"A marathoner’s worst nightmare — hitting 'the wall' — may be completely avoidable if athletes adhere to personalized pace limits proposed by a biomedical engineer and runner.

"Foreign occupation, not religious fervor, is the primary motivation behind this form of terrorism."

There is a popular narrative in the West that Islam is sexist. But aside from fundamentalist practices like honor killings, does moderate Islam actually deny women freedoms?

Do you acquire power and exercise control with assertive authority like Secretary of State Hillary Clinton—or do you lead with sociable consensus like media queen Oprah Winfrey? Take this Big Think quiz to find which well-known female leader your style is most like.

"Today, artificial light is a constant companion. Darkness implies a situation to be remedied." A new book tells the story of how artificial light has revolutionized our way of life.

"American poetry is in a period of 'fertile uncertainty'—in other words, it's confused. That's a good thing." The Atlantic begins a series on appreciating contemporary poetry.

"Televisions which pump out the smells of cookery on screen could become reality after developments by scientists at Keio University in Tokyo."

A review of David Guggenheim's new documentary: "The only hope for the future of our society, especially for poor black and Hispanic children, is escape from public schools."

Can social network friends be real friends when relationships are pursued and developed in such facile and costless ways? Philosopher Roger Scruton says real friendship involves risk.

Venture capitalist Vinod Khosla plans to create an investment fund for companies fighting poverty in India and Africa that provide social services like health, energy and eduction.

"Distrust of big pharma is stifling research into the real problem of female sexual dysfunction." Suzi Godson says further research stands to benefit millions of women.

Harvard economics professor Martin Feldstein says the U.S. dollar will remain a strong reserve currency, but that our national debt makes the Euro a competitive alternative.

"A new study recently published in the journal Psychological Science suggests that we should all stop smirking and start rubbing our rabbit’s foot."

University of Texas researches want to use tiny solar cells as vehicles to deliver treatment to cancer patients, more targeted treatment than is possible with chemotherapy.

Blogging has changed the art of non-fiction writing, says Andrew Sullivan, one of the first political commentators to embrace the form in 2000. When you blog “everything you write is […]

"Panic among policymakers about the high level of government debt is misplaced. The real economic menace is budget-slashing," say two economists for The Guardian.

The artist Martin Creed is performing a rock gig tonight, and a soundscape is a contender for Britain's infamous Turner prize. The Independent on where art and music collide.

The dispute created by the Obama administration's challenge to China over subsidies given to its renewable energy industries can be avoided with clear rules.

"Physicians say presentations they make are educational, but critics say the practice puts financial rewards ahead of patient care." The L.A. Times on doctors who moonlight as drug reps.

"Can the innovative ‘do-it-yourself’ education movement really replace the dying university model?" Alan Jacobs says universities are decadent outposts in austere times.