if you do it along in beginning, it is fun and you will also get tricked XD

Fun but just simple and old parlor tricks.

I think I've watched enough Penn & Teller to pretty much know how most of them work... except for that last one. That was impressive! There are so many ways to possibly reverse engineer the sequence of actions and the setup while it could also be based purely on chance and psychology - which would be my guess.

But something tells me there are more layers to it - for example: Remember how it had to be a male victim? Does anyone know if that's the key or at least a factor? Or may be part of a backup plan, or a way out in case the trick doesn't go the usual / most likely route? Or is that just a practical way of avoiding unnecessary hysteria?

If you do know, please don't reveal the complete solution yet. I wanna see a few more people approach it their way.

I wonder why this is on TED. He never explained how the tricks work.

#4 That was the point of this speech. It is supposed to make you think for yourself. TED is sometimes overdoing it in that regard, but here it actually makes sense. Being aware of our psychological and observational weaknesses is essential to avoid being exploited by someone, for example in a position of power.
Women should be especially aware of this, because there is so much esoteric bullshit and emotional heroin out there, that is specifically aimed at them to fall for. At the same time, women can also use this advanced knowledge to even the imbalance of power between sexes.

I'm no magician, so I fall for most of the parlor tricks, but the glass was cooled down too fast, so it breakes very fast if touched from the inside.

In the beginning he flips his left hand while the camera is filming the audience.
The voodoo trick is done by quickly moving his hands and making air currents that she can feel, also body heat.
In the hand lifting trick he's putting "the pressure" on the guys foot that's hidden behind the table, he simply plays along.
The bottle trick just exploits the properties of tempered glass.
The cups and spike thing I haven't figured out, he found a way to track it.

#8 all good answers, but the last one... at the end, while the magician has the blindfold on, the audience guy could have mixed them up any which way he wanted to! and the magic guy only touches the plastic cups, so he can't even use any possible hidden features on the wooden bases as a clue.

I know how the vodoo trick works. I won't tell and you may want to vote me down for that. It doesnt have anything to do with air currents and body heat. It isnt real vodoo. It's a trick. That's what i can tell you.

Read the book Psychokinetick touches from banachek

Watch Keith's leg at 10:47 !!!

#9 The last one isn't an answer. I simply stated that I don't have any idea how it's done.

#10 do you mind telling me how he did it?

#11 I have no interest in being a magician, nor do I like to be "fooled".
The trick isn't less extraordinary if I find out how It's being done because I value the skill of the person performing.
Reverse engineering the trick is fun for me, It's an interesting challenge.

What the hell people??? Quit ruining magic! Do you go around telling 4 year olds that Santa is just their daddy in a rented suit, and he's probably drunk?

I REALLY don't understand buzzkills.

that guy's a wanker, penn & teller are the best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaEC8dgQLIM