TEDTalks Health

How to quickly scale up contact tracing across the US | Joia Mukherjee

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 19:49:12 GMT

Contact tracing -- the process of identifying people who may have been exposed to the coronavirus in order to slow its spread -- is a fundamental tool in the fight against COVID-19. How can we scale this critical work across the entire United States? Joia Mukherjee, chief medical officer of Partners in Health, discusses how her team is working with public health agencies to ramp up contact tracing for the country's most vulnerable communities -- and shows why it will take a compassionate approach to be truly effective. (This ambitious plan is part of The Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change. The conversation, hosted by head of TED Chris Anderson and current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers, was recorded May 27, 2020.)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A COVID-19 "exit" strategy to end lockdown and reopen the economy | Uri Alon

Tue, 26 May 2020 19:10:19 GMT

How can we return to work without spurring a second surge of coronavirus infection? Biologist Uri Alon shares a thought-provoking strategy: four days at work followed by 10 days of lockdown, a cycle that would exploit a weakness in the virus's biology and potentially cut its reproductive rate to a manageable level. Learn more about this approach -- which has already been adopted by both companies and countries -- and how it could be a key to reopening the economy responsibly. (This virtual conversation, hosted by head of TED Chris Anderson and science curator David Biello, was recorded on May 20, 2020.)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to meaningfully reconnect with those who have dementia | Anne Basting

Thu, 21 May 2020 15:02:42 GMT

By incorporating art and creativity into elder care settings, gerontologist Anne Basting helps families reconnect with loved ones who have dementia. In this moving talk, she shares how asking "beautiful questions" -- questions that don't have a right or wrong answer -- opens up a shared path of discovery, imagination and wonder. "If we can infuse creativity into care, caregivers can invite a partner into meaning-making," Basting says. "In that moment, care, which is so often associated with loss, can become generative."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can we edit memories? | Amy Milton

Tue, 19 May 2020 14:47:53 GMT

Trauma and PTSD rewire your brain -- especially your memory -- and can unearth destructive emotional responses when stirred. Could we eliminate these triggers without erasing the memories themselves? Enter neurologist Amy Milton's mind-blowing, memory-editing clinical research poised to defuse the damaging effects of painful remembered experiences and offer a potential path toward better mental health.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The mental health benefits of storytelling for health care workers | Laurel Braitman

Tue, 05 May 2020 19:47:19 GMT

Health care workers are under more stress than ever before. How can they protect their mental health while handling new and complex pressures? TED Fellow Laurel Braitman shows how writing and sharing personal stories helps physicians, nurses, medical students and other health professionals connect more meaningfully with themselves and others -- and make their emotional well-being a priority.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crisis support for the world, one text away | Nancy Lublin

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 15:13:21 GMT

What if we could help people in crisis anytime, anywhere with a simple text message? That's the idea behind Crisis Text Line, a free 24-hour service that connects people in need with trained, volunteer crisis counselors -- "strangers helping strangers around the world, like a giant global love machine," as cofounder and former CEO Nancy Lublin puts it. Learn more about their big plans to expand to four new languages, providing a third of the globe with crucial, life-saving support. (This ambitious plan is a part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An evolutionary perspective on human health and disease | Lara Durgavich

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 15:39:18 GMT

How does your genetic inheritance, culture and history influence your health? Biological anthropologist Lara Durgavich discusses the field of evolutionary medicine as a gateway to understanding the quirks of human biology -- including why a genetic mutation can sometimes have beneficial effects -- and emphasizes how unraveling your own evolutionary past could glean insights into your current and future health.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How health workers are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic | Esther Choo

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 14:59:37 GMT

The coronavirus pandemic is unlike anything we've ever seen in health care, says emergency physician Esther Choo. Sharing insights into how health workers are responding to the outbreak, she explains what makes this public health emergency different from others -- and provides a few simple things you can do to help. Watch to the end to hear about Choo's work deploying mobile ICUs across the United States as hospitals start to reach capacity. (This virtual conversation is part of the TED Connects series, hosted by current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers and head of curation Helen Walters. Recorded April 7, 2020)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's OK to feel overwhelmed. Here's what to do next | Elizabeth Gilbert

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 15:03:11 GMT

If you're feeling anxious or fearful during the coronavirus pandemic, you're not alone. Offering hope and understanding, author Elizabeth Gilbert reflects on how to stay present, accept grief when it comes and trust in the strength of the human spirit. "Resilience is our shared genetic inheritance," she says. (This virtual conversation is part of the TED Connects series, hosted by head of TED Chris Anderson and head of curation Helen Walters. Recorded April 2, 2020)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What it's really like to have autism | Ethan Lisi

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 19:50:08 GMT

"Autism is not a disease; it's just another way of thinking," says Ethan Lisi. Offering a glimpse into the way he experiences the world, Lisi breaks down misleading stereotypes about autism, shares insights into common behaviors like stimming and masking and promotes a more inclusive understanding of the spectrum.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why sleep matters now more than ever | Matt Walker

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 13:52:50 GMT

A good night's sleep has perhaps never been more important. Sharing wisdom and debunking myths, sleep scientist Matt Walker discusses the impact of sleep on mind and body -- from unleashing your creative powers to boosting your memory and immune health -- and details practices you can start (and stop) doing tonight to get some rest. (This virtual conversation is part of the TED Connects series, hosted by head of TED Chris Anderson and current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers. Recorded April 1, 2020)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why COVID-19 is hitting us now -- and how to prepare for the next outbreak | Alanna Shaikh

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 20:11:06 GMT

Where did the new coronavirus originate, how did it spread so fast -- and what's next? Sharing insights from the outbreak, global health expert and TED Fellow Alanna Shaikh traces the spread of COVID-19, discusses why travel restrictions aren't effective and highlights the medical changes needed worldwide to prepare for the next pandemic. "We need to make sure that every country in the world has the capacity to identify new diseases and treat them," she says. (Recorded March 5, 2020. Update: the CDC is now calling for everyone to wear face coverings in public.)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can we control the coronavirus pandemic? | Adam Kucharski

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 16:28:50 GMT

As the threat of COVID-19 continues, infectious disease expert and TED Fellow Adam Kucharski answers five key questions about the novel coronavirus, providing necessary perspective on its transmission, how governments have responded and what might need to change about our social behavior to end the pandemic. (This video is excerpted from a 70-minute interview between Kucharski and head of TED Chris Anderson. Listen to the full interview at http://go.ted.com/adamkucharski. Recorded March 11, 2020)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A campaign for period positivity | Ananya Grover

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 15:05:35 GMT

Having your period is exhausting -- and for many people across the world, menstruation is even more challenging because of stigmas and difficulty getting basic hygiene supplies, says social activist Ananya Grover. In this uplifting, actionable talk, she shares how "Pravahkriti," her campaign to spread period positivity, creatively engages with everyone to promote menstrual health, raise awareness and break taboos around periods.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The beautiful, mysterious science of how you hear | Jim Hudspeth

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 14:57:05 GMT

Have you ever wondered how your ears work? In this delightful and fascinating talk, biophysicist Jim Hudspeth demonstrates the wonderfully simple yet astonishingly powerful mechanics of hair cells, the microscopic powerhouses that make hearing possible -- and explains how, when it's really quiet, your ears will begin to beam out a spectrum of sounds unique to you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How menopause affects the brain | Lisa Mosconi

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 14:59:54 GMT

Many of the symptoms of menopause -- hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, memory lapses, depression and anxiety -- start in the brain. How exactly does menopause impact cognitive health? Sharing groundbreaking findings from her research, neuroscientist Lisa Mosconi reveals how decreasing hormonal levels affect brain aging -- and shares simple lifestyle changes you can make to support lifelong brain health.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What investigating neural pathways can reveal about mental health | Kay M. Tye

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 20:47:48 GMT

Neuroscientist Kay M. Tye investigates how your brain gives rise to complex emotional states like depression, anxiety or loneliness. From the cutting edge of science, she shares her latest findings -- including the development of a tool that uses light to activate specific neurons and create dramatic behavioral changes in mice. Learn how these discoveries could change the way you think about your mind -- and possibly uncover effective treatments for mental disorders.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to turn climate anxiety into action | Renée Lertzman

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 15:57:51 GMT

It's normal to feel anxious or overwhelmed by climate change, says psychologist Renée Lertzman. Can we turn those feelings into something productive? In an affirming talk, Lertzman discusses the emotional effects of climate change and offers insights on how psychology can help us discover both the creativity and resilience needed to act on environmental issues.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is your brain on air pollution | María Neira

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 20:51:53 GMT

Air pollution knows no borders -- even in your own body, says public health expert María Neira. In this startling talk, she describes how the microscopic particles and chemicals you breathe affect all your major organs (including your brain) and calls on both the public and those in power to take action to stop the sources of pollution.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The health benefits of clowning around | Matthew A. Wilson

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 20:50:50 GMT

As a medical clown, TED Resident Matthew A. Wilson takes the old adage that laughter is the best medicine very seriously. In this heartwarming talk, he shares glimpses of how clowning around can help patients (and medical staff) navigate stressful situations -- with no side effects.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parasitic worms hold back human progress. Here's how we can end them | Ellen Agler

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 16:12:46 GMT

Parasitic worms date back thousands of years, causing diseases that limit human potential. But today, effective treatment against them requires just a few pills, taken once or twice a year. With 1.7 billion people at risk of infection, Ellen Agler and her team at the END Fund are imagining a world without disease caused by worms. Learn about how they're seeking to lower treatment costs, amplify prevention, support governments and nurture local leadership. This ambitious plan is a part of The Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change. (Voiced by Ama Adi-Dako)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A personal health coach for those living with chronic diseases | Priscilla Pemu

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 15:54:22 GMT

There's no shortage of resources to help people change their health behaviors -- but far too often, these resources aren't accessible in underserved communities, says physician Priscilla Pemu. Enter "culturally congruent coaching," a program Pemu and her team developed to help patients with chronic diseases monitor their health with the assistance of a coach from their community. Learn more about how this approach transcends language and cultural barriers -- and could potentially transform health care in America.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How the gut microbes you're born with affect your lifelong health | Henna-Maria Uusitupa

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 16:07:05 GMT

Your lifelong health may have been decided the day you were born, says microbiome researcher Henna-Maria Uusitupa. In this fascinating talk, she shows how the gut microbes you acquire during birth and as an infant impact your health into adulthood -- and discusses new microbiome research that could help tackle problems like obesity and diabetes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why it's so hard to make healthy decisions | David Asch

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 15:55:57 GMT

Why do we make poor decisions that we know are bad for our health? In this frank, funny talk, behavioral economist and health policy expert David Asch explains why our behavior is often irrational -- in highly predictable ways -- and shows how we can harness this irrationality to make better decisions and improve our health care system overall.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What vaccinating vampire bats can teach us about pandemics | Daniel Streicker

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 14:55:04 GMT

Could we anticipate the next big disease outbreak, stopping a virus like Ebola before it ever strikes? In this talk about frontline scientific research, ecologist Daniel Streicker takes us to the Amazon rainforest in Peru where he tracks the movement of vampire bats in order to forecast and prevent rabies outbreaks. By studying these disease patterns, Streicker shows how we could learn to cut off the next pandemic at its source.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The medical potential of AI and metabolites | Leila Pirhaji

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 15:08:37 GMT

Many diseases are driven by metabolites -- small molecules in your body like fat, glucose and cholesterol -- but we don't know exactly what they are or how they work. Biotech entrepreneur and TED Fellow Leila Pirhaji shares her plan to build an AI-based network to characterize metabolite patterns, better understand how disease develops -- and discover more effective treatments.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How we're using dogs to sniff out malaria | James Logan

Mon, 21 Oct 2019 15:10:48 GMT

What if we could diagnose some of the world's deadliest diseases by the smells our bodies give off? In a fascinating talk and live demo, biologist James Logan introduces Freya, a malaria-sniffing dog, to show how we can harness the awesome powers of animal scent to detect chemical signatures associated with infection -- and change the way we diagnose disease.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How nanoparticles could change the way we treat cancer | Joy Wolfram

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 19:44:29 GMT

Ninety-nine percent of cancer drugs never make it to tumors, getting washed out of the body before they have time to do their job. How can we better deliver life-saving drugs? Cancer researcher Joy Wolfram shares cutting-edge medical research into nanoparticles -- tiny particles that could be used to deliver drugs accurately to tumors -- and explains how they could keep drugs in the body longer to attack malignant cells.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What the US health care system assumes about you | Mitchell Katz

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 14:48:11 GMT

The US health care system assumes many things about patients: that they can take off from work in the middle of the day, speak English, have a working telephone and a steady supply of food. Because of that, it's failing many of those who are most in need, says Mitchell Katz, CEO of the largest public health care system in the US. In this eye-opening talk, he shares stories of the challenges low-income patients face -- and how we can build a better system for all.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 questions you should always ask your doctor | Christer Mjåset

Thu, 19 Sep 2019 15:09:10 GMT

"Doctor, is this really necessary?" Backed by startling statistics about overtreatment, neurosurgeon Christer Mjåset explains the power of this and other simple questions in the context of medical treatment and surgery -- and shares how patients can better work with doctors to get the care they need.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This could be why you're depressed or anxious | Johann Hari

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 14:52:31 GMT

In a moving talk, journalist Johann Hari shares fresh insights on the causes of depression and anxiety from experts around the world -- as well as some exciting emerging solutions. "If you're depressed or anxious, you're not weak and you're not crazy -- you're a human being with unmet needs," Hari says.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How your emotions change the shape of your heart | Sandeep Jauhar

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 20:09:29 GMT

"A record of our emotional life is written on our hearts," says cardiologist and author Sandeep Jauhar. In a stunning talk, he explores the mysterious ways our emotions impact the health of our hearts -- causing them to change shape in response to grief or fear, to literally break in response to emotional heartbreak -- and calls for a shift in how we care for our most vital organ.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How I help people understand vitiligo | Lee Thomas

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 19:49:44 GMT

TV news anchor Lee Thomas thought his career was over after he was diagnosed with vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder that left large patches of his skin without pigment and led to derision and stares. In a captivating talk, he shares how he discovered a way to counter misunderstanding and fear around his appearance with engagement, dialogue -- and a smile. "Positivity is something worth fighting for, and the fight is not with others -- it's internal," Thomas says. "If you want to make positive changes in your life, you have to consistently be positive."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The future of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy | Rick Doblin

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 14:51:49 GMT

Could psychedelics help us heal from trauma and mental illnesses? Researcher Rick Doblin has spent the past three decades investigating this question, and the results are promising. In this fascinating dive into the science of psychedelics, he explains how drugs like LSD, psilocybin and MDMA affect your brain -- and shows how, when paired with psychotherapy, they could change the way we treat PTSD, depression, substance abuse and more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You are not alone in your loneliness | Jonny Sun

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 14:58:35 GMT

Being open and vulnerable with your loneliness, sadness and fear can help you find comfort and feel less alone, says writer and artist Jonny Sun. In an honest talk filled with his signature illustrations, Sun shares how telling stories about feeling like an outsider helped him tap into an unexpected community and find a tiny sliver of light in the darkness.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How synthetic biology could wipe out humanity -- and how we can stop it | Rob Reid

Tue, 18 Jun 2019 14:44:02 GMT

The world-changing promise of synthetic biology and gene editing has a dark side. In this far-seeing talk, author and entrepreneur Rob Reid reviews the risks of a world where more and more people have access to the tools and tech needed to create a doomsday bug that could wipe out humanity -- and suggests that it's time to take this danger seriously.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What you should know about vaping and e-cigarettes | Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin

Wed, 15 May 2019 14:46:45 GMT

E-cigarettes and vapes have exploded in popularity in the last decade, especially among youth and young adults -- from 2011 to 2015, e-cigarette use among high school students in the US increased by 900 percent. Biobehavioral scientist Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin explains what you're actually inhaling when you vape (hint: it's definitely not water vapor) and explores the disturbing marketing tactics being used to target kids. "Our health, the health of our children and our future generations is far too valuable to let it go up in smoke -- or even in aerosol," she says.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could a tattoo help you stay healthy? | Carson Bruns

Tue, 14 May 2019 14:54:15 GMT

Can we make tattoos both beautiful and functional? Nanotechnologist Carson Bruns shares his work creating high-tech tattoos that react to their environment -- like color-changing ink that can tell you when you're getting a sunburn -- and shows exciting ways they can deliver real-time information about our health.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sleep is your superpower | Matt Walker

Fri, 10 May 2019 14:49:30 GMT

Sleep is your life-support system and Mother Nature's best effort yet at immortality, says sleep scientist Matt Walker. In this deep dive into the science of slumber, Walker shares the wonderfully good things that happen when you get sleep -- and the alarmingly bad things that happen when you don't, for both your brain and body. Learn more about sleep's impact on your learning, memory, immune system and even your genetic code -- as well as some helpful tips for getting some shut-eye.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How your brain's executive function works -- and how to improve it | Sabine Doebel

Thu, 09 May 2019 19:43:01 GMT

You use your brain's executive function every day -- it's how you do things like pay attention, plan ahead and control impulses. Can you improve it to change for the better? With highlights from her research on child development, cognitive scientist Sabine Doebel explores the factors that affect executive function -- and how you can use it to break bad habits and achieve your goals.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The surprising connection between brain injuries and crime | Kim Gorgens

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 14:48:12 GMT

Here's a shocking statistic: 50 to 80 percent of people in the criminal justice system in the US have had a traumatic brain injury. In the general public, that number is less than five percent. Neuropsychologist Kim Gorgens shares her research into the connection between brain trauma and the behaviors that keep people in the revolving door of criminal justice -- and some ways to make the system more effective and safer for everyone.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An AI smartwatch that detects seizures | Rosalind Picard

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 14:52:13 GMT

Every year worldwide, more than 50,000 otherwise healthy people with epilepsy suddenly die -- a condition known as SUDEP. These deaths may be largely preventable, says AI researcher Rosalind Picard. Learn how Picard helped develop a cutting-edge smartwatch that can detect epileptic seizures as they occur and alert nearby loved ones in time to help.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new class of drug that could prevent depression and PTSD | Rebecca Brachman

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 14:48:01 GMT

Current treatments for depression and PTSD only suppress symptoms, if they work at all. What if we could prevent these diseases from developing altogether? Neuroscientist and TED Fellow Rebecca Brachman shares the story of her team's accidental discovery of a new class of drug that, for the first time ever, could prevent the negative effects of stress -- and boost a person's ability to recover and grow. Learn how these resilience-enhancing drugs could change the way we treat mental illness.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The "dementia village" that's redefining elder care | Yvonne van Amerongen

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 14:50:07 GMT

How would you prefer to spend the last years of your life: in a sterile, hospital-like institution or in a village with a supermarket, pub, theater and park within easy walking distance? The answer seems obvious now, but when Yvonne van Amerongen helped develop the groundbreaking Hogeweyk dementia care center in Amsterdam 25 years ago, it was seen as a risky break from tradition. Journey with van Amerongen to Hogeweyk and get a glimpse at what a reimagined nursing home based on freedom, meaning and social life could look like.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if all US health care costs were transparent? | Jeanne Pinder

Wed, 20 Feb 2019 15:43:56 GMT

In the US, the very same blood test can cost $19 at one clinic and $522 at another clinic just blocks away -- and nobody knows the difference until they get a bill weeks later. Journalist Jeanne Pinder says it doesn't have to be this way. She's built a platform that crowdsources the true costs of medical procedures and makes the data public, revealing the secrets of health care pricing. Learn how knowing what stuff costs in advance could make us healthier, save us money -- and help fix a broken system.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How doctors can help low-income patients (and still make a profit) | P.J. Parmar

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 20:56:44 GMT

Modern American health care is defined by its high costs, high overhead and inaccessibility -- especially for low-income patients. What if we could redesign the system to serve the poor and still have doctors make money? In an eye-opening (and surprisingly funny) talk, physician P.J. Parmar shares the story of the clinic he founded in Colorado, where he serves only resettled refugees who mostly use Medicaid, and makes the business case for a fresh take on medical service.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why noise is bad for your health -- and what you can do about it | Mathias Basner

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 15:47:45 GMT

Silence is a rare commodity these days. There's traffic, construction, air-conditioning, your neighbor's lawnmower ... and all this unwanted sound can have a surprising impact on your health, says noise researcher Mathias Basner. Discover the science behind how noise affects your health and sleep -- and how you can get more of the benefits of the sound of silence.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What your breath could reveal about your health | Julian Burschka

Thu, 07 Feb 2019 15:44:44 GMT

There's no better way to stop a disease than to catch and treat it early, before symptoms occur. That's the whole point of medical screening techniques like radiography, MRIs and blood tests. But there's one medium with overlooked potential for medical analysis: your breath. Technologist Julian Burschka shares the latest in the science of breath analysis -- the screening of the volatile organic compounds in your exhaled breath -- and how it could be used as a powerful tool to detect, predict and ultimately prevent disease.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A life-saving device that detects silent heart attacks | Akash Manoj

Thu, 17 Jan 2019 20:45:41 GMT

You probably know the common symptoms of a heart attack: chest and arm pain, shortness of breath and fatigue. But there's another kind that's just as deadly and harder to detect because the symptoms are silent. In this quick talk, 17-year-old inventor Akash Manoj shares the device he's developed to stop this silent killer: a noninvasive, inexpensive, wearable patch that alerts patients during a critical moment that could mean the difference between life and death.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the opioid crisis, here's what it takes to save a life | Jan Rader

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 12:13:02 GMT

As a fire chief and first responder, Jan Rader has spent her career saving lives. But when the opioid epidemic hit her town, she realized they needed to take a brand-new approach to life-saving. In this powerful, hopeful talk, Rader shows what it's like on the front lines of this crisis -- and how her community is taking an unusual new approach to treating substance-abuse disorder that starts with listening.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How isolation fuels opioid addiction | Rachel Wurzman

Mon, 29 Oct 2018 14:48:14 GMT

What do Tourette syndrome, heroin addiction and social media obsession all have in common? They converge in an area of the brain called the striatum, says neuroscientist Rachel Wurzman -- and this critical discovery could reshape our understanding of the opioid crisis. Sharing insights from her research, Wurzman shows how social isolation contributes to relapse and overdose rates and reveals how meaningful human connection could offer a potentially powerful source of recovery.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Americans agree on when it comes to health | Rebecca Onie

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 13:54:07 GMT

We may not be as deeply divided as we think -- at least when it comes to health, says Rebecca Onie. In a talk that cuts through the noise, Onie shares research that shows how, even across economic, political and racial divides, Americans agree on what they need to live good lives -- and asks both health care providers and patients to focus on what makes us healthy, not what makes us angry.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What doctors should know about gender identity | Kristie Overstreet

Tue, 02 Oct 2018 19:35:32 GMT

Kristie Overstreet is on a mission to ensure that the transgender community gets their health care needs met. In this informative, myth-busting talk, she provides a primer for understanding gender identity and invites us to shift how we view transgender health care -- so that everyone gets the respect and dignity they deserve when they go to a doctor.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How we could teach our bodies to heal faster | Kaitlyn Sadtler

Thu, 20 Sep 2018 14:56:58 GMT

What if we could help our bodies heal faster and without scars, like Wolverine in X-Men? TED Fellow Kaitlyn Sadtler is working to make this dream a reality by developing new biomaterials that could change how our immune system responds to injuries. In this quick talk, she shows the different ways these products could help the body regenerate.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why the hospital of the future will be your own home | Niels van Namen

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 14:48:38 GMT

Nobody likes going to the hospital, whether it's because of the logistical challenges of getting there, the astronomical costs of procedures or the alarming risks of complications like antibiotic-resistant bacteria. But what if we could get the lifesaving care provided by hospitals in our own homes? Health care futurist Niels van Namen shows how advances in technology are making home care a cheaper, safer and more accessible alternative to hospital stays.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to create a world where no one dies waiting for a transplant | Luhan Yang

Thu, 13 Sep 2018 19:45:45 GMT

For nearly half a century, scientists have been trying to create a process for transplanting animal organs into humans, a theoretical dream that could help the hundreds of thousands of people in need of a lifesaving transplant. But the risks, specifically of transmitting the PERV virus from pigs to humans, have always been too great, stalling research -- until now. In a mind-blowing talk, geneticist Luhan Yang explains a breakthrough: using CRISPR, a technique for editing genes, she and her colleagues have created pigs that don't carry the virus, opening up the possibility of safely growing human-transplantable organs in pigs. Learn more about this cutting-edge science and how it could help solve the organ shortage crisis.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new way to fund health care for the most vulnerable | Andrew Bastawrous

Mon, 10 Sep 2018 20:06:59 GMT

In 2011, eye surgeon and TED Fellow Andrew Bastawrous developed a smartphone app that brings quality eye care to remote communities, helping people avoid losing their sight to curable or preventable conditions. Along the way, he noticed a problem: strict funding regulations meant that he could only operate on people with specific diseases, leaving many others without resources for treatment. In this passionate talk, Bastawrous calls for a new health care funding model that's flexible and ambitious -- to deliver better health to everyone, whatever their needs are.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A love letter to realism in a time of grief | Mark Pollock and Simone George

Fri, 07 Sep 2018 14:47:48 GMT

When faced with life's toughest circumstances, how should we respond: as an optimist, a realist or something else? In an unforgettable talk, explorer Mark Pollock and human rights lawyer Simone George explore the tension between acceptance and hope in times of grief -- and share the groundbreaking work they're undertaking to cure paralysis.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What commercialization is doing to cannabis | Ben Cort

Wed, 05 Sep 2018 15:04:26 GMT

In 2012, Colorado legalized cannabis and added to what has fast become a multibillion-dollar global industry for all things weed-related: from vape pens to brownies and beyond. But to say that we've legalized marijuana is subtly misleading -- what we've really done is commercialized THC, says educator Ben Cort, and that's led to products that are unnaturally potent. In an eye-opening talk, Cort examines the often unseen impacts of the commercial cannabis industry -- and calls on us to question those who are getting rich off of it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How cancer cells communicate -- and how we can slow them down | Hasini Jayatilaka

Thu, 16 Aug 2018 19:52:49 GMT

When cancer cells are closely packed together in a tumor, they're able to communicate with each other and coordinate their movement throughout the body. What if we could interrupt this process? In this accessible talk about cutting-edge science, Hasini Jayatilaka shares her work on an innovative method to stop cancer cells from communicating -- and halt their fatal ability to spread.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You may be accidentally investing in cigarette companies | Bronwyn King

Thu, 26 Jul 2018 15:03:05 GMT

Tobacco causes more than seven million deaths every year -- and many of us are far more complicit in the problem than we realize. In a bold talk, oncologist Dr. Bronwyn King tells the story of how she uncovered the deep ties between the tobacco industry and the entire global finance sector, which invests our money in cigarette companies through big banks, insurers and pension funds. Learn how Dr. King has ignited a worldwide movement to create tobacco-free investments and how each of us can play a role in ending this epidemic.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The agony of opioid withdrawal -- and what doctors should tell patients about it | Travis Rieder

Thu, 28 Jun 2018 15:00:34 GMT

The United States accounts for five percent of the world's population but consumes almost 70 percent of the total global opioid supply, creating an epidemic that has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths each year. How did we get here, and what can we do about it? In this personal talk, Travis Rieder recounts the painful, often-hidden struggle of opioid withdrawal and reveals how doctors who are quick to prescribe (and overprescribe) opioids aren't equipped with the tools to eventually get people off the meds.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How we can bring mental health support to refugees | Essam Daod

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 14:56:36 GMT

The global refugee crisis is a mental health catastrophe, leaving millions in need of psychological support to overcome the traumas of dislocation and conflict. To undo the damage, child psychiatrist and TED Fellow Essam Daod has been working in camps, rescue boats and the shorelines of Greece and the Mediterranean Sea to help refugees (a quarter of which are children) reframe their experiences through short, powerful psychological interventions. "We can all do something to prevent this mental health catastrophe," Daod says. "We need to acknowledge that first aid is not just needed for the body, but it has also to include the mind, the soul."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The critical role librarians play in the opioid crisis | Chera Kowalski

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 15:02:29 GMT

Public libraries have always been about more than just books -- and their mission of community support has taken on new urgency during the current opioid epidemic. After witnessing overdoses at her library in Philadelphia, Chera Kowalski learned how to administer naloxone, a drug that reverses the effects of narcotics, and she's put it to use to save patrons' lives. In this personal talk, she shares the day-to-day reality of life on the frontline of the opioid crisis and advocates for each of us to find new ways to keep our communities safe and healthy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to start a conversation about suicide | Jeremy Forbes

Thu, 24 May 2018 20:00:48 GMT

Is there someone in your life dealing with anxiety, depression or thoughts of suicide -- but is too ashamed to talk about it? Jeremy Forbes saw this happening around him, and now he's on a mission to teach people how to start a conversation about it. In this deeply personal talk, Forbes shares his approach to helping a group of traditionally silent men in his community open up about their struggles. "We can all be life preservers," he says.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The harm reduction model of drug addiction treatment | Mark Tyndall

Wed, 18 Apr 2018 14:51:27 GMT

Why do we still think that drug use is a law-enforcement issue? Making drugs illegal does nothing to stop people from using them, says public health expert Mark Tyndall. So, what might work? Tyndall shares community-based research that shows how harm-reduction strategies, like safe-injection sites, are working to address the drug overdose crisis.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if we eliminated one of the world's oldest diseases? | Caroline Harper

Thu, 12 Apr 2018 23:44:37 GMT

Thousands of years ago, ancient Nubians drew pictures on tomb walls of a terrible disease that turns the eyelids inside out and causes blindness. This disease, trachoma, is still a scourge in many parts of the world today -- but it's also completely preventable, says Caroline Harper. Armed with data from a global mapping project, Harper's organization Sightsavers has a plan: to focus on countries where funding gaps stand in the way of eliminating the disease and ramp up efforts where the need is most severe. Learn more about their goal of consigning trachoma to the history books -- and how you can help. (This ambitious idea is part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Math can help uncover cancer's secrets | Irina Kareva

Tue, 03 Apr 2018 14:58:35 GMT

Irina Kareva translates biology into mathematics and vice versa. She writes mathematical models that describe the dynamics of cancer, with the goal of developing new drugs that target tumors. "The power and beauty of mathematical modeling lies in the fact that it makes you formalize, in a very rigorous way, what we think we know," Kareva says. "It can help guide us to where we should keep looking, and where there may be a dead end." It all comes down to asking the right question and translating it to the right equation, and back.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our fight for disability rights -- and why we're not done yet | Judith Heumann

Fri, 30 Mar 2018 13:50:11 GMT

Four decades ago, Judith Heumann helped to lead a groundbreaking protest called the Section 504 sit-in -- in which disabled-rights activists occupied a federal building for almost a month, demanding greater accessibility for all. In this personal, inspiring talk, Heumann tells the stories behind the protest -- and reminds us that, 40 years on, there's still work left to do.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if we paid doctors to keep people healthy? | Matthias Müllenbeck

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 14:47:14 GMT

What if we incentivized doctors to keep us healthy instead of paying them only when we're already sick? Matthias Müllenbeck explains how this radical shift from a sick care system to a true health care system could save us from unnecessary costs and risky procedures -- and keep us healthier for longer.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A rite of passage for late life | Bob Stein

Tue, 20 Mar 2018 19:58:55 GMT

We use rituals to mark the early stages of our lives, like birthdays and graduations -- but what about our later years? In this meditative talk about looking both backward and forward, Bob Stein proposes a new tradition of giving away your things (and sharing the stories behind them) as you get older, to reflect on your life so far and open the door to whatever comes next.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can I have your brain? The quest for truth on concussions and CTE | Chris Nowinski

Mon, 19 Mar 2018 15:04:51 GMT

Something strange and deadly is happening inside the brains of top athletes -- a degenerative condition, possibly linked to concussions, that causes dementia, psychosis and far-too-early death. It's called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, and it's the medical mystery that Chris Nowinski wants to solve by analyzing brains after death. It's also why, when Nowinski meets a pro athlete, his first question is: "Can I have your brain?" Hear more from this ground-breaking effort to protect athletes' brains -- and yours, too.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What I learned when I conquered the world's toughest triathlon | Minda Dentler

Mon, 05 Mar 2018 16:04:57 GMT

A 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and then a full-length marathon on hot, dry ground -- with no breaks in between: the legendary Ironman triathlon in Kona, Hawaii, is a bucket list goal for champion athletes. But when Minda Dentler decided to take it on, she had bigger aspirations than just another medal around her neck. She tells the story of how she conquered this epic race, and what it inspired her to do next.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to connect with depressed friends | Bill Bernat

Fri, 02 Mar 2018 20:50:08 GMT

Want to connect with a depressed friend but not sure how to relate to them? Comedian and storyteller Bill Bernat has a few suggestions. Learn some dos and don'ts for talking to people living with depression -- and handle your next conversation with grace and maybe a bit of humor.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The brain-changing benefits of exercise | Wendy Suzuki

Wed, 28 Feb 2018 15:39:40 GMT

What's the most transformative thing that you can do for your brain today? Exercise! says neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki. Get inspired to go to the gym as Suzuki discusses the science of how working out boosts your mood and memory -- and protects your brain against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why I train grandmothers to treat depression | Dixon Chibanda

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 15:59:25 GMT

Dixon Chibanda is one of 12 psychiatrists in Zimbabwe -- for a population of more than 16 million. Realizing that his country would never be able to scale traditional methods of treating those with mental health issues, Chibanda helped to develop a beautiful solution powered by a limitless resource: grandmothers. In this extraordinary, inspirational talk, learn more about the friendship bench program, which trains grandmothers in evidence-based talk therapy and brings care, and hope, to those in need.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The dangerous evolution of HIV | Edsel Salvaña

Tue, 23 Jan 2018 21:01:28 GMT

Think we're winning the battle against HIV? Maybe not, as the next wave of drug-resistant viruses arrives. In an eye-opening talk, TED Fellow Edsel Salvana describes the aggressive HIV subtype AE that's currently plaguing his home of the Philippines -- and warns us about what might become a global epidemic.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The hidden role informal caregivers play in health care | Scott Williams

Wed, 17 Jan 2018 15:49:52 GMT

Once a cared-for patient and now a caregiver himself, Scott Williams highlights the invaluable role of informal caregivers -- those friends and relatives who, out of love, go the extra mile for patients in need. From personal care to advocacy to emotional support, unpaid caregivers form the invisible backbone of health and social systems all over the world, Williams says -- and without them, these systems would crumble. "How can we make sure that their value to patients and society is recognized?" he asks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Talk about your death while you're still healthy | Michelle Knox

Tue, 16 Jan 2018 21:00:13 GMT

Do you know what you want when you die? Do you know how you want to be remembered? In a candid, heartfelt talk about a subject most of us would rather not discuss, Michelle Knox asks each of us to reflect on our core values around death and share them with our loved ones, so they can make informed decisions without fear of having failed to honor our legacies. "Life would be a lot easier to live if we talked about death now," Knox says. "We need to discuss these issues when we are fit and healthy so we can take the emotion out of it -- and then we can learn not just what is important, but why it's important."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medical tech designed to meet Africa's needs | Soyapi Mumba

Tue, 09 Jan 2018 20:57:22 GMT

In sub-Saharan Africa, power outages, low technology penetration, slow internet and understaffed hospitals plague health care systems. To make progress on these problems in Malawi, TED Fellow Soyapi Mumba and his team created a new system from scratch -- from the software that powers their electronic health records to the infrastructure used to support it. In this quick, hopeful talk, Mumba shares how his jack-of-all-trades mindset can help reshape health care in low-resource environments.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our treatment of HIV has advanced. Why hasn't the stigma changed? | Arik Hartmann

Thu, 04 Jan 2018 16:01:23 GMT

The treatment of HIV has significantly advanced over the past three decades -- why hasn't our perception of people with the disease advanced along with it? After being diagnosed with HIV, Arik Hartmann chose to live transparently, being open about his status, in an effort to educate people. In this candid, personal talk, he shares what it's like to live with HIV -- and calls on us to dismiss our misconceptions about the disease.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to get great at something? Get a coach | Atul Gawande

Fri, 15 Dec 2017 16:01:50 GMT

How do we improve in the face of complexity? Atul Gawande has studied this question with a surgeon's precision. He shares what he's found to be the key: having a good coach to provide a more accurate picture of our reality, to instill positive habits of thinking, and to break our actions down and then help us build them back up again. "It's not how good you are now; it's how good you're going to be that really matters," Gawande says.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new weapon in the fight against superbugs | David Brenner

Thu, 14 Dec 2017 15:42:19 GMT

Since the widespread use of antibiotics began in the 1940s, we've tried to develop new drugs faster than bacteria can evolve -- but this strategy isn't working. Drug-resistant bacteria known as superbugs killed nearly 700,000 people last year, and by 2050 that number could be 10 million -- more than cancer kills each year. Can physics help? In a talk from the frontiers of science, radiation scientist David Brenner shares his work studying a potentially life-saving weapon: a wavelength of ultraviolet light known as far-UVC, which can kill superbugs safely, without penetrating our skin. Followed by a Q&A with TED Curator Chris Anderson.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The brain benefits of deep sleep -- and how to get more of it | Dan Gartenberg

Tue, 05 Dec 2017 15:59:15 GMT

There's nothing quite like a good night's sleep. What if technology could help us get more out of it? Dan Gartenberg is working on tech that stimulates deep sleep, the most regenerative stage which (among other wonderful things) might help us consolidate our memories and form our personalities. Find out more about how playing sounds that mirror brain waves during this stage might lead to deeper sleep -- and its potential benefits on our health, memory and ability to learn.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The science of cells that never get old | Elizabeth Blackburn

Mon, 27 Nov 2017 15:48:43 GMT

What makes our bodies age ... our skin wrinkle, our hair turn white, our immune systems weaken? Biologist Elizabeth Blackburn shares a Nobel Prize for her work finding out the answer, with the discovery of telomerase: an enzyme that replenishes the caps at the end of chromosomes, which break down when cells divide. Learn more about Blackburn's groundbreaking research -- including how we might have more control over aging than we think.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I don't want children -- stop telling me I'll change my mind | Christen Reighter

Thu, 16 Nov 2017 20:54:49 GMT

One in five women in the United States will not have a biological child, and Christen Reighter is one of them. From a young age, she knew she didn't want kids, in spite of the insistence of many people (including her doctor) who told her she'd change her mind. In this powerful talk, she shares her story of seeking sterilization -- and makes the case that motherhood is an extension of womanhood, not the definition.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The surprisingly charming science of your gut | Giulia Enders

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 14:33:02 GMT

Ever wonder how we poop? Learn about the gut -- the system where digestion (and a whole lot more) happens -- as doctor and author Giulia Enders takes us inside the complex, fascinating science behind it, including its connection to mental health. It turns out, looking closer at something we might shy away from can leave us feeling more fearless and appreciative of ourselves.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We can hack our immune cells to fight cancer | Elizabeth Wayne

Tue, 17 Oct 2017 19:56:13 GMT

After decades of research and billions spent in clinical trials, we still have a problem with cancer drug delivery, says biomedical engineer Elizabeth Wayne. Chemotherapy kills cancer -- but it kills the rest of your body, too. Instead of using human design to fight cancer, why not use nature's? In this quick talk, Wayne explains how her lab is creating nanoparticle treatments that bind to immune cells, your body's first responders, to precisely target cancer cells without damaging healthy ones.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don't suffer from your depression in silence | Nikki Webber Allen

Thu, 05 Oct 2017 14:59:04 GMT

Having feelings isn't a sign of weakness -- they mean we're human, says producer and activist Nikki Webber Allen. Even after being diagnosed with anxiety and depression, Webber Allen felt too ashamed to tell anybody, keeping her condition a secret until a family tragedy revealed how others close to her were also suffering. In this important talk about mental health, she speaks openly about her struggle -- and why communities of color must undo the stigma that misreads depression as a weakness and keeps sufferers from getting help.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How digital DNA could help you make better health choices | Jun Wang

Mon, 18 Sep 2017 15:14:47 GMT

What if you could know exactly how food or medication would impact your health -- before you put it in your body? Genomics researcher Jun Wang is working to develop digital doppelgangers for real people; they start with genetic code, but they'll also factor in other kinds of data as well, from food intake to sleep to data collected by a "smart toilet." With all of this valuable information, Wang hopes to create an engine that will change the way we think about health, both on an individual level and as a collective.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A forgotten ancient grain that could help Africa prosper | Pierre Thiam

Wed, 13 Sep 2017 14:45:42 GMT

Forget quinoa. 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 that its industrial-scale cultivation could transform societies in Africa.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The secret to living longer may be your social life | Susan Pinker

Fri, 18 Aug 2017 14:59:45 GMT

The Italian island of Sardinia has more than six times as many centenarians as the mainland and ten times as many as North America. Why? According to psychologist Susan Pinker, it's not a sunny disposition or a low-fat, gluten-free diet that keeps the islanders healthy -- it's their emphasis on close personal relationships and face-to-face interactions. Learn more about super longevity as Pinker explains what it takes to live to 100 and beyond.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's end ageism | Ashton Applewhite

Wed, 09 Aug 2017 14:50:22 GMT

It's not the passage of time that makes it so hard to get older. It's ageism, a prejudice that pits us against our future selves -- and each other. Ashton Applewhite urges us to dismantle the dread and mobilize against the last socially acceptable prejudice. "Aging is not a problem to be fixed or a disease to be cured," she says. "It is a natural, powerful, lifelong process that unites us all."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A simple new blood test that can catch cancer early | Jimmy Lin

Tue, 25 Jul 2017 14:53:05 GMT

Jimmy Lin is developing technologies to catch cancer months to years before current methods. He shares a breakthrough technique that looks for small signals of cancer's presence via a simple blood test, detecting the recurrence of some forms of the disease 100 days earlier than traditional methods. It could be a ray of hope in a fight where early detection makes all the difference.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lifesaving scientific tools made of paper | Manu Prakash

Mon, 10 Jul 2017 14:51:16 GMT

Inventor Manu Prakash turns everyday materials into powerful scientific devices, from paper microscopes to a clever new mosquito tracker. From the TED Fellows stage, he demos Paperfuge, a hand-powered centrifuge inspired by a spinning toy that costs 20 cents to make and can do the work of a $1,000 machine, no electricity required.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Science didn't understand my kids' rare disease until I decided to study it | Sharon Terry

Thu, 15 Jun 2017 15:00:17 GMT

Meet Sharon Terry, a former college chaplain and stay-at-home mom who took the medical research world by storm when her two young children were diagnosed with a rare disease known as pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE). In this knockout talk, Terry explains how she and her husband became citizen scientists, working midnight shifts at the lab to find the gene behind PXE and establishing mandates that require researchers to share biological samples and work together.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When I die, recompose me | Katrina Spade

Wed, 14 Jun 2017 15:02:51 GMT

What if our bodies could help grow new life after we die, instead of being embalmed and buried or turned to ash? Join Katrina Spade as she discusses "recomposition" -- a system that uses the natural decomposition process to turn our deceased into life-giving soil, honoring both the earth and the departed.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No one should die because they live too far from a doctor | Raj Panjabi

Thu, 01 Jun 2017 14:30:43 GMT

Illness is universal -- but access to care is not. Physician Raj Panjabi has a bold vision to bring health care to everyone, everywhere. With the 2017 TED Prize, Panjabi is building the Community Health Academy, a global platform that aims to modernize how community health workers learn vital skills, creating jobs along the way.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The trauma of systematic racism is killing Black women. A first step toward change... | T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison

Fri, 19 May 2017 15:03:51 GMT

T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison, founders of the health nonprofit GirlTrek, are on a mission to reduce the leading causes of preventable death among Black women -- and build communities in the process. How? By getting one million women and girls to prioritize their self-care, lacing up their shoes and walking in the direction of their healthiest, most fulfilled lives.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's no shame in taking care of your mental health | Sangu Delle

Thu, 04 May 2017 14:57:04 GMT

When stress got to be too much for TED Fellow Sangu Delle, he had to confront his own deep prejudice: that men shouldn't take care of their mental health. In a personal talk, Delle shares how he learned to handle anxiety in a society that's uncomfortable with emotions. As he says: "Being honest about how we feel doesn't make us weak -- it makes us human."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What you can do to prevent Alzheimer's | Lisa Genova

Fri, 28 Apr 2017 17:07:37 GMT

Alzheimer's doesn't have to be your brain's destiny, says neuroscientist and author of "Still Alice," Lisa Genova. She shares the latest science investigating the disease -- and some promising research on what each of us can do to build an Alzheimer's-resistant brain.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A video game to cope with grief | Amy Green

Wed, 19 Apr 2017 14:59:13 GMT

When Amy Green's young son was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor, she made up a bedtime story for his siblings to teach them about cancer. What resulted was a video game, "That Dragon, Cancer," which takes players on a journey they can't win. In this beautiful talk about coping with loss, Green brings joy and play to tragedy. "We made a game that's hard to play," she says, "because the hardest moments of our lives change us more than any goal we could ever accomplish."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A simple birth kit for mothers in the developing world | Zubaida Bai

Thu, 13 Apr 2017 15:06:11 GMT

TED Fellow Zubaida Bai works with medical professionals, midwives and mothers to bring dignity and low-cost interventions to women's health care. In this quick, inspiring talk, she presents her clean birth kit in a purse, which contains everything a new mother needs for a hygienic birth and a healthy delivery -- no matter where in the world (or how far from a medical clinic) she might be.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An intergalactic guide to using a defibrillator | Todd Scott

Wed, 12 Apr 2017 14:56:24 GMT

If Yoda goes into cardiac arrest, will you know what to do? Artist and first-aid enthusiast Todd Scott breaks down what you need to know about using an automated external defibrillator, or AED -- in this galaxy and ones that are far, far away. Prepare to save the life of a Jedi, Chewbacca (he'll need a quick shave first) or someone else in need with some helpful pointers.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How racism makes us sick | David R. Williams

Thu, 06 Apr 2017 15:03:43 GMT

Why does race matter so profoundly for health? David R. Williams developed a scale to measure the impact of discrimination on well-being, going beyond traditional measures like income and education to reveal how factors like implicit bias, residential segregation and negative stereotypes create and sustain inequality. In this eye-opening talk, Williams presents evidence for how racism is producing a rigged system -- and offers hopeful examples of programs across the US that are working to dismantle discrimination.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Addiction is a disease. We should treat it like one | Michael Botticelli

Wed, 29 Mar 2017 15:01:11 GMT

Only one in nine people in the United States gets the care and treatment they need for addiction and substance abuse. A former Director of National Drug Control Policy, Michael Botticelli is working to end this epidemic and treat people with addictions with kindness, compassion and fairness. In a personal, thoughtful talk, he encourages the millions of Americans in recovery today to make their voices heard and confront the stigma associated with substance use disorders.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A burial practice that nourishes the planet | Caitlin Doughty

Mon, 13 Mar 2017 14:59:37 GMT

Here's a question we all have to answer sooner or later: What do you want to happen to your body when you die? Funeral director Caitlin Doughty explores new ways to prepare us for inevitable mortality. In this thoughtful talk, learn more about ideas for burial (like "recomposting" and "conservation burial") that return our bodies back to the earth in an eco-friendly, humble and self-aware way.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What I learned from 2,000 obituaries | Lux Narayan

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 16:05:49 GMT

Lux Narayan starts his day with scrambled eggs and the question: "Who died today?" Why? By analyzing 2,000 New York Times obituaries over a 20-month period, Narayan gleaned, in just a few words, what achievement looks like over a lifetime. Here he shares what those immortalized in print can teach us about a life well lived.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How racism harms pregnant women -- and what can help | Miriam Zoila Pérez

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 16:05:56 GMT

Racism is making people sick -- especially black women and babies, says Miriam Zoila Pérez. The doula turned journalist explores the relationship between race, class and illness and tells us about a radically compassionate prenatal care program that can buffer pregnant women from the stress that people of color face every day.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New nanotech to detect cancer early | Joshua Smith

Wed, 08 Feb 2017 15:58:51 GMT

What if every home had an early-warning cancer detection system? Researcher Joshua Smith is developing a nanobiotechnology "cancer alarm" that scans for traces of disease in the form of special biomarkers called exosomes. In this forward-thinking talk, he shares his dream for how we might revolutionize cancer detection and, ultimately, save lives.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could a drug prevent depression and PTSD? | Rebecca Brachman

Wed, 14 Dec 2016 15:51:48 GMT

The path to better medicine is paved with accidental yet revolutionary discoveries. In this well-told tale of how science happens, neuroscientist Rebecca Brachman shares news of a serendipitous breakthrough treatment that may prevent mental disorders like depression and PTSD from ever developing. And listen for an unexpected -- and controversial -- twist.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We can start winning the war against cancer | Adam de la Zerda

Wed, 05 Oct 2016 15:13:27 GMT

Learn about the latest advances in the war against cancer from Stanford researcher Adam de la Zerda, who's working on some cutting-edge techniques of his own. Using a remarkable imaging technology that illuminates cancer-seeking gold particles injected into the body, de la Zerda's lab hopes to light the way for surgeons to remove even the tiniest trace of deadly tumors.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new way to heal hearts without surgery | Franz Freudenthal

Fri, 09 Sep 2016 15:16:55 GMT

At the intersection of medical invention and indigenous culture, pediatric cardiologist Franz Freudenthal mends holes in the hearts of children across the world, using a device born from traditional Bolivian loom weaving. "The most complex problems in our time," he says, "can be solved with simple techniques, if we are able to dream."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What we can do to die well | Timothy Ihrig

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 15:04:39 GMT

The healthcare industry in America is so focused on pathology, surgery and pharmacology -- on what doctors "do" to patients -- that it often overlooks the values of the human beings it's supposed to care for. Palliative care physician Timothy Ihrig explains the benefits of a different approach, one that fosters a patient's overall quality of life and navigates serious illness from diagnosis to death with dignity and compassion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The taboo secret to better health | Molly Winter

Wed, 10 Aug 2016 14:52:10 GMT

Our poop and pee have superpowers, but for the most part we don't harness them. Molly Winter faces down our squeamishness and asks us to see what goes down the toilet as a resource, one that can help fight climate change, spur innovation and even save us money.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How barbershops can keep men healthy | Joseph Ravenell

Thu, 26 May 2016 15:06:43 GMT

The barbershop can be a safe haven for black men, a place for honest conversation and trust -- and, as physician Joseph Ravenell suggests, a good place to bring up tough topics about health. He's turning the barbershop into a place to talk about medical problems that statistically affect black men more often and more seriously, like high blood pressure. It's a new approach to problem solving with broad applications. "What is your barbershop?" he asks. "Where is that place for you where people affected by a unique problem can meet a unique solution?"

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your words may predict your future mental health | Mariano Sigman

Tue, 24 May 2016 15:10:38 GMT

Can the way you speak and write today predict your future mental state, even the onset of psychosis? In this fascinating talk, neuroscientist Mariano Sigman reflects on ancient Greece and the origins of introspection to investigate how our words hint at our inner lives and details a word-mapping algorithm that could predict the development of schizophrenia. "We may be seeing in the future a very different form of mental health," Sigman says, "based on objective, quantitative and automated analysis of the words we write, of the words we say."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Good news in the fight against pancreatic cancer | Laura Indolfi

Tue, 17 May 2016 14:46:20 GMT

Anyone who has lost a loved one to pancreatic cancer knows the devastating speed with which it can affect an otherwise healthy person. TED Fellow and biomedical entrepreneur Laura Indolfi is developing a revolutionary way to treat this complex and lethal disease: a drug delivery device that acts as a cage at the site of a tumor, preventing it from spreading and delivering medicine only where it's needed. "We are hoping that one day we can make pancreatic cancer a curable disease," she says.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simple hacks for life with Parkinson's | Mileha Soneji

Thu, 10 Mar 2016 15:55:31 GMT

Simple solutions are often best, even when dealing with something as complicated as Parkinson's. In this inspiring talk, Mileha Soneji shares accessible designs that make the everyday tasks of those living with Parkinson's a bit easier. "Technology is not always it," she says. "What we need are human-centered solutions."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What really happens when you mix medications? | Russ Altman

Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:18:08 GMT

If you take two different medications for two different reasons, here's a sobering thought: your doctor may not fully understand what happens when they're combined, because drug interactions are incredibly hard to study. In this fascinating and accessible talk, Russ Altman shows how doctors are studying unexpected drug interactions using a surprising resource: search engine queries.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The brain may be able to repair itself -- with help | Jocelyne Bloch

Mon, 15 Feb 2016 16:10:08 GMT

Through treating everything from strokes to car accident traumas, neurosurgeon Jocelyne Bloch knows the brain's inability to repair itself all too well. But now, she suggests, she and her colleagues may have found the key to neural repair: Doublecortin-positive cells. Similar to stem cells, they are extremely adaptable and, when extracted from a brain, cultured and then re-injected in a lesioned area of the same brain, they can help repair and rebuild it. "With a little help," Bloch says, "the brain may be able to help itself."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How we'll fight the next deadly virus | Pardis Sabeti

Thu, 04 Feb 2016 16:10:14 GMT

When Ebola broke out in March 2014, Pardis Sabeti and her team got to work sequencing the virus's genome, learning how it mutated and spread. Sabeti immediately released her research online, so virus trackers and scientists from around the world could join in the urgent fight. In this talk, she shows how open cooperation was key to halting the virus ... and to attacking the next one to come along. "We had to work openly, we had to share and we had to work together," Sabeti says. "Let us not let the world be defined by the destruction wrought by one virus, but illuminated by billions of hearts and minds working in unity."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to stay calm when you know you'll be stressed | Daniel Levitin

Fri, 30 Oct 2015 15:34:16 GMT

You're not at your best when you're stressed. In fact, your brain has evolved over millennia to release cortisol in stressful situations, inhibiting rational, logical thinking but potentially helping you survive, say, being attacked by a lion. Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin thinks there's a way to avoid making critical mistakes in stressful situations, when your thinking becomes clouded -- the pre-mortem. "We all are going to fail now and then," he says. "The idea is to think ahead to what those failures might be."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 powerful poems about Parkinson's and growing older | Robin Morgan

Fri, 25 Sep 2015 14:55:57 GMT

When poet Robin Morgan found herself facing Parkinson’s disease, she distilled her experiences into these four quietly powerful poems — meditating on age, loss, and the simple power of noticing.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How young blood might help reverse aging. Yes, really | Tony Wyss-Coray

Wed, 19 Aug 2015 15:09:11 GMT

Tony Wyss-Coray studies the impact of aging on the human body and brain. In this eye-opening talk, he shares new research from his Stanford lab and other teams which shows that a solution for some of the less great aspects of old age might actually lie within us all.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong | Johann Hari

Thu, 09 Jul 2015 15:02:10 GMT

What really causes addiction -- to everything from cocaine to smart-phones? And how can we overcome it? Johann Hari has seen our current methods fail firsthand, as he has watched loved ones struggle to manage their addictions. He started to wonder why we treat addicts the way we do -- and if there might be a better way. As he shares in this deeply personal talk, his questions took him around the world, and unearthed some surprising and hopeful ways of thinking about an age-old problem.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do we do when antibiotics don't work any more? | Maryn McKenna

Thu, 25 Jun 2015 14:53:28 GMT

Penicillin changed everything. Infections that had previously killed were suddenly quickly curable. Yet as Maryn McKenna shares in this sobering talk, we've squandered the advantages afforded us by that and later antibiotics. Drug-resistant bacteria mean we're entering a post-antibiotic world -- and it won't be pretty. There are, however, things we can do ... if we start right now.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Physical therapy is boring -- play a game instead | Cosmin Mihaiu

Tue, 19 May 2015 14:56:55 GMT

You've just been injured, and you're on the way home from an hour of physical therapy. The last thing you want to do on your own is confusing exercises that take too long to show results. TED Fellow Cosmin Mihaiu demos a fun, cheap solution that turns boring physical therapy exercises into a video game with crystal-clear instructions.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Programming bacteria to detect cancer (and maybe treat it) | Tal Danino

Thu, 07 May 2015 15:03:26 GMT

Liver cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to detect, but synthetic biologist Tal Danino had a left-field thought: What if we could create a probiotic, edible bacteria that was "programmed" to find liver tumors? His insight exploits something we're just beginning to understand about bacteria: their power of quorum sensing, or doing something together once they reach critical mass. Danino, a TED Fellow, explains how quorum sensing works -- and how clever bacteria working together could someday change cancer treatment.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why we laugh | Sophie Scott

Thu, 30 Apr 2015 15:00:30 GMT

Did you know that you're 30 times more likely to laugh if you're with somebody else than if you're alone? Cognitive neuroscientist Sophie Scott shares this and other surprising facts about laughter in this fast-paced, action-packed and, yes, hilarious dash through the science of cracking up.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The next outbreak? We're not ready | Bill Gates

Fri, 03 Apr 2015 14:58:45 GMT

In 2014, the world avoided a global outbreak of Ebola, thanks to thousands of selfless health workers -- plus, frankly, some very good luck. In hindsight, we know what we should have done better. So, now's the time, Bill Gates suggests, to put all our good ideas into practice, from scenario planning to vaccine research to health worker training. As he says, "There's no need to panic ... but we need to get going."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime | Nadine Burke Harris

Tue, 17 Feb 2015 15:50:36 GMT

Childhood trauma isn’t something you just get over as you grow up. Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris explains that the repeated stress of abuse, neglect and parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues has real, tangible effects on the development of the brain. This unfolds across a lifetime, to the point where those who’ve experienced high levels of trauma are at triple the risk for heart disease and lung cancer. An impassioned plea for pediatric medicine to confront the prevention and treatment of trauma, head-on.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why we all need to practice emotional first aid | Guy Winch

Mon, 16 Feb 2015 16:08:15 GMT

We'll go to the doctor when we feel flu-ish or a nagging pain. So why don't we see a health professional when we feel emotional pain: guilt, loss, loneliness? Too many of us deal with common psychological-health issues on our own, says Guy Winch. But we don't have to. He makes a compelling case to practice emotional hygiene — taking care of our emotions, our minds, with the same diligence we take care of our bodies.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My simple invention, designed to keep my grandfather safe | Kenneth Shinozuka

Thu, 12 Feb 2015 16:00:20 GMT

60% of people with dementia wander off, an issue that can prove hugely stressful for both patients and caregivers. In this charming talk, hear how teen inventor Kenneth Shinozuka came up with a novel solution to help his night-wandering grandfather and the aunt who looks after him ... and how he hopes to help others with Alzheimer's.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Humanity vs. Ebola. How we could win a terrifying war | Bruce Aylward

Tue, 03 Feb 2015 16:00:47 GMT

"Ebola threatens everything that makes us human," says Bruce Aylward of the World Health Organization. And when the Ebola epidemic exploded in 2014, it caused a worldwide panic. But humanity can beat Ebola -- and Aylward shows four strategies that show how we are succeeding. The fight against Ebola is not yet won, he says, but it can be.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why some people find exercise harder than others | Emily Balcetis

Tue, 25 Nov 2014 16:06:32 GMT

Why do some people struggle more than others to keep off the pounds? Social psychologist Emily Balcetis shows research that addresses one of the many factors: our vision. In an informative talk, she shows how when it comes to fitness, some people quite literally see the world differently -- and offers a surprisingly simple solution to overcome these differences.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This gel can make you stop bleeding instantly | Joe Landolina

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 16:18:09 GMT

Forget stitches -- there's a better way to close wounds. In this talk, TED Fellow Joe Landolina talks about his invention -- a medical gel that can instantly stop traumatic bleeding without the need to apply pressure. (Contains medical images.)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What your doctor won’t disclose | Leana Wen

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 16:05:49 GMT

Wouldn’t you want to know if your doctor was a paid spokesman for a drug company? Or held personal beliefs incompatible with the treatment you want? Right now, in the US at least, your doctor simply doesn’t have to tell you about that. And when physician Leana Wen asked her fellow doctors to open up, the reaction she got was … unsettling.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The coming crisis in antibiotics | Ramanan Laxminarayan

Mon, 10 Nov 2014 16:17:01 GMT

Antibiotic drugs save lives. But we simply use them too much — and often for non-lifesaving purposes, like treating the flu and even raising cheaper chickens. The result, says researcher Ramanan Laxminarayan, is that the drugs will stop working for everyone, as the bacteria they target grow more and more resistant. He calls on all of us (patients and doctors alike) to think of antibiotics -- and their ongoing effectiveness -- as a finite resource, and to think twice before we tap into it. It's a sobering look at how global medical trends can strike home.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yes, I survived cancer. But that doesn't define me | Debra Jarvis

Thu, 30 Oct 2014 14:50:57 GMT

Debra Jarvis had worked as a hospital chaplain for nearly 30 years when she was diagnosed with cancer. And she learned quite a bit as a patient. In a witty, daring talk, she explains how the identity of “cancer survivor” can feel static. She asks us all to claim our hardest experiences, while giving ourselves room to grow and evolve.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The simple power of hand-washing | Myriam Sidibe

Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:11:21 GMT

Myriam Sidibe is a warrior in the fight against childhood disease. Her weapon of choice? A bar of soap. For cost-effective prevention against sickness, it’s hard to beat soapy hand-washing, which cuts down risk of pneumonia, diarrhea, cholera and worse. Sidibe, a public-health expert, makes a smart case for public-private partnerships to promote clean hands — and local, sustainable entrepreneurship.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One more reason to get a good night's sleep | Jeff Iliff

Mon, 13 Oct 2014 15:06:31 GMT

The brain uses a quarter of the body's entire energy supply, yet only accounts for about two percent of the body's mass. So how does this unique organ receive and, perhaps more importantly, rid itself of vital nutrients? New research suggests it has to do with sleep.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why thinking you're ugly is bad for you | Meaghan Ramsey

Tue, 07 Oct 2014 16:46:06 GMT

About 10,000 people a month Google the phrase, “Am I ugly?” Meaghan Ramsey of the Dove Self-Esteem Project has a feeling that many of them are young girls. In a deeply unsettling talk, she walks us through the surprising impacts of low body and image confidence—from lower grade point averages to greater risk-taking with drugs and alcohol. And then shares the key things all of us can do to disrupt this reality.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A neural portrait of the human mind | Nancy Kanwisher

Thu, 02 Oct 2014 01:01:00 GMT

Brain imaging pioneer Nancy Kanwisher, who uses fMRI scans to see activity in brain regions (often her own), shares what she and her colleagues have learned: The brain is made up of both highly specialized components and general-purpose "machinery." Another surprise: There's so much left to learn.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Am I dying?” The honest answer. | Matthew O'Reilly

Thu, 25 Sep 2014 15:30:31 GMT

Matthew O’Reilly is a veteran emergency medical technician on Long Island, New York. In this talk, O’Reilly describes what happens next when a gravely hurt patient asks him: “Am I going to die?”

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes us get sick? Look upstream | Rishi Manchanda

Mon, 15 Sep 2014 15:00:03 GMT

Rishi Manchanda has worked as a doctor in South Central Los Angeles for a decade, where he’s come to realize: His job isn’t just about treating a patient’s symptoms, but about getting to the root cause of what is making them ill—the “upstream" factors like a poor diet, a stressful job, a lack of fresh air. It’s a powerful call for doctors to pay attention to a patient's life outside the exam room.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to live passionately—no matter your age | Isabel Allende

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 14:54:33 GMT

Author Isabel Allende is 71. Yes, she has a few wrinkles—but she has incredible perspective too. In this candid talk, meant for viewers of all ages, she talks about her fears as she gets older and shares how she plans to keep on living passionately.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Own your body's data | Talithia Williams

Mon, 11 Aug 2014 15:10:11 GMT

The new breed of high-tech self-monitors (measuring heartrate, sleep, steps per day) might seem targeted at competitive athletes. But Talithia Williams, a statistician, makes a compelling case that all of us should be measuring and recording simple data about our bodies every day — because our own data can reveal much more than even our doctors may know.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The hunt for "unexpected genetic heroes" | Stephen Friend

Thu, 29 May 2014 15:18:57 GMT

What can we learn from people with the genetics to get sick — who don't? With most inherited diseases, only some family members will develop the disease, while others who carry the same genetic risks dodge it. Stephen Friend suggests we start studying those family members who stay healthy. Hear about the Resilience Project, a massive effort to collect genetic materials that may help decode inherited disorders.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A glimpse of life on the road | Kitra Cahana

Wed, 28 May 2014 15:11:03 GMT

As a young girl, photojournalist and TED Fellow Kitra Cahana dreamed about running away from home to live freely on the road. Now as an adult and self-proclaimed vagabond, she follows modern nomads into their homes -- boxcars, bus stops, parking lots, rest stop bathrooms -- giving a glimpse into a culture on the margins.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How I help transgender teens become who they want to be | Norman Spack

Wed, 16 Apr 2014 15:10:48 GMT

Puberty is an awkward time for just about everybody, but for transgender teens it can be a nightmare, as they grow overnight into bodies they aren't comfortable with. In a heartfelt talk, Norman Spack tells a personal story of how he became one of the few doctors in the US to treat minors with hormone replacement therapy. By staving off the effects of puberty, Spack gives trans teens the time they need.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can the damaged brain repair itself? | Siddharthan Chandran

Mon, 24 Feb 2014 16:39:33 GMT

After a traumatic brain injury, it sometimes happens that the brain can repair itself, building new brain cells to replace damaged ones. But the repair doesn't happen quickly enough to allow recovery from degenerative conditions like motor neuron disease (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease or ALS). Siddharthan Chandran walks through some new techniques using special stem cells that could allow the damaged brain to rebuild faster.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new way to grow bone | Molly Stevens

Tue, 18 Feb 2014 15:59:16 GMT

What does it take to regrow bone in mass quantities? Typical bone regeneration -- wherein bone is taken from a patient’s hip and grafted onto damaged bone elsewhere in the body -- is limited and can cause great pain just a few years after operation. In an informative talk, Molly Stevens introduces a new stem cell application that harnesses bone’s innate ability to regenerate and produces vast quantities of bone tissue painlessly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

His and hers ... health care | Paula Johnson

Wed, 22 Jan 2014 16:07:14 GMT

Every cell in the human body has a sex, which means that men and women are different right down to the cellular level. Yet too often, research and medicine ignore this insight -- and the often startlingly different ways in which the two sexes respond to disease or treatment. As pioneering doctor Paula Johnson describes in this thought-provoking talk, lumping everyone in together means we essentially leave women's health to chance. It's time to rethink.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Demo: A needle-free vaccine patch that's safer and way cheaper | Mark Kendall

Tue, 14 Jan 2014 16:01:42 GMT

One hundred sixty years after the invention of the needle and syringe, we're still using them to deliver vaccines; it's time to evolve. Biomedical engineer Mark Kendall demos the Nanopatch, a one-centimeter-by-one-centimeter square vaccine that can be applied painlessly to the skin. He shows how this tiny piece of silicon can overcome four major shortcomings of the modern needle and syringe, at a fraction of the cost.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why dieting doesn't usually work | Sandra Aamodt

Wed, 08 Jan 2014 16:00:48 GMT

In the US, 80% of girls have been on a diet by the time they're 10 years old. In this honest, raw talk, neuroscientist Sandra Aamodt uses her personal story to frame an important lesson about how our brains manage our bodies, as she explores the science behind why dieting not only doesn't work, but is likely to do more harm than good. She suggests ideas for how to live a less diet-obsessed life, intuitively.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How an obese town lost a million pounds | Mick Cornett

Thu, 02 Jan 2014 16:21:58 GMT

Oklahoma City is a midsized town that had a big problem: It was among the most obese towns in America. Mayor Mick Cornett realized that, to make his city a great place to work and live, it had to become healthier too. In this charming talk, he walks us through the interlocking changes that helped OKC drop a collective million pounds (450,000 kilos).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Depression, the secret we share | Andrew Solomon

Wed, 18 Dec 2013 16:01:49 GMT

"The opposite of depression is not happiness, but vitality, and it was vitality that seemed to seep away from me in that moment." In a talk equal parts eloquent and devastating, writer Andrew Solomon takes you to the darkest corners of his mind during the years he battled depression. That led him to an eye-opening journey across the world to interview others with depression -- only to discover that, to his surprise, the more he talked, the more people wanted to tell their own stories.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How societies can grow old better | Jared Diamond

Mon, 25 Nov 2013 16:16:55 GMT

There's an irony behind the latest efforts to extend human life: It's no picnic to be an old person in a youth-oriented society. Older people can become isolated, lacking meaningful work and low on funds. In this intriguing talk, Jared Diamond looks at how many different societies treat their elders -- some better, some worse -- and suggests we all take advantage of experience.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to make stress your friend | Kelly McGonigal

Wed, 04 Sep 2013 14:59:43 GMT

Stress. It makes your heart pound, your breathing quicken and your forehead sweat. But while stress has been made into a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive, and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.