Big Think

Groupthink in science isn’t a problem; it’s a myth

Scientists are notoriously resistant to new ideas. Are they falling prey to groupthink? Or are our current theories just that successful?

by Ethan Siegel

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A middle-aged man with short gray hair and a receding hairline is smiling, wearing a dark t-shirt against a light blue background.
Members
8 videos
Productivity for Mortals
Oliver Burkeman
Author, “Meditations for Mortals”
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Members
6 videos
AI and the Future of Civilization
Yuval Noah Harari
Historian and Philosopher, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Best-Selling Author
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Members
9 videos
The 6 Disciplines of Strategic Thinking
Michael Watkins
Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change, IMD Business School, and Author, “The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking”
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Members
12 videos
Radical Respect at Work
Kim Scott
Co-Founder, Radical Candor, and Author, Radical Respect: How to Work Together Better
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Members
7 videos
No-Nonsense Leadership
Ben Horowitz
Founding Partner, Andreessen Horowitz and Author, The Hard Thing About Hard Things
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Members
6 videos
A Primatologist’s Guide to Human Behavior
Frans de Waal
C.H. Candler Professor Emeritus at EMORY University, Atlanta, GA
Books

“The Devil Is a Southpaw”: A novel by Brandon Hobson

A preview of the latest novel by the National Book Award finalist Brandon Hobson.

by Brandon Hobson
Book cover of The Devil Is a Southpaw by Brandon Hobson featuring two black birds; text on left reads "an excerpt from" on a light blue background.
The Well

Why Einstein called awe the fundamental emotion

If you’ve gotten goosebumps when hearing a story about a stranger’s selfless heroism, or you’ve felt your chest swell at a concert, when the audience’s voice and the musician’s instruments align, you have felt awe. And, according to professor Dacher Keltner, who has spent his life studying it, it’s one of humankind’s most unifying traits:

with Dacher Keltner
A beam of light shines through clouds in a painted sky, with the word "AWE" in large yellow letters centered in the image. 14mins
Strange Maps

“The Chinese Job”: Spain’s wild 1580s plan to conquer the world — via Beijing

The plan — conquer China and push west to attack the Ottomans — was peak imperial hubris, as the Spanish themselves eventually realized.

by Frank Jacobs
A color-coded map of Asia shows four migration phases from China, with arrows pointing toward Papua New Guinea and the Andaman Islands, both circled in yellow.
Leadership masterclass: Nike, Jordan, and James Baldwin
George Raveling — the iconic leader who brought Michael Jordan to Nike — shares with Big Think a lifetime of priceless wisdom learned at the crossroads of sports and business.
By Mike Hodgkinson
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FIND US ON SUBSTACK

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Our main hub on substack.

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Mini Philosophy

Your daily dose of thoughtfulness.

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Starts with a Bang

Understand the universe better.

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Big Think Books

Explore the writers and ideas that have shaped our world.

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Big Think Business

The latest industry insights.
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What would you like to learn more about? We have thousands of videos from the world’s biggest thinkers to help you dive deeper into any subject.

Blurred image of a thrilling football game in action under the night sky, with enthusiastic spectators on bleachers watching one of America's most exciting and sometimes dangerous sports. Everyday Philosophy: Should we ban children from playing dangerous sports?
Jonny Thomson
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Jonny Thomson
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Jonny Thomson
A black-and-white photo of two prisoners in uniforms stands next to a colorful animated image of a hot dog bun character with a sausage character, creating an unexpected juxtaposition that highlights the beauty of contrasts. Everyday Philosophy: If beauty is subjective, is “Shawshank Redemption” no better than “Sausage Party”?
Jonny Thomson
A vintage-style illustration of a winged figure falling through the sky, set against a textured red background, surrounded by intricate black and white abstract patterns. Everyday Philosophy: “Are scientists involved in a Satanic plot to undermine religion?”
Jonny Thomson
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Jonny Thomson
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Jonny Thomson
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Jonny Thomson
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Jonny Thomson
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Jonny Thomson
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Jonny Thomson
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Jonny Thomson
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7 min
One neuroscientist’s deep dive into perception and reality
Christof Koch
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7 min
Trauma makes your world feel small — here’s how to open it up again
Bessel van der Kolk

Psychiatrist, Neuroscientist, and Author, “The Body Keeps the Score”
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6 min
A neuroscientist’s guide to building a more positive reality
Nicole Vignola
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8 min
How to step out of your inner monologue and understand the world better
David Eagleman

Neuroscientist, Stanford University
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8 min
How to navigate loneliness, according to neuroscience
Kasley Killam
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9 min
A Harvard physician’s guide to rewriting your brain’s stress responses
Dr. Aditi Nerurkar

Harvard Physician
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9 min
How experiencing a stroke helped a neuroanatomist understand reality and connectedness
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor

Neuroanatomist
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6 min
Are psychedelics really the key to expanding our consciousness?
James Fadiman
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7 min
In your feelings? Turns out, we all experience emotions differently
Kristen Lindquist

Psychologist
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6 min
Can you trust your memory? This neuroscientist isn’t so sure
André Fenton

Neuroscientist
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Heather Berlin

Assistant Professor of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Mount Sinai Hospital
Book cover of The Devil Is a Southpaw by Brandon Hobson featuring two black birds; text on left reads "an excerpt from" on a light blue background. “The Devil Is a Southpaw”: A novel by Brandon Hobson
Brandon Hobson
solar system model Groupthink in science isn’t a problem; it’s a myth
Ethan Siegel

A theoretical astrophysicist and science writer, host of popular podcast “Starts with a Bang!”
A beam of light shines through clouds in a painted sky, with the word "AWE" in large yellow letters centered in the image.
14 min
Why Einstein called awe the fundamental emotion
Dacher Keltner

Psychologist, UC Berkeley
A color-coded map of Asia shows four migration phases from China, with arrows pointing toward Papua New Guinea and the Andaman Islands, both circled in yellow. “The Chinese Job”: Spain’s wild 1580s plan to conquer the world — via Beijing
Frank Jacobs

Journalist, writer, and blogger
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Jonny Thomson
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Eric Markowitz
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9 min
How facing adversity can help you live a deeper, more meaningful life
Oliver Burkeman
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Meghan Sullivan
ufo lights liverpool Why aliens might not “speak physics” the same way we do
Ethan Siegel

A theoretical astrophysicist and science writer, host of popular podcast “Starts with a Bang!”
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Kevin Dickinson
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21 min
How accepting impermanence can end the struggle to “fix” your life
Robert Waldinger

Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
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Sampriti Bhattacharyya

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The surprising business model of Costco
Tim Brinkhof
Mickey Mouse reaches for the magical hat in The Magician's Apprentice. 4 laws for creating magic inside your organization
training roi A quick guide to measuring training ROI
Giovanna Acosta
38 min
A Big Think Interview With Steve Loranger
Steve Loranger

CEO and President, ITT Corporation
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Aaron Ross

Sales Advisor & Author
Why most consulting is bullshit
Andrea Belk Olson
Celebrity CEOs are amazing. Until they backfire.
Anna Butrico
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Sun Tzu: 4 battle principles for business leaders
Roger Martin

Business Strategy Expert
No, 90% of new businesses don’t fail. Here’s why.
Jason Feifer
Soft skills training Soft skills training: Why every business needs it
Kevin Dickinson
11 min
A Discussion About Crowdsourcing and Open Innovation With Dwayne Spradlin
Dwayne Spradlin

President and CEO, InnoCentive, Inc.
a black and white photo of a man sitting at a desk. Max Planck and how the dramatic birth of quantum physics changed the world
Marcelo Gleiser

Theoretical Physicist
Quantum jumps: How Niels Bohr’s idea changed the world
Marcelo Gleiser

Theoretical Physicist
The paradox of light goes beyond wave-particle duality
Marcelo Gleiser

Theoretical Physicist
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Marcelo Gleiser

Theoretical Physicist
image of subatomic particles Our language is inadequate to describe quantum reality
Marcelo Gleiser

Theoretical Physicist
atoms Quantum superposition begs us to ask, “What is real?”
Marcelo Gleiser

Theoretical Physicist
Quantum mystery: Do things only exist once we interact with them?
Marcelo Gleiser

Theoretical Physicist
a man playing a violin in front of a piano. Einstein’s quantum ghost is here to stay
Marcelo Gleiser

Theoretical Physicist
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Marcelo Gleiser

Theoretical Physicist
a quantum cat on a blue background. The weirdness of quantum mechanics forces scientists to confront philosophy
Marcelo Gleiser

Theoretical Physicist
Six brain MRI scan images are arranged in two rows, showing various cross-sectional views of the human brain, with the bottom row featuring a blue and pink color overlay.
3 min
Can you measure love? 3 experts discuss
Meghan Sullivan
ufo lights liverpool Why aliens might not “speak physics” the same way we do
Ethan Siegel

A theoretical astrophysicist and science writer, host of popular podcast “Starts with a Bang!”
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Mini Philosophy is where we pause the busyness of life to reflect on ourselves, our relationships, and the Universe.
with Jonny Thomson
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It's not just about the home; it's about everything.
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Getting drunk might be bad for you but good for us.
Jonny Thomson
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Wonder is like a guest you haven’t planned for.
Jonny Thomson
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Intimate interviews with the world’s biggest thinkers.
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21 min
How accepting impermanence can end the struggle to “fix” your life
“The idea is that we move from a place of wanting the world to conform to what we like [towards] not needing other people to be different from who they are.”
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17 min
The ancient origins of partnering and romantic love
“No matter what their gods were, what they did for a living, what they wore, the songs they sang, everything varies except love, and everybody loves.”
Helen Fisher
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The Universe is out there, waiting for you to discover it.
with Ethan Siegel
solar system model Groupthink in science isn’t a problem; it’s a myth
Scientists are notoriously resistant to new ideas. Are they falling prey to groupthink? Or are our current theories just that successful?
Ethan Siegel
solar system model Groupthink in science isn’t a problem; it’s a myth
Scientists are notoriously resistant to new ideas. Are they falling prey to groupthink? Or are our current theories just that successful?
Ethan Siegel
ufo lights liverpool Why aliens might not “speak physics” the same way we do
Physicist Daniel Whiteson challenges the notion that all intelligent species would eventually uncover the same laws of nature. Do you agree?
Ethan Siegel
DUNE neutrino detectors Neutrinos are still the most mysterious particle we know of
Nearly 100 years after being theorized, the strange behavior of the neutrino still mystifies us. They could be even stranger than we know.
Ethan Siegel
A black and white logo.
Big Ideas. Thoughtful Conversations. One Book at a Time.
Out-of-focus trees in the foreground with a clear full moon visible in the dusk sky, evoking a scene worthy of tristan gooley’s natural navigation. Every tree, star, and cloud is a compass — if you know how to read them
Natural navigator Tristan Gooley joins us to discuss the philosophy of reading nature’s hidden clues — and how relearning this ancient skill can help us see the world, and ourselves, with greater awareness.
Kevin Dickinson
The image features the phrase "an excerpt from" on a red background next to the book cover of "Playful" by Cas Holman with Lydia Denworth, highlighting insights from play research. More than a game: How play helps wire our social brains
In this excerpt from "Playful," Cas Holman surveys the research that brought the neuroscience of play into the mainstream.
Cas Holman
A close-up of a spotted nudibranch with translucent, pointed cerata on a brown underwater branch against a black background, inviting reflection on the intricate nature of consciousness in marine life. What sea slugs can teach us about the nature of consciousness
In this excerpt from "One Hand Clapping," Nikolay Kukushkin makes the case that neurons reveal how memory, meaning, and even consciousness emerge from the same biological roots in humans, sea slugs, and beyond.
Nikolay Kukushkin
Two figures in military gear salute, rendered in white and red with visible brain scans over their heads, set against a black background—a striking nod to the neuroscience of war. How neuroscience is rewriting the art of war
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Tim Brinkhof
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Learn Business from the World’s Biggest Thinkers.
The surprising business model of Costco
While Costco warehouses may remind shoppers of Walmart, this membership-only retailer has a business model that more closely resembles Amazon or Netflix.
Tim Brinkhof
Million Stories
An older man sits on a chair gesturing with his hands in front of a blue background featuring a black sinusoidal waveform and an arrow. Josh Bersin: The Secrets of Crafting Enduring Organizations
Why the most enduring organizations stop chasing trends and start designing systems that prioritize people over processes.
Josh Browning
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Wales shares with Big Think his thoughts about the future of media, the promise of AI, and our need to build a culture on trust.
Mike Hodgkinson
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Introverts have social batteries that will drain over time, but they can be recharged with good energy hygiene. Here’s how.
Goldie Chan

Strange Maps

Cartography that show the world from a different angle
with Frank Jacobs
A raised hand with bracelets is shown in focus against a blurred background of people indoors. Mapped: If America were 100 people, this is what they’d believe
Nearly 30 would be "nones" — an amorphous group that spans from zealous atheists to the vaguely spiritual.
Frank Jacobs
A world map comparing landmass outlines of the Equal Earth projection in pink and Mercator projection in green, with grid lines overlaid. Africa wants its true size on the world map
The African Union argues that the Mercator projection distorts the continent, both in size and global attention.
Frank Jacobs
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The latest "Superman" film sets Metropolis in the First State.
Frank Jacobs
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Science helps us imagine the vastness of space and time — and our small but meaningful place within it.
Frank Jacobs
Learn from the world’s biggest thinkers.
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