How to show unity across faiths? Maybe, with a can of paint

Painting in the name of love. Open in your browser

This week on TED.com September 30, 2017

Talk of the week Nabila Alibhai: How to show unity across faiths? Maybe, with a can of paint 11:51 minutes · Filmed Aug 2017 · Posted Sep 2017 · TEDGlobal 2017 Divisions along religious lines are deepening, and we're doubting more and more how much we have in common. How can we stand boldly and visibly together? Meet the "Colour in Faith" project, which unites people of many religions by asking them to paint each other's houses of worship yellow. As co-creator Nabila Alibhai says: "The human family can send a message far brighter and more powerful than the voices of those that wish to do us harm." Watch now »

Playlist of the week Talks that'll give you a warm, fuzzy feeling Brave, smart, uplifting talks that will give you all the feelings. Because sometimes that's just what you need. Watch » 10 TED Talks • Total run time 2:32:19

This week's new TED Talks How can disadvantaged students succeed in school? For sociologist Anindya Kundu, grit and stick-to-itiveness aren't enough; students also need to develop their agency, or their capacity to overcome obstacles and navigate the system. He shares hopeful stories of students who have defied expectations in the face of personal, social and institutional challenges. Watch » When you think about the deep blue sea, you might think of whales or coral reefs. But spare a thought for giant clams, the world's largest living shellfish. These incredible creatures can live to 100 years old, grow up to four and a half feet long and weigh as much as three baby elephants. In this charming talk, marine biologist Mei Lin Neo shares why she's hoping to turn these legendary sea creatures into heroes of the oceans. Watch » Don't believe predictions that say the future is trending towards city living, says logistics expert Julio Gil. He believes that urbanization is actually reaching the end of its cycle, and soon more people will be choosing to live and work in the countryside, thanks to rapid advances in augmented reality, autonomous delivery, off-the-grid energy and other technologies. Think outside city walls and consider the advantages of country living with this forward-thinking talk. Watch » "There are a lot of resources given by nature for free -- all we need is our sensitivity to see them and our creativity to use them," says architect Anna Heringer. Heringer uses low-tech materials like mud and bamboo to create structures from China to Switzerland, Bangladesh and beyond. Visit an awe-inspiring school, an elegant office and cozy social spaces -- all built from natural materials -- in this delightful talk. Watch » Christian Rodríguez is a photographer and filmmaker -- and the son of a teenage mother. For the past five years, he has documented teen pregnancy in Latin America, creating intimate and dignified portraits of mothers as young as 12 years old. In this moving, visual talk, he shares his work and explores how young motherhood traps girls in a cycle of poverty and exploitation. Watch » In March 2009, North Korean soldiers captured journalist Euna Lee and her colleague Laura Ling while they were shooting a documentary on the border. In this surprising, deeply human talk, Lee shares her experience living as the enemy in a detention center for 140 days, in suspense while diplomats negotiated her release -- and the tiny gestures of humanity from her guards that sustained her. Watch »

Read more on ideas.ted.com Science: So, we're teaching dolphins to play whack-a-mole ... This simple game may reveal secrets of how dolphins communicate Climate: The blunt truth about Antarctic ice What happens down there will affect all of us soon Art: How to draw your portrait in data An abstract art project to understand who you are Design: How African alphabets ended up on the TEDGlobal stage Learn more about these rich and beautiful symbols Language: Meet the Icelanders who approve and reject baby names Three people enforce these fascinating rules (and make a few exceptions)

Quote of the Week “ By focusing on icons of faith, we would get people to reexamine the true essence of their faith, the common belief that we share in kindness, generosity and friendship. By creating pathways between houses of worship within one neighborhood, we would create islands of stability and networks of people that could withstand threats. And neighbors, by picking up a paintbrush with other neighbors, would engage not just with their heads but with their hands and with their hearts.” Nabila Alibhai How to show unity across faiths? Maybe, with a can of paint

ted radio hour: Citizen science We often think that scientific research is reserved for experts only. But now that's changing. TED speakers show how ordinary citizens are helping to make groundbreaking discoveries. Listen on Apple Podcasts, the TED Android app, NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Sincerely, X is TED’s home for anonymous ideas -- powerful insights and ideas that might only have emerged from secrets kept. Do you have an idea too important to stay secret? We want to hear about it. Apply now at go.ted.com/sincerelyx

 

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A black man goes undercover in the alt-right

Unexpected compassion and surprising perspective. Open in browser

This week on TED.com September 23, 2017

Talk of the week Theo E.J. Wilson: A black man goes undercover in the alt-right 18:20 minutes · Filmed Jul 2017 · Posted Sep 2017 · TEDxMileHigh In an unmissable talk about race and politics in America, Theo E.J. Wilson tells the story of becoming Lucius25, white supremacist lurker, and the unexpected compassion and surprising perspective he found from engaging with people he disagrees with. He encourages us to let go of fear, embrace curiosity and have courageous conversations. Watch now »

Playlist of the week Great stories for your commute These unforgettable talks will carry you through the slog of your everyday travels. Watch » 9 TED Talks • Total run time 2:26:50

This week's new TED Talks How can you study Mars without a spaceship? Head to the most Martian place on Earth -- the Atacama Desert in Chile. Astrobiologist Armando Azua-Bustos grew up in this vast, arid landscape and now studies the rare life forms that have adapted to survive there, some in areas with no reported rainfall for the past 400 years. Explore the possibility of finding life elsewhere in the universe without leaving the planet with this quick, funny talk. Watch » We humans are not the only intelligent beings ... there are many other kinds of intelligence found in nature. Robotics engineer Radhika Nagpal studies the collective intelligence displayed by insect swarms and fish schools, seeking to understand their rules of engagement -- then creates robots that use those same collective skills to get things done. In a visionary talk, she shares a vision of the future where flocks of robots work together to help humans and the planet. Watch » What if you could know exactly how food or medication would impact your health -- even before you put it in your body? Genomics pioneer Jun Wang is working to develop digital döppelgangers for real people; they use our genetic code and factor in other kinds of data as well, from the food we eat to how much we sleep to data collected by, um, a smart toilet. With all this valuable information, Wang hopes to change the way we think about health, both on an individual level and as a collective. Watch » How can Africa, the home to some of the largest bodies of water in the world, be said to have a water crisis? It doesn't, says Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò -- it has a knowledge crisis. The lack of knowledge on vital topics like water and food, he says, is what stands between Africa's current state and a future of prosperity. In a powerful talk, Táíwò calls for Africa to reclaim its position as a leader of learning on behalf of humanity. Watch » Between 2008 and 2016, the United States deported more than 3 million people. What happens to those left behind? Journalist Duarte Geraldino picks up the story of deportation where the state leaves off. Learn more about the wider impact of forced removal, where the sudden absence of a mother, a local business owner or a high school student ripples outward and wreaks havoc on the relationships that hold our communities together. Watch » The city-building simulation "Cities: Skylines" is a game that encourages people to plan, build and sustain their dream cities of tomorrow. Designer Karoliina Korppoo takes us on a tour through some extraordinary places users have created, from futuristic fantasy towns to remarkably realistic urban landscapes. What does your dream city look like? Watch »

Read more on ideas.ted.com We humans: Why we should all stop saying “I know exactly how you feel” (You probably don’t.) How to be a more considerate conversation partner Justice: Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland, talks climate Seeking fairness for victims of hurricanes made worse by our new climate  Work: Making the case for working at home This pioneering study shows the benefits (and a few surprising drawbacks) Science: What can we learn, right now, from dinosaurs? They dominated the planet for way longer than humans. How'd they do it?

Quote of the Week “ Now, you're probably surprised by this perspective, and so was I. Never in a billion years did I think that I could have some kind of compassion for people who hated my guts. Now, mind you, not enough compassion like I want to be friends. I don't have infinite olive branches to extend to people who, like, would not want to see me on this planet. Right? But just enough compassion to understand how they got to where they are." Theo E.J. Wilson A black man goes undercover in the alt-right

sincerely, x: gifted kid Listen to the season one finale of Sincerely, X, a TED and Audible podcast. For children growing up in the streets, sometimes all it takes is one single person to recognize your potential. This English teacher shares how she's able to spot gifted kids in her class -- because she's been there. Hear her story now on Apple Podcasts, the TED Android app, or wherever you get your podcasts.

TEDWomen 2017: See the speaker lineup! More than 45 powerful speakers are coming to TEDWomen 2017 to share bold ideas and spark conversations that matter. Learn more and apply to attend -- we'd love you to join us!

 

You are receiving this email because you've subscribed to our mailing list. We also send out daily emails, if you can't get enough of us. We love you too. Copyright © 2017 TED, All rights reserved. You're receiving the TED Talks weekly newsletter because you subscribed to it on TED.com. (Was this forwarded by a friend? You can sign up here: http://www.ted.com/newsletter ) Our mailing address is: TED 330 Hudson Street 11th Floor New York, NY 10013 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list   update subscription preferences   view email in browser

There's more to life than being happy

Seek meaning, not just happiness. Open in browser

This week on TED.com September 16, 2017

Talk of the week Emily Esfahani Smith: There's more to life than being happy 12:18 minutes · Filmed Apr 2017 · Posted Sep 2017 · TED2017 Our culture is obsessed with happiness, but what if there's a more fulfilling path? Happiness comes and goes, says writer Emily Esfahani Smith, but having meaning in life -- serving something beyond yourself and developing the best within you -- gives you something to hold onto. Learn more about the difference between being happy and having meaning as Esfahani Smith offers four pillars of a meaningful life. Watch now »

Playlist of the week Advice from educators, for everyone Wise words from teachers for teachers -- and everyone else who just needs some solid advice. Watch » 6 TED Talks • Total run time 1:08:11

this week's new TED Talks Each year, one in seven large corporations commits fraud. Why? To find out, Alexander Wagner takes us inside the economics, ethics and psychology of doing the right thing. Join him for an introspective journey down the slippery slopes of deception as he helps us understand why people behave the way they do. Watch » Can you still be friends with someone who doesn't vote the same way as you? For Caitlin Quattromani and Lauran Arledge, two best friends who think very differently about politics, the outcome of the 2016 US presidential election could have resulted in hostility and disrespect. Hear about how they chose to engage in dialogue instead -- and learn some simple tactics they're using to maintain their bipartisan friendship. Watch » Meet fonio, an ancient "miracle grain" native to Senegal that's versatile, nutritious and gluten-free. In this passionate talk, chef Pierre Thiam shares his obsession with the hardy crop, and explains why he believes large-scale cultivation could transform societies -- and menus -- in Africa. Watch » We've heard a lot of rhetoric lately suggesting that countries like the US are losing jobs to China, Mexico and Vietnam -- and that protectionism is the best way forward. But those jobs haven't disappeared for the reasons you may think, says border and logistics specialist Augie Picado. He gives us a reality check about what global trade really looks like. Watch » Physics doesn't just happen in a fancy lab -- it happens when you push a piece of buttered toast off the table or drop a couple of raisins in a fizzy drink or watch a coffee spill dry. Become a more interesting dinner guest as physicist Helen Czerski presents various concepts in physics you can become familiar with using everyday things found in your kitchen. Watch » In the century-old statues that occupy Cape Town, Sethembile Mzesane didn't see anything that looked like her own reality. So she became a living sculpture herself, standing for hours on end in public spaces dressed in symbolic costumes, to reclaim the city and its public spaces for her community. In this powerful, tour-de-force talk, she shares the stories and motivation behind her mesmerizing performance art. Watch »

Read more on ideas.ted.com We humans: Finding our way to true belonging: » From the new book by Brené Brown: How to present our true selves and find where we belong Tech: 7 smart ways to use technology in classrooms » In this teacher's classroom, kids tweet and watch YouTube Science: Can we communicate with people in vegetative states? One scientist's technique can give some patients a voice  Gallery: Astonishing images that can help you take better photos too » Fresh perspectives on wildlife -- and how to get that image

Quote of the Week “ Physics isn't out there with weird people and strange hieroglyphics for somebody else in a posh lab. Physics is right here; it's for us, and we can all play with it." Helen Czerski The fascinating physics of everyday life

TED Radio Hour: Future Consequences From data collection to gene editing to AI, what we once considered science fiction is now becoming reality. This hour, TED speakers Anab Jain, Juan Enriquez, Paul Knoepfler and Sam Harris explore the future consequences of our present actions. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, the TED Android app, or wherever you get your podcasts.

TEDWOMEN 2017: Join us in New Orleans Connect with a powerful community over conversations that matter: TEDWomen is a three-day TED conference with a diverse, welcoming group of attendees ... and we'd love you to join us! Learn more about TEDWomen (and if it's helpful -- here's how to convince your boss to send you). TEDWomen 2017 happens November 1–3 in New Orleans.

 

You are receiving this email because you've subscribed to our mailing list. We also send out daily emails, if you can't get enough of us. We love you too. Copyright © 2017 TED, All rights reserved. You're receiving the TED Talks weekly newsletter because you subscribed to it on TED.com. (Was this forwarded by a friend? You can sign up here: http://www.ted.com/newsletter ) Our mailing address is: TED 330 Hudson Street 11th Floor New York, NY 10013 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list   update subscription preferences   view email in browser