Most popular TED-Ed animations of 2025

While cleaning out your uncle’s attic you find a chest with a sparkling potion. The attached tag declares drinking this liquid will make you immortal. Your body will be frozen at its current age, and these effects would be final and irreversible. The instructions are clear — the only question is, do you drink the potion? Sarah Stroud and Michael Vazquez explore this philosophical debate. [Directed by Skirmanta Jakaitė, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Stephen LaRosa, Wonder Boy Audio].

When reading "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," most readers visualize the queen’s croquet game play out in their heads. A few might see the scene in vivid detail. However, a small fraction of readers have a drastically different experience: within their heads, they "see" absolutely nothing. Why do some people have an inability to visualize images? Adam Zeman explores the science of aphantasia. [Directed by Biljana Labović, narrated by Alexandra Panzer, music by Cem Misirlioglu, WORKPLAYWORK].

In 1968, the American Heart Association made an announcement that would influence people’s diets for decades: they recommended that people avoid eating more than three eggs a week. Their reasoning was that the cholesterol packed into egg yolks could increase cardiovascular disease risk. So, what exactly is cholesterol? And is it actually bad for you? Hei Man Chan digs into this complex molecule. [Directed by Igor Ćorić, Artrake Studio, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Cem Misirlioglu].

Finnish sauna, Roman balneae, Japanese onsen, and Indigenous American sweat lodges are just a few examples of how cultures across the globe have long considered exposure to extreme temperatures therapeutic. But today scientists are only just beginning to unravel how and why this may be the case. So, what exactly is happening in your body when you feel the heat? Max G. Levy investigates. [Directed by Noam Sussman, Ali Kellner, Homework Studio, narrated by Alexandra Panzer, music by Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio].

In one of Aesop’s fables, a crow is searching for water. It spies a pitcher— but the water inside is beyond its reach. So, the crow begins dropping in pebbles. One-by-one, they displace the water, and the crow quenches its thirst. This is just one of many fascinating displays of intelligence from corvids. Katharina Brecht digs into what makes this bold, brainy family of songbirds so smart. [Directed by Irida Zhonga, narrated by Pen-Pen Chen, music by Phil Brookes].

In order to reattach a severed limb after an accident, a number of things need to go right— and quickly. A clean cut, properly preserving the limb, and getting it to a skilled surgeon in time are just a few of these challenges. And unfortunately, there are countless complications that come up with most accidental amputations. So, when is limb reattachment possible? Jason Hoellwarth investigates. [Directed by Denys Spolitak, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Cem Misirlioglu].

There’s a common idea that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become great at something. From an early age, we are encouraged to choose our path, focus specifically, and start racking up those hours. But, what if these head starts aren’t helping us the way we think they do? What if there’s a better way to excel? David Epstein shares how a different approach could set us up for greater success. [Directed by Avi Ofer, music by Stephen LaRosa]