TIL I learned the difference between TED and TEDx.
TEDx events are independently organized TED-like conferences that operate under a free license granted by TED. While they follow the general principles of TED, TEDx events are planned and coordinated by volunteers at the local level, aiming to bring the TED experience to a broader audience.
For anyone curious, he figured out how to rapidly amplify samples of DNA. While doing that he would routinely cause trouble by doing things like bringing a gun to work and having public arguments with his girlfriend at work. His Wikipedia entry sounds as sane as he is.