TED - How Mars Might Hold The Secret to The Origin of Life

https://www.ted.com/talks/nathalie_cabrol_how_mars_might_hold_the_secret_to_the_origin_of_life

microbe - a minute life form; a microorganism, especially a bacterium that causes disease.
be on the brink of sth - to be in a situation where something (usually bad) is going to happen very soon
brink - the verge of an event or state
subsurface - of, relating to, or situated in an area beneath a surface, especially the surface of the earth or of a body of water.
fossil - A remnant or trace of an organism of a past geologic age, such as a skeleton or leaf imprint, embeddedand preserved in the earth's crust.
ejecta - matter thrown out of a crater by an erupting volcano or during a meteorite impact
translucence - the quality of allowing light to pass diffusely

TED - The Origins of Pleasure

https://www.ted.com/talks/paul_bloom_the_origins_of_pleasure?language=en

forgery - an illegal copy of a document, painting, etc
                - the crime of making an illegal copy of something
amicable - characterized by or exhibiting friendliness or goodwill; friendly.
imposter - someone who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive people
endowed - provided or supplied or equipped with (especially as by inheritance or nature)
audacious - extremely original or inventive; unrestrained by existing ideas, conventions
                      - extremely daring; brave; fearless.
malevolence - a desire to harm others or to see others suffer

Swearing is emotional and creative language

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2625581/Swearing-emotional-creative-language-say-researchers-claim-GOOD-you.html

in moderation - if you do something in moderation, you do not do it too much.
turn the air blue - to swear many times or use a lot of rude words, for example because you are angry. You can also say that the air turns blue if someone speaks in this way.
let off steam - to do or say something that helps you to get rid of strong feelings or energy
foul-mouthed - if someone is foul-mouthed, they use ​offensive ​language.
contraction - a strong, painful movement of the muscles that a woman has when she is having a baby

chastise - to criticize or punish someone

on the threshold of sth - at the start of a new and important time or development

TED - What is so special about the human brain?

https://www.ted.com/talks/suzana_herculano_houzel_what_is_so_special_about_the_human_brain?language=en

cognitive - relating to how people think, understand, and learn
vexing - causing irritation or annoyance; bothersome

cerebral cortex - the extensive outer layer of gray matter of the cerebral hemispheres, largely responsible for higher brain functions, includingsensation, voluntary muscle movement, thought, reasoning, and memory.
nucleus (plural; nuclei) - the central part of an atom or cell
intact - remaining sound, entire, or uninjured; not impaired in any way.
agitate - move or cause to move back and forth; shake

inflate - to cause to increase excessively; puff up; swell
trade-off - an exchange of one thing in return for another, especially relinquishment of one benefit or advantage for another regarded as moredesirable
feasible - capable of being accomplished or brought about; possible
predigest - to treat (food) by an artificial process analogous to digestion so that, when taken into the body, it is more easily digestible.
gobble up/down - to eat food very quickly

William Shakespeare and the Gentle Art of Cursing

https://mymarginalia.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/william-shakespeare-and-the-gentle-art-of-cursing/

expletive - nn exclamation or oath, especially one that is profane, vulgar, or obscene.

parlance - a particular way of speaking, or the specialized idiom of a particular group of people.

mélange - a ​mixture, or a ​group of different things or ​people.
extol - to praise highly; exalt.
prude - a person who is excessively concerned with propriety or modesty, especially in sexual matters.
innocuous - not likely to upset, offend or harm anyone
promiscuous - having casual sexual relations frequently with different partners; indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners.