The myth of Oisin and the land of eternal youth - Iseult Gillespie
AdultsHistoryReligionSpirituality...In a typical hero's journey, the protagonist sets out on an adventure, undergoes great change and returns in triumph to their point of origin. But in the Irish genre of myth known as echtrai, the journey to the otherworld ends in a point of no return. Iseult Gillespie shares the myth of Oisin and the land of eternal youth.
How to Figure Out the Day of the Week For Any Day Ever
AdultsHistoryMathCreativity...You might think that computers are the only things that run algorithms, but you're wrong. Here's a neat mental trick for calculating the day of the week for any day ever, developed by famous mathematician John H. Conway
World's First Car!
AdultsHistoryTechnologyAutomotiveI got to drive the world's first car (replica), patented by Benz in 1886
The complicated history of surfing - Scott Laderman
AdultsCultureHistorySportsToday, surfing is a multi-billion-dollar global industry, with tens of millions of enthusiasts worldwide. For some it's a serious sport; for others, just a way to let loose. But despite its casual association with fun and sun, surfing has a richer and deeper history than many realize. Scott Laderman shares the hidden history of surfing.
History vs. Che Guevara - Alex Gendler
AdultsHistoryPoliticsSocietyHis face is recognized all over the world - the young medical student who became a revolutionary icon. But was Che Guevara a heroic champion of the poor, or a ruthless warlord who left a legacy of repression? Alex Gendler puts this controversial figure on trial in History vs. Che Guevara.
The myth of Prometheus - Iseult Gillespie
AdultsArtHistorySpiritualityBefore the creation of humanity, the Greek gods won a great battle against a race of giants called the Titans. Most Titans were destroyed or driven to the eternal hell of Tartarus. But the Titan Prometheus, whose name means foresight, persuaded his brother Epimetheus to fight with him on the side of the Gods. Iseult Gillespie shares the myth of Prometheus.
Explore cave paintings in this 360 animated cave - Iseult Gillespie
AdultsArtHistoryCultureThe paintings of our ancestors have been preserved in caves all over the world; the oldest we've found were made up to 40,000 years ago. What do these images tell us about the ancient human mind and the lives of their creators? In this special 360 TED-Ed animation, explore an ancient cave and its surroundings as Iseult Gillespie shares a brief history of cave paintings.
How aspirin was discovered - Krishna Sudhir
AdultsHistoryScience4000 years ago, the ancient Sumerians made a surprising discovery: if they scraped the bark off a particular kind of tree and ate it, their pain disappeared. Little did they know that what they'd found was destined to influence the future course of medicine. Krishna Sudhir traces the history of aspirin.
An Asteroid Didn't Kill the Dinosaurs, Here's a New Theory About What Did
AdultsAnimalsGlobal WarmingHistory...A new scientific model has discovered what actually happened to the earth after the asteroid impact that killed the dinosaurs.
A brief history of banned numbers - Alessandra King
AdultsHistoryMathCulture...They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and authorities have often agreed. From outlawed religious tracts and revolutionary manifestos to censored and burned books, we know the potential power of words to overturn the social order. But as strange as it may seem, some numbers have also been considered dangerous enough to ban. Alessandra King details the history behind illegal numbers.