The science of friction and its surprising impact on our lives, Jennifer Vail

Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized Talk recommendations and more. Tribology: it s a funnysounding 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. The TED Talks