The call to learn | Clifford Stoll

www.ted.com Clifford Stoll could talk about the atmosphere of Jupiter. Or hunting KGB hackers. Or Klein bottles, computers in classrooms, the future. But he's not going to. Which is fine, because it would be criminal to confine a man with interests as multifarious as Stoll's to give a talk on any one topic. Instead, he simply captivates his audience with a wildly energetic sprinkling of anecdotes, observations, asides -- and even a science experiment. After all, by his own definition, he's a scientist: "Once I do something, I want to do something else."

[@ytsas45488]

I usually cringe at overly dramatic people, but Cliff is truly genuine and absolutely amazing.

[@oldcowbb]

because you know it is real enthusiasm

[@dj-hy7pf]

Your 100% right

[@TJGermany]

I wonder how he would've turned out without inhaling that cloud of tear gas...

[@dibbidydoo4318]

like... rick sanchez

[@MrChet407]

I'd cringe at you

[@godminnette2]

I got here from numberphile. This guy is awesome!

[@uTube486]

Godminnette2 Me to... Although I have and read his books.

[@burpie3258]

Me too!

[@MRresoMC]

+Godminnette2 He's amazing!!!

[@MRresoMC]

Henrique Oliveira Yeah I've seen it, but technically it's not today's video as it was released 2 days ago. Anyways he always amazes me with his enthusiasm and passion for Klein bottles :D

[@julianobitsgen]

+Godminnette2 Same here.

[@pietronastari5815]

When he dies, his grave must be shaped like a Klein Bottle

[@pinecone5129]

he will never die the magic of the Klein bottle will preserve him

[@poeypoey1857]

ha =p

[@CallMePuddlez]

I never want this man to die

[@dgramop]

Great minds never die.

[@MrLol-lt6ib]

Pietro Nastari that was hillarious but you might be respecting him

[@missfashionator]

I stopped cringing one minute in. he is one of the most genuine talkers

[@thisdudefromfrance8745]

luname he look like Rick, a bit mad and genius at the same time😁

[@alexcerullo3143]

this dude from France did I ask

[@davecrupel2817]

​@@alexcerullo3143 No. Does anybody care that you didn't ask? *No.*

[@rredheart1568]

get this dude for the 'back to the future' remake

[@melodramatic7904]

I have a feeling he was the inspiration for doc.

[@ostimeg]

10.21 klein bottles!

[@DerpMuse]

@@melodramatic7904 Einstein was Doc's inspiration i think

[@Lewis---]

i love this guy. i could really listen to him talk for ages.

[@Komatsulawl]

and watch him jump like a bunny. :-) So... energetic for his age.

[@jackkraken3888]

You should read his books like the Cuckoos Eggs etc..

[@6weeniehut956]

but then we wouldn't be able to hear him talk. maybe if he narrated an audiobook?

[@robokid20001]

He has plenty of videos on the Numberphile channel.

[@joshlagreca]

he's like what you thought your science teacher would be like when you were in 1st grad

[@healthyhobo5270]

This guy is a timelord

[@TreeMan13]

Ethan Leonard Tim3L0rd

[@xa1551]

@@TreeMan13 71M310R0

[@DrTacoPHD665]

The world needs more people like Cliff

[@CapaNoisyCapa]

Yes, it absolutely does.

[@MrProduktrelaterad]

Then be like him.

[@williamhenry4380]

He has a little bit spirit of Richard Feynman I think. If you can, become the next version of him

[@colorlessgreen4778]

This man was mentored by the designer of some of the most famous musical instruments of the 20th century, got a PhD in astronomy, chased down and caught a Russian Hacker in the middle of the cold war, then retired to teach middle schoolers, get his ham radio licence, and sell klein bottles out of his basement. Cliff Stoll might have the most interesting life out of any human on Earth

[@r.mishra6725]

Not to mention, with a homebrew forklift robot made out of junk parts in order to retrieve Klein bottles out of the crawlspace underneath his house

[@CCISolitude]

Him and Jamie Hyneman :)

[@anthead7405]

And he speaks mandarin

[@octavioavila6548]

and was completely wrong about the Internet

[@DannyBeans]

@@octavioavila6548 And admitted it, and learned from it.

[@sparrow9635]

KZbin recommendations has it's pros.

[@Expoz3DxSpaRtaN]

Sparrow yeah this is much better than that cockroach getting eaten by ants while giving birth

[@VenomFrogPwned]

Sparrow how

[@sparrow9635]

Previous comments I've made are coming back to haunt me.

[@Topyy]

Woooooo spooky old comment

[@Danilego]

@@sparrow9635 yes they are

[@acos21]

Early 90's as a kid i was hooked on his book "The Cuckoos egg". When i got myself my first internet connection as a 17 year old 1997something one of the first things i did was sending Cliff an actual email. Can you imagine directly contacting your favorite AUTHOR? Wow. The power of the Internet. I sent him a mail asking if he could sign a book. I asked him were to ship it to and provided my overseas address so he could tell me the cost for him to send it back to me after he signed it. I would include dollar bills in the package, so i proposed. I didnt receive an answer. And stopped expecting one 3 weeks later. Then, four weeks later, there was a letter in my snailmailbox that a package was waiting for me at the post office: it was a signed fresh copy of Cliff's book!

[@dhanucreations844]

What's his mail? i also want to mail this awesome teacher...

[@jpcampbell]

Great story

[@ThisGuyFrritz]

5:28 "uzwzwzwzwzwzwzw" 5:57 "bzwzwzwzw" 13:58 "zlzlzlzlzlzlzlzlzlzlzl" 15:00 So *this* is what he was saying as I did the math. -> 2006 - 1971 = *A Million Years Ago*

[@plainee6183]

15:51 blableblabebebebebebe

[@HolowatyVlogs]

It’s amazing to see his energetic demeanor almost instantly shift to intense concentration when talking about something serious or heavy. People like Cliff are immensely rare and they should be regarded as kings in educational and scientific spaces.

[@Lennoxrenol]

“I SEE A PENDULUM- oh yeah square root of it’s length is proportionate to it’s period” What a legend!

[@curtishammer748]

"The clocks are turning backwards because I'm inside them so I immediately think of Lorentz transformations and Einsteinian relativity."

[@minerscale]

*For low values of θ

[@davecrupel2817]

14:22 ❤

[@savage-vq7fg]

It's crazy to me how he shifted from crazy scientist jumping around the stage with notes on his hand to someone talking about the future in an interesting and insightful way in a matter of 30 seconds or so

[@SticksTheFox]

"It is the voice of life, which calls us to come and learn" What a wonderful sentence and sentiment

[@TheLegoJungle]

This guy is klein bogglingly interesting. Seriously tho, he is one of the greatest people i've seen on the net

[@joelights6476]

I'm inkleined to agree with you.

[@ajinkyamhasawade2400]

You mean Klein bottlingly, right?

[@timhorton2486]

I love this guy! If I can go through school with as much passion and energy this guy has I know I'll be successful!

[@timhorton2486]

***** A good kind of crazy is the most memorable.

[@timhorton2486]

***** There's no such thing as 'objectively boring'.

[@timhorton2486]

***** Admittedly, I have not.

[@TheLuismaBeaTle]

Stanislav G. Crazy is fun

[@ShubhamRaj-mu8ol]

@@stanislav4607 I would like to be crazy if that is for my passion.

[@imDezrt]

Goes to show how important maintaining a childlike sense of wonder is in the pursuit of knowledge. Easily one of the best TED talks I've seen. Accomplishments aside, I find him really similar to Steve Jobs in a way. Definitely in the same vein of hippie-genius

[@imDezrt]

boooo no comparisons allowed to people I don't like

[@joelights6476]

Most people genuinely love anything coming from the mouth of someone who's truly enthralled with what they're talking about. Adults usually think this level of excitement is for children so they won't allow themselves to show it, yet they're drawn to people that do. More people should be honest about their excitement, and more people should find something to be excited about.

[@gengarwarrior6802]

wow! this guy would make a great teacher with so much energy

[@KrishnamKumawat]

+GengarWarrior Same thing I thought!

[@ferretyluv]

+GengarWarrior He said that he was teaching high school physics 4 days a week. No idea if he still does.

[@ashley2khoo510]

B

[@Grimenoughtomaketherobotcry]

Don't worry- the edureaucracy would have him go from borderline crazy to right around the bend in under 30 seconds if he had to do it for a living...

[@rockydo2307]

Wasn't this guy on numberphile?

[@BanditLeader]

He's on numberphile a lot

[@kennethsizer6217]

That's like asking "Wasn't Al Pacino in The Godfather"

[@vivekthomas8]

Kenneth Sizer Well, was he ?

[@oliviaa.lastre6632]

Kenneth Sizer hahhaha

[@B-Man-69]

It's like asking "Isn't Pikachu the mascot of Pokémon?"

[@Baamthe25th]

So, this talk is 99% mad genius talk, and 1% "Educate yourself'" ?

[@joelights6476]

It's 100% educate yourself. He's leading by example.

[@davidshort2806]

I can't imagine him having a calm , serious solemn conversation

[@georgerogers2120]

I am just gonna say, I cry a little at the end. Every time. Such a beautiful way to end the talk. Such a profound message and coming from a guy who knows the value of that message so well. I really want Clifford Stoll to read bedtime stories. xD

[@dragoncurveenthusiast]

I'm not sure you'd be able to sleep. I wouldn't. Jumping around on the bed together would be a more likely outcome, I'd assume :-D

[@scoman91]

I love how he is so unafraid to state his opinion and to admit when his opinion is proven by history to be wrong. He admitted his ideas about computers didn't pan through, and he was totally okay with it and has come around with new theories about how to make things even better. He is a truly positive human being.

[@DrWakey]

Cliff Stoll is someone i certainly would love to have as teacher :D

[@dhanucreations844]

SAME I ALSO WISH THAT SO MUCH...

[@cl9949]

I couldn’t handle this amount of energy. I can see why people would love this but it’s not for everyone.

[@Potts1966]

I loved The Cuckoo's Egg, bought a Klein bottle and had the great fortune to meet Cliff in 2009. Huge respect for the guy, his passion needs to be bottled and used sparingly. The world would be a much better place if that happened!

[@Kranzio-]

Cliff Stoll continues to live a life that would seem unrealistic if we watched it in a movie. Something so fantastic and endlessly complex, that it could only be contrived by an extremely creative mind. But Cliff Stoll lives the life of the creative-minded. Of someone who is never content to be the master of just one subject; of becoming an expert on just one field. Cliff Stoll's life is the end result of someone who never stops questioning, never stops learning and never stops bettering themself in their understanding of the world. I genuinely believe Cliff Stoll extols the best of what humanity is and can be and he deserves nothing less than universal accolade.

[@jesper9622]

I''ll have what he is drinking.

[@lukel.5815]

Out of a Klein bottle

[@tamarpeer261]

@@lukel.5815 A klein wine

[@MotoScootMech]

That drink would be called the voice of life and it is quite fantastic.

[@jonathon3043]

Clifford Stoll, What an amazing Human he is. If we could somehow inject everybody with his energy and passion the world would be an awesome place. Definitely top of the list of people love to have a brew and chat with.

[@TamaraTkacova]

Words cannot express how much I adore him, and how much his passion inspires me

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

I love how genuine he is, he really loves what he does.

[@mcclendonreport]

His "kindergarten example" - as indicator for the future - is spot on. I have substituted in kindergarten numerous times and, yes, it is an eerily accurate portal into what our future might be. I'd recommend the experience for anyone. It is, at once, the happiest, scariest, hopeless and most hopeful place I have ever been in. Kindergarten is arguably the best laboratory for understanding our collective plight.

[@heyho4488]

13 years later he is spot on, inspite of never having taught in kindergarden

[@musicmanfelipe]

I’m extremely jealous of Cliff that he was mentored in college by Bob Moog. Bob was one of my heroes.

[@ramenraptor]

Aww so sweet when he slows down when remembering his mother

[@914Rocky]

This man is absolutely delightful. He’s a genuine character. One of a kind.

[@foofixers5938]

An incredible human being, a force of nature, and teaching personified. A unified field theory, a theory of everything, of everything - the theory, a dancer and a juggler, and poet of great artistry. The best Ted Talk i've seen.

[@iarrcsim2323]

a babbling scatter brain. the worst TED talk I've seen. He's almost as bad at presenting a coherent speech as I am and that is really bad. TED talks are usually far better.

[@annoythefish]

Josh Greig Sorry that you're too dumb to fill in the blanks and you're left with nothing from this brilliant talk

[@IARRCSim]

annoythefish I don't know you at all but if you're an average person, you'd give a better speech than this guy. I'm not stupid. I'm just being honest. There are many better TED talks than this one. I had no professor as bad at speaking as this guy.

[@JoshuaWillis89]

IARRCSim I choose to measure a speech on the quality of its content, not the structural mechanics of it. By that measure, it is a good speech. The reason Cliff is so captivating is because he doesn't fit the mold. He is an entertaining and energetic presenter who obviously doesn't care about constraining himself to the standard norms of such a presentation. I understand that it might be frustrating to listen to him if you don't already have a strong background knowledge in all the different topics he mentions in rapid succession. His lecture is a little more disconnected than we are used to and isn't structured in the typical fashion, but that doesn't equate to a "bad speech."

[@joelights6476]

IARRCSim, He got a standing ovation. Just sayin...

[@heroque28icantread]

he predicted what kids do today o.o

[@zirconium2014]

it really, hurts, my only form of education is a computer, always has been, specifically youtube. but if it wasn't for a computer, i wouldnt of ever of understood science or math, school wasnt a place of learning for me, it was a place of deadlines and 'ur not good enough if you dont understand this concept in 4 weeks' sorta bullshit. school never gives enough time to the small minority of students who really need it. and if you use a computer in the right way, you can achieve and learn so much more (and for free) than what school would teach you (and in your own time so you have much more needed amounts of time to understand things you just cant grasp yet). however, one on one interaction with someone who knows this is something irreplaceable. I'm trying to self educate myself so many math and science subjects (found free lectures on youtube and watching them at my own comfortable pace, its more of a hobby for me) but what sucks is that my year 12 subjects are getting in the way of what i want to do properly. but I'll eventually get there. once i learn these concepts perhaps i can then go into a school with confidence and should be able to go through it without feeling like I'm too dumb or slow, cus i already know it. thanks computer, and thank you internet.

[@yuegodelg]

@@zirconium2014 I relate to your comment so much, I wonder where you are now, I want to be a scientist and I feel the same about school

[@1darkfoxx]

I've realized that the people who teach you to look at things from a different perspective are the ones who can teach you the most in any subject. Cliff you are a truely facinating and unique person.

[@rae_diant]

Klein bottle guy!!!

[@omfgmouse]

KZbin recommended me this in 2020... Didn't even know I needed it

[@theenigma553]

This made me reenergized to continue my studies. I love Cliff a lot.

[@ashleyteece4237]

If you want more of Clif, check out his videos on numberphile

[@meh.h]

Check him out on Numberphile

[@andrerenault]

99.9% of TED talks: clearly scripted and rehearsed, pointed speech Cliff: *wild jumping and unrelated anecdotes* What a legend

[@SATX_09]

The best TED talk ever I only found out about this guy today from watching Adam Savage.... I'm so thankful I watched this today, it's truly life changing type of energy.

[@hardtop66]

I LOVE his presentation! I work with presentation skills and use Clifford Stoll to show students that it is OK to break ALL rules if you've got passion in what you do! Awesome and inspiring!

[@crogthecreator7290]

For many years I wasn’t able to understand anything about math but I watched that damn Klein bottle video and now the only thing I think about is math I’m doing better in class I’m happier and everything is great because of this guy thank you Klein bottle man

[@word6344]

Lol same

[@jacktherripper]

It's really interesting hearing this speech in 2021.

[@JoshuaWillis89]

Cliff reminds me of Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back when he does that sudden switch from zany to dead serious around 3 min in. It gave me chills. It was so effective with the audience.

[@rayman7712]

So much energy! It’s exhausting watching him!

[@emiangurabardhi8660]

This guy passes as the smartest comedian.

[@sbeatty85]

Let's be real about this, you didn't search for this. Cliff is love, Cliff is life!

[@davecrupel2817]

I can only imagine how jumpy and quirky he was when he was super young.

[@Sykickview]

This guy is a mad genius

[@maryuriseptreziera8861]

I can sit for ages hearing him. He's so interesting

[@AJigsawnHalo]

I absolutely love this guy. He's so energetic.I feel bad for the cameraman who's trying to keep him in frame though.

[@gimli3370]

Why couldn't I have been in Cliff Stoll's 8th grade class!?!? I just did boring Earth-Science!

[@justsomerandomguy8210]

This guy has to be my favorite human being

[@jackwisniewski3859]

My man cliff over here understanding the understated significance of education to society and our future

[@pkmkb]

1:47 "computers dont belong to schools" 2020: computers are schools he must be sad.

[@7hosewiz13]

Got Here from Numberphile Also... Totally LOVE This Guy ! My All New Favorite HERO !

[@dgramop]

I would kill to have this guy teach me anything

[@ManishKumar-xx7ny]

This is the best TED talk ever given

[@Torvaxx]

It takes skill to pull off this energy and personality. Doing it even a little bit wrong instantly makes it cringey. But this guy. This guy is awesome.

[@videos4mydad]

+Mīmu-ō I think because it is genuine.

[@norralejon3461]

I want him to be my science teacher

[@plainee6183]

Cliff has to be the most energetic (almost) 70 year old

[@maciek523]

These are the teachers I really wish I had in my childhood. Ones which were so radical that society itself labels them as insane.

[@shadowjsw]

The oddest (most fascinating) thing is that I found him to be very coherent actually.

[@SenseiEli]

This is gold pure gold. He shows us real enthusiasm! Tells all teachers find your light!!! Find your own way to excite people and make them feel the excitement of finding things for the first time! Don't make all students robots make them open minded! Let them learn! Really learn!

[@SnoopGotTheScoop]

if there was a time traveler this is what he would be like

[@sodeste6053]

~doo wee dooooo~

[@soldofpol7026]

Evacuate the city... Engage all defenses... And get this man a Klein bottle

[@yf-n7710]

So nice to see someone who is enthralled by their subject. Makes you want to learn more even if you didn't know anything before.

[@bajer111]

"All truth is one in this light: may science and religion endeavor here for the steady evolution of mankind from darkness to light, from narrowness to broadmindedness, from prejudice to tolerance. It is the voice of life which calls us to come and learn." Flawless

[@exhaustedeloise]

I love this man! He's so excited and passionate about his work. It's inspiring. But the man insane I love it

[@MrAstroman2]

Mr. Clifford Stoll, I applaud you my friend. You are one hyper and funny guy to be around and listen to.

[@pietronastari5815]

KLEIN FREAKING BOTTLES

[@geak78]

I need more Clifford Stoll in my life. Can we get a recording of some of his middle school lessons?

[@word6344]

Numberphile did a podcast episode with him!

[@lamortensia3691]

Le monde a besoin de plus de Cliff !

[@KarmaKutie1]

Finally - a truly authentic knowlege seeker and teacher! How courageous, genuine, enlightening, and non-self-serving. Clearly it would be an honour for others for others to share their passions- merely to benefit others, as Clifford Stoll does.

[@Millsie18]

Started out thinking he was insane, at the end I came to love him... So awesome..

[@TellyBuhay]

If there's more than one thumbs up button, I'd click them all.

[@turkthagorqas]

I've often wondered what the internet would be like if we posted our "Compliments" rather than comments. If people could put aside their unrecognized insecurities, and Limited judgement, just imagine how fantastic this world would appear.

[@dvl973]

+Turk Traut it would be boring wouldn't it it's like having a life of pleasure you can inject yourself with heroin till you die and you have pure chemical pleasure but it's not what you want to live is it

[@trentta1296]

this guy should have a show.

[@inwemeneldur2025]

He's so adorable i'm actually crying!!!

[@violetharris9460]

oh my god!! I want him to narrate my life! he sounds so intersting. I want to learn everything from this man

[@raywalli]

The real life Doc Brown.

[@monk9008]

Such a good talk

[@TheMilwaukeeProtocol]

I need lots of caffeine to follow all of his rapid jumps. Dude's a genius *and* he cares about humanity. I'd give anything to be like him instead of me.

[@kq2488]

An absolute legend. My favorite TED Talk to date.

[@ferretyluv]

This guy is awesome. He's so charming. I wish he could teach everything.

[@Nvowti]

I just ordered one of his bottles. the email exchance was the greatest of my life. 10/10 worth the cost even if the bottles don't arrive

[@navyal7237]

Omg he actually talked to you ???

[@Aikidoman06]

Could you imagine how awesome it would have been to have him as your 8th grade science teacher?

[@Jeff.b]

This is the best way to teach kids, knowledge delivered with fun, enthusiasm and some slapstick humor. We SERIOUSLY need more teachers like you.

[@_samtsa]

His mood can change so fast And he always makes you feels so good and so bad simultaneously I love him

[@kennethflorek8532]

This is the eccentric I remember from way back when he was doing his tours for the books he mentions. I wanted to admire the man because he is so full of life and so quirky, which unfortunately is not all he is about. He is enjoyable exclusively while he is doing his fun things. As soon as he starts into some heavy duty consideration he transforms into an illogical and typically depressing airhead, if you can follow him at all.

[@zirconium2014]

ur an actual idiot

[@christianboose444]

I wish I could have his enthusiasm and passion for science. I like science, but this guys on a whole nother level.

[@verdatum]

How I got here: I fucking love Cliff Stoll. He basically got me to choose my major, and ages later, I know I made the right choice. I sure hope he's done a TED talk. Turns out, damn, he was doing them back before they even got big. Go read the Cuckoo's Egg. It's better than any cyberpunk novel, it's better than any hip hacker movie, and this guy is just absolutely amazing, as a person, as an educator, as an astronomer, as a computer scientist, and as a storyteller.

[@gluntford]

I had a friend in highschool who talked like this, made noises constantly. he was a good guy

[@jan_kulawa]

Cliff Stoll is my new source of inspiration.

[@Faulheit]

exurb1a someone

[@_samtsa]

Damn straight

[@amminadabz]

Heyup

[@damage_01]

yeet

[@jimgorlett4269]

which vid

[@JunkBondTrader]

Here after reading his article from 1995 about how he went hard in the paint how the internet wouldn't change the world :p

[@SamGautreau7]

Same. I just want to know if he uses the internet now