An interesting point in case are the twin maps of Africa shown here, one of the spread of Islam, the other the spread of AIDS. Beware of the map that is too straightforward and simple.

Two of the most famously rousing speeches in history, though one is from a dramatic work, address many of the same topics: bravery, fear, camaraderie, and death.

How artist Brian Kane is bringing a moment of peace to one of the most urbanized, ad-saturated areas in the world. “I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of […]

After years of their anti-drug rules going unenforced, recent revelations have caused the ESL to take action.

[A Top 15 Podcast on iTunes!] We surprise the world's brightest minds with ideas they're totally unprepared to discuss. This week on Big Think's podcast, we're joined by renowned physicist and author Brian Greene. 

Ian Bremmer calls Hillary Clinton a "moneyball" candidate for president.

Drones are all the buzz today. They make the news regularly appearing everywhere and often where they don't belong — baseball stadiums, concert stages and even the White House lawn. Is […]

Even the dead stars still shine today, and will for a long time. But they, too, will fade to black. “As the blackness of the night recedes so does the […]

Dr. Christine Moutier of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention continues our series "Big Thinkers on Mental Health" with ways society can combat the rising suicide trend.

Moving past racism "is about respecting and reveling in the humanity of every other fellow citizen."

Our neighborhoods play with our perceptions about the state of wealth, influencing our opinions on wealth politics.

They can still take a joke, though.

“Teamwork is the signature adaptation of” humanity, says David Sloan Wilson. And our ancestors evolved ruthlessly cooperative means of ensuring productive social coordination. 

Yesterday was an epic day: NASA’s Kepler mission announced the discovery of what they called “the most Earth-like planet ever,” the smallest planet ever found that orbits a Sun-like star […]

If you avoid the common errors of reasoning that lead large majorities of subjects to do the irrational thing on repeated experiments, you may justly gloat a little.

That's right... giant parsnip steak. Sound appetizing? In this video, chef Dan Barber explains why it's important to cook your food using a diverse array of natural ingredients from your local environment.

Researchers advanced the fields of social science by working together and peer reviewing the evidence. Couldn't the same benefits be attained by treating religion in the same manner?

Before you tout the next exoplanet as “the most Earth-like ever,” ask whether that’s true, and whether that’s even a good thing. “You can spend too much time wondering which […]

Technology and old age are not typically in the same sentence, let alone discussion. However, the recent White House Conference on Aging highlighted the multiple opportunities to use technology as a force multiplier not just to live longer, but to live (and care) better.

It's not the fault of the journalists, entirely. Researchers call for better tools to help keep sources safe and secure.