CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en-US"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"/> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width"/> <title>Science | </title> <link rel="profile" href="https://gmpg.org/xfn/11"/> <link rel="pingback" href="https://ideas.ted.com/xmlrpc.php"/> <meta name='robots' content='max-image-preview:large' /> <style>img:is([sizes="auto" i], [sizes^="auto," i]) { contain-intrinsic-size: 3000px 1500px }</style> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//ak.sail-horizon.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//cdn.cookielaw.org' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//cdn.georiot.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//stats.wp.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//fonts.googleapis.com' /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="ideas.ted.com » Feed" href="https://ideas.ted.com/feed/" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="ideas.ted.com » Comments Feed" href="https://ideas.ted.com/comments/feed/" /> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/ideas.ted.com\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=6.7.2"}}; /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(i,n){var o,s,e;function c(e){try{var t={supportTests:e,timestamp:(new Date).valueOf()};sessionStorage.setItem(o,JSON.stringify(t))}catch(e){}}function p(e,t,n){e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(t,0,0);var t=new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data),r=(e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(n,0,0),new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data));return t.every(function(e,t){return e===r[t]})}function u(e,t,n){switch(t){case"flag":return n(e,"\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f","\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200b\u26a7\ufe0f")?!1:!n(e,"\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf3","\ud83c\uddfa\u200b\ud83c\uddf3")&&!n(e,"\ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f","\ud83c\udff4\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc62\u200b\udb40\udc65\u200b\udb40\udc6e\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc7f");case"emoji":return!n(e,"\ud83d\udc26\u200d\u2b1b","\ud83d\udc26\u200b\u2b1b")}return!1}function f(e,t,n){var r="undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope?new OffscreenCanvas(300,150):i.createElement("canvas"),a=r.getContext("2d",{willReadFrequently:!0}),o=(a.textBaseline="top",a.font="600 32px Arial",{});return e.forEach(function(e){o[e]=t(a,e,n)}),o}function t(e){var t=i.createElement("script");t.src=e,t.defer=!0,i.head.appendChild(t)}"undefined"!=typeof Promise&&(o="wpEmojiSettingsSupports",s=["flag","emoji"],n.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},e=new Promise(function(e){i.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",e,{once:!0})}),new Promise(function(t){var n=function(){try{var e=JSON.parse(sessionStorage.getItem(o));if("object"==typeof e&&"number"==typeof e.timestamp&&(new Date).valueOf()<e.timestamp+604800&&"object"==typeof e.supportTests)return e.supportTests}catch(e){}return null}();if(!n){if("undefined"!=typeof Worker&&"undefined"!=typeof OffscreenCanvas&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&URL.createObjectURL&&"undefined"!=typeof Blob)try{var e="postMessage("+f.toString()+"("+[JSON.stringify(s),u.toString(),p.toString()].join(",")+"));",r=new Blob([e],{type:"text/javascript"}),a=new Worker(URL.createObjectURL(r),{name:"wpTestEmojiSupports"});return void(a.onmessage=function(e){c(n=e.data),a.terminate(),t(n)})}catch(e){}c(n=f(s,u,p))}t(n)}).then(function(e){for(var t in e)n.supports[t]=e[t],n.supports.everything=n.supports.everything&&n.supports[t],"flag"!==t&&(n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&n.supports[t]);n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!n.supports.flag,n.DOMReady=!1,n.readyCallback=function(){n.DOMReady=!0}}).then(function(){return e}).then(function(){var e;n.supports.everything||(n.readyCallback(),(e=n.source||{}).concatemoji?t(e.concatemoji):e.wpemoji&&e.twemoji&&(t(e.twemoji),t(e.wpemoji)))}))}((window,document),window._wpemojiSettings); /* ]]> */ </script> <link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-0' href='https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/mu-plugins/jetpack-14.4/modules/infinite-scroll/infinity.css?m=1743450023g' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='wp-emoji-styles-inline-css'> img.wp-smiley, img.emoji { display: inline !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; height: 1em !important; width: 1em !important; margin: 0 0.07em !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; background: none !important; padding: 0 !important; } </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-2' href='https://ideas.ted.com/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css?m=1742994400g' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-4' href='https://ideas.ted.com/_static/??-eJzTLy/QzcxLzilNSS3WzyrWz01NyUxMzUnNTc0rQeEU5CRWphbp5qSmJyZX6uVm5uklFxfr6OPTDpRD5sM02efaGpqbGFlampgYGAIAROAu5A==' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='jetpack-sharing-buttons-style-inline-css'> .jetpack-sharing-buttons__services-list{display:flex;flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0;list-style-type:none;margin:5px;padding:0}.jetpack-sharing-buttons__services-list.has-small-icon-size{font-size:12px}.jetpack-sharing-buttons__services-list.has-normal-icon-size{font-size:16px}.jetpack-sharing-buttons__services-list.has-large-icon-size{font-size:24px}.jetpack-sharing-buttons__services-list.has-huge-icon-size{font-size:36px}@media print{.jetpack-sharing-buttons__services-list{display:none!important}}.editor-styles-wrapper .wp-block-jetpack-sharing-buttons{gap:0;padding-inline-start:0}ul.jetpack-sharing-buttons__services-list.has-background{padding:1.25em 2.375em} </style> <style id='classic-theme-styles-inline-css'> /*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} </style> <style id='global-styles-inline-css'> :root{--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--square: 1;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--4-3: 4/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-4: 3/4;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-2: 3/2;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--2-3: 2/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--16-9: 16/9;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--9-16: 9/16;--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #ffffff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20: 0.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30: 0.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40: 1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50: 1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60: 2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70: 3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80: 5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural: 6px 6px 9px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep: 12px 12px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined: 6px 6px 0px -3px rgba(255, 255, 255, 1), 6px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap: 0.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap: 0.5em;}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} :where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;} :where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;} :root :where(.wp-block-pullquote){font-size: 1.5em;line-height: 1.6;} </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-10' href='https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/themes/ted-ideas/assets/fontawesome/font-awesome.css?m=1724098316g' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='ted-ideas-google-fonts-css' href='//fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Barlow%3Aital%2Cwght%400%2C100%3B0%2C400%3B0%2C500%3B0%2C700%3B1%2C100%3B1%2C400%3B1%2C500%3B1%2C700&ver=6.7.2' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-12' href='https://ideas.ted.com/_static/??-eJydj0sOwjAMRC9E6pYGsUKcJU2sNOB8FDuquD1Vq666gp31RvM0hqUom5NgEpAZIzIIOhUcGgbDjMJgeYee8mRIzWgc1m6lF/ihTeiN/ZxqsalCzYfE8EIpxr7VoDsNMbtGq8+amhsjAS+hYFVTS47wf82RHuBkOjRsAslcm1qC8yjbH/vZcZvY1jBtM57xMdz1qG99fx2/1Dt7gg==' type='text/css' media='all' /> <script type="text/javascript" id="ted_sponsor-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var TED_SPONSORS = {"sponsors":[],"sponsored_posts":[],"is_single":"","is_archive":"","archive_sponsor":"","single_post_sponsors":[]}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://ideas.ted.com/_static/??-eJytjUEKAjEMRS9kJ44UZBbiWUobxtRpUptW8fYWncUsxJUQCDz+/w8e2RD7pQVUiP1uDctzfUMiHqLu4FfIJJqLq7gNe+GKXKFeMPVKxWAooFPIS5uJP0SzsEoBp4r1vXtHDh2sci9yJfzmbxywqJfyD+mG9qVzOo1He5gma/djfAGuUWqk" ></script><script src='//ak.sail-horizon.com/spm/spm.v1.min.js?ver=6.7.2' type='text/javascript' async></script><script type="text/javascript" id="tag-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var tag = {"options":{"customerId":"a107d7f43ad64daa9a7ef2f8bfde9d97"},"isCustom":"1"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/plugins/sailthru-widget/js/tag.js?m=1724100110g" ></script><script type="text/javascript" data-domain-script='6ac252ef-95dd-4e7f-8934-6c199ac6df42' src="https://cdn.cookielaw.org/scripttemplates/otSDKStub.js" id="onetrust-notice-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="onetrust-notice-js-after"> /* <![CDATA[ */ function OptanonWrapper() {} /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" id="ted-js-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var ted = []; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://ideas.ted.com/_static/??/wp-content/themes/ted-ideas/assets/js/ted.js,/wp-content/themes/ted-ideas/assets/js/legacy/tracking.js?m=1724098316j" ></script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://cdn.georiot.com/snippet.js?ver=6.7.2" id="geniuslink-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="geniuslink-handler-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var geniusLink = {"tsid":"12134","selector":".hentry .block-text a"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://ideas.ted.com/_static/??-eJxtjDEOgzAMAD/UYCiowIB4CxArOAQXxY74fkEMZWC7G+5g38z0ZUVW2EJyxAKK1tzZIVOSQLyAF/ibmQe2AWPm5QUPHxko6ByT2ck61DO+KJM0yhRpxCPt166o31XeNmXx8T+cMDVk" ></script><link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-json/" /><link rel="alternate" title="JSON" type="application/json" href="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-json/wp/v2/categories/173" /><link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" title="RSD" href="https://ideas.ted.com/xmlrpc.php?rsd" /> <meta name="generator" content="WordPress 6.7.2" /> <style>img#wpstats{display:none}</style> <meta property="fb:pages" content="29092950651" /> <meta property="ia:markup_url" content="https://ideas.ted.com/heres-how-you-can-handle-stress-like-a-lion-not-a-gazelle/?ia_markup=1" /> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="kpf8-2HuYyPjVRR4Dgk7MTSM4jiKCDbp5n7GQwulGGs" /> <meta content = "summary_large_image" property = "twitter:card" /> <meta content = "@tedtalks" property = "twitter:site" /> <meta content = "376183339" property = "twitter:app:id:iphone" /> <meta content = "376183339" property = "twitter:app:id:ipad" /> <meta content = "com.ted.android" property = "twitter:app:id:googleplay" /> <meta content = "TED Talks" property = "twitter:app:name:ipad" /> <meta content = "TED Talks" property = "twitter:app:name:iphone" /> <meta content = "TED Talks" property = "twitter:app:name:googleplay" /> <script type="text/javascript">var sailthru_vars = {"ajaxurl":"https:\/\/ideas.ted.com\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php"}</script><script type = "text/javascript"> (function () { window.advBidxc = window.advBidxc || {}; window.advBidxc.customerId = "8CUETUT4L"; // Customer ID window.advBidxc.domain = window.location.hostname; window.advBidxc.version = 5.1; window.advBidxc.startTime = new Date().getTime(); function loadScript(tagSrc) { var scriptTag = document.createElement('script'), placeTag = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; scriptTag.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptTag.async = true; scriptTag.src = tagSrc; placeTag.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptTag, placeTag);} var mnSrc = 'https://hbx.media.net/bidexchange.js?cid=' + window.advBidxc.customerId + "&version=" + window.advBidxc.version + '&dn=' + window.advBidxc.domain; loadScript(mnSrc); })(); </script>  <script> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; ( function () { var gads = document.createElement( 'script' ); gads.async = true; gads.type = 'text/javascript'; var useSSL = 'https:' == document.location.protocol; gads.src = ( useSSL ? 'https:' : 'http:' ) + '//www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js'; var node = document.getElementsByTagName( 'script' )[0]; node.parentNode.insertBefore( gads, node ); } )(); googletag.cmd.push( function () { var adSlot = googletag.defineSlot( "/", [300, 250], "acm-ad-tag-" ).addService( googletag.pubads() ); googletag.pubads().addEventListener( 'slotRenderEnded', function( event ) { // check if slot has rendered if ( true === event.isEmpty ) { // if it hasn't rendered, remove the slot jQuery( '#' + event.slot.getSlotElementId() ).closest( '.loop-advertisement' ).remove(); // re trigger masonry to fix the layout jQuery( "#block-container").masonry(); } }); var adSlot = googletag.defineSlot( "5641/ted3/web/ideas", [300, 250], "acm-ad-tag-homepage-ad" ).addService( googletag.pubads() ); googletag.pubads().addEventListener( 'slotRenderEnded', function( event ) { // check if slot has rendered if ( true === event.isEmpty ) { // if it hasn't rendered, remove the slot jQuery( '#' + event.slot.getSlotElementId() ).closest( '.loop-advertisement' ).remove(); // re trigger masonry to fix the layout jQuery( "#block-container").masonry(); } }); var adSlot = googletag.defineSlot( "5641/ted3/web/ideas", [[300, 250], [300, 600], [300, 1050]], "acm-ad-tag-sidebar-ad" ).addService( googletag.pubads() ); googletag.pubads().addEventListener( 'slotRenderEnded', function( event ) { // check if slot has rendered if ( true === event.isEmpty ) { // if it hasn't rendered, remove the slot jQuery( '#' + event.slot.getSlotElementId() ).closest( '.loop-advertisement' ).remove(); // re trigger masonry to fix the layout jQuery( "#block-container").masonry(); } }); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); } ); </script>  <meta property="og:type" content="website" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Science – ideas.ted.com" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://ideas.ted.com/category/science/" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="ideas.ted.com" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://s0.wp.com/i/blank.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:alt" content="" /> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" />  </head> <body class="archive category category-science category-173"> <div id="page"> <header class="main-header" id="header"> <div class="container"> <button id="header-menu-toggle" class="toggle-mobile header-menu"><span aria-hidden="true">Menu</span></button> <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/" class="header-badge"> ideas.ted.com </a> <div class="header-global"> <div class="header-tagline">Ideas change everything</div> <div class="header-logo"> <a href="https://www.ted.com/" class="header-logo-link" target="_blank"> <img src="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/themes/ted-ideas/assets/images/ted-logo.svg" alt="TED Logo" class="header-logo-image"> </a> </div> </div> <div class="header-article"> <a href="" class="header-article-link"> Here鈥檚 how you can handle stress like a lion, not a gazelle </a> </div> <div class="header-search-input"> <form role="search" method="get" class="search-form" action="https://ideas.ted.com/"> <a href="#" class="search-form-link"> <img src="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/themes/ted-ideas/assets/images/search.svg" alt="Search Icon" class="search-icon"> </a> <label class="screen-reader-text">Search for:</label> <div class="search-field-group"> <input type="search" class="search-field" placeholder="Search ..." value="" name="s" title="Search for:" /> <input type="submit" class="search-submit hidden" value="Search" /> </div> </form> </div> </div> </header> <nav class="main-nav" id="main-nav"> <div class="container"> <ul id="menu-header-nav" class="main-nav-list"><li id="menu-item-100221" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-100221"><a href="https://ideas.ted.com/category/tech/">Tech</a></li> <li id="menu-item-100222" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-100222"><a href="https://ideas.ted.com/category/business/">Business</a></li> <li id="menu-item-100220" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-100220"><a href="https://ideas.ted.com/category/arts-design/">Arts + Design</a></li> <li id="menu-item-100219" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-menu-item menu-item-100219"><a href="https://ideas.ted.com/category/science/" aria-current="page">Science</a></li> <li id="menu-item-100218" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-100218"><a href="https://ideas.ted.com/category/we-humans/">We humans</a></li> </ul> <div class="main-nav-search"> <form role="search" method="get" class="search-form" action="https://ideas.ted.com/"> <a href="#" class="search-form-link"> <img src="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/themes/ted-ideas/assets/images/search.svg" alt="Search Icon" class="search-icon"> </a> <label class="screen-reader-text">Search for:</label> <div class="search-field-group"> <input type="search" class="search-field" placeholder="Search ..." value="" name="s" title="Search for:" /> <input type="submit" class="search-submit hidden" value="Search" /> </div> </form> </div> </div> </nav> <div id="main" class="site-main clearfix"> <div class="archive-title"> <h1> Science </h1> </div> <div id="primary"> <div id="content" class="site-content" role="main">  <div class="block-container-wrap"> <div class="block-container-inside clearfix"> <section id="block-container"> <div class="post block animated fadeIn post-123511 type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-science tag-advice tag-book-excerpt tag-elissa-epel tag-psychology tag-science-2 tag-stress tag-telomeres" data-postid="123511">  <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/heres-how-you-can-handle-stress-like-a-lion-not-a-gazelle/" class="block-post-link" rel="bookmark"></a> <div class="block-standard post-123511 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-science tag-advice tag-book-excerpt tag-elissa-epel tag-psychology tag-science-2 tag-stress tag-telomeres"> <a class="block-thumb" href="https://ideas.ted.com/heres-how-you-can-handle-stress-like-a-lion-not-a-gazelle/" data-postId="123511" title="Permalink to Here鈥檚 how you can handle stress like a lion, not a gazelle" rel="bookmark"> <img width="770" height="462" src="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/02/FINAL_stress.png?w=770" class="attachment-block-thumb size-block-thumb wp-post-image" alt="" data-attachment-id="123524" data-permalink="https://ideas.ted.com/heres-how-you-can-handle-stress-like-a-lion-not-a-gazelle/final_stress/" data-orig-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/02/FINAL_stress.png" data-orig-size="4000,2400" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="FINAL_stress" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/02/FINAL_stress.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/02/FINAL_stress.png?w=770" /> </a> <div class="block-titles-wrap"> <div class="block-titles"> <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/category/science/" title="View all posts in Science" class="category"> Science </a> <h2 class="block-entry-title"><a href="https://ideas.ted.com/heres-how-you-can-handle-stress-like-a-lion-not-a-gazelle/" rel="bookmark">Here鈥檚 how you can handle stress like a lion, not a gazelle</a></h2> </div>  <p>It’s all about being able to see the daily nerve-racking events in your life as challenges — instead of threats — and stress expert Elissa Epel PhD explains how we can all start to make this shift. </p> </div></div> <div class="block-meta"> <div class="block-author-link"> <i class="icon-pencil"></i> <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/author/tedblogguest/" title="Posts by TED Guest Author" rel="author">TED Guest Author</a> </div> <a class="block-permalink" href="https://ideas.ted.com/heres-how-you-can-handle-stress-like-a-lion-not-a-gazelle/" title="Permalink to Here鈥檚 how you can handle stress like a lion, not a gazelle" rel="bookmark"><i class="icon-link"></i></a> </div> </div> <div class="post block animated fadeIn post-123476 type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-science tag-advice tag-book-excerpt tag-happiness tag-how-to-be-a-better-human tag-relationships tag-robert-waldinger" data-postid="123476">  <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/how-to-add-new-life-to-your-relationships-even-your-best-ones/" class="block-post-link" rel="bookmark"></a> <div class="block-standard post-123476 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-science tag-advice tag-book-excerpt tag-happiness tag-how-to-be-a-better-human tag-relationships tag-robert-waldinger"> <a class="block-thumb" href="https://ideas.ted.com/how-to-add-new-life-to-your-relationships-even-your-best-ones/" data-postId="123476" title="Permalink to How to add new life to your relationships (even your best ones!)" rel="bookmark"> <img width="770" height="462" src="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/FINAL_add-life-to-relationships.png?w=770" class="attachment-block-thumb size-block-thumb wp-post-image" alt="" data-attachment-id="123491" data-permalink="https://ideas.ted.com/how-to-add-new-life-to-your-relationships-even-your-best-ones/final_add-life-to-relationships/" data-orig-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/FINAL_add-life-to-relationships.png" data-orig-size="2000,1200" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="FINAL_add-life-to-relationships" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/FINAL_add-life-to-relationships.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/FINAL_add-life-to-relationships.png?w=770" /> </a> <div class="block-titles-wrap"> <div class="block-titles"> <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/category/science/" title="View all posts in Science" class="category"> Science </a> <h2 class="block-entry-title"><a href="https://ideas.ted.com/how-to-add-new-life-to-your-relationships-even-your-best-ones/" rel="bookmark">How to add new life to your relationships (even your best ones!)</a></h2> </div>  <p>Want lasting happiness? Invest in your connections to other people, suggest Robert Waldinger MD and Marc Schulz PhD, codirectors of the longest-running scientific study on well-being. Here, they share four strategies to re-energize your bonds. </p> </div></div> <div class="block-meta"> <div class="block-author-link"> <i class="icon-pencil"></i> <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/author/tedblogguest/" title="Posts by TED Guest Author" rel="author">TED Guest Author</a> </div> <a class="block-permalink" href="https://ideas.ted.com/how-to-add-new-life-to-your-relationships-even-your-best-ones/" title="Permalink to How to add new life to your relationships (even your best ones!)" rel="bookmark"><i class="icon-link"></i></a> </div> </div> <div class="post block animated fadeIn post-123289 type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-science tag-carbon-pollution tag-climate-change tag-co2 tag-cop27 tag-greenhouse-gas-emissions tag-ipcc" data-postid="123289">  <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/egypt-cop27-explainer-heres-whats-at-stake/" class="block-post-link" rel="bookmark"></a> <div class="block-standard post-123289 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-science tag-carbon-pollution tag-climate-change tag-co2 tag-cop27 tag-greenhouse-gas-emissions tag-ipcc"> <a class="block-thumb" href="https://ideas.ted.com/egypt-cop27-explainer-heres-whats-at-stake/" data-postId="123289" title="Permalink to Almost 200 nations are meeting now for COP27 — here’s what you need to know" rel="bookmark"> <img width="770" height="462" src="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/11/FINAL_COP27_Credit-Alamy.jpg?w=770" class="attachment-block-thumb size-block-thumb wp-post-image" alt="" data-attachment-id="123302" data-permalink="https://ideas.ted.com/egypt-cop27-explainer-heres-whats-at-stake/final_cop27_credit-alamy/" data-orig-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/11/FINAL_COP27_Credit-Alamy.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1200" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="FINAL_COP27_Credit-Alamy" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/11/FINAL_COP27_Credit-Alamy.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/11/FINAL_COP27_Credit-Alamy.jpg?w=770" /> </a> <div class="block-titles-wrap"> <div class="block-titles"> <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/category/science/" title="View all posts in Science" class="category"> Science </a> <h2 class="block-entry-title"><a href="https://ideas.ted.com/egypt-cop27-explainer-heres-whats-at-stake/" rel="bookmark">Almost 200 nations are meeting now for COP27 — here’s what you need to know</a></h2> </div>  <p>From flooding in聽Asia to heatwaves across Europe, climate-related disasters are intensifying everywhere. Over the next two weeks, world leaders are meeting at COP27 to discuss what can and should be done. International relations expert Matt McDonald PhD explains what’s at stake. </p> </div></div> <div class="block-meta"> <div class="block-author-link"> <i class="icon-pencil"></i> <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/author/tedblogguest/" title="Posts by TED Guest Author" rel="author">TED Guest Author</a> </div> <a class="block-permalink" href="https://ideas.ted.com/egypt-cop27-explainer-heres-whats-at-stake/" title="Permalink to Almost 200 nations are meeting now for COP27 — here’s what you need to know" rel="bookmark"><i class="icon-link"></i></a> </div> </div> <div class="post block animated fadeIn loop-advertisement"> <div id="acm-ad-tag-homepage-ad" > <script> googletag.cmd.push( function() { googletag.display( 'acm-ad-tag-homepage-ad' ); }); </script> </div> </div> <div class="post block animated fadeIn post-122903 type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-science tag-advice tag-blog tag-brains tag-health-2 tag-lisa-genova tag-neuroscience tag-science-2 tag-ted-courses" data-postid="122903">  <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/is-it-normal-forgetting-or-alzheimers-dementia/" class="block-post-link" rel="bookmark"></a> <div class="block-standard post-122903 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-science tag-advice tag-blog tag-brains tag-health-2 tag-lisa-genova tag-neuroscience tag-science-2 tag-ted-courses"> <a class="block-thumb" href="https://ideas.ted.com/is-it-normal-forgetting-or-alzheimers-dementia/" data-postId="122903" title="Permalink to 3 types of normal forgetting — and 1 that isn鈥檛" rel="bookmark"> <img width="770" height="462" src="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/09/FINAL_Forgetting_Credit-iStock.png?w=770" class="attachment-block-thumb size-block-thumb wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="122913" data-permalink="https://ideas.ted.com/is-it-normal-forgetting-or-alzheimers-dementia/final_forgetting_credit-istock/" data-orig-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/09/FINAL_Forgetting_Credit-iStock.png" data-orig-size="2000,1200" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="FINAL_Forgetting_Credit-iStock" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/09/FINAL_Forgetting_Credit-iStock.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/09/FINAL_Forgetting_Credit-iStock.png?w=770" /> </a> <div class="block-titles-wrap"> <div class="block-titles"> <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/category/science/" title="View all posts in Science" class="category"> Science </a> <h2 class="block-entry-title"><a href="https://ideas.ted.com/is-it-normal-forgetting-or-alzheimers-dementia/" rel="bookmark">3 types of normal forgetting — and 1 that isn鈥檛</a></h2> </div>  <p>Do you find yourself not remembering where you put your phone? (Been there.) Or blanking on the name of the cafe in Friends?(Central Perk!) Author and neuroscientist Lisa Genova tells you which memory blips to shrug off and when you may want to talk to your doctor. </p> </div></div> <div class="block-meta"> <div class="block-author-link"> <i class="icon-pencil"></i> <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/author/tedblogguest/" title="Posts by TED Guest Author" rel="author">TED Guest Author</a> </div> <a class="block-permalink" href="https://ideas.ted.com/is-it-normal-forgetting-or-alzheimers-dementia/" title="Permalink to 3 types of normal forgetting — and 1 that isn鈥檛" rel="bookmark"><i class="icon-link"></i></a> </div> </div> <div class="post block animated fadeIn post-122872 type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-science tag-blog tag-climatarian tag-climate-change tag-co2 tag-diet tag-flexitarian tag-greenhouse-gas-emissions tag-health-2 tag-nature tag-plant-based tag-science-2 tag-vegan tag-vegetarian" data-postid="122872">  <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/which-diet-is-better-for-climate-change-vegan-vegetarian-climatarian-flexitarian/" class="block-post-link" rel="bookmark"></a> <div class="block-standard post-122872 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-science tag-blog tag-climatarian tag-climate-change tag-co2 tag-diet tag-flexitarian tag-greenhouse-gas-emissions tag-health-2 tag-nature tag-plant-based tag-science-2 tag-vegan tag-vegetarian"> <a class="block-thumb" href="https://ideas.ted.com/which-diet-is-better-for-climate-change-vegan-vegetarian-climatarian-flexitarian/" data-postId="122872" title="Permalink to Climatarian, flexitarian, vegetarian, vegan: Which diet is best for the planet? (And what do they mean?)" rel="bookmark"> <img width="770" height="462" src="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/09/FINAL_Climate-Diet_Credit-Stocksy.jpg?w=770" class="attachment-block-thumb size-block-thumb wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="122888" data-permalink="https://ideas.ted.com/which-diet-is-better-for-climate-change-vegan-vegetarian-climatarian-flexitarian/final_climate-diet_credit-stocksy/" data-orig-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/09/FINAL_Climate-Diet_Credit-Stocksy.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1200" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="FINAL_Climate-Diet_Credit-Stocksy" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/09/FINAL_Climate-Diet_Credit-Stocksy.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/09/FINAL_Climate-Diet_Credit-Stocksy.jpg?w=770" /> </a> <div class="block-titles-wrap"> <div class="block-titles"> <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/category/science/" title="View all posts in Science" class="category"> Science </a> <h2 class="block-entry-title"><a href="https://ideas.ted.com/which-diet-is-better-for-climate-change-vegan-vegetarian-climatarian-flexitarian/" rel="bookmark">Climatarian, flexitarian, vegetarian, vegan: Which diet is best for the planet? (And what do they mean?)</a></h2> </div>  <p>Changing what we eat can help reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable farming practices — but which diet could make the biggest difference? Earth scientist Mark Maslin PhD breaks down the different options and tells you what they mean for climate change, your health and the planet.</p> </div></div> <div class="block-meta"> <div class="block-author-link"> <i class="icon-pencil"></i> <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/author/tedblogguest/" title="Posts by TED Guest Author" rel="author">TED Guest Author</a> </div> <a class="block-permalink" href="https://ideas.ted.com/which-diet-is-better-for-climate-change-vegan-vegetarian-climatarian-flexitarian/" title="Permalink to Climatarian, flexitarian, vegetarian, vegan: Which diet is best for the planet? (And what do they mean?)" rel="bookmark"><i class="icon-link"></i></a> </div> </div> <div class="post block animated fadeIn post-122856 type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-science tag-advice tag-blog tag-book-excerpt tag-connection tag-michelle-drouin tag-nature tag-personal-growth tag-psychology tag-relationships tag-science-2 tag-surprise-me tag-technology-2 tag-tedx" data-postid="122856">  <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/why-ghosting-hurts-us-psychology/" class="block-post-link" rel="bookmark"></a> <div class="block-standard post-122856 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-science tag-advice tag-blog tag-book-excerpt tag-connection tag-michelle-drouin tag-nature tag-personal-growth tag-psychology tag-relationships tag-science-2 tag-surprise-me tag-technology-2 tag-tedx"> <a class="block-thumb" href="https://ideas.ted.com/why-ghosting-hurts-us-psychology/" data-postId="122856" title="Permalink to Why does it hurt so much when we get ghosted? A psychologist explains" rel="bookmark"> <img width="770" height="462" src="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/08/Ghosting_final.jpg?w=770" class="attachment-block-thumb size-block-thumb wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="122868" data-permalink="https://ideas.ted.com/why-ghosting-hurts-us-psychology/ghosting_final/" data-orig-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/08/Ghosting_final.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1200" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Ghosting_final" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/08/Ghosting_final.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/08/Ghosting_final.jpg?w=770" /> </a> <div class="block-titles-wrap"> <div class="block-titles"> <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/category/science/" title="View all posts in Science" class="category"> Science </a> <h2 class="block-entry-title"><a href="https://ideas.ted.com/why-ghosting-hurts-us-psychology/" rel="bookmark">Why does it hurt so much when we get ghosted? A psychologist explains</a></h2> </div>  <p>The uncertainty of ghosting is not really what causes us pain. Instead, it hits us at an even greater point of human vulnerability: Our desire to belong and be loved. Behavioral scientist Michelle Drouin PhD tells us why. </p> </div></div> <div class="block-meta"> <div class="block-author-link"> <i class="icon-pencil"></i> <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/author/tedblogguest/" title="Posts by TED Guest Author" rel="author">TED Guest Author</a> </div> <a class="block-permalink" href="https://ideas.ted.com/why-ghosting-hurts-us-psychology/" title="Permalink to Why does it hurt so much when we get ghosted? A psychologist explains" rel="bookmark"><i class="icon-link"></i></a> </div> </div> <div class="post block animated fadeIn post-122585 type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-science tag-advice tag-blog tag-health-2 tag-jen-gunter tag-medicine tag-podcasts tag-science-2 tag-women-at-war" data-postid="122585">  <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/how-many-steps-a-day-do-we-really-need-to-take-here-are-the-facts/" class="block-post-link" rel="bookmark"></a> <div class="block-standard post-122585 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-science tag-advice tag-blog tag-health-2 tag-jen-gunter tag-medicine tag-podcasts tag-science-2 tag-women-at-war"> <a class="block-thumb" href="https://ideas.ted.com/how-many-steps-a-day-do-we-really-need-to-take-here-are-the-facts/" data-postId="122585" title="Permalink to How many steps a day do we really need to take? Here are the facts" rel="bookmark"> <img width="770" height="462" src="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/05/FINAL_Body-Stuff_Steps.jpg?w=770" class="attachment-block-thumb size-block-thumb wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="122602" data-permalink="https://ideas.ted.com/how-many-steps-a-day-do-we-really-need-to-take-here-are-the-facts/final_body-stuff_steps/" data-orig-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/05/FINAL_Body-Stuff_Steps.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1200" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="FINAL_Body-Stuff_Steps" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/05/FINAL_Body-Stuff_Steps.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://ideas.ted.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/05/FINAL_Body-Stuff_Steps.jpg?w=770" /> </a> <div class="block-titles-wrap"> <div class="block-titles"> <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/category/science/" title="View all posts in Science" class="category"> Science </a> <h2 class="block-entry-title"><a href="https://ideas.ted.com/how-many-steps-a-day-do-we-really-need-to-take-here-are-the-facts/" rel="bookmark">How many steps a day do we really need to take? Here are the facts</a></h2> </div>  <p>Dr. Jen Gunter, ob/gyn, author and podcast host, looks at the belief that people need to take 10,000 steps a day — and explains what the science says about it. </p> </div></div> <div class="block-meta"> <div class="block-author-link"> <i class="icon-pencil"></i> <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/author/tedblogguest/" title="Posts by TED Guest Author" rel="author">TED Guest Author</a> </div> <a class="block-permalink" href="https://ideas.ted.com/how-many-steps-a-day-do-we-really-need-to-take-here-are-the-facts/" title="Permalink to How many steps a day do we really need to take? Here are the facts" rel="bookmark"><i class="icon-link"></i></a> </div> </div> </section>  </div>  </div>  </div> </div> </div> <footer class="main-footer" id="footer">  </footer>  <script type="text/javascript"> var infiniteScroll = {"settings":{"id":"block-container","ajaxurl":"https:\/\/ideas.ted.com\/?infinity=scrolling","type":"scroll","wrapper":true,"wrapper_class":"new-infinite-posts","footer":false,"click_handle":"1","text":"Older posts","totop":"Scroll back to top","currentday":"19.05.22","order":"DESC","scripts":[],"styles":[],"google_analytics":true,"offset":1,"history":{"host":"ideas.ted.com","path":"\/category\/science\/page\/%d\/","use_trailing_slashes":true,"parameters":""},"query_args":{"category_name":"science","error":"","m":"","p":0,"post_parent":"","subpost":"","subpost_id":"","attachment":"","attachment_id":0,"name":"","pagename":"","page_id":0,"second":"","minute":"","hour":"","day":0,"monthnum":0,"year":0,"w":0,"tag":"","cat":173,"tag_id":"","author":"","author_name":"","feed":"","tb":"","paged":0,"meta_key":"","meta_value":"","preview":"","s":"","sentence":"","title":"","fields":"","menu_order":"","embed":"","category__in":[],"category__not_in":[],"category__and":[],"post__in":[],"post__not_in":[],"post_name__in":[],"tag__in":[],"tag__not_in":[],"tag__and":[],"tag_slug__in":[],"tag_slug__and":[],"post_parent__in":[],"post_parent__not_in":[],"author__in":[],"author__not_in":[],"search_columns":[],"meta_query":["",{"key":"ted_hide_from_archives","compare":"NOT EXISTS"}],"posts_per_page":7,"ignore_sticky_posts":false,"suppress_filters":false,"cache_results":true,"update_post_term_cache":true,"update_menu_item_cache":false,"lazy_load_term_meta":true,"update_post_meta_cache":true,"post_type":"","nopaging":false,"comments_per_page":"50","no_found_rows":false,"order":"DESC"},"query_before":"2025-04-01 10:07:52","last_post_date":"2022-05-19 17:39:03","body_class":"infinite-scroll neverending","loading_text":"Loading new page","stats":"blog=177242871&host=ideas.ted.com&v=ext&j=1:14.4.1&x_pagetype=infinite-jetpack"}}; </script> <script> window.ga_debug = window.ga_debug || false; (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); // Only track users who are not logged in, as determined by the WordPress body class. if ( ! document.body.classList.contains( 'logged-in' ) ) { ga('create', "UA-40781755-2", 'ted.com'); ga('send', 'pageview'); } else if ( window.ga_debug ) { console.log( 'User is logged in; GA pageview tracking aborted' ); } </script> <div id="jp-carousel-loading-overlay"> <div id="jp-carousel-loading-wrapper"> <span id="jp-carousel-library-loading"> </span> </div> </div> <div class="jp-carousel-overlay" style="display: none;"> <div class="jp-carousel-container">  <div class="jp-carousel-wrap swiper-container jp-carousel-swiper-container jp-carousel-transitions" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageGallery"> <div class="jp-carousel swiper-wrapper"></div> <div class="jp-swiper-button-prev swiper-button-prev"> <svg width="25" height="24" viewBox="0 0 25 24" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <mask id="maskPrev" mask-type="alpha" maskUnits="userSpaceOnUse" x="8" y="6" width="9" height="12"> <path d="M16.2072 16.59L11.6496 12L16.2072 7.41L14.8041 6L8.8335 12L14.8041 18L16.2072 16.59Z" fill="white"/> </mask> <g mask="url(#maskPrev)"> <rect x="0.579102" width="23.8823" height="24" fill="#FFFFFF"/> </g> </svg> </div> <div class="jp-swiper-button-next swiper-button-next"> <svg width="25" height="24" viewBox="0 0 25 24" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <mask id="maskNext" mask-type="alpha" maskUnits="userSpaceOnUse" x="8" y="6" width="8" height="12"> <path d="M8.59814 16.59L13.1557 12L8.59814 7.41L10.0012 6L15.9718 12L10.0012 18L8.59814 16.59Z" fill="white"/> </mask> <g mask="url(#maskNext)"> <rect x="0.34375" width="23.8822" height="24" fill="#FFFFFF"/> </g> </svg> </div> </div>  <div class="jp-carousel-close-hint"> <svg width="25" height="24" viewBox="0 0 25 24" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <mask id="maskClose" mask-type="alpha" maskUnits="userSpaceOnUse" x="5" y="5" width="15" height="14"> <path d="M19.3166 6.41L17.9135 5L12.3509 10.59L6.78834 5L5.38525 6.41L10.9478 12L5.38525 17.59L6.78834 19L12.3509 13.41L17.9135 19L19.3166 17.59L13.754 12L19.3166 6.41Z" fill="white"/> </mask> <g mask="url(#maskClose)"> <rect x="0.409668" width="23.8823" height="24" fill="#FFFFFF"/> </g> </svg> </div>  <div class="jp-carousel-info"> <div class="jp-carousel-info-footer"> <div class="jp-carousel-pagination-container"> <div class="jp-swiper-pagination swiper-pagination"></div> <div class="jp-carousel-pagination"></div> </div> <div class="jp-carousel-photo-title-container"> <h2 class="jp-carousel-photo-caption"></h2> </div> <div class="jp-carousel-photo-icons-container"> <a href="#" class="jp-carousel-icon-btn jp-carousel-icon-info" aria-label="Toggle photo metadata visibility"> <span class="jp-carousel-icon"> <svg width="25" height="24" viewBox="0 0 25 24" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <mask id="maskInfo" mask-type="alpha" maskUnits="userSpaceOnUse" x="2" y="2" width="21" height="20"> <path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M12.7537 2C7.26076 2 2.80273 6.48 2.80273 12C2.80273 17.52 7.26076 22 12.7537 22C18.2466 22 22.7046 17.52 22.7046 12C22.7046 6.48 18.2466 2 12.7537 2ZM11.7586 7V9H13.7488V7H11.7586ZM11.7586 11V17H13.7488V11H11.7586ZM4.79292 12C4.79292 16.41 8.36531 20 12.7537 20C17.142 20 20.7144 16.41 20.7144 12C20.7144 7.59 17.142 4 12.7537 4C8.36531 4 4.79292 7.59 4.79292 12Z" fill="white"/> </mask> <g mask="url(#maskInfo)"> <rect x="0.8125" width="23.8823" height="24" fill="#FFFFFF"/> </g> </svg> </span> </a> <a href="#" class="jp-carousel-icon-btn jp-carousel-icon-comments" aria-label="Toggle photo comments visibility"> <span class="jp-carousel-icon"> <svg width="25" height="24" viewBox="0 0 25 24" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <mask id="maskComments" mask-type="alpha" maskUnits="userSpaceOnUse" x="2" y="2" width="21" height="20"> <path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M4.3271 2H20.2486C21.3432 2 22.2388 2.9 22.2388 4V16C22.2388 17.1 21.3432 18 20.2486 18H6.31729L2.33691 22V4C2.33691 2.9 3.2325 2 4.3271 2ZM6.31729 16H20.2486V4H4.3271V18L6.31729 16Z" fill="white"/> </mask> <g mask="url(#maskComments)"> <rect x="0.34668" width="23.8823" height="24" fill="#FFFFFF"/> </g> </svg> <span class="jp-carousel-has-comments-indicator" aria-label="This image has comments."></span> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="jp-carousel-info-extra"> <div class="jp-carousel-info-content-wrapper"> <div class="jp-carousel-photo-title-container"> <h2 class="jp-carousel-photo-title"></h2> </div> <div class="jp-carousel-comments-wrapper"> <div id="jp-carousel-comments-loading"> <span>Loading Comments...</span> </div> <div class="jp-carousel-comments"></div> <div id="jp-carousel-comment-form-container"> <span id="jp-carousel-comment-form-spinner"> </span> <div id="jp-carousel-comment-post-results"></div> <form id="jp-carousel-comment-form"> <label for="jp-carousel-comment-form-comment-field" class="screen-reader-text">Write a Comment...</label> <textarea name="comment" class="jp-carousel-comment-form-field jp-carousel-comment-form-textarea" id="jp-carousel-comment-form-comment-field" placeholder="Write a Comment..." ></textarea> <div id="jp-carousel-comment-form-submit-and-info-wrapper"> <div id="jp-carousel-comment-form-commenting-as"> <fieldset> <label for="jp-carousel-comment-form-email-field">Email (Required)</label> <input type="text" name="email" class="jp-carousel-comment-form-field jp-carousel-comment-form-text-field" id="jp-carousel-comment-form-email-field" /> </fieldset> <fieldset> <label for="jp-carousel-comment-form-author-field">Name (Required)</label> <input type="text" name="author" class="jp-carousel-comment-form-field jp-carousel-comment-form-text-field" id="jp-carousel-comment-form-author-field" /> </fieldset> <fieldset> <label for="jp-carousel-comment-form-url-field">Website</label> <input type="text" name="url" class="jp-carousel-comment-form-field jp-carousel-comment-form-text-field" id="jp-carousel-comment-form-url-field" /> </fieldset> </div> <input type="submit" name="submit" class="jp-carousel-comment-form-button" id="jp-carousel-comment-form-button-submit" value="Post Comment" /> </div> </form> </div> </div> <div class="jp-carousel-image-meta"> <div class="jp-carousel-title-and-caption"> <div class="jp-carousel-photo-info"> <h3 class="jp-carousel-caption" itemprop="caption description"></h3> </div> <div class="jp-carousel-photo-description"></div> </div> <ul class="jp-carousel-image-exif" style="display: none;"></ul> <a class="jp-carousel-image-download" href="#" target="_blank" style="display: none;"> <svg width="25" height="24" viewBox="0 0 25 24" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <mask id="mask0" mask-type="alpha" maskUnits="userSpaceOnUse" x="3" y="3" width="19" height="18"> <path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M5.84615 5V19H19.7775V12H21.7677V19C21.7677 20.1 20.8721 21 19.7775 21H5.84615C4.74159 21 3.85596 20.1 3.85596 19V5C3.85596 3.9 4.74159 3 5.84615 3H12.8118V5H5.84615ZM14.802 5V3H21.7677V10H19.7775V6.41L9.99569 16.24L8.59261 14.83L18.3744 5H14.802Z" fill="white"/> </mask> <g mask="url(#mask0)"> <rect x="0.870605" width="23.8823" height="24" fill="#FFFFFF"/> </g> </svg> <span class="jp-carousel-download-text"></span> </a> <div class="jp-carousel-image-map" style="display: none;"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript" id="ted-ab-testing-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var ajax = {"ajax_url":"https:\/\/ideas.ted.com\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","ajax_nonce":"6de47eda93"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" id="jetpack-carousel-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var jetpackSwiperLibraryPath = {"url":"https:\/\/ideas.ted.com\/wp-content\/mu-plugins\/jetpack-14.4\/_inc\/build\/carousel\/swiper-bundle.min.js"}; var jetpackCarouselStrings = {"widths":[370,700,1000,1200,1400,2000],"is_logged_in":"","lang":"en","ajaxurl":"https:\/\/ideas.ted.com\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","nonce":"e196507b24","display_exif":"0","display_comments":"1","single_image_gallery":"1","single_image_gallery_media_file":"","background_color":"black","comment":"Comment","post_comment":"Post Comment","write_comment":"Write a Comment...","loading_comments":"Loading Comments...","image_label":"Open image in full-screen.","download_original":"View full size <span class=\"photo-size\">{0}<span class=\"photo-size-times\">\u00d7<\/span>{1}<\/span>","no_comment_text":"Please be sure to submit some text with your comment.","no_comment_email":"Please provide an email address to comment.","no_comment_author":"Please provide your name to comment.","comment_post_error":"Sorry, but there was an error posting your comment. Please try again later.","comment_approved":"Your comment was approved.","comment_unapproved":"Your comment is in moderation.","camera":"Camera","aperture":"Aperture","shutter_speed":"Shutter Speed","focal_length":"Focal Length","copyright":"Copyright","comment_registration":"0","require_name_email":"1","login_url":"https:\/\/ideas.ted.com\/wp-login.php?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fideas.ted.com%2Fheres-how-you-can-handle-stress-like-a-lion-not-a-gazelle%2F","blog_id":"3","meta_data":["camera","aperture","shutter_speed","focal_length","copyright"]}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://ideas.ted.com/_static/??-eJydktFuwzAIRX9oDm2Xak/TPmWiNk3wsJ0F3Cl/v2hKqmhapbVPCDj3ghDwNThfslE2SNUNUjvOCpFsQP/h9m3TwjtnD6fKEoDzmTMbOfVjEVnzqUmcm6hPsLGznhIpGAXHgVBn2EsNcwlPzkiNcwdxm60OV3DucsKOVAoGCtspWyahljxOt9rxs9I4LaH5A765MaqS/XgIdegn8FWtpAd0qhUfG7msfWa7cND79ZpQxCXK9X5tb0mO2vPlt/Qfr+JxLFVJrsBaWM7wll73L+1ze9ztDof4DS8f784=" ></script><script type="text/javascript" id="jetpack-stats-js-before"> /* <![CDATA[ */ _stq = window._stq || []; _stq.push([ "view", JSON.parse("{\"v\":\"ext\",\"blog\":\"177242871\",\"post\":\"0\",\"tz\":\"-4\",\"srv\":\"ideas.ted.com\",\"hp\":\"vip\",\"j\":\"1:14.4.1\"}") ]); _stq.push([ "clickTrackerInit", "177242871", "0" ]); /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://stats.wp.com/e-202514.js" id="jetpack-stats-js" defer="defer" data-wp-strategy="defer"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> (function() { var extend = function(out) { out = out || {}; for (var i = 1; i < arguments.length; i++) { if (!arguments[i]) continue; for (var key in arguments[i]) { if (arguments[i].hasOwnProperty(key)) out[key] = arguments[i][key]; } } return out; }; extend( window.infiniteScroll.settings.scripts, ["jquery","jquery-core","jquery-migrate","jquery-cookie","underscore","ted_sponsor","personalize_js","tag","onetrust-notice","ted-js","ted-tracking","geniuslink","geniuslink-handler","sailthru-subscribe-script","the-neverending-homepage","ted-ab-testing","imagesloaded","masonry","jquery-masonry","ted-custom","cssua","fitvids-js","small-menu-js","htmlshiv-js","jetpack-carousel","jetpack-stats"] ); extend( window.infiniteScroll.settings.styles, ["the-neverending-homepage","wp-block-library","mediaelement","wp-mediaelement","ted-fontawesome","ted-global-header","ted-legacy","jetpack-carousel-swiper-css","jetpack-carousel","sailthru-subscribe-widget-styles","wp-emoji-styles","videopress-video-style","jetpack-sharing-buttons-style","classic-theme-styles","global-styles","ted-ideas-google-fonts","core-block-supports-duotone"] ); })(); </script> <span id="infinite-aria" aria-live="polite"></span> </body> </html>