Latest Articles

Latest Articles

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

Technically, the knife's metal had extraterrestrial origins.
Shakespeare never visited America, yet the map of the U.S. is dotted with references to his work. 
All those hours spent trying to get the doctor to fill a prescription should count for something, right?
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced new proposed rules to protect individuals from predatory lending services. And Google's taking part as well.
More than ever, there is a need to differentiate bad science from good. 
2mins
Are to-do lists about feeling a sense of accomplishment or actually getting things done? The typical way of writing lists can result in feeling good about yourself at the expense of productivity.
Imagine cancer is no longer an issue, HIV is wiped out, and the signs of aging come on so slowly, one appears young forever. Gene editing promises much. Incurable diseases could become curable, new drugs could be created to battle cancer, and genetic diseases could be corrected. It has potentialities for research too. But we aren’t there yet. And there are lots of pitfalls we need to avoid.   
The mystery surrounding Planet Nine continues. This time around researchers question its origins.
Neurotechnology pioneers envision an expanded future for humanity straight out of science fiction.
It’s an old idea made new again, but it just might fall apart. “[The black hole] teaches us that space can be crumpled like a piece of paper into an infinitesimal […]
4mins
The ability of particles to coordinate their behavior across distances may seem to violate the speed-of-light constant, but is a signal really being sent between them? Or does Einstein still reign?
Through human caused climate change, we are barreling toward a world with less stability, less resources, more disease, and more lives lost to extreme weather events.   
Will Curiosity outlast Opportunity, the rover it was designed to supersede? Or will it fail, since it’s too big for its britches? “By refocusing our space program on Mars for […]
Artists are producing tactile art for the vision-impaired and the blind.
A new study raises troubling questions about the use of commonly prescribed opioid painkillers.
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is spearheading a national no-kill shelter movement for cats and dogs.
Researchers have new evidence showing preference and "cheating" for those who are most like us, even when we don't directly benefit.
The statistics on commuting and driving show that women spend more overall time in the car than men for a few different reasons.
1mins
Poverty is the defining issue of our time, says Tavis Smiley. And while we have recognized the problem of income inequality, economic mobility is not yet part of our national conversation.
2mins
People naturally mimic each other's body language, so when you notice it happening to you, it may be a sign that you are personally or professionally compatible with the other person.