Tribology: it’s a funny-sounding word you might not have heard before, but it could change how you see and interact with the physical world, says mechanical engineer Jennifer Vail. Offering lessons from tribology — the study of friction and wear — Vail describes the surprisingly varied ways it impacts everyday life and how it could help us make a better world.
This talk was presented at a TED Institute event given in partnership with DuPont. TED editors featured it among our selections on the home page. Read more about the TED Institute.