# What does the world's largest apparatus do? - Henry Richardson

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ted-ed-7859430/what-does-the-world-s-largest-apparatus-do-henry-richardson
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ted-ed-7859430/what-does-the-world-s-largest-apparatus-do-henry-richardson.md
Podcast: [TED-Ed](https://stenobird.com/podcast/ted-ed-7859430)
Published: 2026-06-21T19:30:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/VG4520985708.mp3
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/VG4520985708.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/ted-ed-7859430/episodes/what-does-the-world-s-largest-apparatus-do-henry-richardson
Duration seconds: 383

## Resource

Dig into the delicate balancing act of how power grids supply energy to the world and how renewable energy factors into this process.--In 1967, Homer Loutzenheuser flipped a switch and connected the power grids of the United States, forming one interconnected machine. Today, the US power grid is the world’s largest machine, containing more than 7,300 electricity-generating plants. So how exactly do these power plants work? Henry Richardson digs into the delicate balancing act of how power grids supply us energy.Lesson by Henry Richardson, directed by Anna Benner.Support Our Non-Profit Mission----------------------------------------------Support us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreonCheck out our merch: http://bit.ly/TEDEDShop----------------------------------------------Connect With Us----------------------------------------------Sign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletterFollow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebookFind us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitterPeep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagram----------------------------------------------Keep Learning----------------------------------------------View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-does-the-world-s-largest-machine-do-henry-richardsonDig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-does-the-world-s-largest-machine-do-henry-richardson#digdeeperAnimator's website: https://annabennerstudio.comEducator's website: https://www.watttime.orgMusic: https://www.tschernuth.com----------------------------------------------Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Hans Peng, Gaurav Mathur, Erik Biemans, Tony, Michelle, Katie and Josh Pedretti, Hoai Nam Tran, Kack-Kyun Kim, Michael Braun-Boghos, zjweele13,…

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