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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 our website at: http://ed.ted.com/get_involved. Consider backing us on Patreon. By doing so, you directly support our nonprofit mission to create free, high-quality educational content:

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All Episodes

5:08

Attack of the killer algae - Eric Noel Muñoz

TED-Ed ·

2026/10/02

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/attack-of-the-killer-algae-eric-noel-munozAs benign as it may look up close, the tiny seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia can wreak quite a bit of havoc on coastal ecosystems. This super algae is very adaptable; it also grows fast and spreads easily. Eric Noel Muñoz gives the details of this plant's incredible invasion, shedding light on the risks of introducing invasive species into new ecosystems. Lesson by Eric Noel Muñoz, animation by Eli Enigenburg. Learn more

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6:42

How does the Rorschach inkblot test work? - Damion...

TED-Ed ·

2026/10/02

What are the origins of the Rorschach test and how does it work? Explore the inkblot tool psychologists use to test a subject’s perceptions and mental health. --For nearly a century, ten inkblots have been used as an almost mystical personality test. Long kept confidential for psychologists and their patients, the mysterious images were said to draw out the workings of a person’s mind. But what can inkblots really tell us, and how does this test work? Damion Searls details how the Rorschach Test can

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5:36

What gives a dollar bill its value? - Doug Levinson

TED-Ed ·

2026/10/02

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-gives-a-dollar-bill-its-value-doug-levinsonThe value of money is determined by how much (or how little) of it is in circulation. But who makes that decision, and how does their choice affect the economy at large? Doug Levinson takes a trip into the United States Federal Reserve, examining how the people who work there aim to balance the value of the dollar to prevent inflation or deflation.Lesson by Doug Levinson, animation by Qa'ed Mai. Learn more

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6:30

Why should you read Sylvia Plath? - Iseult Gillespie

TED-Ed ·

2026/10/02

Explore the haunting and intimate works of poet Sylvia Plath, who digs into issues of mental health, trauma and sexuality in works like “The Bell Jar.”--Under her shrewd eye and pen, Sylvia Plath turned everyday objects into haunting images: a “new statue in a drafty museum,” a shadow in a mirror, a slab of soap. Her breathtaking perspectives and unflinching language made her a touchstone for readers seeking to break the silence around issues of trauma, frustration and sexuality. Iseult Gillespie

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6:27

Why aren't we only using solar power? - Alexandros...

TED-Ed ·

2026/10/01

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-aren-t-we-only-using-solar-power-alexandros-george-charalambidesSolar power is cheaper and more sustainable than our current coal-fueled power plants, so why haven't we made the switch? The real culprits here are the clouds, which make solar power difficult to control. Alexandros George Charalambides explains how solar towers and panels create electricity and how scientists are trying to create a system that can function even under cloud cover. Lesson

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6:25

The physics of surfing - Nick Pizzo

TED-Ed ·

2026/10/01

Wondering how you can catch the perfect wave? Dive into the fascinating and complex physics of surfing. --Whether or not you realize it, surfers are masters of complicated physics. The science of surfing begins as soon as a board first hits the water. Surfers may not be thinking about weather patterns in the Pacific, tectonic geology or fluid mechanics, but the art of catching the perfect wave relies on all these things and more. Nick Pizzo dives into the gnarly physics that make surfing possible

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8:09

How bees help plants have sex - Fernanda S. Valdovinos

TED-Ed ·

2026/10/01

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-bees-help-plants-have-sex-fernanda-s-valdovinosPlants have a hard time finding mates -- their inability to get up and move around tends to inhibit them. Luckily for plants, bees and other pollinator species (including butterflies, moths and birds) help matchmake these lonely plants in exchange for food. Fernanda S. Valdovinos explains how these intricate pollination networks work and how it can all change from one season to the next. Lesson by Fernanda

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8:08

Harvey Milk's radical vision of equality - Lillian...

TED-Ed ·

2026/10/01

Learn about the life and tragic death of gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk, California’s first openly gay public official.--By 1973, Harvey Milk had already been many things: naval officer, high school teacher, bit-part actor and wandering hippie. Starting fresh in San Francisco, his belief in a more personal approach to local government led him to run for office in the heart of American gay culture, the Castro. Lillian Faderman details the tenacity and courage of California's first openly gay public

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6:22

A brief history of religion in art - TED-Ed

TED-Ed ·

2026/10/01

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/a-brief-history-of-religion-in-art-ted-edBefore we began putting art into museums, art mostly served as the visual counterpart to religious stories. Are these theological paintings, sculptures, textiles and illuminations from centuries ago still relevant to us? Jeremiah Dickey describes the evolution of art in the public eye and explains how the modern viewer can see the history of art as an ongoing global conversation.Lesson and animation by TED-Ed. Learn

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6:30

How tall can a tree grow? - Valentin Hammoudi

TED-Ed ·

2026/10/01

What makes a tree grow tall? And do trees ever stop growing? Explore how photosynthesis and gravity can affect and limit the height of trees. --Reaching heights of over 100 meters, Californian sequoias tower over Earth’s other 60,000 tree species. But even these behemoths seem to have their limits: no sequoia on record has been able to grow taller than 130 meters. So what exactly is stopping these trees from growing taller, forever? Valentin Hammoudi investigates why trees have limited

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5:52

Tycho Brahe, the scandalous astronomer - Dan Wenkel

TED-Ed ·

2026/09/30

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/tycho-brahe-the-scandalous-astronomer-dan-wenkelIf you think scientists lead boring, monotonous lives, you must not know about Tycho Brahe. The 16th century astronomer who accurately predicted planetary motion led quite a dramatic life -- complete with a kidnapping, a sword duel and even a clairvoyant dwarf. Dan Wenkel dives into the history behind this sensational scientist, explaining how he continued to inspire intrigue even after his death.Lesson by

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5:27

Can you solve the unstoppable blob riddle? - Dan Finkel

TED-Ed ·

2026/09/30

A shooting star crashes onto Earth and unleashes a hideous, rampaging blob. Can you stop it from destroying the planet?--A shooting star crashes onto Earth and a hideous blob emerges. It creeps and leaps, it glides and slides. It’s also unstoppable: no matter what you throw at it, it just re-grows and continues its rampage. The only way to save the planet is to cut the entire blob into precise acute triangles while it sleeps, rendering it inert. Can you stop the blob from destroying the planet? Dan

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5:43

Why do honeybees love hexagons? - Zack Patterson and...

TED-Ed ·

2026/09/30

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-do-honeybees-love-hexagons-zack-patterson-and-andy-petersonHoneybees are some of nature's finest mathematicians. Not only can they calculate angles and comprehend the roundness of the earth, these smart insects build and live in one of the most mathematically efficient architectural designs around: the beehive. Zack Patterson and Andy Peterson delve into the very smart geometry behind the honeybee's home. Lesson by Zack Patterson and Andy Peterson,

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6:31

Using radioactive drugs to see inside your body -...

TED-Ed ·

2026/09/30

Investigate the science behind how doctors use radioactive drugs and PET scans to detect and diagnose diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer.--Is there a way to detect diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s before they advance too far? Doctors are using injected radioactive drugs that circulate through the body and act as a beacon for PET scanners. These diagnostic tools can detect the spread of diseases before they can be spotted with other types of imaging. So how exactly does this work, and is it

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6:35

The colossal consequences of supervolcanoes - Alex...

TED-Ed ·

2026/09/30

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-colossal-consequences-of-supervolcanoes-alex-gendlerIn 1816, Europe and North America were plagued by heavy rains, odd-colored snow, famines, strange fogs and very cold weather well into June. Though many people believed it to be the apocalypse, this "year without a summer" was actually the result of a supervolcano eruption that happened one year earlier over 1,000 miles away. Alex Gendler describes the history and science of these epic eruptions

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7:45

The wicked wit of Jane Austen - Iseult Gillespie

TED-Ed ·

2026/09/30

English novelist Jane Austen’s beloved works, like “Pride and Prejudice,” explored the dependence of women on marriage in British high society.--Whether she’s describing bickering families, quiet declarations of love, or juicy gossip, Jane Austen’s writing often feels as though it was written just for you. Her dry wit and cheeky playfulness informs her heroines, whose conversational tone welcomes readers with a conspiratorial wink. Iseult Gillespie explores the sly societal satire and unique

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6:33

How to choose your news - Damon Brown

TED-Ed ·

2026/09/29

How do we choose which news to consume? Get the scoop on how opinions and facts affect the news and how to tell them apart.--With the advent of the Internet and social media, news is distributed at an incredible rate by an unprecedented number of different media outlets. How do we choose which news to consume? Damon Brown gives the inside scoop on how the opinions and facts (and sometimes non-facts) make their way into the news and how the smart reader can tell them apart.Lesson by Damon Brown,

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7:54

What “Machiavellian” really means - Pazit Cahlon and...

TED-Ed ·

2026/09/29

Download a free audiobook version of "The Art of War" and support TED-Ed's nonprofit mission: https://www.audible.com/ted-edCheck out our full book recommendation: https://shop.ed.ted.com/products/the-art-of-war--From Shakespeare’s plays to modern TV dramas, the unscrupulous schemer for whom the ends always justify the means has become a familiar character type we love to hate. For centuries, we’ve had a single word to describe such characters: Machiavellian. But is it possible that we’ve been using

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8:04

The Silk Road: Connecting the ancient world through...

TED-Ed ·

2026/09/29

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-silk-road-history-s-first-world-wide-web-shannon-harris-casteloWith modern technology, a global exchange of goods and ideas can happen at the click of a button. But what about 2,000 years ago? Shannon Harris Castelo unfolds the history of the 5,000-mile Silk Road, a network of multiple routes that used the common language of commerce to connect the world's major settlements, thread by thread. Lesson by Shannon Harris Castelo, animation by Steff

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6:43

A brief history of dogs - David Ian Howe

TED-Ed ·

2026/09/29

Trace the history of how wolves, one of humanity’s oldest rivals, evolved into the domesticated dogs we call “man’s best friend.”--Since their emergence over 200,000 years ago, modern humans have established communities all over the planet. But they didn’t do it alone. Whatever corner of the globe you find humans in today, you’re likely to find another species as well: dogs. So how did one of our oldest rivals, the wolf, evolve into man’s best friend? David Ian Howe traces the history of humanity’s

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1,663 results

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