The Latest from Big Think

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Researchers at Ohio State University say that reading a good book written in the first person can change the reader in different ways.  
By Chris Arkenberg “The intelligence of the city is on the streets.“ – Manu Fernandez Amidst the swirling maelstrom of technological progress so often heralded as the imminent salvation to […]
Dear readers, Book Think debuted one year ago this month, and I'm in the mood to commemorate. Since it's too hot for books, thinking, or even turning pages absently while […]
The idea of artists running museums sounds to many like allowing the inmates to run the asylum. A profile in the current issue of The New Yorker of Tate Gallery […]
Scientists believe they may have come up with the vaccine to keep nicotine from reaching the human brain. They are hopeful that it will make the effort to quit smoking possible.
Many believe the war on drugs is counterproductive, and that it has lead to more cases of HIV—especially among needles users. 
North Korea taunted the United States on its birthday three years ago on July 4 with a missile launch that eventually splashed harmlessly into the sea. They've had other embarrassing missile mishaps […]
Studies show fear of flying, spiders, public speaking or even an obsessive compulsive disorder, along with many more phobias and anxieties can be combated by Cognitive-Behavioral therapy.
Can anyone learn how to light up a room? Author Fox Cabane says that, by using empathetic body language and speaking in a cheerful yet authoritative manner, you can be more well-liked. 
Is a Harley Davidson motorcycle a masterpiece? In an effort to buoy the mid-range art market, auction houses are expanding the definition, associating the term with luxury. 
Humans are a distractible bunch. We’re easily seduced by ads and offers, memes and tweets. When we’re not focused on useless gimmicks and irrelevant social chatter our minds drift into […]
Sports psychologists have found that more ardent fans of a sports team form significant and positive social relationships that turn on identifying with the aspirations of the team. 
In the avalanche of analysis and speculation about Chief Justice Roberts’ stunning decision to side with the Supreme Court’s liberal wing to uphold Obama’s healthcare law, one strain paints Roberts […]
Who could disagree with self-fulfillment and self-cultivation? These values, however, which are centered on expressive individualism, leave the values of future generations up for grabs. 
3mins
The award-winning translator and language expert examines the intricacies of human language. We ask, do animal communication systems measure up?
What's the Big Idea?  Perhaps the better question is, do humans speak dog? Either way, the debate over whether language is unique to humans, or a faculty also possessed by […]
Financial management and youth are like oil and vinegar--they don’t mix.  Managing finances is a distant and removed—and thus boring--prospect for most young people. In fact, the very idea of […]
What happens when you do make it to the top of your field, only to find that it’s not exactly what you’d expected or been told to expect?
4mins
Warren Littlefield, former NBC president, advises young people entering any field to trust in their instincts even when they run counter to common sense in the industry, then to fight […]