Name: Mapping ideas worth spreading
Uploaded: 2013-09-18T15:01:34Z
Duration: 7 min 42 s
Description: What do 24,000 ideas look like? Ecologist Eric Berlow and physicist Sean Gourley apply algorithms to the entire archive of TEDx Talks, taking us on a stimulating visual tour to show how ideas connect globally.

Eric Berlow and Sean Gourley: Mapping ideas worth spreading

Mapping ideas worth spreading

What do 24,000 ideas look like? Ecologist Eric Berlow and physicist Sean Gourley apply algorithms to the entire archive of TEDx Talks, taking us on a stimulating visual tour to show how ideas connect globally.

By analyzing 24,000 TEDx Talks from 147 countries, researchers mapped how diverse ideas link and evolve worldwide. Using natural language processing, they built a network showing surprising connections, like education clustering with storytelling or new fields emerging from crossovers. This approach uncovers creative remixes and unique voices that standard popularity rankings miss. The rich structure of idea networks helps people see not just what is trending, but what is possible.