Xixi Wang

In 2025, our YouTube audience spent nearly 16 million hours watching TED-Ed Animations (that’s equal to over 1,800 years!). Our most-viewed videos of 2025 include an exploration of dragon legends from around the world, tips on how to best build new skills, an explanation of why it’s a really bad idea to mess with a crow, a handful to help you understand your body, and more!

Behold our top 10 most popular videos of 2025:

1. Do you really need to take 10,000 steps a day?

For years, Jean Béliveau walked from country to country, with the goal of circumnavigating the globe on foot. While few people have the time or desire to walk such extreme lengths, research shows that adding even a modest amount of walking to your daily routine can dramatically improve your health. So, what exactly happens to your body when you increase your step count? Shannon Odell investigates.

2. What happens to your brain without any social contact?

Everyone needs time to themselves, and peaceful solitude has stress-relieving benefits. But when being alone is forced upon you, the effects can be surprisingly extensive. And though different people experience distinct effects, symptoms tend to become more severe and persistent the longer one’s isolated. So, how exactly does isolation affect your body and brain? Terry Kupers investigates.

3. Why do so many cultures have dragon legends?

From the Chinese Loong to the Filipino Bakunawa, the Scottish Beithir and the Greek Hydra, dragons have inflamed imaginations for millennia. Their ubiquity across world mythology has led many scholars to ponder their possible origins. Could it be that tales of dragons were crafted to make sense of violent weather events? Timothy J. Burbery shares what geomythology has uncovered about dragons.

4. If you had the chance to be immortal, would you take it?

While cleaning out your uncle’s attic you find a chest with a sparkling potion. The attached tag declares drinking this liquid will make you immortal. Your body will be frozen at its current age, and these effects would be final and irreversible. The instructions are clear — the only question is, do you drink the potion? Sarah Stroud and Michael Vazquez explore this philosophical debate.

5. Can you “see” images in your mind? Some people can’t

When reading “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” most readers visualize the queen’s croquet game play out in their heads. A few might see the scene in vivid detail. However, a small fraction of readers have a drastically different experience: within their heads, they “see” absolutely nothing. Why do some people have an inability to visualize images? Adam Zeman explores the science of aphantasia.

6. What actually causes high cholesterol?

In 1968, the American Heart Association made an announcement that would influence people’s diets for decades: they recommended that people avoid eating more than three eggs a week. Their reasoning was that the cholesterol packed into egg yolks could increase cardiovascular disease risk. So, what exactly is cholesterol? And is it actually bad for you? Hei Man Chan digs into this complex molecule.

7. The best way to become good at something might surprise you

There’s a common idea that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become great at something. From an early age, we are encouraged to choose our path, focus specifically, and start racking up those hours. But, what if these head starts aren’t helping us the way we think they do? What if there’s a better way to excel? David Epstein shares how a different approach could set us up for greater success.

8. What’s the best way to lift people out of poverty?

In 2018, a nonprofit gave every adult in the Ahenyo village $500. Most families had lived in extreme poverty for generations, and this sum was roughly equivalent to their annual salaries. The money came with no strings attached to how it could be spent. Would this lift villagers out of poverty or be another failed philanthropic endeavor? Explore aid programs and how they address people’s needs.

9. How smart are crows?

In one of Aesop’s fables, a crow is searching for water. It spies a pitcher— but the water inside is beyond its reach. So, the crow begins dropping in pebbles. One-by-one, they displace the water, and the crow quenches its thirst. This is just one of many fascinating displays of intelligence from corvids. Katharina Brecht digs into what makes this bold, brainy family of songbirds so smart.

10. Why don’t we get our drinking water from the ocean?

Xixi Wang

In 2024, our YouTube audience spent nearly 16 million hours watching TED-Ed Animations (that’s equal to over 1,800 years!). Our most-viewed videos of 2024 include a journey to an oxygen-free lake, tips on how to motivate yourself (even when you don’t feel like it), a handful of histories of humanity’s favorite foods, and one to help you understand the real reason it’s not a good idea to put metal in the microwave, and more.

Behold our top 10 most popular videos of 2024:

1. Why is it so dangerous to step on a rusty nail?

In the 5th century, a ship master was suffering from a nasty infection that caused his jaws to press together, his teeth to lock up, and the muscles in his neck and spine to spasm. Today we know this account to be one the first recorded cases of tetanus. So, what causes this peculiar infection? Louise Thwaites explores how tetanus affects our bodies, and how we can prevent it.

2. How to get motivated even when you don’t feel like it

Motivation is complicated. Psychologists define motivation as the desire or impetus to initiate and maintain a particular behavior. But sometimes, no matter how passionate you are about a goal or hobby, finding the motivation to actually do it can be difficult. Why is motivation so fickle? Explore intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and dig into how these forces contribute to our drive.

3. How humanity got hooked on coffee

One day around 850 CE, a goatherd observed that his goats started acting abnormally after nibbling on some berries. The herder tried them himself, and soon enough, he was just as hyper. As the story goes, this was humanity’s first run-in with coffee. So, how did coffee go from humble plant to one of the world’s most consumed beverages? Jonathan Morris traces the history of this energizing elixir.

4. Why can’t you put metal in a microwave?

In 1945, engineer Percy Spencer was standing near a RADAR device that produced high-intensity microwaves and noticed that his candy bar had melted. He then exposed popcorn kernels to the magnetron device, and sure enough, they popped. Soon after, the first microwave oven became available, using the very same technology. So, how does it work? Aaron Slepkov explores the science of microwave ovens.

5. How did ancient civilizations make ice cream?

Ice cream has a unique role in our world’s history, culture, and cravings. The first accounts of cold desserts date back to the first century, in civilizations including ancient Rome, Mughal India, and Tang Dynasty China. Yet the cream-based delicacy we know today made a much later debut. So, how did the delicious sweet treat come to be? Vivian Jiang shares the scoop on the history of ice cream.

6. How does alcohol cause blackouts?

Alcohol has been shown to have strange and selective effects on the brain. Many intoxicated people can perform complex tasks like holding a detailed conversation or navigating a walk home. Yet for those experiencing a blackout, the memory of these events is quickly forgotten. So, how does alcohol cause these memory lapses? Shannon Odell explores how ethanol interrupts the brain’s processes.

7. What staying up all night does to your brain

You’re just one history final away from a relaxing spring break. But you still have so much to study! You decide to follow in the footsteps of many students before you, and pull an all-nighter. So, what happens to your brain when you stay up all night? And does cramming like this actually help you prepare for a test? Anna Rothschild explores how a sleepless night impacts your cognitive function.

8. Why is Texas hold ‘em so popular?

From its earliest incarnations, poker has always been a contest of guile, guts, and gambling. The game first emerged around 1800 in the melting pot of New Orleans, and soon spread up the Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri rivers. So, how did this simple game of the American South skyrocket in popularity? James McManus shares how the card game became an international affair.

9. Scientists are obsessed with this lake

In the millions of years since oxygen began saturating Earth’s oceans and atmosphere, most organisms have evolved to rely on this gas. However, there are some places where oxygen-averse microorganisms like those from Earth’s earliest days have re-emerged. And one such place is hidden high in the Swiss Alp’s Piora Valley. Nicola Storelli and Daniele Zanzi dive into the depths of Lake Cadagno.

10. How could so many people support Hitler?

Philosopher Hannah Arendt was a German Jew who dedicated herself to understanding how the Nazi regime came to power, and more specifically, how it inspired so many atrocities. She believed the true conditions behind the unprecedented rise of totalitarianism weren’t specific to Germany, and developed theories on how to best combat such threats. Joseph Lacey explores the work of Hannah Arendt.

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 2025, sign up for the TED-Ed weekly newsletter here >>

Check out our most popular Animations for 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018.

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

This year, TED-Ed is celebrating a big milestone: our tenth birthday!

When we published our first batch of videos on March 12, 2012, we didn’t know what TED-Ed’s future might hold. Now, we’re looking back on a decade of curiosity, asking and exploring answers to life’s big questions, and meeting one of the most inquisitive and supportive communities on the internet – that’s you! 1,400 videos and 3 billion views later, you’ve spent a whopping 166 million hours— almost 20,000 years— learning on our YouTube channel alone.

To celebrate the occasion, we’re sharing ten of our most-viewed videos— one published in each year that we’ve been around.

2012: Questions no one knows the answer to

Published in our channel’s first week, this video—written and narrated by TED Curator Chris Anderson—explores Chris’s boyhood obsession with quirky questions that seem to have no answers. At 12 minutes, it’s a bit longer than the traditional TED-Ed format, but Chris’s contemplative narration will keep you captivated throughout. (Also: Peep the original TED-Ed intro. Super cool. Also super long. We ended up shortening it in 2013 and again in 2017.)

2013: The loathsome, lethal mosquito

The world’s most-hated bug stars in our top-viewed video from 2013. Because, let’s face it: everyone hates mosquitoes. Besides the annoying buzzing and biting, mosquito-borne diseases like malaria kill over a million people each year. So shouldn’t we just get rid of them? Rose Eveleth shares why scientists aren’t sure over a colorful (and itch-inducing) animation.

2014: The Infinite Hotel Paradox

Over 20 million viewers have grappled with the concept of infinity since we first published this brain-bending video in 2014. The Infinite Hotel, a thought experiment created by German mathematician David Hilbert, is a hotel with an infinite number of rooms. But what if it’s completely booked and one person wants to check in? What about 40? Or an infinitely full bus of people? Jeff Dekofsky navigates this heady hotel using Hilbert’s paradox.

2015: Can you solve the prisoner hat riddle?

2015 was (for TED-Ed at least) the year of the riddle. We published our first (Can you solve the bridge riddle?) in September, and were blown away by its reception. Of the 60+ riddles we’ve shared since, the Prisoner Hat Riddle (published a month later in October 2015) still takes the gold for most-viewed. Can you solve it? If you’re stumped, don’t worry: Alex Gendler will show you how.

2016: What would happen if you didn’t drink water?

Hydration was clearly on people’s minds in 2016. And why not? Water is pretty important—it’s essentially everywhere in our world, and the average human is composed of between 55 and 60% of it. Mia Nacamulli details the role water plays in our bodies, and how much we actually need to drink to stay healthy in this ode to hydration.

2017: Why don’t perpetual motion machines ever work?

Perpetual motion machines — devices that can do work indefinitely without any external energy source — have captured many inventors’ imaginations (and clearly many viewers’ imaginations!) because they could totally transform our relationship with energy. There’s just one problem: they don’t work. Why not? Netta Schramm describes the pitfalls of perpetual motion machines in this beautifully animated piece from 2017.

2018: Which is stronger: Glue or tape?

You might not expect a video about adhesives to have made our top 10, but over 12 million people tuned in to watch glue and tape spar it out in this 2018 battle of the bonds. Elizabeth Cox explains what gives glue and tape their stickiness, and whether one is stronger than the other in this video that will have you stuck to your screen. (PS. Did you notice the TED-Ed intro change again? We started incorporating quotes into our intros in August 2017 and never looked back.)

2019: How Thor got his hammer

Our animated retellings of myths are always crowd favorites, and none resonated more in 2019 than this tribute to the Norse god of thunder. In this clever and comical video, Scott A. Mellor traces the legend of Thor’s hammer, and how Loki the mischief-maker’s cunning and deceit played into its creation.

2020: How does alcohol make you drunk?

While we’re a little concerned that our most viewed video in 2020 was about alcohol, the pursuit of information is something we can always get behind. Judy Grisel explores alcohol’s journey through the body, how exactly it causes drunkenness, and why it has dramatically different effects on different people in this pandemic blockbuster.

2021: What causes dandruff and how do you get rid of it?

2021′s top performer is a real head-scratcher. 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 problem in our top-viewed video from last year.

Thanks so much for sticking with us this past decade— for the obvious things like watching, liking, and subscribing, and for the not-so-obvious things like giving us video ideas, making us laugh in the comment sections, and more. We can’t wait to see what the next decade brings.

And, while we’re feeling emotional, we thought it would be nice to round this out with a quote from that first video on the list, “Questions no one knows the answer to.” We think it sums up the past, present and future of TED-Ed quite well:

“The quest for knowledge and understanding never gets dull. It doesn’t. It’s actually the opposite. The more you know, the more amazing the world seems. And it’s the crazy possibilities, the unanswered questions that pull us forward. So stay curious.”

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 >>

Photo: Dian Lofton / TED

For the past two years, TED-Ed and Pratt’s Department of Digital Arts have provided undergraduate students the opportunity to create animations for the Student Talks Program. Mike Enright, Pratt’s Adjunct Associate Professor of Digital Arts, and our very own Animation Director, Lisa LaBracio, spearheaded the mission in an effort to merge student ideas with student animations!

“I was given the opportunity to create a space in the curriculum where our students could get a taste of what life may be like after school,”

shared Enright. For Pratt students, this collaboration provided the opportunity to both build their professional artistic skills and to collaborate with producers and clients on a broader vision. “Being able to translate their talent to this task in an academic environment allows my students to test the waters in the familiarity of a classroom environment,” said Enright.

For this year’s animations, Pratt students drew inspiration directly from published TED-Ed Student Talks. Angela Xiao, Claire Wan Hua Hsieh, Ana Chang, and Alistair Rice animated Learning to Listen based off Student Talks member Naomi Miller’s experience of finding common ground amidst conflicting viewpoints.

“I chose the idea with a message that resonated most with me. I believe that Naomi makes a really good point about the significance of listening to other perspectives, especially now that the world has become more globalized,”

said Xiao, who directed the piece. Their animation adopted imagery from nature and the elements (fire and water), culminating in a flowing watercolor piece.

Still from “Learning to Listen”

“This project taught me the importance of looking at the big picture. I realized that the best way to move forward effectively within a tight deadline is to take a step back from the work and identify the missing elements,” explained Xiao.

The second animation, Facing my Fears, focused on Student Talks member Kia Uusitalo’s story about overcoming stage fright. Pratt students Krstina Mastilovic, Aidan Stadler, and Matthew Brennan translated Uusitalo’s journey from anxious to confident speaker through vibrant colors and vivid visuals (featuring heads transforming into big gaping eyes!).

Still from “Facing my Fears”

“I never held an organizational/production role as part of my job, so keeping track of that on top of my creative responsibilities was definitely a new challenge for me,”

Mastilovic said about her experience directing the project. 

Once the project wrapped, Pratt students ventured to TED Headquarters for a screening of their work and met with TED-Ed animators and producers for a behind-the-scenes look at the workflow for TED-Ed lessons.

For more on the TED-Ed and Pratt partnership, check out last year’s animation projects: The Thread, Bear With It, and Pass the Mic.