-energy particles are flung from the Sun's corona toward the Earth and mingle with the neutral atoms in our atmosphere -- ultimately emitting extraordinary light and color. Michael Molina explains every step of this dazzling phenomenon. Lesson by Michael Molina, animation by Franco Barroeta.Support Our…
14 Oct 2026 · 7 minNew
Why fish outperform you at breathing - Dan Kwartler
Explore how fish use their gills to breathe, and how these processes make them some of the most efficient breathers on Earth.--Recent studies found that elite runners can take in twice as much oxygen as non-runners. And it’s likely that this superhuman ability played a role in breaking the two-hour marathon barrier in 2019. But when it comes to breathing efficiently, not even the best runners can compete with the average fish. What makes fish some of the best breathers on Earth? Dan Kwartler explores the science of gills.Lesson by Dan Kwartler, directed by Denys Spolitak.Support Our…
14 Oct 2026 · 6 minNew
Why should you read "A Midsummer Night's Dream"? - Iseult Gillespie
Check out our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/tededUploaded 03-12-18View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-should-you-read-a-midsummer-night-s-dream-iseult-gillespieBy the light of the moon, a group sneaks into the woods, where they take mind-altering substances, switch it up romantically and brush up against creatures from another dimension. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” sees Shakespeare play with the boundary between illusion and reality - and dramatize the possibility that life is but a dream. Iseult Gillespie shares what makes this play a timeless classic.Lesson by Iseult…
14 Oct 2026 · 7 minNew
High-altitude wind energy via kites! - Saul Griffith
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/high-altitude-wind-energy-from-kites-saul-griffithIn this brief talk, Saul Griffith unveils the invention his new company Makani Power has been working on: giant kite turbines that create surprising amounts of clean, renewable energy.Talk by Saul Griffith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About TED-Ed

TED-Ed is a English learning podcast from TED-Ed. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: TED-Ed
Language: English
Category: Learning
New episodes: Several times a day
Typical length: 7 min
Latest episode: 15 Oct 2026
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