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TED March 28, 2026

Babies may seem oblivious — but their minds are actually hard at work. #TEDTalks

Summary

The transcript explores infant cognitive capabilities, focusing on how 1-year-old babies perceive and understand danger in both physical and social contexts. Through laboratory experiments involving steep drop-offs and scenarios with potential hazards, researchers discovered that babies can distinguish dangerous situations and respond differently based on perceived risk. The study reveals that infants possess surprising abstract knowledge about the physical and social world, demonstrating a sophisticated level of perception and reasoning that challenges common assumptions about early cognitive development.

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