Twenty years ago, science writer David Baron received some advice that changed his life: "before you die, you owe it to yourself to experience a total solar eclipse." Now an umbraphile (eclipse chaser), he travels the globe searching for few minutes of cosmic bliss. Why? Join Baron for his awe-inspiring stories and contagious passion, and you might just become an eclipse chaser too.

David Baron is a journalist, author, and broadcaster who has spent most of his thirty-year career in public radio, covering environment and science beats for various NPR outlets and programs. An avid umbraphile, he has witnessed five total solar eclipses across the globe. His latest book, American Eclipse: A Nation’s Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World, tells the story of a total eclipse that crossed the Wild West in 1878.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx