Look Who it Was Random video

Shaping the world by accident – follow your curiosity | Martin Moder | TEDxMünster

2,099 views · Published 11 January 2016 · 15:40 · Indexed 25 September 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2016 · Nonprofits & Activism

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What is the driving force behind massive innovations? Targeted research? Or maybe something more playful? In his talk, molecular biologist Martin Moder explains how progress depends on people who know what they are doing, without knowing why.

His passion for communicating research made him the first European Science Slam champion. Martin Moder is a Molecular Biologist and science blogger. His research focuses on human disease and how cells can repair themselves. When examining brain tumor development in fruit flies, he realized that modern achievements strongly depend on seemingly trivial discoveries that appeared to have little practical value in the beginning. Why was his cancer research enabled by people interested in jellyfish? How did an inconspicuous experiment, performed by a former bookbinder at Christmas lectures in the 18th century, help him share his thoughts more efficiently?

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

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