For years, astronomers have predicted a dramatic fate for our galaxy: a head-on collision with Andromeda, our nearest large galactic neighbor. This merger—expected in about 5 billion years—has become a staple of astronomy documentaries, textbooks and popular science writing.
But in our new study published in Nature Astronomy, led by Till Sawala from the University of Helsinki, we find the Milky Way’s future might not be as certain previously assumed.
By carefully accounting for uncertainties in existing measurements, and including the gravitational influence of other nearby galaxies, we found there is only about a 50% chance the Milky Way and Andromeda will merge in the next 10 billion years.
In this TEDx talk, Dante Muratore shows the transformative potential of brain-computer interfaces. He explains how they can be used to help patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on an artificial retina he and his team are developing to cure blindness in patients with macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. He also describes how brain-computer interfaces will change what it means to be human in the future and challenges us to think deeply about the use we want to make of this technology in society.
Professor of Bioelectronics at Delft University of Technology, where he leads the Smart Brain Interfaces group. His research group explores hardware and system solutions for brain-computer interfaces capable of interacting with the nervous system. The group is working, in collaboration with leading universities in the field, on a microchip to be implanted in the retina to improve the lives of people affected by retinitis pigmentosa and degenerative maculopathy.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
As research continues, the term “bird brain” no longer carries a negative connotation. Avian researcher John Marzluff showcases a few amazing, problem solving (and sometimes vindictive) feats accomplished by crows in order to break down common misconceptions about avian intelligence.
John Marzluff, Ph.D., is the James W. Ridgeway Professor of Wildlife Science at the University of Washington. His research has been the focus of articles in the New York Times, National Geographic, Audubon, Boys Life, The Seattle Times, and National Wildlife. PBS’s NATURE featured his raven research in its production, “Ravens,” and his crow research in the film documentary, “A Murder of Crows”. His graduate and initial post-doctoral research focused on the social behavior and ecology of jays and ravens. He was especially interested in communication, social organization, and foraging behavior. His current research brings this behavioral approach to pressing conservation issues including raptor management, management of pest species, and assessment of nest predation.
His book, In the Company of Crows and Ravens (with Tony Angell, 2005 Yale U. Press) blends biology, conservation, and anthropology to suggest that human and crow cultures have co-evolved. This book won the 2006 Washington State Book Award for general nonfiction. With his wife, Colleen, he has published Dog Days, Raven Nights (2011 Yale University Press), which combines reflection with biology and the recreational pursuit of dog sledding to show how a life in science blooms. Gifts of the Crow (2012 Free Press) applies a neurobiological perspective to understand the amazing feats of corvids. He is a member of the board of editors for Acta Ornithologica, Landscape Ecology and Ecological Applications. Currently leader of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Recovery Team for the critically endangered Mariana Crow, he is also a Fellow of the American Ornithologist’s Union.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)
We now know that the Galaxy is full of potentially habitable planets. So why do we see no signs that any civilizations have come before us? Matt O’Dowd, astrophysicist and host of PBS Space Time, explains why Fermi’s paradox really is so surprising, and he offers a new piece of evidence that may point towards the solution.
Astrophysicist Matthew O’Dowd spends his time studying the universe, especially really far-away things like Quasars, super-massive black holes and evolving galaxies. He completed his Ph.D. at NASA´s Space Telescope Science Institute, followed by work at the University of Melbourne and Columbia University. Currently he is a professor at the City University of New York´s Lehman College and an Associate at the American Museum of Natural Historys Hayden Planetarium.
This talk dives into four critical dimensions — social, economic, political, and military — to uncover the patterns that led to World War I and II. By comparing those pivotal moments with today’s global dynamics, it reveals troubling signs of growing instability. Are we on the brink of a Third World War? Through the lens of history, this analysis offers a powerful reflection on the present — and a warning to not repeat the mistakes of the past.
Heni Ozi Cukier, widely known as Professor HOC, is an expert in international politics dedicated to making geopolitics more accessible to the general public. He shares his extensive knowledge — and insights into the challenges and dynamics of the contemporary world — through what has become Brazil’s largest geopolitics YouTube channel: PROFESSOR HOC.
He is also behind award-winning documentaries, including Cracol ndia.
In the United States, he worked at the United Nations Security Council, the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Woodrow Wilson Center think tank.
In Brazil, he gained prominence as the founder and coordinator of the postgraduate program in Geopolitics at PUC Paraná, establishing himself as a leading voice in teaching international relations and analyzing global affairs.
He holds a degree in Philosophy and Political Science, and a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and International Peace from the renowned American University in Washington, DC. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
Dark energy and dark matter are two placeholders for mysterious forces and substances that expand our universe and make up the majority of its matter, respectively. In a new theory, one physicist says that defects in spacetime explain both of these mysteries at the same time. Let’s take a look.
IN A NUTSHELL 🌞 Solar hydrogen generation could revolutionize clean energy by converting sunlight into hydrogen fuel. 💡 Researchers discovered that elevating electrolyte temperatures boosts bismuth-vanadate electrode activity by 40%. 🔍 The study provides new insights into how temperature affects solar water splitting and metal-oxide cell performance. 🚀 Advancements in this field may accelerate the
