Xixi Wang

In 2023, our YouTube audience spent nearly 18 million hours watching TED-Ed Animations (that’s equal to over 2,000 years!). Our most-viewed videos of 2023 include an exploration of what it would be like to be reincarnated as every human who ever lived, a debunking of the most common misconceptions about the Middle Ages, tips on how to become an effective studier, one to help you understand if talking to yourself is normal (don’t worry, it is), and more.

Behold our top 10 most popular videos of 2023:

1. Food expiration dates don’t mean what you think

Countries around the world waste huge amounts of food every year: roughly a fifth of food items in the US are tossed because consumers aren’t sure how to interpret expiration labels. But most groceries are still perfectly safe to eat past their expiration dates. If the dates on our food don’t tell us that something’s gone bad, what do they tell us? Carolyn Beans shares how to prevent food waste.

2. Why do we have crooked teeth when our ancestors didn’t?

According to the fossil record, ancient humans usually had straight teeth, complete with wisdom teeth. In fact, the dental dilemmas that fuel the demand for braces and wisdom teeth extractions today appear to be recent developments. So, what happened? While it’s nearly impossible to know for sure, scientists have a hypothesis. G. Richard Scott shares the prevailing theory on crooked teeth.

3. How stretching actually changes your muscles

An athlete is preparing for a game. They’ve put on their gear and done their warmup, and now it’s time for one more routine — stretching. Typically, athletes stretch before physical activity to avoid injuries like strains and tears. But does stretching actually prevent these issues? And if so, how long do the benefits of stretching last? Malachy McHugh explores the finer points of flexibility.

4. What happens if you don’t put your phone in airplane mode?

Right now, invisible signals are flying through the air all around you. Massive radio waves carry information between computers, GPS systems, cell phones, and more. And the sky is flooded with interference from routers, satellites, and, of course, people flying who haven’t put their phones on airplane mode. So, what exactly does airplane mode do? Lindsay DeMarchi explains the setting’s importance.

5. 3 tips on how to study effectively

A 2006 study took a class of surgical residents and split them into two groups. Each received the same study materials, but one group was told to use specific study methods. When tested a month later, this group performed significantly better than the other residents. So, what were these methods? Explore how the brain learns and stores information and how to apply this to your study habits.

6. What if you experienced every human life in history?

Imagine that your life began as one of the planet’s first humans. After dying, you’re reincarnated as the second human ever to live. You then return as the third person, the fourth, the fifth, and so on – living the lives of every human that’s ever walked the Earth. How will your actions in one life impact your future selves? Explore the ethics of the philosophy known as longtermism.

7. Is it normal to talk to yourself?

Being caught talking to yourself can feel embarrassing, and some people even stigmatize this behavior as a sign of mental instability. But decades of research show that talking to yourself is completely normal; most if not all of us engage in some form of self-talk every day. So why do we talk to ourselves? And does what we say matter? Dig into the psychological benefits of positive self-talk.

8. How to make smart decisions more easily

Everything our bodies do— whether physical or mental— uses energy. Studies have found that many individuals seem to have a daily threshold for making decisions, and an extended period of decision-making can lead to cognitive exhaustion. So, what kinds of choices lead us to this state, and what can we do to fight fatigue? Explore the psychology of decision fatigue and ways you can avoid fatigue.

9. 6 myths about the Middle Ages that everyone believes

Medieval Europe. Where unbathed, sword-wielding knights ate rotten meat, thought the Earth was flat, defended chastity-belt wearing maidens, and tortured their foes with grisly gadgets. Except… this is more fiction than fact. So, where do all the myths about the Middle Ages come from? And what were they actually like? Stephanie Honchell Smith debunks common misconceptions about the time period.

10. How do airplanes stay in the air?

By 1917, Albert Einstein had explained the relationship between space and time. But, that year, he designed a flawed airplane wing. His attempt was based on an incomplete theory of how flight works. Indeed, insufficient and inaccurate explanations still circulate today. So, where did Einstein go wrong? And how exactly do planes fly? Raymond Adkins explains the concept of aerodynamic lift.

On behalf of everyone here at TED-Ed, thanks for learning with us this year!

To get brand new TED-Ed Animations delivered to your inbox for free in 2024, sign up for the TED-Ed weekly newsletter here >>

Check out our most popular Animations for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018.

Xixi Wang

TED-Ed is excited to announce that our award-winning animations are now be available in German, Hindi, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish, Arabic, French, Hebrew, Swahili, Portuguese, and Thai via new YouTube channels!

TED-Ed’s mission is to spark curiosity and spread lessons worth sharing to students, educators and life-long learners around the world. In an effort to make our animated shorts more widely accessible, TED-Ed has partnered with talented voice actors and translators around the world to publish professionally dubbed animated shorts on a weekly basis.

Subscribe to our new YouTube channels today:

German: TED-Ed Deutsch

Hindi: TED-Ed हिन्दी

Japanese: TED-Ed 日本

Mandarin: TED-Ed 中文

Spanish: TED-Ed Español

Arabic: TED-Ed اللغةالعربية

French: TED-Ed Français

Hebrew: TED-Ed בעברית

Swahili: TED-Ed Kiswahili

Portuguese: TED-Ed Português

Thai: TED-Ed ภาษาไทย

If you know a curious language-learner or speaker of one of these languages, share this blog post with them to spread the word!

Xixi Wang

In 2022, our YouTube audience spent nearly 24 million hours watching TED-Ed Animations (that’s equal to over 2,700 years!). Our most-viewed videos of 2022 include an eye-opening glimpse into the diverse world of animal pupils, a bring-your-son-to-work day gone terribly, tragically wrong, the surprising electrical powers of sausage, one to help you understand why you procrastinate (even though you know you shouldn’t), and more.

Behold our top 10 most popular videos of 2022:

1. Why is it so hard to escape poverty?

Imagine that you’ve been unemployed for months. Government benefit programs have helped you cover your expenses, but you’re barely getting by. Finally, you receive a paycheck— but there’s a catch. Your new job pays enough to disqualify you from benefit programs, but not enough to cover your costs. So how do we design benefit programs that don’t penalize you for working? Ann-Helén Bay investigates.

2. Why do cats have vertical pupils?

Peering into the eyes of different animals, you’ll see some extraordinarily shaped pupils. House cats, for one, are twilight hunters with vertically elongated pupils. Many grazing animals, like goats, have rectangular pupils. Other animals have crescent- or heart-shaped pupils. So, what’s going on? Why are there so many different pupil shapes? Emma Bryce digs into the science of animal vision.

3. Why you procrastinate even when it feels bad

The report you’ve been putting off is due tomorrow. It’s time to buckle down, open your computer … and check your phone. Maybe watch your favorite YouTube channel? Or maybe you should just start in the morning? This is the cycle of procrastination. So, why do we procrastinate when we know it’s bad for us? Explore how your body triggers a procrastination response, and how you can break the cycle.

4. How does heart transplant surgery work?

Your heart beats more than 100,000 times a day. In just a minute, it pumps over five liters of blood throughout your body. But unlike skin and bones, the heart has a limited ability to repair itself. So if this organ is severely damaged, there’s often only one medical solution: replacing it. Roni Shanoada explores how this complex and intricate procedure works.

5. Why are cockroaches so hard to kill?

In ancient Egypt, there was a spell that declared, “Be far from me, O vile cockroach.” Thousands of years later, we’re still trying to oust these insects. But from poison traps to brandished slippers, cockroaches seem to weather just about everything we throw at them. So, what makes cockroaches so hard to kill? Ameya Gondhalekar digs into the genetic wonders of this troublingly tenacious creature.

6. Why is the Mona Lisa so famous?

More than 500 years after its creation, Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” is arguably the world’s most famous painting. Many scholars consider it an outstanding work of Renaissance art— but history is full of great paintings. So, how did this particular portrait skyrocket to unprecedented fame? Noah Charney explores the factors that helped create a worldwide sensation.

7. The tragic myth of the Sun God’s son

Every morning, Helios unleashed his golden chariot, and set out across the sky. As the Sun God transformed dawn into day, he thought of his son, Phaethon, below. To prove to Phaethon that he was truly his father, Helios decided to grant him anything he wanted. Unfortunately, what Phaethon wanted was to drive Helios’ chariot for a day. Iseult Gillespie shares the tragic myth of the charioteer.

8. The myth of Hades and Persephone

One day, Persephone was frolicking in a meadow with the nymph, Cyane. As they admired a flower, they noticed it tremble in the ground. Suddenly, the earth split, and a terrifying figure arose. It was Hades, god of the underworld. He wrenched Persephone from Cyane, dragged her into his inky chariot, and blasted back through the earth. Iseult Gillespie shares the myth of the goddess of spring.

9. Why a sausage does what your gloves cannot

In 2010, South Korea experienced a particularly cold winter. People couldn’t activate their smartphones while wearing gloves, so they began wielding snack sausages— causing one company to see a 40% rise in sausage sales. So, what could sausages do that gloves couldn’t? In other words, how do touchscreens actually work? Charles Wallace and Sajan Saini dig into the science of touchscreens.

10. What is the rarest color in nature?

Plants, animals, or minerals found in nature bear almost every color imaginable. There are two factors that influence what hues you see in the wild: physics and evolution. So, which colors are you least likely to see in the natural world? Victoria Hwang explores one of nature’s rarest spectacles.

On behalf of everyone here at TED-Ed, thanks for learning with us this year!

To get brand new TED-Ed Animations delivered to your inbox for free in 2023, sign up for the TED-Ed weekly newsletter here >>

Check out our most popular Animations for 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018.

Elise Haadsma

In 2021, our YouTube audience spent over 36 million hours watching TED-Ed Animations (that’s equal to over 4,100 years!). Our most-viewed videos of 2021 include a self-healing, cannibalistic salamander, a pair of star-crossed lovers, a handful to help you understand your body, an epic journey to the end of the world, and more.

Behold our top 10 most popular videos of 2021:

1. What causes dandruff, and how do you get rid of it?

On top of our heads, there is a type of yeast that lives and dines on all of our scalps. Feasting constantly, it’s in paradise. And in about half of the human population, its activity causes dandruff. So, why do some people have more dandruff than others? And how can it be treated? Thomas L. Dawson explores this head-scratching problem.

2. Why do we have hair in such random places?

We have lots in common with our closest primate relatives. But comparatively, humans seem a bit… underdressed. Instead of thick fur covering our bodies, many of us mainly have hair on top of our heads— and a few other places. So, how did we get so naked? And why do we have hair where we do? Nina G. Jablonski explores the evolution of human hair.

3. Savitri and Satyavan: The legend of the princess who outwitted Death

Princess Savitri was benevolent, brilliant, and bright. Her grace was known throughout the land, and many princes and merchants flocked to her family’s palace to seek her hand in marriage. But upon witnessing her blinding splendor in person, the men lost their nerve. Unimpressed with these suitors, she determined to find a husband herself. Iseult Gillespie tells the tale of Savitri and Satyavan.

4. How long should your naps be?

Your eyes get heavy and gradually close… But wait! It’s only lunch time and you still have so much to do. Would taking a nap help? Or would it derail your day? Well, that depends on a few things— especially what stages of sleep the nap includes. Sara C. Mednick details the cognitive benefits of napping, and explores the optimal length and time of day for a quick snooze.

5. Axolotls: The salamanders that snack on each other (but don’t die)

Axolotls are one of science’s most studied animals. Why, you ask? These extraordinary salamanders are masters of regeneration: they can flawlessly regenerate body parts ranging from amputated limbs and crushed spines to parts of their eyes and brains. So, how do they do it? And what other secrets are they keeping? Luis Zambrano explores the baffling biology of the axolotl.

6. What happens to your brain during a migraine?

A throbbing, pounding headache. Bright zigzagging lines across your field of vision. Sensitivity to light, lingering fatigue, disrupted sleep. While an incapacitating headache is one of the most common symptoms, a migraine can include any of these experiences. So what exactly is a migraine? And what causes it? Marianne Schwarz explores what we know— and don’t know— about this complex disorder.

7. Why don’t we cover the desert in solar panels?

Stretching over roughly nine million square kilometers and with sands reaching temperatures of up to 80° Celsius, the Sahara Desert receives about 22 million terawatt hours of energy from the Sun every year. That’s well over 100 times more energy than humanity consumes annually. So, could covering the desert with solar panels solve our energy problems? Dan Kwartler digs into the possibility.

8. The epic of Gilgamesh, the king who tried to conquer death

In 1849, in the ancient city of Nineveh in Iraq, archaeologists sifted through dusty remains, hoping to find records to prove that Bible stories were true. What they found instead was a 4,000-year-old story inscribed on crumbling clay tablets— a story that was so riveting, the first person to translate it started stripping from excitement. Soraya Field Fiorio tells the epic tale of Gilgamesh.

9. The Norse myth that inspired “The Lord of the Rings”

The dwarves were master craftspeople. One dwarf, Andvari, forged marvelous creations. He often took the form of a fish and, one day, he swam to the land of the water nymphs, who guarded mounds of gold. When the nymphs laughed at his appearance, Andvari grew infuriated and seized their gold. With it, he crafted himself a special ring. Iseult Gillespie shares the Norse myth of the cursed ring.

10. You could have a secret twin (but not the way you think)

While searching for a kidney donor, Karen Keegan stumbled upon a mystery. After undergoing genetic testing, it turned out that some of her cells had a completely different set of genes from the others. And this second set of genes belonged to her twin sister— who had never been born. How did this happen? Kayla Mandel Sheets explores the condition known as chimerism.

On behalf of everyone here at TED-Ed, thanks for learning with us this year!

To get brand new TED-Ed Animations delivered to your inbox for free in 2022, sign up for the TED-Ed weekly newsletter here >>

Check out our most popular Animations for 2020, 2019, and 2018.

Alexandra Panzer

In 2020, our YouTube audience spent nearly 32 million hours watching TED-Ed Animations (that’s equal to over 3,600 years!). Our most-viewed videos of 2020 include a couple of lovestruck tricksters, a self-cloning candy-pooping bug, a mysterious mathematician, a handful to help understand pandemics, and more.

Behold our top 10 most popular videos of 2020:

1. When is a pandemic over?

Consider the following scenario: a highly infectious, sometimes deadly respiratory virus infects humans for the first time. It spreads rapidly worldwide, and the WHO declares a pandemic. The death toll starts to rise and everyone is asking the same question: when will the pandemic end? Alex Rosenthal details the three main strategies governments can use to contain and end a pandemic.

2. The tale of the doctor who defied Death

A husband and wife were in despair. The woman had just given birth to their 13th child, and the growing family was quickly running out of food and money. Wandering into the woods, the father encountered a skeletal figure with sunken eyes and a gaunt face: this was Death himself, come to offer his services as Godfather. Iseult Gillespie tells the tale of Death and the doctor.

3. How does alcohol make you drunk?

Ethanol: this molecule, made of little more than a few carbon atoms, is responsible for drunkenness. Often simply referred to as alcohol, ethanol is the active ingredient in alcoholic beverages. So how exactly does it cause drunkenness, and why does it have dramatically different effects on different people? Judy Grisel explores alcohol’s journey through the body.

4. The bug that poops candy

Aphids can reproduce incredibly fast: they can make 20 new generations within a single season. And that means lots of poop. Some aphid populations can produce hundreds of kilograms of poop per acre— making them some of the most prolific poopers on the planet. We know this poop as the sweet, syrupy liquid called honeydew. George Zaidan explores the wonderfully weird life of an aphid.

5. What really happened during the Salem Witch Trials

You’ve been accused of a crime you did not commit. It’s impossible to prove your innocence. If you insist that you’re innocent anyway, you’ll likely be found guilty and executed. But if you confess, apologize, and implicate others, you’ll go free. This was the choice facing those accused of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts in the 17th century. How did this happen? Brian A. Pavlac investigates.

6. The tale of the boy who tricked the Devil

In a small town, a proud mother showed off her newborn son. Upon noticing his lucky birthmark, townsfolk predicted he would marry a princess. But soon, these rumors reached the wicked king. Enraged, the king stole the child away, and sent him hurtling down the river. But the infant’s luck proved greater than the king’s plan. Iseult Gillespie tells the tale of the boy’s journey to meet the Devil.

7. How fast can a vaccine be made?

When a new pathogen emerges, our bodies and healthcare systems are left vulnerable. And when this pathogen causes the outbreak of a pandemic, there’s an urgent need for a vaccine to create widespread immunity with minimal loss of life. So how quickly can we develop vaccines when we need them most? Dan Kwartler describes the three phases of vaccine development.

8. What’s that ringing in your ears?

Tinnitus has been bothering humanity since Ancient Babylon, plaguing everyone from Leonardo da Vinci to Charles Darwin. Today, roughly one in seven people worldwide experiences this auditory sensation. So what exactly is tinnitus, and where does this persistent sound come from? Marc Fagelson travels into the auditory system to explore the loss of silence.

9. The greatest mathematician that never lived

When Nicolas Bourbaki applied to the American Mathematical Society in the 1950s, he was already one of the most influential mathematicians of his time. He’d published articles in international journals and his textbooks were required reading. Yet his application was firmly rejected for one simple reason: Nicolas Bourbaki did not exist. How is that possible? Pratik Aghor digs into the mystery.

10. Can you solve the Ragnarok riddle?

Ragnarok: The fabled end of the world, when giants, monsters, and Norse gods battle for the future. The gods were winning until the great serpent Jörmungandr emerged. It swallowed Valhalla and contorted itself across the land. Odin has just enough power to strike with one final bolt of lightning, and you have the fabled hammer, Mjölnir. Can you two destroy the serpent? Dan Finkel shows how.

On behalf of everyone here at TED-Ed, thanks for learning with us this year!

To get brand new TED-Ed Animations delivered to your inbox for free in 2021, sign up for the TED-Ed weekly newsletter here >>

Elise Haadsma

In 2019, our YouTube audience spent over 23 million hours watching TED-Ed Animations (that’s equal to over 2,600 years!). Our most-viewed videos of 2019 include a couple of monumental myths, a radical and rebellious nun, an infamous personality test, and more.

Behold our top 10 most popular videos of 2019:

1. The history of the world according to cats

In ancient times, wildcats were fierce carnivorous hunters. And unlike dogs, who have undergone centuries of selective breeding, modern cats are genetically very similar to ancient cats. How did these solitary, fierce predators become our sofa sidekicks? Eva-Maria Geigl traces the domestication of the modern house cat. Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

2. History’s “worst” nun

Juana Ramírez de Asbaje sat before a panel of prestigious theologians, jurists, and mathematicians. They had been invited to test Juana’s knowledge with the most difficult questions they could muster. But she successfully answered every challenge, from complicated equations to philosophical queries. Who was this impressive woman? Theresa Yugar details the life of the Mexican poet and scholar. Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

3. The surprising reason our muscles get tired

You’re lifting weights. The first time feels easy, but each lift takes more and more effort until you can’t continue. Inside your arms, the muscles responsible for the lifting have become unable to contract. What’s going on? Christian Moro explains how exactly our muscles operate, and what causes them to become fatigued. Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

4. How to spot a pyramid scheme

In 2004, a nutrition company offered a life-changing opportunity to earn a full-time income for part-time work. There were only two steps to get started: purchase a $500 kit and recruit two more members. By 2013, the company was making $200 million. There was just one problem — the vast majority of members earned less than they paid in. Stacie Bosley explains what a pyramid scheme is and how to spot one. Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

5. A brief history of cannibalism

15th century Europeans believed they had hit upon a miracle cure: a remedy for epilepsy, hemorrhage, bruising, nausea and virtually any other medical ailment. It was a brown powder known as “mumia,” and was made by grinding up mummified human flesh. But just how common is human cannibalism, and how do cultures partake in it? Bill Schutt explores the complex history of cannibalism. Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

6. Ancient Rome’s most notorious doctor

In the 16th century, an anatomist named Andreas Vesalius made a shocking discovery: the most famous human anatomy texts in the world were wrong. While Vesalius knew he was right, announcing the errors would mean challenging Galen of Pergamon. Who was this towering figure? And why was he still revered and feared 1,300 years later? Ramon Glazov profiles the most renowned physician in medical history. Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

7. The myth of Pandora’s box

Pandora was the first mortal woman, breathed into being by Hephaestus, god of fire. The gods gave her gifts of language, craftsmanship and emotion. From Zeus she received two gifts: the trait of curiosity and a heavy box screwed tightly shut — never to be opened. But what treasure could never be seen by human eyes, and why was it in her care? Iseult Gillespie explores the mystery of Pandora’s box. Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

8. How Thor got his hammer

Loki the mischief-maker, writhes in Thor’s iron grip. The previous night, he’d snuck up on Thor’s wife and shorn off her beautiful hair. To fix what he’d done, Loki rushes to the dwarves and tricks them into making gifts for the gods. Wanting to best their smith rivals, the dwarves make a set of golden treasures, including a hammer called Mjolnir. Scott A. Mellor traces the legend of Thor’s hammer. Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

9. How does the Rorschach inkblot test work?

For nearly a century, ten inkblots have been used as an almost mystical personality test. Long kept confidential for psychologists and their patients, the mysterious images were said to draw out the workings of a person’s mind. But what can inkblots really tell us, and how does this test work? Damion Searls details how the Rorschach Test can help us understand the patterns of our perceptions. Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

10. Einstein’s twin paradox explained

On their 20th birthday, identical twin astronauts volunteer for an experiment. Terra will remain on Earth, while Stella will board a spaceship. Stella’s ship will travel to visit a star that is 10 light-years away, then return to Earth. As they prepare to part ways, the twins wonder what will happen when they’re reunited. Who will be older? Amber Stuver investigates the “Twin Paradox.” Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

On behalf of everyone here at TED-Ed, thanks for learning with us this year!

To get brand new TED-Ed Animations delivered to your inbox for free in 2020, sign up for the TED-Ed weekly newsletter here >>

In 2018, our YouTube audience spent over 20 million hours watching TED-Ed Animations. Our most-viewed videos of 2018 include a handful of monumental myths, an epic battle of tape vs. glue, a menagerie of the animal kingdom’s most competitive cannibals, and more. Behold our top 10 most popular videos of 2018:

1. Can you solve the wizard standoff riddle?

You’ve been chosen as a champion to represent your wizarding house in a deadly duel against two rival magic schools. Your opponents are a powerful sorcerer who wields a wand that can turn people into fish, and a powerful enchantress who wields a wand that turns people into statues. Can you choose a wand and devise a strategy that ensures you will win the duel? Dan Finkel shows how. Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

2. A day in the life of a Roman soldier

The year is 15 CE, and the Roman Empire is prospering. Most of the credit will go to the emperor, but this success wouldn’t have been possible without loyal soldiers like Servius Felix. Robert Garland illuminates what life was like for a solider in the Roman army. Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

3. Which is stronger: Glue or tape?

The oldest glue in the world is over 8,000 years old and comes from a cave near the Dead Sea. Today, we have enough types of tape and glue to build and repair almost anything. But what gives glue and tape their stickiness? And is one stronger than the other? Elizabeth Cox explores the world of adhesives. Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

4. The myth of Arachne

From sailors who were turned into pigs, nymphs that sprouted into trees, and a gaze that converted the beholder to stone, Greek mythology brims with shape-shifters. The powerful Gods usually changed their own forms at will – but for mortals, the mutations were often unwanted. Iseult Gillespie shares how one such unnerving transformation befell the spinner Arachne. Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

5. The myth of Thor’s journey to the land of giants

Thor—son of Odin, god of thunder, and protector of mankind—struggled mightily against his greatest challenge yet: opening a bag of food. How had the mighty god fallen so far? Scott Mellor tells the myth of Thor’s journey to Utgard. Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

6. The tragic myth of Orpheus and Eurydice

The marriage of Orpheus, the greatest of all poets and musicians, to Eurydice, a wood nymph, was heralded as the perfect union. Anyone could tell the couple was deeply in love. So when their wedding ceremony ended in Eurydice’s untimely death, Orpheus had no choice but to venture into the underworld to try to reclaim his lost love. Brendan Pelsue shares the tragic myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

7. Why can’t you divide by zero?

In the world of math, many strange results are possible when we change the rules. But there’s one rule that most of us have been warned not to break: don’t divide by zero. How can the simple combination of an everyday number and a basic operation cause such problems? Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

8. The myth of King Midas and his golden touch

In Greek mythology, King Midas is known as a rogue ruler whose antics bemused his people and irritated the Gods. Many know the classic story of Midas’s golden touch, but the foolish king was also known for his unusual pair of ears. Iseult Gillespie shares the myth of King Midas. Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

9. Cannibalism in the animal kingdom

Until recently, scientists thought cannibalism was a rare response to starvation or other extreme stress. Well-known cannibals like the praying mantis and black widow were considered bizarre exceptions. But now, we know they more or less represent the rule. Bill Schutt shows how cannibalism can promote the survival of a species by reducing competition, culling the weak, and bolstering the strong. Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

10. Can you solve the seven planets riddle?

Your interstellar police squad has tracked a group of criminals to a cluster of seven planets. Now you must apprehend them before their reinforcements arrive. Of course, the fugitives won’t just stay put – they’ll try to dodge you by moving from planet to planet. Can you devise a sequence for searching the planets that’s guaranteed to catch them in ten warps or less? Edwin F. Meyer shows how. Watch this TED-Ed Animation below.

On behalf of everyone here at TED-Ed, thanks for learning with us this year!

To get brand new TED-Ed Animations delivered to your inbox for free in 2019, sign up for the TED-Ed weekly newsletter here >>

The first US president was elected in 1789, and while some traditions remain, many voting laws have changed and evolved since then. So, who gets to vote? Why do Americans vote on Tuesdays? And, what’s even on the ballot?

Let’s face it: Politics can be baffling. As important as it is to research the candidates, it’s just as important to understand the political system, so you can be empowered to participate effectively in your government. Here are a few TED-Ed Animations that can help to demystify US elections:

1. The fight for the right to vote in the United States

In the United States today, if you are over eighteen, a citizen, and the resident of a state, you can vote (with some exceptions). So, how have voting rights changed since the first election in 1789? Nicki Beaman Griffin outlines the history of the long fight for a more inclusive electorate. Watch this TED-Ed Lesson below.

2. Why do Americans vote on Tuesdays?

Since 1845, Americans have been voting on Tuesdays – but why? In this humorous video, Jacob Soboroff shares the history of Election Day and shows how voting on a Tuesday affects voter turnout. Watch this TED-Ed Lesson below.

3. Gerrymandering: How drawing jagged lines can impact an election

Why might you vote as part of a different district than your neighbor across the street? District lines, and the groups of voters within them, may seem arbitrary, but a lot of thought (and political bickering) is put into these carefully drawn lines. From “packing” a district to “cracking” a district — learn how the shape of districts impacts political parties during election season. Watch this TED-Ed Lesson below.

4. Does your vote count? The Electoral College explained

You vote, but then what? Discover how your individual vote contributes to the popular vote and your state’s electoral vote in different ways — and see how votes are counted on both state and national levels. Watch this TED-Ed Lesson below.

5. How is power divided in the United States government?

Okay, so what does the President do? And how is that different from what Congress does? Articles I-III of the United States Constitution allow for three separate branches of government (legislative, executive, and judicial), along with a system of checks and balances should any branch get too powerful. Belinda Stutzman breaks down each branch and its constitutionally entitled powers. Watch this TED-Ed Lesson below.

This November, Americans are not just voting for President, but for congressional seats, as well. If you’re a US citizen over 18, take a look at what seats in your district are up for reelection before heading to the ballots. And of course, make sure you are registered to vote!

You can register to vote here.

The ocean covers roughly 71% of our planet’s surface, and is by far the most dominant feature of our world. But what’s in it? Let’s dive in.

As you swim deeper into the depths of the ocean, you’ll feel the change in underwater pressure.

In fact, pressure increases by 14.7 pounds per square inch for every 33 foot increase in depth.

Just how vast and deep is the ocean exactly?

About 60% of the ocean is the cold and dark region known as the deep ocean. It reaches down 11,000 meters (almost 7 miles!). This remote zone, once thought to be devoid of life due to lack of sunlight, is one of the greatest habitats on Earth, harboring a huge diversity of life.

What kind of creatures can survive the deep ocean?

There is an abundance of weird and wonderful life forms that have adapted to the darkness. The anglerfish, with it’s cavernous mouth, spiky teeth and a lamp-like structure jutting from its head, is just one of these otherworldly creatures.

The deep sea is also the land of giants. Here, gargantuan squids can reach 18 meters long, and isopods scuttle around the sea floor like enormous woodlice. There are also long-limbed Japanese spider crabs, and oarfish, whose bodies stretch to 15 meters.

If you continue swimming up, you’ll see some more familiar predators.

High in the food chain are sharks. Though you may have trouble finding them, they have no problem finding you. Modern-day sharks can smell a few drops of blood and hear sounds underwater from 800 meters away.

As if these heightened abilities weren’t enough, sharks can hunt using a network of electrosensory cells called ampullae of Lorenzini. These cells are filled with hypersensitive jelly which allows them to detect electrical signals from prey, including the slightest twitch of a muscle.

The oceans’ predators come in all shapes and sizes, though.

Don’t be fooled by a jellyfish’s beautiful and gelatinous body- they pack a painful punch. With bodies made up of 95% water, these delicate creatures must rely on thousands of venom- containing stinging cells called cnidocytes for protection and prey capture. The largest species of jellyfish has tentacles that can reach more than 100 feet long- longer than a blue whale.

Unfortunately, there’s an even more imposing danger than sharks or jellyfish.

Overfishing has become a severe threat to the survival of marine life. Long fishing lines with hundreds of hooks or huge nets round up massive amounts of fish, along with other species, like seabirds, turtles and dolphins.

Technology developed for war is now guiding ships.

Radar, sonar, helicopters, and planes have enabled us to catch fish at greater depths and farther out at sea than ever before. And as the distance and depth of fishing have expanded, so has the variety of species we target. Almost 31% of the world’s fish populations are overfished.

It is essential that we protect the ocean. 

Overfishing damages ecosystems, food security, coastal communities and economies. Additionally, the ocean is like a vast underwater museum. With only a fraction of the ocean explored, preservations allow for discoveries to continue long into the future.

Want to learn more? Check out our Awesome Nature series.

To get brand new TED-Ed Lessons delivered to your inbox each week, sign up for the free TED-Ed Newsletter here >>

Sources: The effects of underwater pressure on the body, The otherworldly creatures in the ocean’s deepest depths, How much of human history is on the bottom of the ocean?, Why are sharks so awesome?, How does a jellyfish sting?, and Will the ocean ever run out of fish?.

How much do you know about mythology? See how well you rank with our 10-question quiz:

Want to learn more? Check out our TED-Ed Lessons on literature and language.

To get brand new TED-Ed Lessons delivered to your inbox each week, sign up for the free TED-Ed Newsletter here >>