Latest Articles

Latest Articles

The newest essays, interviews, and features from Big Think.

Some economists predict China's economy will overtake the U.S. economy by 2028.
largest planet
There's a limit to how large planets can be, and it's only about double the radius of Jupiter. At least, so far.
MIT neuroscientists have identified a population of neurons in the human brain that respond to singing but not other types of music.
starfish skeleton
The knobby starfish skeleton has diamond-like properties and could inspire new designs for lightweight, highly resilient ceramics, with widespread applications in engineering and construction.
big bacteria
A gigantic bacterium evolved differently than fundamental models of biology would have predicted. Simply put, these bacteria shouldn't exist.
Supervolcano
The 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora is one of the reasons why Bryan Walsh sees supervolcanoes as the” single, biggest threat to the human race.”
russia cyberattack
Russia's cyberattacks against Ukraine have been prolific and ongoing for several years. The future of war may begin in cyberspace.
chernobyl radiation
The rhetorical fallout is greater than the radioactive fallout.
When actual people correct misinformation online, it can be as effective, if not more so, as when a social media company labels something as questionable.
An ancient continent called Balkanatolia rose and fell in the area in and around what is now the eastern Mediterranean.
A new method of extracting rare-earth elements could put us on the track toward a circular economy.
litter morality
When we fail to help in a bad situation, we are morally responsible. So, why don't we pick up others' litter?
Two colleagues working on a problem in front of a computer.
Lessons from child development research teach us how we learn to trust others.
library benefits
Investments in public libraries are a long-term investment in children and communities.
Putin literature
Vladimir Putin adores Fyodor Dostoevsky. A close reading of the legendary author’s texts reveals the feeling might have been mutual. 
Kids' underdeveloped brains seem to help them acquire new languages with little effort.
Einstein
More than any other of Einstein's equations, E = mc² is the most recognizable to people. But what does it all mean?
adult learning theory
Adult learning theory is a guidepost for designing training for maximum engagement.