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The Vital Data You Flush Down the Toilet | Newsha Ghaeli | TED

“Everybody pees and poops — and we know that urine and stool contain a rich source of information on our health,” says data detective Newsha Ghaeli. Exploring the growing field of wastewater epidemiology, she shows how studying sewage can (anonymously) reveal a lot about the collective well-being of our cities — leading to real-time quality-of-life…

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“Everybody pees and poops — and we know that urine and stool contain a rich source of information on our health,” says data detective Newsha Ghaeli. Exploring the growing field of wastewater epidemiology, she shows how studying sewage can (anonymously) reveal a lot about the collective well-being of our cities — leading to real-time quality-of-life improvements like tracking pandemics, updating social policies and much more.

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39 Comments

39 Comments

  1. @AyuCell-Intan

    January 5, 2024 at 8:22 am

    “The quality I look for most is optimism: especially optimism in the face of reverses and apparent defeat. Optimism is true moral courage.”

    *• Book:* South (Shackleton’s Last Expedition)

  2. @AyuCell-Intan

    January 5, 2024 at 8:24 am

    Happy New Year????

    ‘When you love an ancient soul’

    There is a special kind of person in this world who is often misunderstood. These people tend to be the loners, the free spirits, the innocent lovers. They see the world for all they can – and should be – although the world rarely sees them.

    They are the old souls, the dreamers, the people in tune with life, so intuitive of emotions that they frighten us. They frighten us not because of who they are, but because of who we are not, what we lack.

  3. @chocomalk

    January 5, 2024 at 8:27 am

    TLDR
    Tracking your every move with your smart phone isn’t enough so now we are going to get personal.

  4. @HShango

    January 5, 2024 at 8:28 am

    They should also pour some research into bacteriophages

  5. @Murph_82

    January 5, 2024 at 8:30 am

    I’d love to study hers ????????

    • @justanothergrunt9053

      January 5, 2024 at 8:57 am

      Pause

  6. @justanothergrunt9053

    January 5, 2024 at 8:58 am

    … ew

  7. @ShahrezadNorMohammadiy9116

    January 5, 2024 at 9:03 am

    And a pair of camels and a pair of cattle- ask them [Prophet], ‘Has He forbidden the two males, the two females, or the young in the wombs of the two females? Were you present when God gave you these commands?’ So who is more wicked than he who fabricates lies against God with no basis in knowledge in order to lead people astray? God does not guide the evildoers.

    *—????The Holy Quran,* surah: Al-Anam, chapter6, verse144

  8. @ShahrezadNorMohammadiy9116

    January 5, 2024 at 9:04 am

    Do the disbelievers not see how rain clouds are formed
    [Verse: 17]

    how the heavens are lifted
    [Verse: 18]

    how the mountains are raised high
    [Verse: 19]

    how the earth is spread out?
    [Verse: 20]

    So [Prophet] warn them: your only task is to give warning
    [Verse: 21]
    *—????The Holy Quran,* surah: Al-Gashiyah, chapter88, verse17—21

  9. @ShahrezadNorMohammadiy9116

    January 5, 2024 at 9:04 am

    And God created each animal out of [its own] fluid: some of them crawl on their bellies, some walk on two legs, and some on four. God creates whatever He will; God has power over everything.
    *—????The Holy Quran,* surah: Al-Nur, chapter24, verse45

  10. @williamparker2922

    January 5, 2024 at 9:05 am

    Lol, if your in LA or Portland it’s on the streets, not under it.

  11. @emersonucls

    January 5, 2024 at 9:07 am

    Ty

  12. @ShahrezadNorMohammadiy9116

    January 5, 2024 at 9:16 am

    There truly are signs in the creation of the heavens and earth, and in the alternation of night and day, for those with understanding
    [Verse: 190]

    Who remember God standing, sitting, and lying down, who reflect on the creation of the heavens and earth: ‘Our Lord! You have not created all this without purpose- You are far above that!- so protect us from the torment of the Fire.
    [Verse: 191]

    *—????The Holy Quran,* surah: Al-Imran, chapter3, verse190—191

    • @mohammednasser1586

      January 5, 2024 at 11:09 am

      God save you my sister … I have the honor to forward.

  13. @christiansoldier1547

    January 5, 2024 at 9:33 am

    It’s would show how much everyone’s immune system has suffered since that thing a lot of people took….

  14. @mrso6659

    January 5, 2024 at 9:51 am

    Such a fascinating topic. Thank you for the work you and other scientists are pioneering ❤

  15. @JahidKhan-fz5xk

    January 5, 2024 at 10:00 am

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

  16. @JahidKhan-fz5xk

    January 5, 2024 at 10:01 am

    It was a indispensable data☺️

  17. @meanderinoranges

    January 5, 2024 at 10:08 am

    TED sure has become a source of “data”.

  18. @JahidKhan-fz5xk

    January 5, 2024 at 10:14 am

    Every single people should be civic duty to the toilet????

  19. @HappySlappii

    January 5, 2024 at 11:14 am

    This is so full of crap it actually makes sense for once! ????

  20. @brandonchong4025

    January 5, 2024 at 11:47 am

    I saw this on adult swim awhile ago

  21. @mariaantoniettamontella9173

    January 5, 2024 at 11:53 am

    bravissima

  22. @MyANTHEMS

    January 5, 2024 at 12:27 pm

    Yh, data of the bad choices i made the day before

  23. @divyanshbhadiar1508

    January 5, 2024 at 1:35 pm

    From which tool or software she has used for making her graphs anyone any idea Please?

  24. @Angelinajolieshorts

    January 5, 2024 at 2:06 pm

    Great work, Love and respect from USA????????????????

  25. @Billary

    January 5, 2024 at 5:39 pm

    SmartPipe selling like hotcakes in 2024

  26. @asldev7544

    January 5, 2024 at 8:36 pm

    happy new year ????

  27. @asldev7544

    January 5, 2024 at 8:37 pm

    546-like is mine????

  28. @malenotyalc

    January 5, 2024 at 10:46 pm

    Civic duty had me rolling ????

  29. @zenmode216

    January 5, 2024 at 11:16 pm

    People used to think Kim Jong Un was crazy when he went to Beijing and took he portable toilet with him! The ruling class is one step ahead and what we know now is known to them a decade ago…

  30. @trangle1506

    January 6, 2024 at 3:21 am

    This aspect I had never thought of before

  31. @HealthZo

    January 6, 2024 at 1:14 pm

    ???????????????????????????? 0:10 Data ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

  32. @oliviao2238

    January 6, 2024 at 2:11 pm

    One of the takeaways from this is that if you are a COVID denier, this will enlighten you and hopefully change your viewpoint.

  33. @_gabriel_0247

    January 6, 2024 at 4:55 pm

    Me los recomendo chatGPT, y por eso toy aqui

  34. @gregkoons6672

    January 6, 2024 at 8:58 pm

    Seriously genius. EVERY metropolitan area across the globe should be able to implement this allowing cities to allocate resources to better serve their communities.

  35. @HamzaKhan-ik6re

    January 7, 2024 at 12:03 am

    This aspect I had never thought of before ????

  36. @gexoll

    January 7, 2024 at 11:00 pm

    I want a smart toilet, everytime I go it gives me health data a out my body.. can I have one pllleaseeee. -(message from the future)

  37. @silents9084

    January 8, 2024 at 9:38 am

    I’ll start collecting it now

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I Thought I Was Lazy. Turns Out I Had a Sleep Disorder | Lindsay Scola | TED

For more than two decades, sleep health educator Lindsay Scola attributed her never-ending exhaustion to long hours and demanding jobs. When she was diagnosed with narcolepsy, she finally got the wake-up call that transformed her life. In this rousing talk, she discusses the epidemic of undiagnosed sleep disorders and encourages you to ask yourself: Is…

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For more than two decades, sleep health educator Lindsay Scola attributed her never-ending exhaustion to long hours and demanding jobs. When she was diagnosed with narcolepsy, she finally got the wake-up call that transformed her life. In this rousing talk, she discusses the epidemic of undiagnosed sleep disorders and encourages you to ask yourself: Is your tiredness different? (Recorded at TEDxSonomaCounty on March 7, 2026)

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Breakthrough Glasses Slow Myopia in Kids — What It’s Like to Order Stellest

Half the world’s population is expected to be nearsighted in 25 years, and eye care professionals are pushing new treatments to slow the progression of worsening vision in kids. Essilor Stellest glasses became the first eyeglasses approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for controlling myopia in kids. Bridget Carey discovered her daughter is…

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Half the world’s population is expected to be nearsighted in 25 years, and eye care professionals are pushing new treatments to slow the progression of worsening vision in kids. Essilor Stellest glasses became the first eyeglasses approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for controlling myopia in kids. Bridget Carey discovered her daughter is a candidate for the treatment, and walks through the journey of ordering and living with Stellest frames and lenses.

You can find the products mentioned in this video linked below
*CNET may get a commission on these offers

Read more about it on CNET.com

Timecode Chapters:
00:00 – Intro: A New Tech for Kids’ Eyesight
00:26 – The Growing Myopia Crisis & Causes
00:50 – How Stellest Lenses Work & Long-Term Eye Risks
03:32 – Alternative Treatments for Myopia
04:09 – Fitting, Frames, and Features
05:46 – Follow-Up Care & Guarantee
06:22 – Real-World Results & Final Thoughts

Video Credits:
Host: Bridget Carey
Scripted by: Bridget Carey
Producer: Carly Marsh
Camera:Carly Marsh
Video Editor: Jon Gomez
Thumbnail Designer: Zooey Liao

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People & Blogs

Campaigns Spend Millions to Influence Voters. This Works Better | Katie Paris | TED

Katie Paris quit her career in Washington, DC, to figure out how to make politics feel less like strangers shouting at each other and more like friends looking out for each other. In this practical talk, she reveals why conversations between real people can have a bigger impact on elections than anything millions of campaign…

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Katie Paris quit her career in Washington, DC, to figure out how to make politics feel less like strangers shouting at each other and more like friends looking out for each other. In this practical talk, she reveals why conversations between real people can have a bigger impact on elections than anything millions of campaign dollars can buy. (Recorded at TED Democracy Philadelphia on June 13, 2026)

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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) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.

Watch more:

TED 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 the TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a request at

#TED #TEDTalks #Community

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