Why the @#$% is there so much traffic? - Benjamin Seibold episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 6, 2026 · 7 MIN

Why the @#$% is there so much traffic? - Benjamin Seibold

from TED-Ed · host TED-Ed

Download a free audiobook version of "Astrophysics for People in a Hurry" and support TED-Ed's nonprofit mission: https://www.audible.com/ted-ed Check out our full book recommendation: https://shop.ed.ted.com/collections/ted-ed-book-recommendations/products/astrophysics-for-people-in-a-hurry--You’re cruising down the highway when all of a sudden endless rows of brake lights appear ahead. There’s no accident, no stoplight, no change in speed limit, or narrowing of the road. So why is there so much traffic? It's due to a phenomenon called a phantom traffic jam. Benjamin Seibold explains why it happens and how we might prevent it in the future.Lesson by Benjamin Seibold, directed by Cris Wiegandt.Animator's website: https://criswiegandt.comSign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletterSupport us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreonFollow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebookFind us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitterPeep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagramView full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-is-phantom-traffic-and-why-is-it-ruining-your-life-benjamin-seiboldThank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Manognya Chakrapani, Ayala Ron, Samantha Chow, Philippe Spoden, Phyllis Dubrow, Michelle Stevens-Stanford, Cas Jamieson, Ophelia Gibson Best, Amber Wood, Paul Schneider, Jun Cai, Tim Robinson, Henrique 'Sorín' Cassús, cnorahs, Lyn-z Schulte, Elaine Fitzpatrick, Karthik Cherala, Clarence E. Harper Jr., Milad Mostafavi, Аркадий Скайуокер, Kiara Taylor, Louisa Lee, eden sher, Vignan Velivela, Sage Curie, Srikote Naewchampa, Tejas Dc, Khalifa Alhulail, Faiza Imtiaz, Martin Stephen, Jerome Froelich, Dan Paterniti, Jose Henrique Leopoldo e Silva, Mullaiarasu Sundaramurthy, Elnathan Joshua Bangayan, Caleb ross, Duo Xu, Quinn Shen, Marvin Vizuett, Sid, Marylise CHAUFFETON, Karen Goepen-Wee, Sama aafghani, Mandeep Singh, Abhijit Kiran Valluri, Morgan Williams, Kris Siverhus, Jason Weinstein, Tony Trapuzzano and Devin Harris. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Why the @#$% is there so much traffic? - Benjamin Seibold

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