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John Templeton Foundation

A collection of content made in partnership with John Templeton Foundation.
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A melting clock drapes over a bare tree branch in a surreal, barren landscape with simple geometric shapes and muted colors.
7mins
The Well
Is there a second arrow of time? New research says yes
“We could be wrong. But if we are right, it’s profoundly important.” Leading mineralogist Dr. Robert Hazen on the missing law of nature that could explain why life emerges.
Robert Hazen
John Templeton Foundation
Black and white abstract drawing of a bull with geometric shapes and bold outlines, standing on a plain background.
5mins
The Well
Why evolution is the Picasso of science
Evolution doesn’t fix things — it reinvents them. A biologist explains.
Michael Levin
John Templeton Foundation
Detailed black and white sketch of a baboon’s head in profile, showing its expressive face and rough fur, on a solid yellow background.
8mins
The Well
Why humans are surprisingly bad at being happy
Your brain isn’t wired for happiness — but you can change that, explains Yale scientist Laurie Santos.
Laurie Santos
John Templeton Foundation
Three illustrated human brains in a row on an orange background.
7mins
The Well
You have 3 brains. This is how to use them.
You’ve heard about your "lizard brain." But what about the other two?
Robert M Sapolsky
John Templeton Foundation
A vintage-style illustration of a child holding up a plate and looking at a ball or orb floating above it, set against a solid blue background.
5mins
The Well
The case against specializing
Geniuses and prodigies are captivating. But generalists rule the world.
David Epstein
John Templeton Foundation
Abstract illustration of segmented, wood-textured shapes arranged in an oval formation on a green background.
7mins
The Well
The invisible math that controls the world
This network physicist is mapping the world's most significant data to create the most beautiful visualizations of information we have ever seen.
Albert-László Barabási
John Templeton Foundation
Black and white sketch of a man in formal attire with short hair, bow tie, and jacket, facing sideways with arms slightly raised.
5mins
The Well
How to articulate your thoughts effectively
Make it simple. Make it clear. Make it stick. Alan Alda on how to get everyone to understand your thoughts.
Alan Alda
John Templeton Foundation
A black silhouette of a human head with a rectangular section cut out, revealing a profile face against a cloudy blue sky, symbolizes the limits of our attention span.
5mins
The Well
How to unlock your “peak mind”
“What you pay attention to, is your life.” Where do you place precious brain resources?
Amishi Jha
John Templeton Foundation
Statue of Liberty against an orange background with a horizontal torn bar obscuring the middle section of the statue.
5mins
The Well
Tyler Cowen: America is at a critical point in history
“There’s a sense of crisis today that we did not have in the 1980’s or 90’s” — economist Tyler Cowen on progress in America.
Tyler Cowen
John Templeton Foundation
Illustration of Earth with labeled axes, equator, Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, and magnetic and geographic poles. Orange lines indicate Earth's tilt and rotation.
4mins
The Well
How Earth’s axis and rotation created human ritual
Why do so many cultures celebrate holidays at the same time of year?
Sasha Sagan
John Templeton Foundation
Close-up of two figures; one extends an apple towards the other near a tree trunk. The scene references the biblical story of Adam and Eve.
6mins
The Well
Are humans wired for conflict? Charles Darwin vs. “Lord of the Flies”
In 1965, six boys were stranded on an island. Fifteen months later, the survivors were rescued. How many were there?
Rutger Bregman
John Templeton Foundation
A man in a suit stands facing a mirror, but the reflection shows the back of his head instead of his face.
6mins
The Well
How to stop toxic self-talk, explained in 6 minutes
If your inner voice is cruel, try these steps to reclaim your mind.
Ethan Kross
John Templeton Foundation
A sequence of human silhouettes in shades of blue and green shows progressive motion of a person walking from left to right.
3mins
The Well
Bayes’ rule: A powerful thinking paradigm
Think via Bayes’ rule to become more rational and less brainwashed.
Julia Galef
John Templeton Foundation
Illustration of a volcanic eruption with thick clouds of smoke, ash, and flowing lava rising from the volcano’s crater.
6mins
The Well
Stop chasing utopia. Create “protopia” instead.
Pessimism sounds smart. Optimism sounds dumb. Don’t fall for it, says Wired’s Kevin Kelly.
Kevin Kelly
John Templeton Foundation
Microscopic image of cells with red and green outlines and blue nuclei on a black background.
5mins
The Well
CRISPR: What will humanity create?
CRISPR’s gene drive can defy evolution. Here’s how, explained by Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna.
Jennifer Doudna
John Templeton Foundation
Black cerebral blood vessels are shown against a red background, resembling a brain scan or angiogram image.
7mins
The Well
What trauma does to your brain and body
The ultimate definition of trauma, explained by leading psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk.
Bessel van der Kolk
John Templeton Foundation
Three purple coneflowers at different life stages: dried and dead, wilting, and fully blooming, shown against a black background.
7mins
The Well
The happiness paradox, explained in 7 minutes
To be happy, you have to become antifragile first. Harvard’s Tal Ben-Shahar explains.
Tal Ben-Shahar
John Templeton Foundation
Black and white engraving-style illustration of a human eye in close-up, with detailed lines depicting the iris, pupil, and eyelids—capturing the intense focus and clarity of the flow state.
The Well
Flow state: How to trigger the best performance of your life
‘Flow state’ is a peak performance mental state experienced by the world's highest achievers. Learn how it works in just 7 minutes.
Steven Kotler
John Templeton Foundation
A vintage illustration of a person's head in profile, with diagrams of astronomical and conceptual systems overlaying the brain to evoke themes of consciousness, set against a yellow background.
8mins
The Well
Why consciousness is one of the most divisive issues in science today
Is science destined to crack the code of consciousness—and how would we even go about it?
Max Tegmark
John Templeton Foundation
Two figures, their heads covered in white cloth, face each other closely against a dark background, evoking the mysterious science of love.
The Well
The science of love with Dr. Helen Fisher
We all want to have a good, stable relationship with somebody, says Dr. Helen Fisher. So it's important to understand how intense romantic love affects our long-term goals.
Helen Fisher
John Templeton Foundation
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