A friend sent me a link to a website she had come across, which offers “riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world”. www.ted.com brings you “ideas worth spreading”, which are often truly inspiring. Whatever your area of interest, you will find something to interest you, and will learn a great deal about subjects that you had never thought about before. I am fascinated by science, particularly biological sciences, but had never really been “into” bacteria. However I found this talk on how bacteria communicate by Bonnie Bassler of the University of Princeton fascinating: www.ted.com/index.php/talks/bonnie_bassler_on_how_bacteria_communicate.html The subject matter is presented so clearly that even somebody with no scientific knowledge would understand it and find it of interest, and the speaker herself is superb. It basically talks about bacteria communicate with one another using a kind of language in order to coordinate attacks. As Bassler herself points out, it seems kind of obvious, actually (this was my thought, even as a non-molecular biologist!). Take a look, and why not subscribe (it’s free) to the newsletter that tells you about new talks. They say you learn something new every day, and this is perhaps a good way to do it.