Digest for 5/12/2026

Thomas Insel discusses how advancements in brain science and technology are transforming our approach to mental illnesses, paving the way for innovative treatments.

Every year worldwide, more than 50,000 otherwise healthy people with epilepsy die from seizures. Rosalind Picard and her team at Affectiva created a wearable device that uses AI to predict and alert for seizures before they happen.

AI is massively transforming our world, but what should we do about the jobs it displaces? AI investor Kai-Fu Lee shares a blueprint for rethinking work in the age of intelligent machines.

Cambridge researcher Aubrey de Grey argues that aging is merely a disease — and a curable one at that, outlining strategies to extend healthy human life.

What controls aging? Biochemist Cynthia Kenyon has found a simple genetic mutation that can double the lifespan of a simple worm, C. elegans. The lessons from that discovery, and others, are pointing to how we might one day significantly extend youthful human life.

Dan Buettner shares insights from Blue Zones, regions where people live the longest, revealing nine common habits that promote longevity.

For all that's ever been said about climate change, we haven't heard nearly enough about the psychological impacts of living in such an uncertain time. TED Fellow Britt Wray shares insights on 'climate grief' and how it affects our mental health.

Public health researcher Kristie Ebi explains how rising CO2 levels are reducing the nutritional value of staple crops, potentially leading to widespread malnutrition and health issues.

Emergency physician Jay Lemery has seen the health effects of climate change firsthand. In this talk, he explains why doctors need to be part of the climate conversation -- and how the medical community can help mitigate the health hazards of a warming planet.