Why do we knock on wood?

Chances are you’ve knocked on wood in the past month. But, really, why? Here’s one origin story:...

8 fun facts about bees (in TED-Ed GIFs)

How much do you know about the tiny, mighty bees? Here are 8 facts worth learning about our...

A brief history of African-American social dance (in TED-Ed GIFs)

This is the Bop. The Bop is a type of social dance. Dance is a language, and social dance is an...

The physics of the “hardest move” in ballet (in TED-Ed GIFs)

In the third act of “Swan Lake”, the Black Swan pulls off a seemingly endless series of turns,...

What would it take to survive in space?

Prolonged space travel takes a severe toll on the human body. As we seriously consider the human...

The physics of football (in TED-Ed GIFs)

In 1997, Brazilian football player Roberto Carlos set up for a 35 meter free kick with no direct...

7 healthy tips for a better night’s sleep

Sleep is critical for mind and body health. Without it, the effects can be severe. But what if...

Why do cats act so weird? (in TED-Ed GIFs)

They’re cute, they’re lovable, and judging by the 26 billion views on over 2 million YouTube...

How interpreters juggle two languages at once (in TED-Ed GIFs)

For most of history, interpretation was mainly done consecutively, with speakers and interpreters...

5 theories about why we love (in TED-Ed GIFs)

Ah, romantic love; beautiful and intoxicating, heart-breaking and soul-crushing… often all at the...

What’s the difference between a scientific law and theory? (in TED-Ed GIFs)

Chat with a friend about an established scientific theory, and she might reply, “Well, that’s...

How Henri Rousseau’s art influenced this video

In honor of Henri Rousseau’s birthday, we wanted to share how his work influenced the animation...

A brief history of eyeglasses (in TED-Ed GIFs)

Today, glasses help millions of people with poor vision be able to see clearly. But how did they...

How to avoid miscommunication (in TED-Ed GIFs)

Have you ever talked with a friend about a problem, only to realize that they just don’t seem to...

The math behind Beethoven’s music (in TED-Ed GIFs)

How is it that Beethoven, who is celebrated as one of the most significant composers of all time,...

The science of skin color (in TED-Ed GIFs)

When ultraviolet sunlight hits our skin, it affects each of us a little differently. Depending on...

The science of clouds (in TED-Ed GIFs)

The study of clouds has always been a daydreamer’s science, aptly founded by a thoughtful young...

5 ways you can help a friend suffering from depression

Depression is the leading cause of disability in the world. In the United States, close to 10...

Why do we dream? 7 theories from science (in TED-Ed GIFs)

In the 3rd millennium BCE, Mesopotamian kings recorded and interpreted their dreams on wax...