History & Society

History & Society

Trace how culture, power, and ideas shape societies across time.

A technician in a clean suit inspects a large, segmented, hexagonal mirror inside a circular gray structure.
The JWST's observations of well-developed galaxies early in universal history may coincide with accepted astronomical theory after all.
Abstract monochrome sketch of two figures, one with head bowed and the other looking downward, conveying a contemplative or somber mood, suggestive of the Chiron effect.
Sometimes you just want to hear, "I know what it's like."
first contact
Life arose on Earth very early on. After a few billion years, here we are: intelligent and technologically advanced. Where's everyone else?
Profile of a person's face with science fiction inspired shadow stripes pattern projected onto it, against a dark background.
Six visionary science fiction authors on the social impact of their work.
A sequence showing the phases of a solar eclipse, culminating in totality, against a dark background.
Total eclipses are a product of a strange and almost eerie cosmic coincidence — one that makes Earth an even rarer world in the galaxy and, by proxy, in the Universe.
cosmic ray blazar
Our Universe requires dark matter in order to make sense of things, astrophysically. Could massive photons do the trick?
Two men from different political parties in suits stand at podiums under studio lights, participating in a televised debate.
Throughout the world, traditional political organizations are increasingly seen as dysfunctional. But can democracies live without them?
atom quantum
Practically all of the matter we see and interact with is made of atoms, which are mostly empty space. Then why is reality so… solid?
Do you live in a new desert?.
Most counties in the U.S. have only one local newspaper, often one that publishes weekly instead of daily.
Split image with the empire state building on the left and a stylized graphic of a wi-fi router on the right, both against a purple background.
When Google runs a smart city, who owns the data?
Four-panel collage of historical philosophers in various artistic styles, including a sculpture, a sketch, and two realistic portraits.
From Taoism to hedonism, philosophers have devised all sorts of ways to live your best life.
A collage of various international banknotes featuring portraits of historical figures.
A physicist, a psychologist, and a philosopher walk into a bar and discuss a framework for thinking better in the 21st century.
A collage of images featuring an anatomical drawing of a heart, a portrait of a bearded man embodying everyday philosophy, a brain illustration, and a smartphone showing an unread message notification.
Nicole has been dating someone for a while but it's not working out from her point of view. Is sudden radio silence an ethical option?
Collage of images featuring a classical sculpture, a close-up of a human ear, and a woman in a cafe expressing surprise with children nearby.
Irene is on a bus with her young kids when two men come on, cussing like sailors. Should Irene step in and say something?
Woman wearing pixelated sunglasses sits at a desk, with graphic overlays of a line graph demonstrating workplace equality, classical figures in discussion, and a clock indicating 2 o'clock.
Rich is brilliant at his job. He completes work in half the time of his coworkers. Should he have to sit at his desk just as long?
A vintage photograph depicting a chaotic beach landing with soldiers in motion, blurred figures, and smoke clouds across the dune, evoking a sense of urgency and battle.
“Dune: Part One” screenwriter Eric Roth spoke with Big Think about the challenges of bringing Frank Herbert's sci-fi epic to the big screen.
space expanding
Yes, the Universe is expanding, but if you've ever wondered, "How fast is it expanding," the answer isn't in terms of a speed at all.
A toothbrush with blue and white bristles, topped with a large dollop of minty toothpaste.
Claims circulating on the Internet — some from dentists' websites — suggest toothpaste isn't necessary for dental health. Is that true?
24mins
Mating, monogamy, and maximizing your sexual potential explained by 3 sex experts.
A collage depicting a radio telescope on the left and an abstract celestial body on the right, separated by a vertical band of black and white dashes.
Since 1962, humanity has been sending messages into space with the intent to make contact with intelligent extraterrestrials. Are those efforts worth the risks?