Category: English

Facebook’s role in Brexit — and the threat to democracy | Carole Cadwalladr

Journalist Carole Cadwalladr digs into one of the most perplexing events in recent times: the UK’s super-close 2016 vote to leave the European Union. Tracking the result to a barrage of misleading Facebook ads targeted at vulnerable Brexit swing voters — and linking the same players and tactics to the 2016 US presidential election —… Continue reading Facebook’s role in Brexit — and the threat to democracy | Carole Cadwalladr

Where are all the aliens?

The universe is incredibly old, astoundingly vast and populated by trillions of planets — so where are all the aliens? Astronomer Stephen Webb has an explanation: we’re alone in the universe. In a mind-expanding talk, he spells out the remarkable barriers a planet would need to clear in order to host an extraterrestrial civilization —… Continue reading Where are all the aliens?

Ian Bremmer: How the US should use its superpower status

Americanization and globalization have basically been the same thing for the last several generations. But the US’s view of the world — and the world’s view of the US — is changing. In a fast-paced tour of the current state of international politics, Ian Bremmer discusses the challenges of a world where no single country… Continue reading Ian Bremmer: How the US should use its superpower status

Alexander Betts: Why Brexit happened — and what to do next

We are embarrassingly unaware of how divided our societies are, and Brexit grew out of a deep, unexamined divide between those that fear globalization and those that embrace it, says social scientist Alexander Betts. How do we now address that fear as well as growing disillusionment with the political establishment, while refusing to give in… Continue reading Alexander Betts: Why Brexit happened — and what to do next

R. Luke DuBois: Insightful human portraits made from data

Artist R. Luke DuBois makes unique portraits of presidents, cities, himself and even Britney Spears using data and personality. In this talk, he shares nine projects — from maps of the country built using information taken from millions of dating profiles to a gun that fires a blank every time a shooting is reported in… Continue reading R. Luke DuBois: Insightful human portraits made from data

Alex Kipman: A futuristic vision of the age of holograms

Explore a speculative digital world without screens in this fanciful demo, a mix of near reality and far-future possibility. Wearing the HoloLens headset, Alex Kipman demos his vision for bringing 3D holograms into the real world, enhancing our perceptions so that we can touch and feel digital content. Featuring Q&A with TED’s Helen Walters.