Latest

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Astro2020
NASA astrophysics, which gave us Hubble, JWST, and so much more, faces its greatest budget cut in history. All future missions are at risk.
Diagram of the solar system with gravitational waves emanating from a distant bright source, and a triangular spacecraft array detecting the waves in space.
Just 10 years ago, humanity had never directly detected a single gravitational wave. We're closing in on 300 now, with so much more to come!
tolkien fantasy
According to Tolkien, fantasy requires a deep imagination known as "sub-creation." And the genre reflects a fundamental truth of being human.
An older man sits on a chair in front of a white backdrop, surrounded by rows of hanging beef carcasses in a meat processing facility.
1hr 55mins
“It’s not about being perfect. It’s about reducing suffering where we can, and right now, we’re choosing not to.”
dark energy accelerated expansion
The fact that our Universe's expansion is accelerating implies that dark energy exists. But could it be even weirder than we've imagined?
A graphic with text “an excerpt from” on the left and the book cover of “The Never Ending Empire” by Aldo Cazzullo on the right, exploring how the Roman Empire still influences British culture today.
From medieval myths to Shakespeare's plays and modern cinema, British culture kept the Roman Empire alive long after its fall.
A graphic featuring the text "The Nightcrawler," a black-and-white photo of a lighthouse amid waves that outlast the storm, and a green-tinted portrait of a man.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
A note pinned to a wall with the words "1 Rule to Focus" in red, viewed through the crosshairs of a scope or lens.
12mins
“The very same time that’s making you anxious is actually your most valuable asset. You can always create more energy and more money—but you can never create more time.”
symmetry
The laws of physics obey certain symmetries and defy others. It's theoretically tempting to add new ones, but reality doesn't agree.
Aerial view of winding rivers and wetlands showcases lush green vegetation and tan sediment-laden water converging with a larger body of water.
The award-winning nature writer, Robert Macfarlane, talks with Big Think about how to reacquaint ourselves with the rivers in our lives.
A healthcare worker wearing gloves administers an injection with a syringe into a person's upper arm, reminding us that when it comes to vaccines, do your own research and stay informed.
For centuries, vaccines have been the top life-saving, expert medical intervention known to humans. How can individuals make the right call?
White Castle restaurant building with logo signs on a stone tower stands proudly against a clear blue sky, embodying an evergreen business model that continues to thrive.
From “crave” packs to Valentine bookings, the world’s first fast-food hamburger chain values innovation from every level of the organization.
baryon acoustic oscillations
It took nearly 400,000 years, after the Big Bang, to first form neutral atoms. The imprints from that early time can now be seen everywhere.
Map showing a pink route line from Lagos, Nigeria to Singapore, crossing Europe and Asia. Lagos and Singapore are labeled with bold text and marked with colored dots.
Can you travel by rail from Portugal all the way to Singapore? In theory, yes. In practice? Not so much.
A group of armored men, some gesturing and talking with an air of positivity, gather around a seated figure wearing a laurel wreath and colorful robes; other figures and draped fabric appear in the background.
Andreessen Horowitz cofounder Ben Horowitz thought that “blowing sunshine” was the right way to handle pressure — here’s how he corrected his mistake.
A dense field of stars and galaxies is visible against a black background, with some bright stars showing lens flares.
The COSMOS-Web survey is now complete, combining JWST and Hubble infrared data. Its spectacular views show us the Universe as never before.
A colorful abstract painting is centered over a black-and-white collage of old newspaper clippings featuring portraits and articles.
Reading obituaries can boost creativity by exposing you to distant ideas, fueling the associations that lead to unexpected breakthroughs.
A man in a suit sits on a chair against a white backdrop, with illustrated green skyscrapers, solar panels, and trees in the background.
1hr 17mins
"The disease is the fact that liberalism, which used to be an ideology of building, has become an ideology of blocking."