Brain Candy

Eric Haseltine on the TED stage in New York, NY.

Science

Eric Haseltine: Can The Past Guide Us To Future Scientific Breakthroughs?

3:02pm February 24, 2017

by NPR/TED STAFF

Trained as a neuroscientist, Eric Haseltine always asks questions. He's identified four concepts that lead to scientific breakthrough. One of them: acknowledging we're not the center of the universe.

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Michael Stevens speaks on the TED Stage in La Quinta, California.

Science
Arts

Michael Stevens: How Do You Find Smart Answers to Quirky Questions?

3:02pm February 24, 2017

by NPR/TED STAFF

When Michael Stevens is confronted with a quirky question, he responsibly searches for the answer and posts it to YouTube — inviting millions of people to follow his journey of discovery.

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Science
Arts

Naomi Oreskes: Why Should We Believe In Science?

3:02pm February 24, 2017

by NPR/TED STAFF

In school, we're taught we should trust science because the scientific method leads to measurable results and hard facts. But Naomi Oreskes says the process of inquiry doesn't end there.

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Kevin Jones on the TED Stage in Salt Lake City

Kevin Jones: Can Embracing Uncertainty Lead To Better Medicine?

3:02pm February 24, 2017

by NPR/TED STAFF

Sometimes, doctors just don't have the answers. Surgeon Kevin Jones says having the humility to acknowledge this leads to better medicine.

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Liz Coleman on the TED stage in Long Beach, CA.

Liz Coleman: How Do We Teach College Students To Ask Big Questions?

3:02pm February 24, 2017

by NPR/TED STAFF

Former Bennington College President Liz Coleman believes higher education is overly-specialized & complacent. She says we need to encourage students to ask bigger questions and take more risks.

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An illustration from 1875 depicts the survivors of the frigate Cospatrick, which caught fire off South Africa's Cape of Good Hope in November 1874. Of more than 470 people on board, just three ultimately survived, and they were reduced to cannibalism.

Cannibalism: It's 'Perfectly Natural,' A New Scientific History Argues

10:00am February 22, 2017

by Angus Chen

It's gruesome, but from a scientific standpoint, there's a predictable calculus for when humans and animals go cannibal, a new book says. And who knew European aristocrats ate body parts as medicine?

A virtual reality installation allows visitors to experience a doll's perspective as she's poked and prodded by a lab assistant. Read the full story at KQED.

Don't Think Your Bias Can Boss You Around? David Byrne Says Think Again

11:37am February 15, 2017

by Rachael Myrow

The musician and multimedia artist has co-created an immersive experience designed to make people aware of their implicit biases. It's called "The Institute Presents: Neurosociety."

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Scientists have genetically engineered mice (but not this cute one) to be resistant to the addictive effects of cocaine.

A Brain Tweak Lets Mice Abstain From Cocaine

4:36pm February 13, 2017

by Jon Hamilton

Scientists have created addiction-resistant mice by altering the reward system in their brains. The findings shed light on the biochemistry of addiction.

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Winston prepares for the hunt. Sure, he's adorable. But can he learn to sniff out fancy truffles?

Science

When Man's Best Friend Is The Worst At Truffle Hunting

8:22am February 09, 2017

by Juno DeMelo

Truffles are a culinary delicacy that sell for big bucks — and some dogs have long been bred specifically to sniff them out. But could any old dog be trained to pick up this lucrative new trick?

Motivated Reasoning: A Philosopher On Confirmation Bias

7:13pm January 28, 2017

Jonathan Ellis, a professor of philosophy at the University of California, Santa Cruz, talks about confirmation bias and its impact on our daily lives.

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