The hidden role of friction in our lives

TED Radio Hour

NPR

Social Sciences, Society & Culture, Science, Technology

4.4 • 21.3K Ratings

🗓️ 28 April 2023

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Original broadcast date: October 7, 2022. We encounter friction every day — in all its forms — as we brush our teeth, go for a jog, argue with a friend. This hour, TED speakers explore how this force can be dialed up or down to improve our lives. Guests include tribologist Jennifer Vail, democracy activist and whistleblower Yaël Eisenstat, Sierra Leone's Minister of Education David Moinina Sengeh and TV producer Elan Gale.

TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) sponsor-free. Sign-up at: plus.npr.org/ted

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is the Ted Radio Hour.
0:03.4	Each week, groundbreaking Ted Talks.
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0:25.1	And even change you.
0:26.2	I literally feel like I'm a different person.
0:28.4	Yes.
0:29.8	Do you feel that way?
0:31.1	Ideas worth spreading.
0:33.5	From Ted and NPR.
0:37.8	I'm Manouche Zamorodi.
0:40.3	And I want to talk about a force that is happening all around us.
0:46.3	And it's something that we actually, we learn about in school, friction.
0:50.7	Friction is the force that opposes motion.
0:53.8	So very much a basic physical concept.
	...

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