NPR/TED Staff

NPR/TED Staff appears in the following:

Dre Urhahn: How Can Public Art Projects Transform Rough Neighborhoods?

Friday, November 10, 2017

Artists Dre Urhahn and Jeroen Koolhaas strive to change perceptions of "bad neighborhoods" by arming locals with paintbrushes and a vision: to turn their neighborhoods into open-air art galleries.

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Steve Ramirez: If We Could Erase Memories ... Should We?

Friday, October 13, 2017

Neuroscientist Steve Ramirez used lasers to enter the brains of mice and edit their memories. He imagines a future where this technology might be possible in humans as well.

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Ali Velshi: In An Age Of "Alternative Facts," How Do We Know What's True?

Friday, October 13, 2017

Journalist Ali Velshi began his career to "speak truth to power." Now he worries that fake news has subverted the meaning of truth.

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Elizabeth Loftus: How Can Our Memories Be Manipulated?

Friday, October 13, 2017

Years of research have taught Elizabeth Loftus just how unreliable our memories are. From tweaking a real memory to planting a completely fabricated one, tampering with our minds is surprisingly easy.

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Tristan Harris: Do Our Devices Control More Than We Think?

Friday, October 13, 2017

When Tristan Harris worked in Silicon Valley, his job was to direct users online to a particular website or service. Now, he speaks out against tech companies who manipulate their users' attention.

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Joi Ito: After A Disaster, How Can Everyday Citizens Gather Critical Data?

Friday, September 29, 2017

After a massive earthquake struck Japan in 2011, MIT's Joi Ito assembled a ragtag team of hackers and eager citizens to help assess the damage after the government came up short.

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Juan Enriquez: What Can Happen If Humans Control The Future Of Evolution?

Friday, September 15, 2017

From genetically modified animals and crops, we can already manipulate DNA. But futurist Juan Enriquez argues soon we can take full control of human evolution to create a better life for all of us.

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Sam Harris: What Happens When Humans Develop Super Intelligent AI?

Friday, September 15, 2017

Does superhuman artificial intelligence sound like science fiction? Not for Sam Harris. He says it's not a question of if but when — with potentially destructive consequences.

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Anab Jain: Can A Glimpse Of Tomorrow, Change Our Decisions Today?

Friday, September 15, 2017

It's hard to imagine how the future might look and feel. Anab Jain wants to change that. She designs prototypes of potentially grim futures to raise awareness of our choices in the present.

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Paul Knoepfler: What Are The Unintended Consequences Of Human Gene Editing?

Friday, September 15, 2017

New gene editing tools hold a great deal of promise, but biologist Paul Knoepfler says we should be cautious. He warns altering DNA can have dire consequences, including a new form of eugenics.

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Moshe Szyf: How Do Our Experiences Rewire Our Brains And Bodies?

Friday, August 25, 2017

Many think genetic makeup is fixed from the moment we're born. But Moshe Szyf says this understanding is incomplete because our experiences and environment have the power to change our basic biology.

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Nadine Burke Harris: How Does Trauma Affect A Child's DNA?

Friday, August 25, 2017

Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris found an unsettling trend when examining patients at her clinic: trauma. She found that adversity can change a child's biology and result in severe health outcomes.

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Robert Sapolsky: How Much Agency Do We Have Over Our Behavior?

Friday, August 25, 2017

Neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky says nearly all aspects of human behavior are explained by biology: from developments millions of years in the past to microscopic reactions happening in the present.

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Brian Little: Are Human Personalities Hardwired?

Friday, August 25, 2017

Are you introverted or extroverted? It depends. When it comes to personality, psychologist Brian Little says we can actually act against our biology — especially if we pursue a "core life project."

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Tyler DeWitt: How Do We Get Kids Hooked On Science?

Friday, August 11, 2017

When a student complained that science textbooks were boring, teacher Tyler DeWitt got thinking about how he can make his lessons fun. DeWitt recounts his quest to make kids care about science.

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Sal Khan: Can Technology Help Create A Global Classroom?

Friday, August 11, 2017

Sal Khan turned tutoring lessons with his cousins into a series of free educational videos called Khan Academy. His goal: to make learning accessible for everyone, everywhere.

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Andreas Schleicher: What Are The Keys To A Successful Education System?

Friday, August 11, 2017

Andreas Schleicher created PISA, an exam that compares the knowledge of 15-year-olds from around the world. He says the test can help us understand why some countries perform better than others.

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Linda Cliatt-Wayman: What Can We Do To Empower Students Living In Poverty?

Friday, August 11, 2017

As principal of a low-performing school, Linda Cliatt-Wayman's students faced huge challenges. She shares how she transformed her school while providing unwavering love and support for her students.

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Laura Galante: Are All Of Us Vulnerable To Fake News?

Friday, June 23, 2017

Technology allows us to choose information to support our beliefs. In this new reality, cybersecurity expert Laura Galante says, it's easier for foreign governments to influence public opinion.

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Stephanie Busari: What Happens When Real News Is Dismissed As Fake?

Friday, June 23, 2017

Stephanie Busari discusses the flip-side of fake news: denying real news. She recounts the kidnapping of Nigeria's Chibok schoolgirls and how some Nigerians believed the news was a government hoax.

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