How we can turn the cold of outer space into a renewable resource | Aaswath Raman

How we can turn the cold of outer space into a renewable resource | Aaswath Raman

Author: TED June 1, 2018 Duration: 13:17
What if we could use the cold darkness of outer space to cool buildings on earth? In this mind-blowing talk, physicist Aaswath Raman details the technology he's developing to harness "night-sky cooling" -- a natural phenomenon where infrared light escapes earth and heads to space, carrying heat along with it -- which could dramatically reduce the energy used by our cooling systems (and the pollution they cause). Learn more about how this approach could lead us towards a future where we intelligently tap into the energy of the universe.

Curiosity about how our bodies work and the universe functions finds a compelling home in TED Talks Science and Medicine. This curated collection pulls directly from the global stage, featuring leading researchers, pioneering physicians, and insightful thinkers who are actively reshaping their fields. Each episode is a deep, personal narrative from the person behind the discovery, moving beyond textbook summaries to share the human story of scientific pursuit. You’ll hear a neurosurgeon explain the delicate biology of consciousness, a biologist decoding the secret language of trees, or an epidemiologist tracing the path of a pandemic. The discussions are grounded in rigorous research but delivered with a clarity and passion that makes complex concepts accessible and genuinely thrilling. Sourced from flagship TED conferences, independent TEDx events, and partner gatherings worldwide, this podcast serves as a direct line to the cutting edge. It’s for anyone who finds wonder in a detailed medical breakthrough or a revolutionary physics concept, offering a regular dose of perspective on the mechanisms of life and the cosmos. TED’s nonprofit mission to spread impactful ideas is perfectly realized here, turning each listening session into an engaging, thought-provoking exploration of what we know and the vast mysteries that remain.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 37

TED Talks Science and Medicine
Podcast Episodes
A new way to remove CO2 from the atmosphere | Jennifer Wilcox [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:06
Our planet has a carbon problem -- if we don't start removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, we'll grow hotter, faster. Chemical engineer Jennifer Wilcox previews some amazing technology to scrub carbon from the air…
How we're saving one of Earth's last wild places | Steve Boyes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:51
Navigating territorial hippos and active minefields, TED Fellow Steve Boyes and a team of scientists have been traveling through the Okavango Delta, Africa's largest remaining wetland wilderness, to explore and protect t…
The tiny creature that secretly powers the planet | Penny Chisholm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:28
Oceanographer Penny Chisholm introduces us to an amazing little being: Prochlorococcus, the most abundant photosynthetic species on the planet. A marine microbe that has existed for millions of years, Prochlorococcus was…
The journey through loss and grief | Jason B. Rosenthal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:59
In her brutally honest, ironically funny and widely read meditation on death, "You May Want to Marry My Husband," the late author and filmmaker Amy Krouse Rosenthal gave her husband Jason very public permission to move o…
How vultures can help solve crimes | Lauren Pharr [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:36
Can a bird that symbolizes death help the living catch criminals? In this informative and accessible talk, forensic anthropologist Lauren Pharr shows us how vultures impact crime scenes -- and the assistance they can pro…