Why eyewitnesses get it wrong - Scott Fraser episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 7, 2026 · 24 MIN

Why eyewitnesses get it wrong - Scott Fraser

from TED-Ed · host TED-Ed

Scott Fraser studies how humans remember crimes -- and bear witness to them. In this powerful talk, which focuses on a deadly shooting at sunset, he suggests that even close-up eyewitnesses to a crime can create "memories" they could not have seen. Why? Because the brain abhors a vacuum. Editor's note: In the original version of this talk, Scott Fraser misspoke about available footage of Two World Trade Center (Tower 2). The misstatement has been edited out for clarity. Talk by Scott Fraser Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Fraser studies how humans remember crimes -- and bear witness to them. In this powerful talk, which focuses on a deadly shooting at sunset, he suggests that even close-up eyewitnesses to a crime can create "memories" they could not have seen. Why? Because the brain abhors a vacuum. Editor's note: In the original version of this talk, Scott Fraser misspoke about available footage of Two World Trade Center (Tower 2). The misstatement has been edited out for clarity. Talk by Scott Fraser Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Why eyewitnesses get it wrong - Scott Fraser

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This episode was published on June 7, 2026.

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Scott Fraser studies how humans remember crimes -- and bear witness to them. In this powerful talk, which focuses on a deadly shooting at sunset, he suggests that even close-up eyewitnesses to a crime can create "memories" they could not have seen....

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