NPR/TED Staff

Will we find ET in the next 25 years? Seth Shostak, senior astronomer at SETI, says yes. He explains that new technologies and the laws of probability make the breakthrough likely.

Chef Dan Barber tackles a dilemma facing many chefs today: how to keep fish on the menu. He chronicles his search for a fish that would please both diners and environmentalists.

Humorist John Hodgman tells a story about aliens, physics, time, space and the way they all contribute to a sweet, perfect memory of falling in love.

Humans have been looking for the giant squid for decades. Oceanographer Edith Widder shares how innovative technology helped her capture the squid on video for the first time.

Ever wanted to travel to the depths of the ocean? Or fly in a solar powered plane? Or time travel back to the big bang? Now's your chance. This TED Radio Hour playlist will transport you to some incredible places.

In this playlist, stories about the curious nature of spaghetti, the power of quiet minds, and a quest to build a toaster from scratch. These TED Radio Hour stories will make you curious and maybe even ignite some creative ideas of your own.

In this TED Radio Hour playlist, TED speakers reveal challenges in their lives that produced courage and transformation.

Break out the chemistry set and safety goggles. From monkeys to microbes, TED speakers in this playlist illuminate different realms of the scientific world.

In this playlist, TED speakers share stories about composing songs after years of writer's block, the culture of sampling, and a glimpse inside a jazz musician's brain.

What makes for a great read? How does a single idea grow into a novel? In this playlist, TED speakers explore the nature of creativity, the source of a good story, and the impact of the written word.

Religion scholar Karen Armstrong describes how compassion is the core principle in all world religions, in the form of the golden rule.

Political pundit Sally Kohn says we shouldn't worry as much about being politically correct; instead, she says, we need to focus on being emotionally correct.

Journalist and broadcaster Krista Tippett argues that overtly saintly and sappy connotations have made us lose touch with the true meaning of compassion — so she proposes a linguistic revival.

Author Robert Wright says humans are not simply wired to be compassionate — we have evolved to feel compassion out of self-interest.

Psychologist Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, examines why we aren't more compassionate more of the time.

This playlist includes some blockbuster TED talks that have already inspired millions. These stories about growing up, shaping identity, and finding courage will have you forwarding them to family and friends.

Remember that worrisome new form of botulinum toxin we told you about in late 2013, the one that supposedly had to be kept secret out of fear it could be used as a bioweapon that would evade all of our medical defenses?

Well, as it turns out, it's not ...

Doctors in the U.S. don't have to tell patients about conflicts of interest. When physician Leana Wen asked her fellow doctors to open up, the reaction she got was frightening.

Margaret Heffernan talks about the danger of "willful blindness" and praises ordinary people who are willing to speak up.

Reporter Janine di Giovanni has covered countless wars, including conflict in Bosnia, Sierra Leone and most recently Syria. She tells stories of everyday human courage in conflict zones.