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Could we treat spinal cord injuries with asparagus? | Andrew Pelling

Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more. Take a mind-blowing trip to the lab as TED Senior Fellow Andrew Pelling shares his research on how we could use fruits, vegetables and plants to regenerate damaged human tissues — and develop a potentially groundbreaking way to repair…

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Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.

Take a mind-blowing trip to the lab as TED Senior Fellow Andrew Pelling shares his research on how we could use fruits, vegetables and plants to regenerate damaged human tissues — and develop a potentially groundbreaking way to repair complex spinal cord injuries with asparagus.

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You’re welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know.

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88 Comments

88 Comments

  1. Kyle Miller

    December 11, 2020 at 7:25 pm

    Why do I imagine a frantic epidural with a giant piece of asparagus being held by 2 or 3 surgeons?

  2. Brenda McLaughlin

    December 11, 2020 at 7:30 pm

    Absolutely amazing, Andrew it’s scientist like you willing to crawl out on that limb to help humanity. Wishing you great success and all that comes with it. Thanks for sharing

  3. Lisa Love Ministries

    December 11, 2020 at 8:04 pm

    Seek God’s will daily our only Savior.
    John 3:16💞
    1 Corinthians 15

  4. James Kulevich

    December 11, 2020 at 8:11 pm

    Hahahaha!!! Okay… hahahaha hahahaha!

  5. Robert Diehl

    December 11, 2020 at 8:12 pm

    Congrats on your success. Thanks for being a good human

  6. Doug Ewald

    December 11, 2020 at 8:14 pm

    OUTSTANDING!!! Especially the last part. Your heart wrenching self doubt is apparent, appreciated and I resonate. In the overall scheme of things the mouse/mice souls – with the help of their spirit guides – volunteered for this & willingly brought themselves into your humane sphere of influence in exchange for their rapid advancement. They are soul mates of all involved. Do not fret my friend – all is well and good. History will thank you as I do now.

  7. M

    December 11, 2020 at 8:50 pm

    I think he should treat those dark rings with more sleep to start off

  8. Lang7

    December 11, 2020 at 9:07 pm

    This is incredible and I really hope it work but, my god, it’s hard to see the reality of the testing phase for such an experiment. Deliberately paralysing another life form is brutal.

  9. HOUSSAM

    December 11, 2020 at 9:10 pm

    Interesting ….

  10. Andrew Caslin

    December 11, 2020 at 9:14 pm

    Food looks like the organ that they help. Walnuts (good for the brain) look like brains, ginger (good for digestion) like intestates, and asparagus like a spine.

  11. mathis fun

    December 11, 2020 at 9:52 pm

    *Places asparagus in spinal cord* All done!

  12. Iasso

    December 11, 2020 at 9:54 pm

    Really gives a new meaning to the word trans*plant*. But honestly, after such a transplant, are you still an animal, or are you now part plant? ..a planimal?

  13. -

    December 11, 2020 at 10:09 pm

    On the one hand, I want to punch Mengele here in the face, on the other hand, an amazing breakthrough is an amazing breakthrough.

    _This comment shadow-banned by Google for “threats”. 🙄_

  14. Jerry

    December 11, 2020 at 10:10 pm

    I know you have to experiment on animals, I get that, but it still breaks my heart. I hope you retire them and adopt them at some point and take good care of them…

  15. Amber Redfield

    December 11, 2020 at 10:13 pm

    Wayne Newton’s long lost younger brother?! Bruh

  16. Pip

    December 11, 2020 at 10:16 pm

    Could this be the breakthrough we are searching for ? I certainly hope so, as this could be the light at the end of a dark tunnel for so many sufferers !

  17. the vagabond tribune

    December 11, 2020 at 10:38 pm

    Why do people like you feel that humans have more of a right to walk than any other animal? What a horrible thing to do “…again, and again, and again…”

  18. Richard Yeh

    December 11, 2020 at 11:00 pm

    Genius PERIOD.

  19. BuddyCBuddy

    December 12, 2020 at 12:00 am

    Soy Boy Spinal implants lol

  20. Chris

    December 12, 2020 at 12:10 am

    asparagus is not cheap. if you buy overgrown asparagus, use a vegetable peeler on the tough ends, to reveal tender inner. do same for cauliflower stalk. this is what pro chefs do.

  21. Doug G

    December 12, 2020 at 12:23 am

    This is really amazing

  22. Abin Regi

    December 12, 2020 at 12:35 am

    Wow

  23. rschandran

    December 12, 2020 at 12:48 am

    This is just incredible but how “BREAKTHROUGH” innovations work. It is those “LATERAL THINKING” that many times leads to extraordinary results. As a scientist, I am very familiar with these hurdles but also know the fulfilment when a pathway to solving an unsurmountable problem is achieved.

  24. Steve NJ

    December 12, 2020 at 12:49 am

    Great job Sir!

  25. Martin

    December 12, 2020 at 12:59 am

    This is quite fascinating. As someone who has a spinal tumour removed over a decade ago and who still suffers with mild lower left body paralysis, these kind of breakthrough ideas will one day, hopefully, provide real opportunities to allow the body to naturally reconnect motor functions to the brain. It may be too late for me but in a time when “experts” and “science” has been attacked by the forces of ignorance worldwide, thank goodness that behind the scenes, in labs across the planet, people like Andrew and thousands of others continue to work to improve the lives of future generations.

  26. Jessica Sage

    December 12, 2020 at 2:27 am

    This is astronomical. I am completely lost for words. This is incredible. My mind was blown by the war, but when you showed the rat being able to move their legs, my mind exploded. This is such incredible, innovative work. I am so excited tk see where it goes.

  27. Lavender

    December 12, 2020 at 2:29 am

    I keep staring at his hair lol I just want fix it.

  28. Oofmeister Meisteroof

    December 12, 2020 at 2:43 am

    I remember seeing something like this before, it was about how scientists made a meat leaf. Anyone know what it’s called? (The video)

  29. Catalina Nazal

    December 12, 2020 at 3:22 am

    Extremely exciting discovery!

  30. Harvey Holloway

    December 12, 2020 at 5:00 am

    For this I posted you on Twitter and Face Book. ☺🙂😎

  31. Karan Rupal

    December 12, 2020 at 5:25 am

    Support farmers of india 🙏🙏

  32. RUNJYINGDJRNY

    December 12, 2020 at 6:17 am

    Converted all my btc/alts into ADA

  33. Furrr 33

    December 12, 2020 at 6:27 am

    Followed by a Carl’s Jr add lol

  34. Marilyn Schmidt

    December 12, 2020 at 6:46 am

    Eliminate pests and rodents. The jungle/forest is natures pharmacy. Stop confusing people with your crap. Love and honesty is what’s needed. Not your presentation. Thank you

  35. 059 สุดารัตน์ ผลเจริญ

    December 12, 2020 at 7:06 am

    อยากให้มีคำเเปลเป็นภาษาไทยด้วย ขอบคุณค่ะ

  36. Patrick Knowd

    December 12, 2020 at 8:59 am

    No, thank YOU. C7 paraplegic here.

  37. Davide Marzorati

    December 12, 2020 at 10:19 am

    seems plants are usefull to fix a lot of problems

  38. Jack

    December 12, 2020 at 10:30 am

    Ewww!

  39. Katelyn Woodworth

    December 12, 2020 at 11:54 am

    Let’s start the clock, then. Good work, sir!

  40. katyrosiely

    December 12, 2020 at 1:13 pm

    This would be so amazing!

  41. John Bray

    December 12, 2020 at 1:14 pm

    Bad editing jumping and forth in scale for speaker

  42. Oliver Oliver

    December 12, 2020 at 1:17 pm

    Home run for Asparagus.. best of luck dude ❤️🙏🔥

  43. outerrealm

    December 12, 2020 at 2:46 pm

    My spine is a carnivore and it likes fresh human liver.

  44. Yi Cao

    December 12, 2020 at 3:14 pm

    Have plant tissues in one’s body.
    Wow, creepy.

  45. Noukz

    December 12, 2020 at 3:15 pm

    How about doubting the procedures and methods as well? Does everything that’s beneficial for humans has to come out of the suffering of other animals? This really has to stop…

  46. Invox

    December 12, 2020 at 3:43 pm

    Science… It’s just amazing!

  47. Howard Evans

    December 12, 2020 at 6:40 pm

    Wonderful development – well done to you and your team – this has the potential to be truly life changing. Keep us up dated and good fortune in your work

  48. Seymour Gull

    December 12, 2020 at 9:20 pm

    I’m sorry but could this possibly even be any more cool?

  49. .x.

    December 12, 2020 at 9:38 pm

    Freaking amazing…

  50. Nagamendo

    December 13, 2020 at 12:22 am

    WHAT?!? … I mean WHAT?!? Asparagus?!? That dull sound you hear is my lower jaw hitting my desk. 😱😵

    So many researchers are trying to find a solution using nano tubes or other complicated stuff and then it is asparagus that saves the day?!? WOW! This is the reason why I love these TED videos. There are so many insanely smart people on this planet and with the TED videos you can invite them into your home and listen to what they have to say. (But it still makes me wonder why our planet is in such a desasterous condition when there are obviously more than enough engenious people who could make it a much better place…)

    Greetings from Switzerland 🇨🇭

  51. TheMercilessEye

    December 13, 2020 at 2:38 am

    Sorry, you lost me at the part where you engaged in vivisection.

    • Jalal Mustafa

      December 15, 2020 at 6:33 am

      Yeah let’s just not advance science at all because you hippies don’t want to hurt animals. Lol.

  52. CoolSlayerMasterLegend

    December 13, 2020 at 2:46 am

    Short Answer?
    No

    Long Answer?
    No

  53. Floyd Kardashian

    December 13, 2020 at 3:48 am

    I am an Ex-Muslim | Atheist | Human Rights Activist | Bisexual Canadian Jordanian. I left Islam when I was 15  years old and there’s nothing wrong with telling others to leave Islam, criticizing Islam, ridiculing Islam, hating Islam, criticizing Muhammad, making Muhammad Cartoons, ripping the Quran, and burning the Quran. Please support me by subscribing to my YouTube Channel and viewing my content and comment on my videos !!! 🙂

  54. Rui Ni

    December 13, 2020 at 4:55 am

    I’m groot

  55. DylanP_ayz

    December 13, 2020 at 8:51 am

    TED finds stuff that gives me hope for humanity.
    So much negative in the world, we need science more than ever right now.

  56. 1999 1607

    December 13, 2020 at 9:04 am

    cool

  57. Alvin Taguibao

    December 13, 2020 at 10:09 am

    this guy definitely feels bad about the lab rat experiments haha

  58. Im BaconPlate

    December 13, 2020 at 3:25 pm

    I actually cant believe that in 5 years most of these stuff coould actually come true and we will be much better

  59. Lowell Bellinger

    December 13, 2020 at 7:23 pm

    Western Science vs. Indigenous Knowledge, The Great Battle.

  60. Ed Huber

    December 13, 2020 at 10:48 pm

    Has the Onion bought out the TED logo?

  61. Massage Marvels

    December 13, 2020 at 10:51 pm

    This is very exciting research! Thank you for following your intuition. Many ideas that seem silly at first turn out to be major breakthroughs and there will always be failures and naysayers on the road to success. Having been close to various quadriplegics since a young age I can appreciate what an incredible impact this has the potential to make on people’s lives. I had rodent pets growing up. Some are lucky and some are snake chow. Yes the necessary method of testing is sad, but a honorable sacrifice, like noble warrior rats fighting for a cause. If this becomes a standard medical procedure, I imagine it would end up being practiced in veterinary medicine as well.

  62. Corn Holeium

    December 14, 2020 at 12:40 am

    Nope

  63. Fati Tigilo

    December 14, 2020 at 1:25 am

    We should not mess with Gods creation or plan! He gives us challenges for a reason and he knows exactly what we can or cannot deal with! We need to accept His plan and Judgement!

  64. Brkn Bni

    December 14, 2020 at 1:58 am

    every time i hear the same ‘WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK’,while they can make a vaccine for covid 19 in not even a year and nog heal spinal cord injuries after decades

  65. Greg H

    December 14, 2020 at 2:52 am

    No, but you probably could treat them with stem cells.

  66. Dr. Dikshant

    December 14, 2020 at 2:59 am

    Hey Buddy,
    It is really an impressive idea of yours, but won’t the asparagus be facing immune response by the surrounding cells?

    • Infiniti25

      December 14, 2020 at 4:42 pm

      He said that they sterilise, remove all dna and render the “scaffold” of plant tissue inert. They then inject the “scaffold” with human tissue for the organ (spinal cord) which I took to mean a sample from the eventual recipient.
      The immune response would probably be low, what will it recognise? The human cells of the host inside the guest “scaffold”?

    • Dr. Dikshant

      December 15, 2020 at 10:01 am

      @Infiniti25 👍 thanks 😀

  67. Jessie Charles

    December 14, 2020 at 4:53 am

    Amazing! I’m in!!🙋🏽‍♀️

  68. Anu Creative partner

    December 14, 2020 at 1:42 pm

    Oh my god. You are amazing Doc.

  69. A. S.

    December 15, 2020 at 2:28 am

    the assertion at the end makea sense if the findings and innovations are shared freely with the world, covering time/salaries and expenses. however the logic falls apart when these innovations and discoveries end up at big corporations under patents and so cost restrictive that only those very well off can access them or they notably impact healthcare costs for all, meanwhile generating exorbitant profit for the companies. i hope that’s not what happens here.

  70. Vaishnavi Rai

    December 15, 2020 at 3:44 am

    Its really Mindblowing!!!!!!!

  71. Ray Fan

    December 15, 2020 at 5:28 am

    I have very bad spinal cord injuries and I can’t wait for this, where could I sign up?🙋

  72. Ester Ester

    December 15, 2020 at 3:49 pm

    Greetings from Indonesia 🇮🇩✌️

  73. Ankith Murthy

    December 15, 2020 at 3:54 pm

    What an innovative idea!

  74. Zigga Music

    December 16, 2020 at 3:09 am

    Human ingenuity is almost…. unbelievable. This is truly incredible science.

  75. Brad Nielander

    December 16, 2020 at 3:42 am

    FUND THIS NOW!

  76. MasterMazeProductions

    December 16, 2020 at 6:49 am

    This has to be the most clickbaitable video title TED has ever done thats not actually clickbait

  77. Rina

    December 16, 2020 at 8:41 am

    My English lisning skill is still low.
    Aquiring it is a long way to go.

    • Law Abiding Citizen

      December 17, 2020 at 7:23 am

      Me too :<

  78. Expertreporter Smith

    December 16, 2020 at 11:11 am

    Thank God for people like this fine gentleman and his colleagues.

  79. Rasierer Ramon

    December 19, 2020 at 5:45 pm

    this is hilarious. while big pharma is spending millions on research the potential solution was always there in the shape of asparagus. this is exactly why we need more people who can think outside the box

  80. General Terms Jr

    December 20, 2020 at 5:46 pm

    Bullshit!

  81. nobodys baby

    December 20, 2020 at 7:01 pm

    You’re into something. Keep going.😇

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