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How simple ideas lead to scientific discoveries - Adam Savage

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Published on Mar 13, 2012

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-simple-...

Adam Savage walks through two spectacular examples of profound scientific discoveries that came from simple, creative methods anyone could have followed -- Eratosthenes' calculation of the Earth's circumference around 200 BC and Hippolyte Fizeau's measurement of the speed of light in 1849.

Lesson by Adam Savage, animation by TED-Ed.

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    Education

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    Standard YouTube License

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Top Comments

  • IamtheNinjaKitty

    IamtheNinjaKitty 2 months ago

    It's so funny to see Adam Savage without some sort of disastrous explosion behind him.

    · 188

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  • Onbekend1980

    Onbekend1980 1 month ago

    You didn´t listen.

    · 48

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    in reply to Galleon12 (Show the comment)

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  • MCredstoningnstuff

    MCredstoningnstuff 6 hours ago

    25000 miles is within 1% of the circumference of the Earth.

    7,918*3.14=24,862.52

    24,862.52/25000=0.9945008

    ·

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    in reply to Galleon12 (Show the comment)
  • sor3999

    sor3999 1 day ago

    These Youtube educational videos with these visual drawings make paying attention so easy. It keeps you engaged. They should just teach in schools with flying clipart.

    ·

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  • huyked

    huyked 2 days ago

    Good catch. Didn't notice that.

    It's at 3:33 if anyone want to see.

    ·

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    in reply to hollowimage (Show the comment)
  • hollowimage

    hollowimage 2 days ago

    he didnt confuse them, adam savage misspoke, actually.

    he meant to say circumference but said diameter. so galleon12 is actually right in his question. though we do know what savage meant

    · 3

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  • hollowimage

    hollowimage 2 days ago

    actually adam savage misspoke -- he meant to say circumference, not the diameter. circumference ~25k miles, about radius is ~4.95k miles (rending diameter about ~7.9k miles)

    ·

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    in reply to Onbekend1980 (Show the comment)
  • Vida AndrĂ¡s

    Vida AndrĂ¡s 2 days ago

    I can't imagine how they made a measurement from miles away at the exact same time between Alexandria and Sweneth... how did the librarian knew it was perfectly noon in a distant city?.. I call fake here

    ·

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  • Whyit27

    Whyit27 2 days ago

    I'm not sure where to suggest a lesson, and if they already did this, a link would be appreciated. TEDEd, what makes music so enjoyable or non-enjoyable?

    ·

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  • Wilvin Crawford

    Wilvin Crawford 3 days ago

    I don't know why you're getting so much flack. You're right. Adam Savage did say the 25000 miles was in 1% of the actual diameter of the Earth. (at 3:33) He meant to say circumference though.

    ·

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    in reply to Galleon12 (Show the comment)
  • huyked

    huyked 4 days ago

    Circumference and diameter, I think you're confusing them.

    ·

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    in reply to Galleon12 (Show the comment)
  • huyked

    huyked 4 days ago

    Inspirational.

    ·

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