How prevalent is solar power, really? According to researcher Jenny Chase, it's already displacing fossil fuels in key energy markets around the world. She explains the rise of affordable solar power and dives into how her team tracked its rapid installation in unexpected countries, offering a vision of a brighter, more sustainable future.

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Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you? by us. Since 2003, Radiohead?s bassist, Colin Greenwood, has taken his camera to the studio and on stage to document the rise of one of the world?s most cherished bands. In this episode of Design Matters with Debbie Millman, Colin discusses his legendary musical career and his beautiful new book, How to Disappear, capturing intimate photographs of his bandmates at work.

Listen to Design Matters with Debbie Millman wherever you get your podcasts.

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2025 ushers in one of the most dangerous periods in world history ? on par with the 1930s and early Cold War, says Ian Bremmer, president and founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media. Highlighting the top geopolitical risks for the year ahead, Bremmer explores the impact of Donald Trump?s return to power in the US, the breakdown of the US-China relationship, the consequences of a rogue Russia, the future of unchecked AI development and more, plus some bright spots amid these unprecedented challenges. (This interview, hosted by TED?s Helen Walters, was recorded on January 6, 2025.)

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Do you ever feel like time slows down when you?re bored but flies when you?re having fun? Cognitive neuroscientist Irena Arslanova explores the ways your brain and heart shape your perception of time, revealing how your heartbeat doesn?t just keep you alive ? it also influences whether moments feel fleeting or stretched.

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The clock is ticking on social media giant TikTok, which faces a nationwide ban in the United States unless its parent company, ByteDance, sells it by January 19. Social media theorist Clay Shirky unpacks why the US is trying to ban TikTok, what it means for the app's users and creators and the implications for national security, freedom of speech, US-China relations and more. (This interview, hosted by TED's Whitney Pennington Rodgers, was recorded on January 8, 2025.)

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Climate change doesn't just melt ice caps, it also fuels conflict, corruption and division worldwide, explains TED Fellow and journalist Peter Schwartzstein. From droughts in Syria to rising seas in Bangladesh, he explores how climate stress escalates existing social instabilities ? and underscores why every effort to curb a warming world matters, no matter how small.

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Software engineer Adam Munder is on a mission to break down communication barriers between the Deaf and hearing worlds. In a live demo, he introduces OmniBridge ? an AI platform that translates American Sign Language into English text in real time ? and demonstrates how this tech could ensure every conversation can be fully understood, regardless of the participants' hearing abilities. Munder is joined onstage by ASL interpreter Christan Hansen and TED?s Hasiba Haq. (Made in partnership with Intel)

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Feeding 10 billion people without wrecking the planet means rethinking protein, from plant-based and fermented foods to lab-grown meat that tastes like the real thing. Presenting an exciting menu of sustainable options, food futurist Andy Jarvis highlights innovations, investments and policies that could help drastically lower our carbon footprint and provide everyone with the nourishment they need ? without telling anyone what to eat.

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Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you? by us. From metabolism gummies to spicy foods, the Keto diet to intricate exercise routines ? it seems there?s always something that is being sold or promoted to speed up your metabolism. But do most of us even know what our metabolism IS? And is there any way to hack it (you know, so we can eat pizza all day and not stress about it)? In this episode of Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter, Dr. Jen outlines what science knows about this process and why the myths and misunderstandings about our metabolism?s ability to change can actually do us more harm than good. Listen to more from Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter wherever you are listening to this.

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What's the best way to develop and implement solutions to social problems? TED Fellow and human rights activist Monica Malta discusses why traditional, top-down policymaking often fails by excluding key voices and missing root causes. She shows why community-based participatory research ? a method that empowers communities to co-create solutions to their own challenges ? taps into the resilience and strength of everyday people to be leaders of change.

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TED Fellow and economic policy researcher Huiyi Lin is cocreator of "The Poverty Line," an art project examining poverty through the lens of food. By photographing the daily food choices of people living at the poverty line in 38 countries and territories around the world, Lin shines a light on the problem of poverty in a way no policy report ever could.

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Where do you draw the line between work and life? Writer Simone Stolzoff explores the problem with defining yourself by your job ? and shows what it takes to reclaim your time and sense of meaning beyond the office.

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You know how resolutions often go: you set a goal and start strong ... then the motivation runs out and feelings of frustration and shame creep in. The struggle is real ? but what if it doesn't have to be? Sociologist Christine Carter shares a simple step to shift your mindset and keep you on track to achieving your grandest ambitions.

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A few days before she turned 61, writer Anne Lamott decided to write down everything she knew for sure. She dives into the nuances of being a human who lives in a confusing, beautiful, emotional world, offering her characteristic life-affirming wisdom and humor on family, writing, the meaning of God, death and more.

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There?s a saying about two things that are inevitable in this world, and Alua Arthur wants to help you think about one of them with less fear. No, she?s not a tax professional ? she?s a death doula, a person who supports dying people and their loved ones. On this episode of How to Be a Better Human, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective, Alua shares what we can all learn when we purposefully think about the end of life, whether that is our own or someone else?s. From finding joy in our everyday lives to navigating the emotional, legal, and spiritual decisions that arise around, Alua?s wisdom will inspire you pursue to live, and ?go?, with grace. If you enjoyed this episode, find more How to Be a Better Human wherever you are listening to this.

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Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you? by us. This is an episode of ReThinking with Adam Grant. Cal Newport knows a thing or two about productivity: when he?s not teaching computer science at Georgetown, he?s writing for The New Yorker, hosting a podcast, or authoring New York Times bestsellers like ?Deep Work? and ?Digital Minimalism.? In his new book, ?Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout?, Cal proposes that we trade current standards of rapid output for slower, higher-quality, and sustainable ways of working. Adam and Cal dig into the data on productivity, debate the benefits and drawbacks of doing fewer things (and spending less time on email and social media), and discuss individual habits and organizational practices for preventing burnout and promoting worthwhile work.

Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts

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When was the last time something you watched struck you? Award-winning theater director Lear deBessonet is deeply passionate about spectacle ? and thinks you should be too. She shares the unexpected connections, wonder, and creativity that come from finding the unusual, notable, or entertaining; in common everyday experiences ? and why you should look for more ways to create spectacle in your own life. Plus, learn why Lear has been rejected by ?the San Diego chicken? multiple times. 

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It's time for our periodic update of good news from Angus Hervey, founder of Fix the News, an independent publication that reports stories of global progress. In a quick talk, he shares three major updates of recent human progress on eradicating ancient diseases, establishing massive new ocean sanctuaries and transforming children's rights. (This conversation was recorded on December 2, 2024.)

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Scientists are getting closer to giving humans the power to communicate with their thoughts alone. In a live demo, researcher Chin-Teng Lin shows how brain-computer interfaces can translate a person's neural signals into text on a computer, potentially opening up a new realm of communication that turns silent thought into words.

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The sight of mistletoe may either send you scurrying or, if you have your eye on someone, awaiting an opportunity beneath its snow-white berries. But how did the festive tradition of kissing under mistletoe come about? Carlos Reif explains how this long-lived custom intertwines the mythology and biology of this intriguing plant. [Directed by Bálint Gelley, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Gergely Buttinger].

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Can artificial intelligence be funny, or is comedy a uniquely human trait? In this witty and insightful talk, cartoonist Bob Mankoff explores the art of humor, the evolution of AI and what happens when the two collide.

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The end of the year is often a time to reflect and spend time with family ? activities that may seem joyful or anxiety-inducing, depending on your circumstances. Psychologist Guy Winch offers actionable advice on how to manage your emotions with confidence during the holidays, from setting boundaries to healing heartache ? above all reminding you that emotional health is possible, as long as you're informed and willing to do the work. (This live conversation was hosted by TED's Whitney Pennington Rodgers. Visit ted.com/membership to support TED today and join more exclusive events like this one.)

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Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you? by us. This is an episode of Fixable, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective. Do you feel like you?re hitting a wall at work? This week, Anne and Frances are joined by Master Fixers Bob Sutton and Huggy Rao. Bob and Huggy are professors at Stanford University and authors of ?The Friction Project: How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things Harder?. Together, the four discuss how anyone can eliminate the obstacles to doing their best work?and create constraints that make work even better.

If you like this episode, get more Fixable wherever you are listening to this.

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In a lively conversation from TED's brand-new Next Stage, social scientist Kasley Killam, technologist Apolinário Passos and futurist AC Coppens explore the intricate dynamics of human-AI relationships ? and show how AI is already changing the ways we live, work and connect with each other.

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TED Fellow and composer Sahba Aminikia brings the healing power of dance, storytelling, music and performance to some of the most dangerous places on Earth. By celebrating children and their communities with beauty and joy, he shows how to cultivate hope, connection and love ? even in conflict zones. "The ultimate power is in unity," Aminikia says.

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Is embracing your inner teenager the key to thriving in adulthood? Neuroscientist Adriana Galván shares three powerful lessons from decades of research into adolescent brain development, exploring what teens can teach us about embracing uncertainty, challenging the status quo and taking strategic risks ? all tools for a bold, brave life.

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When it comes to tackling the climate crisis, the majority of the workforce in Africa believes their role is in the labor-intensive, low-income work ? not in the strategic, analytical or leadership-based spaces, says climate visionary and entrepreneur Joshua Amponsem. He advocates for a shift in climate funding that fosters local talent and leadership, envisioning a future where African youth are key innovators in the climate movement.

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Gabriella Lascano rose to prominence as a plus-size influencer, advocating for respect at any size with her natural blend of confidence and self-love. She shares how a friend's death led to a candid reassessment of her own health and sparked a viral conversation about the complex intersection of body image, community and personal growth.

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When making a big decision, should you trust your gut or follow the data? Emergency manager Jonathan Reimer draws on his experience responding to some of Canada's largest wildfires to share advice on high-stakes decision-making that you can take to your boardroom, kitchen table or anywhere else.

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Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you? by us. Today, an episode of The TED AI Show. 2024 was the biggest election year in modern history, with over 50 countries going out to the polls across the globe. And artificial intelligence has fully seeped into global politics ? from deepfakes to AI bots that can ingest thousands and thousands of documents to make policy decisions. The TED AI Show host Bilawal Sidhu talks with journalist Vittoria Elliot, who?s been leading on WIRED?s AI Elections Projects, to discuss how AI is reshaping the political landscape in surprising ways. The two explore the good, the bad, and the downright bizarre ? and share what the U.S. can learn from other countries to adapt and critically engage with "the new normal."

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In the long term, shutting down a coal mine means cleaner air and a healthier environment ? but in the short term, it can devastate a community or family that relied on the mine's paychecks to make ends meet. Environmental justice advocate Payton M. Wilkins thinks we can protect both workers and the planet with an age-old solution: unions. He digs into the economic fallout of ditching fossil fuels and shows why unions are well-positioned to push the transition to clean energy and green jobs.

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Looking to level up your presentations? It might only take a poorly-drawn sketch, says professor Martin J. Eppler. He offers three tips to use visualizations at work, laying out how these simple tricks can boost creativity and communication, improve decision-making and lead to better collaboration among colleagues.

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Math isn't just for "math kids" ? it's for everyone, says learning expert Shalinee Sharma. She outlines four simple steps to transform your approach to math, creating an environment where any kid can develop a strong mathematical mind.

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Why does losing weight often feel like an uphill battle? Physician Katherine Saunders unpacks how our bodies are wired to store fat, revealing that obesity isn?t simply a lack of willpower ? it?s a complex, chronic disease rooted in evolutionary biology. She shares the science behind the latest breakthroughs in treatment, from lifestyle interventions to powerful new medications.

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TED Fellow and renewable energy expert Norah Magero envisions an Africa that pioneers its own technological future, shifting the narrative from dependence and consumption to self-reliance and innovation. She shares how she developed VacciBox ? a solar-powered refrigeration system made in Kenya to keep vaccines cold in off-grid areas ? and highlights the power of homegrown solutions to transform health care.

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What was your favorite toy when you were a kid? Your answer might reveal more about you than you expect, says toy historian Chris Byrne. From Matchbox cars and Barbie to Rubik's Cube and Squishmallows, he explores how playthings reflect cultural values and influence who you become as an adult.

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Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you? by us. This week on TED Health, Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider is taking you on a special journey to embrace your healthiest self. Join her and experts from across the healthcare space for our ?A Healthier You? series, where we dive deeper into ideas and knowledge that could change the way you think about health ? from your heart to your brain to your gut.

Up first: how to advocate for yourself. The doctor?s office can be an intimidating place, and it can leave patients confused or worried. But it doesn?t have to be like that! In this episode, Shoshana shares how she?s navigated a recent medical experience and breaks down some key strategies to use at the doctor?s office to get the care you need ? and deserve.

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Why do so many of us get nervous when public speaking? Communication expert Lawrence Bernstein says the key to dealing with the pressure is as simple as having a casual chat. He introduces the "coffee shop test" as a way to help you overcome nerves, connect with your audience and deliver a message that truly resonates.

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A nightmare scenario happened to politician Cara Hunter: just weeks before her election, she became the victim of a deepfake scam that threatened to upend her life and career. In a fearless talk, she explores AI's potential to undermine truth and democracy ? and offers a path forward to harness this powerful technology as a force for good. (This talk contains mature language.)

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How do we protect ourselves from being misled online? Counter-terrorism expert Vidhya Ramalingam reveals how disinformation is being weaponized to justify violence ? increasingly against climate scientists ? and introduces a powerful tool called "prebunking": a proactive approach that empowers people to recognize and reject manipulative messages before they take root.

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Lily Yeh calls herself a barefoot artist: she travels the world with a suitcase full of art supplies, working with whoever wants to join her. In an inspiring talk, she shares the fruits of her collaborative art projects that bring color, community and beauty to public spaces often seen as ?broken."

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Success in your career looks different for everyone ? but no matter your industry, you'll need to take risks. Company and community builder Molly Graham shares three key skills to learn before jumping off the metaphorical cliff, outlining a path off the corporate ladder and into true professional and personal growth.

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Can AI compress the yearslong research time of a PhD into seconds? Research scientist Max Jaderberg explores how ?AI analogs? simulate real-world lab work with staggering speed and scale, unlocking new insights on protein folding and drug discovery. Drawing on his experience working on Isomorphic Labs' and Google DeepMind's AlphaFold 3 ? an AI model for predicting the structure of molecules ? Jaderberg explains how this new technology frees up researchers' time and resources to better understand the real, messy world and tackle the next frontiers of science, medicine and more.

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Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you? by us. How many relationships should we maintain, and what are the different kinds of friendships we need anyway? In this episode of Am I Normal?,  a podcast from the TED Audio Collective, data scientist Mona Chalabi asks evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar what he's learned from been studying social relationships for 50 years. Then, Mona maps out her own relationships against the averages -- and invites you to do the same.

You can find the full text transcript along with studies cited in this episode at go.ted.com/AIN2. 

Special thanks to guest Robin Dunbar for lending his expertise. 

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GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke discusses Europe's readiness to lead the next era of AI innovation, examining how the continent's tech ecosystems stack up against those in the US. In conversation with TEDAI Vienna co-curator Vlad Gozman, Dohmke explains the three key shifts that will help Europe thrive in the age of AI ? and shows how GitHub's initiatives can empower anyone to build new ideas around the world.

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Songs are the soundtrack of our lives. But why exactly do they make us feel the way they do? Songwriter Scarlet Keys sits down at a piano to deconstruct the tools musicians use to make a melody unforgettable ? from tone and repetition to lyrics and chords ? and sheds light on music's ability to transform moments into memories.

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When you think of North American cuisine, do Indigenous foods come to mind? Chef Sean Sherman serves up an essential history lesson that explains the absence of Native American culinary traditions across the continent, highlighting why revitalizing Indigenous education sits at the center of a better diet and healthier relationship with the planet.

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Exploring the rich meaning behind what we choose to eat, food ethnographer June Jo Lee unpacks how our "modern hungers" ? or our deepest desires and need for connection ? inform every bite. She decodes what Gen Z's palate says about the present moment and the shape of the future.

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Curiosity is about seeking what unites us rather than clinging to what divides us, says author and curiosity expert Scott Shigeoka. Drawing on his research into fostering connection and healing division, he shares what he learned traveling across the US meeting people with views opposing his own ? and shows why recognizing our shared humanity begins with getting curious.

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You're about to hear the sounds of several different creatures ? from the voice of one single musician. In a spellbinding talk and performance, singer Snow Raven mimics the hoot of an owl, the grumble of a bear, the howl of a wolf and more.

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