# Why is cotton in everything?

- Institution: TED
- Department: TED-Ed
- Speaker: Michael R. Stiff
- Year: 2020
- Level: For everyone
- Language: English
- Subjects: Biology, Earth and environment, History
- Source: [TED](https://www.ted.com/talks/michael_r_stiff_why_is_cotton_in_everything)
- Licence: [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) (Non-commercial use only, and no changed versions.)
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (sources give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the source's own words)

Centuries ago, the Inca developed ingenuous suits of armor that could protect warriors from even the fiercest physical attacks. These hardy structures were made not from iron or steel, but rather something unexpectedly soft: cotton. Today cotton is used to make everything from fabric, to currency, diapers and fishing nets. Michael Stiff explores the science of what makes cotton so versatile. \[Directed by WOW-HOW Studio, narrated by Addison Anderson\].

## Lectures

1. [Why is cotton in everything?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/ted/michael_r_stiff_why_is_cotton_in_everything/eaea31fdf6b8), 5 min (TED's player)