For decades, investor and business leader Steve Howard watched companies pour money and effort into sustainability initiatives ... and still fall short. The problem isn’t a lack of will, he says; it’s that capitalism and climate have been wired to work against each other. He shares four realities that explain why even well-intentioned businesses fail at climate action — as well as a plan to flip the system, making green innovation so powerful the market can’t resist it.

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Impact investor Tom Chi challenges a dangerous assumption: that economic growth and ecological health are opposing forces. He reveals how advances in AI and robotics are enabling a radical shift towards innovation as a force for restoration. Imagine mines that extract less, farms that regenerate soil and fleets of robots that can plant 100,000 mangroves in a single day. What if the same technologies that power our economy could actively repair the planet at the same time?

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In a world that prizes certainty, hot takes and instant answers, what happens when we celebrate the power of ... not knowing? Scientist and storyteller Harini Bhat shares how she built a mega-popular YouTube channel where curiosity, not credentials, drives discovery. From ancient brains turned to glass to the origins of life itself, she reminds us that science isn't just for scientists — it's for anyone willing to ask, "Why?"

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Who let the dogs out? Jennifer Crank, a world champion in dog agility competitions like Westminster, brings her border collie onto the TED stage to demonstrate the secrets of interspecies communication. Watch as her four-legged friend bounds through an obstacle course at lightning speed — as Crank gives a lesson on how to effectively communicate with any kind of audience.

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If you've ever been swept away by the worlds of "Wicked," "Hamilton" or "West Side Story," you've seen Paul Tazewell's breathtaking costumes. The Oscar-winning designer (whose work features in "Wicked: For Good") explores the subconscious language of clothing and how it shapes who we view as heroes — and who we view as villains. (Followed by a short Q&A with TED's Monique Ruff-Bell)

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Nearly 20 trees are cut down every second in the Amazon rainforest, as authorities struggle to monitor millions of acres and stop illegal clear-cutting. But land reformer Tasso Azevedo and his team at MapBiomas have changed the game, transforming satellite imagery into precise, real-time maps that make every clear-cut visible — and every actor accountable. Learn how they're helping slash deforestation in the Amazon, proving that transparency is a forest's strongest defense. (This ambitious idea is part of The Audacious Project, TED’s initiative to inspire and fund global change.)

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When Kate Marvel set out to write a book on climate change, she wanted to expand the conversation beyond data, charts and graphs. This meant refocusing the topic on nine human emotions: wonder, anger, guilt, fear, grief, surprise, pride, hope and love. In this TED Talks Daily Book Club interview, host Elise Hu speaks with Kate about her new book, Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet — and why it’s not too late to save the planet.

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Chatbots might help you get work done faster — but at what cost? When we outsource our reasoning to artificial intelligence, we reduce ourselves to "middle managers for our own thoughts," says AI and design researcher Advait Sarkar. He examines the cognitive trade-offs of using AI at work and introduces a different kind of tool: one that encourages critical thinking, nudges reflection and actually helps you get smarter.

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What's the right way to flirt? According to love coach Francesca Hogi, it doesn't have to be shallow or creepy — it can be a genuine chance for human connection. In this smart, playful talk, she gives a much-needed rethink on flirting that will help you feel confident, spark chemistry and maybe even find love.

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Climate change isn't just reshaping our planet — it's also shaking the very foundations of the economy, says sustainability expert Edmond Rhys Jones. He explores the massive gap between what science tells us about the climate crisis and how the economy measures its impact, advocating for economists to borrow tools from science (like simulations and digital twins) to prepare for the turbulence ahead.

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Two current US governors — Democrat Matt Meyer of Delaware and Republican J. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma — trade notes on how to rebuild trust without partisan theater. In this special segment of "On the Spot" (TED's rapid-fire Q&A format), they share thoughts on leading when people live in different realities, swapping outrage for outcomes and why we need to govern like neighbors, not enemies.

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Author A.J. Jacobs embarked on a quest with a deceptively simple idea at its heart: to personally thank every person who helped make his morning cup of coffee. More than one thousand "thank yous" later, Jacobs reflects on the globe-trotting journey that ensued -- and shares the life-altering wisdom he picked up along the way. "I discovered that my coffee would not be possible without hundreds of people I take for granted," Jacobs says.

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If we can put astronauts on the moon, conservationists shouldn't have to hike miles through dense forests to change the batteries on cameras, says Juan M. Lavista Ferres, chief data scientist at the AI for Good Lab. He introduces SPARROW, an open-source, solar-powered AI system that can analyze sounds and images to turn years of biodiversity monitoring into real-time insights, giving conservationists the tools they need to protect wildlife and critical ecosystems before it’s too late.

Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links:

TEDNext: ted.com/futureyou

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When entrepreneur Samir Ibrahim asked farmers in Kenya what problem they most needed solved, the answer was simple: reliable access to water to irrigate their farms year-round. Samir is the CEO of SunCulture, a company replacing diesel- and petrol-powered water pumps with more affordable solar-powered ones. He sits down with Sherrell Dorsey, host of the “TED Tech” podcast, to discuss how he continues to innovate his product to serve smallholder farmers. Later, Sherrell chats with coffee farmer Josephine Waweru about how SunCulture’s pump revolutionized her farm and the advice she has for young people to succeed.

This is episode one of a four-part series airing this month on TED Tech, where host and climate tech journalist Sherrell Dorsey speaks with climate leaders on the technology sparking a greener, more equitable future.

Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links:

TEDNext: ted.com/futureyou

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Hollywood needs to stop resisting what the world actually looks like, says actor, director and activist America Ferrera. Tracing the contours of her career, she calls for more authentic representation of different cultures in media -- and a shift in how we tell our stories. "Presence creates possibility," she says. "Who we see thriving in the world teaches us how to see ourselves, how to think about our own value, how to dream about our futures."

Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links:

TEDNext: ted.com/futureyou

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Your blood should have more in common with ketchup than just color, says chemical engineer Sean Farrington. Demonstrating the flow of everyday products like shampoo, peanut butter and ketchup, he makes the case for expanding the use of blood viscosity as a medical diagnostic, much like blood pressure. Learn more about the little-known field of rheology and how it could save lives — if taken seriously.

Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links:

TEDNext: ted.com/futureyou

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When conservationists talk about rewilding, most people picture wolves and bison roaming endless landscapes — but Isabella Tree discovered the real revolution is happening in ordinary backyards. She shares the incredible story of how she and her husband transformed their failing farmland into a nature paradise, offering a three-step formula for anyone looking to turn their green space wild.

Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links:

TEDNext: ted.com/futureyou

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What if the next Lionel Messi or Simone Biles is out there right now ... but no one knows? Sports scientist Richard Felton-Thomas shows how new AI tools are expanding the reach of talent discovery in sports, helping scouts find the next great superstar — and letting athletes showcase their skills from anywhere in the world.

Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links:

TEDNext: ted.com/futureyou

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What if you had an AI-powered assistant — that took initiative on its own? Technology leader Swami Sivasubramanian believes AI agents are the future of work, capable of sparking new levels of productivity and creativity. Demystifying the workings of autonomous software systems, he explains what they are (and aren’t) and advocates for a world in which AI handles the boring stuff, so you can focus on what matters.

Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links:

TEDNext: ted.com/futureyou

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The AI revolution and our aging power grid are on a historic collision course, threatening to stall innovation and raise energy costs for everyone. Physicist and AI grid futurist Varun Sivaram reveals how we might turn this looming crisis into a once-in-a-generation opportunity — unlocking massive power capacity, lowering costs and accelerating the energy future we’ve been waiting for.

Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links:

TEDNext: ted.com/futureyou

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