Are you intrigued to find out which the 10 most popular TED Talks of 2015 so far are? TED Talks are a great way of finding out about diverse subjects and opinions, from scientific research to ideas about creativity, education and health. And, unsurprisingly, the ones with the most views tend to be the most entertaining and unexpected. Wherever your own personal interests may lie, there’s bound to be something to get you hooked. TED stands for Technology, Education, Design, and its self-proclaimed calling is to discuss ‘ideas worth spreading’. Why not compare this list to the one we made this time last year, and see how things have changed from the 15 most popular TED talks in 2014? We have collated data not just from YouTube, but also from iTunes, TED apps, and views on www.ted.com. This way, we can be sure to bring you the most accurate list of this year’s most popular talks.
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TED has been going for over 30 years, and is enjoyed on a global scale now thanks to the Internet. Talks are produced in over 100 languages, and virtually no topic is off-limits. They say that their mission is to ask the question, ‘how can we best spread ideas?’ So, to help you find your own ‘idea worth talking about’, we bring you the 10 most popular TED talks of 2015.
10. The nerd’s guide to learning everything online
With over two million views so far, this talk by the writer John Green (author of The Fault in Our Stars), helps others to find out how they can use online videos to support their own learning. He’s witty, entertaining and informative, not to mention passionate about making online videos.
9. The danger of hiding who you are
Morgana Bailey begins her talk by explaining how, 16 years ago during a semester in London, she realised there was something different about herself. This difference changed her ability to be non-conformist, and meant she has spent the last 16 years hiding. It is fitting that she should return to the British capital where she first realised her difference, to come out of ‘hiding’, and create acceptance. A moving and emotional talk; one well worth watching.
8. Why we all need to practice emotional first aid
So far, this talk by psychologist Guy Winch has clocked over 2.5 million views so far this year. He discusses the importance of treating our emotional health with the same level of meticulousness as our physical well-being. Dr Winch reveals the absurdity, which means a child of 5 years old knows how to put on a band-aid, yet we don’t as adults know how to heal the psychological injuries we incur on a daily basis. He asks, why do we value the body so much more than we value the mind? Guy Winch is funny and compelling; this talk easily deserves its place in the top 10 TED talks of 2015.
7. The best kindergarten you’ve ever seen
Filmed in Kyoto, architect Takaharu Tezuka breaks our perception of what a kindergarten looks like in the most entertaining way! Using photos from his new circular kindergarten in Japan which limits boundaries between inside and out. The rooftop is a circular shape with no room to hide – unlike in a traditional classroom shape where children can become fearful of boundaries. He shows how, by breaking the norms of what a classroom should be like (for example, quiet!), children learn effectively and grow up content and relaxed. A stimulating talk which is particularly fascinating for those with children, or involved in education.
6. Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong
With over 3 million views so far, British journalist Johann Hari tips upside down everything we think we know about addiction. Based on his three years of extensive research, Hari explores the idea that drugs are not inherently addictive. Instead, he looks at two experiments with rats where they were offered plain water, or water laced with heroin. You may be surprised as to the results! This is an entertaining and thought-provoking talk, which suggests the need to rethink our ideas about drug addiction. Following on from Guy Winch’s talk about emotional health (number 8 in our list of the top 10 TED talks of 2015), suggests that the connections we have with each other play an important role in our understanding of what makes us addicted to drugs.
5. The mathematics of love
Hannah Fry describes herself as a ‘complexity theorist’, and in this talk she applies mathematical models and studies of patterns and human behaviours to examine the likelihood of finding that ‘perfect partner’. She examines the patterns established by online dating site ‘OkCupid’ which was, interestingly, set up by a group of mathematicians. Using this data and other trends, Fry attempts to answer key life questions such as, how to pick the perfect partner and how to avoid divorce. This talk is both amusing and potentially useful to us all!
4. How to control someone else’s arm with your brain
Neuroscientist Greg Gage brings us possibly one of the freakiest TED talks ever seen! He begins by highlighting the difficulties for the layman in developing any level of understanding into how the brain works, primarily because it is not taught in schools whatsoever. This is the major reason for his attempt to bring relatively simple and inexpensive technology to the mass public. You will, we guarantee, be astounded by the live demonstration he performs, in which he controls an audience member’s arm, using another volunteer’s brain. Fascinating stuff which you will need to see to believe!
3. Rethinking infidelity … a talk for anyone who has ever loved
Esther Perel’s talk on infidelity may initially sound rather depressing: she begins by telling us how common ‘cheating’ is, and how it has existed for as long as marriage itself. She examines the hurt which a betrayal inevitably produces, and looks at the complex reasons behind infidelity. However, rather than delivering a pessimistic talk where we all realize that our relationships are doomed, Perel explores how couples can recover from infidelity, perhaps even rekindling the reasons they began their relationship in the first place.
2. 5 Ways to kill your dreams
Despite approaching 3.5 million views, this TED talk may not sound particularly optimistic in its premise. However, by the end, you will have acquired enough motivation to set off and launch your long-held dream into the unsuspecting world! Brazilian entrepreneur Bel Pesce breaks down five myths that most of us hold as truths, all of which have a deeply negative effect on our abilities to achieve our potential. She breaks down these universal ‘truths’, explores them a little deeper, and shows how they can provide an outright block to achieving our dreams. Follow her advice, and you’ll unlock your potential for good!
1. The price of shame
Topping our list of the 10 Most Popular TED Talks of 2015, it’s Monica Lewinsky’s talk, The Price of Shame. This was a clear winner, with over 6 million views – that’s almost twice as many as our runner-up! Breaking her silence of over a decade, Monica Lewinsky reveals the psychological damage inflicted upon her by the online media storm following the revelations in the late 1990s concerning her relationship with her boss, President Clinton. Since 1998, when news of the affair was catapulted into the media, cyberbullying has claimed hundreds of lives, and been responsible for millions suffering, worldwide. Lewinsky examines the widespread culture of online humiliation and shaming, and shows the true consequences of such an odious phenomenon. Lewinsky proves herself to be a moving and convincing speaker – well worth watching!
