Connect with us

What Do Insects Do When Nature Calls? | Saad Bhamla | TED

Scientist Saad Bhamla is on a mission to answer a question most people don’t think to ask: How do insects pee? Taking inspiration from the incredible “butt flickers” of the glassy-winged sharpshooter, Bhamla presents a fascinating study of the physics behind how bugs take care of business and invites us to be more curious about…

Published

on

Scientist Saad Bhamla is on a mission to answer a question most people don’t think to ask: How do insects pee? Taking inspiration from the incredible “butt flickers” of the glassy-winged sharpshooter, Bhamla presents a fascinating study of the physics behind how bugs take care of business and invites us to be more curious about the seemingly mundane.

If you love watching TED Talks like this one, become a TED Member to support our mission of spreading ideas:

Follow TED!
Twitter:
Instagram:
Facebook:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:

The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world’s leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.

Watch more:

TED’s videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at

#TED #TEDTalks #insects

Continue Reading
Advertisement
36 Comments

36 Comments

  1. Nicholas Pruitt

    March 3, 2023 at 2:12 pm

    You had me at…insect pee.

  2. Mr. Mayhem

    March 3, 2023 at 2:19 pm

    Little R. Kelly’s

  3. Donald Auguston

    March 3, 2023 at 2:37 pm

    This was wonderful. However, I still don’t understand why the bugs project their pee. There must be some evolutionary purpose for doing so.

    • zarkork -

      March 3, 2023 at 3:47 pm

      Maybe due to water tension and how it’d get stuck on the bug

    • Bryan Cobussen

      March 3, 2023 at 4:56 pm

      If you know it, let me know

    • Bulet

      March 4, 2023 at 12:43 pm

      I think he said something along the lines of those bugs being so small that gravity doesnt have much impact so they must create droplets and fling their pee for it to leave their body. That’s why I think he showed the cicadas (the bigger ones) actually peeing in jet form rather than flinging.

  4. Dwrakanath Tuwar

    March 3, 2023 at 2:43 pm

    Don ka natak

  5. Alex Prevost

    March 3, 2023 at 2:52 pm

    To be fair, the thought of insects peeing never crossed my mind.

    • A Person

      March 3, 2023 at 10:29 pm

      For some reason spiders’ butt-holes have been coming to my mind recently. True fact.

  6. Малышка

    March 3, 2023 at 3:56 pm

    Is it Javed from bobs burgers? ☺️

  7. L Galina

    March 3, 2023 at 4:55 pm

    Hmm…i guess i now understand why i sometimes feel very light rain drops when walking/standing under my backyard Valencia orange tree…even on a clear sunny low-humidity Southern California day…and i thought it must be condensation.

  8. DAISY????

    March 3, 2023 at 5:07 pm

    ????????????????

  9. Jessica Finney

    March 3, 2023 at 6:47 pm

    Bravo! ????
    I honestly never thought I’d be this transfixed by a guy talking about insect pee! ????????????
    You, sir, are *THEE PERFECT* person for talking to kids about this! This was incredible, so thank you!

  10. Ligia Sommers

    March 3, 2023 at 8:39 pm

    ????????????????????????????????????????????????????✨????????

  11. Sanjay Itty Mathew

    March 3, 2023 at 8:58 pm

    if only TED talks went back to being like this one. but I’m sure they have way too many propaganda quotas sponsored by ultraweathy corporations to meet, to actually care about informative content or integrity.

  12. TRAMWAJAZ1

    March 3, 2023 at 9:02 pm

    Love this TED talk, one of the best for quite some time.

  13. Islam Mohamed

    March 3, 2023 at 9:08 pm

    I was thinking Kumail Nanjiani the whole time. They must have grown up a few yards from each other.

  14. Christopher Torres

    March 3, 2023 at 9:24 pm

    God bless Angelia Marie Brown for the help, $51,000 biweekly pay!!!

    • Christopher Torres

      March 3, 2023 at 9:34 pm

      @Eugene L. Williams Sure… She’s very active on what’s Apk~

    • Christopher Torres

      March 3, 2023 at 9:34 pm

      United States

      +????????????????????????????????????????????

      United States????????

    • Christopher Torres

      March 3, 2023 at 9:34 pm

      She is on Whats Apk Messenger ????????

    • Eugene L. Williams

      March 3, 2023 at 9:34 pm

      @Christopher Torres Thank you I will message her through what’s apk right away, I see this as an opportunity to escape my financial situation.

    • Lisa J. Shull

      March 3, 2023 at 9:34 pm

      Hey guys thanks a lot, you just saved me from crypto loss by recommending such a successful and a legit broker in the United States.

  15. ???????????????????????? ???????????? ±????????????????????????????????????????????

    March 3, 2023 at 10:17 pm

    Direct text ⬆️ via the number up there for more insight and ideas concerning financial stability

  16. A Person

    March 3, 2023 at 10:40 pm

    “We can discover the marvelous in the mundane if we look close enough”

    • ???????????????????????? ???????????? ±????????????????????????????????????????????

      March 3, 2023 at 11:44 pm

      *Direct text ⬆️ via the number up there for more insight and ideas concerning financial stability*

  17. The Man w/No Name

    March 3, 2023 at 11:20 pm

    2023(Gregorian) “Respect and dignity.” Furthermore:

  18. R2robot

    March 4, 2023 at 6:37 am

    One of the best TED Talks I’ve ever watched. lol

  19. Bulet

    March 4, 2023 at 12:44 pm

    “I have to go pee” couldn’t have ended the talk better ????

  20. Agi Chrapek

    March 4, 2023 at 4:19 pm

    This was really interesting. I totally didn’t expect this!

  21. Aman

    March 4, 2023 at 7:08 pm

    1:38 Urine for a treat.
    But sub guy didn’t get the pun.

  22. adax Pan

    March 4, 2023 at 9:23 pm

    it’s not a bug, it’s a feature!! lol

  23. Nakko

    March 4, 2023 at 10:01 pm

    I wish I could pee 50 meters away from the toilet bowl like this insect.

  24. Safi Yule

    March 4, 2023 at 10:28 pm

    a certified ted classic

  25. Alondra

    March 5, 2023 at 11:22 am

    * I am so fortunate that I made productive decisions about my finances that changed my life forever. I am a single mum living in Melbourne Australia who bought my second home in September and is hoping to retire next year at 50 if things continue to go smoothly for me

  26. Chuckfini

    March 6, 2023 at 7:29 am

    Watch till the end ( For Software Devs) ????????????

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CNET

SpaceX Catches Starship for the First Time Ending Flight Test 15

SpaceX makes history by catching Starship 42 back on the launch pad in Starbase, Texas. This marks the first ever catch of Starship for SpaceX after a successful deployment of 26 Starlink satellites and 14 orbits around the Earth. Read more about SpaceX Starship on CNET.com SpaceX Attempts History Friday With the First-Ever Double Catch…

Published

on

SpaceX makes history by catching Starship 42 back on the launch pad in Starbase, Texas. This marks the first ever catch of Starship for SpaceX after a successful deployment of 26 Starlink satellites and 14 orbits around the Earth.

Read more about SpaceX Starship on CNET.com
SpaceX Attempts History Friday With the First-Ever Double Catch

Timecode Chapters:
0:00 Intro and Watch Parties
1:24 Ship 42 Re-entry and Flight 15 Overview
2:52 Final Approach and Gulf Divert Gate
4:46 Sonic Boom and Landing Countdown
5:25 Ship Landing Burn and Mechazilla Catch
6:36 Historic Catch Reaction and Wrap-Up

Video Credits:
Producer: Stephen Beacham
Thumbnail Designer: Stephen Beacham

Add CNET as a trusted news source
Never miss a deal again! See CNET’s browser extension 👉
Check out CNET’s Amazon Storefront:
Subscribe to CNET on YouTube:
Follow us on TikTok:
Follow us on Instagram:
Follow us on Bluesky:
Like us on Facebook:
CNET’s AI Atlas:
Follow us on X:
Visit CNET.com:

#spacex #space #starship #elonmusk #spacenews #spaceexploration

Continue Reading

CNET

Best Headphones and Earbuds to Gift in 2026 (Tested on Loud NYC Streets!)

CNET’s David Carnoy puts top earbuds through a real-world voice-calling test. And ZDNET’s Jada Jones and PCMag’s Eric Zeman pick their favorites, from the Sony WF-1000XM6 to the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. You can find the products mentioned in this video linked below Apple AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation Sony WF-1000XM6 Noise…

Published

on

CNET’s David Carnoy puts top earbuds through a real-world voice-calling test. And ZDNET’s Jada Jones and PCMag’s Eric Zeman pick their favorites, from the Sony WF-1000XM6 to the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.

You can find the products mentioned in this video linked below
Apple AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation
Sony WF-1000XM6 Noise Cancelling Earbuds (2026 Model)
Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless Headphones
Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless Earbuds
EarFun Air Pro 4 Noise Canceling Wireless Earbuds
Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro (2026)
Apple AirPods Max 2 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones
JLab, Go Pods ANC, True Wireless Earbuds
*CNET may get a commission on these offers

Read more about it on CNET.com
CNET’s Best Wireless Earbuds of 2026
ZDNET’s best earbuds of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed
PCMag’s Best Wireless Earbuds for 2026

Timecode Chapters:
0:00 CNET’s David Carnoy Ending the Year a Little Differently
0:24 Voice Calling Test 1 – Airpods Pro 3
0:54 ZDNet’s Jada Jones Gives Her Favorites
3:00 Voice Calling Test 2 – Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5
3:29 PCMag’s Eric Zeman Tells us His Favorites of 2026
6:20 Voice Calling Test 3 – JLab Go Pods ANC
6:47 Voice Calling Test 4 – Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro
7:13 Conclusion – What Do You Think?

Video Credits:
Host: David Carnoy, Jada Jones, Eric Zeman
Scripted by: David Carnoy, Jada Jones, Eric Zeman
Producer: Numi Prasarn
Camera: John Schwartz, Numi Prasarn
Video Editor: Jonathan Angle
Thumbnail Designer: Cole Kan

Add CNET as a trusted news source
Never miss a deal again! See CNET’s browser extension 👉
Check out CNET’s Amazon Storefront:
Subscribe to CNET on YouTube:
Follow us on TikTok:
Follow us on Instagram:
Follow us on Bluesky:
Like us on Facebook:
CNET’s AI Atlas:
Follow us on X:
Visit CNET.com:

#best #wirelessearbuds #wirelessearphones #earbuds #airpods #appleairpodspro #galaxybuds #noisecancelingheadphones #headphones #wirelessheadphones

Continue Reading

CNET

Smart Kitchen Gadgets of 2026 That Are Actually Worth Your Counter Space

CNET’s JD puts five of the best smart kitchen gadgets of 2026 to the test to see which ones are actually worth your counter space. From plastic-free espresso makers to multipurpose air fryers, find out which tech upgrades deliver real convenience without adding clutter. You can find the products mentioned in this video linked below…

Published

on

CNET’s JD puts five of the best smart kitchen gadgets of 2026 to the test to see which ones are actually worth your counter space. From plastic-free espresso makers to multipurpose air fryers, find out which tech upgrades deliver real convenience without adding clutter.

You can find the products mentioned in this video linked below
Lavazza Tabli
Echo Show 15
Ninja Hydrasense Countertop Water Filter
Magnifique Combo Cooker
Tovala Smart Oven Pro
*CNET may get a commission on these offers

Read more about kitchen tech on CNET.com
The 47 Best Kitchen and Cookware Gifts, All Tested by CNET

Timecode Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:12 Lavazza Tablì Plastic-Free Espresso Maker
1:37 Amazon Echo Show 15 Smart Display
2:51 Ninja HydraSense Countertop Water Filter
4:01 Magnifique Glass Air Fryer & Slow Cooker Combo
5:21 Tovala Smart Oven Pro
7:05 Final Thoughts

Video Credits:
Host: JD Christison
Scripted by: JD Christison
Producer: Owen Poole
Camera: Owen Poole
Video Editor: JD Christison
Thumbnail Designer: Tharon Green

Add CNET as a trusted news source
Never miss a deal again! See CNET’s browser extension 👉
Check out CNET’s Amazon Storefront:
Subscribe to CNET on YouTube:
Follow us on TikTok:
Follow us on Instagram:
Follow us on Bluesky:
Like us on Facebook:
CNET’s AI Atlas:
Follow us on X:
Visit CNET.com:

#kitchen #kitchengadgets #kitchentips #kitchenhacks #kitchentools #kitchenessentials

Continue Reading

Trending