From TED Ed. Examine the myth of the benevolent dictator, which is a leader who holds absolute power yet only uses it for the common good. — Under certain conditions, the idea of a dictator can sound appealing, like when a democracy isn’t functioning as it should due to corruption or political polarization. People may…

From TED Ed. Explore the depths of Lake Cadagno, a meromictic lake that is considered a model for Earth before the Great Oxidation Event. — 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…

From TED Ed. Explore the philosophy of Hannah Arendt, and get to know her strategies to combat the threat of totalitarianism and oppression. — 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…

From TED Ed. Trace the life cycle of mayflies, and explore why these swarming insects are a sign of healthy aquatic ecosystems. — For most of the world’s 4,000 mayfly species, adulthood lasts roughly one day. And for some species, it’s only a matter of minutes. This isn’t because they’re all eaten up by predators.…

From TED Ed. Dig into the benefits of practicing gratitude in your everyday life, and discover how being thankful can impact your happiness. — Many people would say the connection between happiness and gratefulness is very simple: when you are happy, you are grateful. But think again. Is it really the happy people that are…

From TED Ed. Explore the science behind how gas masks work, and how the technology protects us from airborne threats and pollutants. — You might think of gas masks as clunky military-looking devices. But in the near future, we may need to rely on these filters as part of our everyday lives. In addition to…

From TED Ed. Trace the rise and fall of the Maya city Chichen Itza, and how Yucatán’s unpredictable environment contributed to its demise. — During the 8th century CE, warfare and failing agriculture forced Maya people to move north, to hotter, drier Yucatán. Because of its freshwater access, Chichen Itza became the most powerful Maya…

From TED Ed. Practice more problem-solving at https://brilliant.org/teded — A mathematician with a knife and ball begins slicing and distributing the ball into an infinite number of boxes. She then recombines the parts into five precise sections. Moving and rotating these sections around, she recombines them to form two identical, flawless, and complete copies of…

From TED Ed. Dig into political philosopher John Rawls’ classic thought experiment about what principles we need to design a fair society. — A group of strangers have gathered to design a just society. To ensure none of them rig the system, they’ve been placed under a veil of ignorance. Under this veil, they’re blind…

From TED Ed. Dig into Operation Paperclip, a secret intelligence program which brought scientists from Nazi Germany to the US after WWII. — In May of 1945 the Third Reich was in chaos. Adolf Hitler was dead and German surrender was imminent. But while World War II was almost over, a new war was brewing.…

From TED Ed. Explore common types of corruption and find out what we can do to combat it and promote transparency in our institutions. — Corruption is often defined as misuse of a position of power for personal gain. And while corruption in politics is nothing new, it isn’t limited to the political sphere; it…

From TED Ed. Dig into one of Japan’s most infamous stories about the 47 samurai who take revenge for the loss of their leader. — Asano Naganori, lord of Akō domain, fixed his gaze on Kira Yoshinaka, a senior master of ceremony. Asano extended his short sword, charged through the castle, and struck Kira. While…

From TED Ed. Explore Edvard Munch’s masterpiece “The Scream,” and find out why this artwork became one of the world’s most famous paintings. — An undulating sky melds into the landscape, two silhouettes move along a balustraded walkway, and a ghostly figure’s features extend in agony. Since Norwegian artist Edvard Munch created "The Scream" in…

From TED Ed. Explore why earwax forms, its purpose in our health, and whether or not we should be trying to get rid of it. — Grooming paraphernalia has been found in numerous archeological sites, many of which have included earwax removal tools. And earwax evacuation remains a popular hygienic habit today. But what is…

From TED Ed. What could our future world look like if we continue to do nothing about climate change? Take a look at the possibilities. — While we’re already feeling the devastating effects of human-caused climate change, governments continue to fall short on making and executing emissions pledges that would help thwart further warming. So,…

From TED Ed. Dig into the Greek myth of Mestra and her father King Erysichthon, who angered the gods and was cursed with insatiable hunger. — Mestra, princess of Thessaly, was far from home. She had watched her father, King Erysichthon, plunge into a ruin of his own making. Now, to save himself, he’d sold…

From TED Ed. Uncover the history of the ancient underground cities beneath Cappadocia, which were built during the Byzantine Empire. — The breathtaking geological formations of Cappadocia are one of the most astonishing landscapes on Earth. Also known as “fairy chimneys,” this impressive terrain hides an equally remarkable feat of pre-modern engineering: a network of…