OCW
Psychedelics, mind control, radiation-eating: The secret superpowers of fungi
The diverse fungal kingdom, which includes everything from baker’s yeast to edible mushrooms to foot infections, has long defied assumptions. Scientists estimate that somewhere between 2 and 12 million species of fungi remain undiscovered— either because they’re microscopic, live hidden within..
TED
The case for making art in a crisis
We have more data than any generation in history, yet reality has never felt harder to grasp. Artist Yiyun Kang is on a mission to translate the invisible crises of our time — from vanishing fresh water and collapsing ecosystems to the black box of AI — into physical experiences that people can ..
TED
Can Ozempic end addiction?
What if GLP-1s like Ozempic could do more than just tip the scales? Physician Dhruv Khullar traces the winding path of the
TED
Meet the slow loris, the only venomous primate in existence
Deep in the jungles of southeast Asia lurks a deadly creature with sharp teeth and a venomous bite. But it’s not a snake. It’s a slow loris, the only venomous primate, and one of only a few venomous mammals. Despite their wide-eyed looks, their story is much fiercer than many might imagine. Step..
TED
The human cell is wildly complex. Can AI decode it?
Silvana Konermann and the team at Arc Institute are trying to crack one of science's most difficult problems: why complex diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer remain so stubbornly unsolvable, even as research advances. Her solution is a universal “virtual cell” — an AI model trained ..
TED
Why does catnip make cats go crazy?
Of the many bewildering behaviors cats display, one of the strangest is their obsession with a specific species of plant. After just one whiff, even the most stoic cat can start pawing, drooling, biting, and wriggling in a state of pure feline euphoria. So, why do cats go crazy for catnip? Jaap de R..
TED