Consuming enough seawater without any freshwater can lead to salt poisoning. The effects can be devastating as the body’s cells lose water and contract. This can cause tissues to shift and rupture and fluids to collect in critical organs.
He also talks about steps that are being taken to desalinate ocean water and provide fresh water to communities around the world. This includes desalination plants, reverse osmosis, and filtration systems that make seawater and wastewater potable.
As of 2022, the world’s largest desalination plant turned over 2 billion liters of saltwater into drinkable freshwater every day using mostly thermal technology. But this method has drawbacks. …Many see more promise in reverse osmosis, which nowadays uses synthetic membranes to filter out salt and other impurities. Overall, it’s more energy-efficient and less briny than thermal desalination. …Meanwhile, another body of water appears promising in combating water scarcity: wastewater. Reverse osmosis membranes actually require less energy to remove contaminants.
In the recent Ted-Ed lesson "What Would Happen If You Didn't Sleep" featuring research by Claudia Aguirre and animated by Josephine Mark, the narrator explains what happens to the human body the longer it goes without sleep. This isn't just a minor inconvenience. Staying awake can cause serious bodily harm.…
Would you rather be bitten by a venomous rattlesnake or touch a poisonous dart frog? In this Ted-Ed lesson, educator Rose Eveleth explains the difference between poison and venom with the use of animation. The difference between poison and venom is purely in its method of delivery. Poison has to…
A new animated TED-Ed lesson by Emma Bryce that explains what calories are and how many are really needed by the human body. We hear about calories all the time: How many calories are in this cookie? How many are burned by doing 100 jumping jacks, or long-distance running, or…
In the latest Ted-Ed animated short, educator Edmond Hui teams up with animator Anton Bogaty to explain the often misunderstood inner-workings of the human heart. For most of history, humans had no idea what purpose the heart served. In fact, the organ so confused Leonardo da Vinci that he gave…
Lori Dorn
Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.
