Search
History and Society
For some reason, when we talk about the age of stars, galaxies, and the Universe, we use "years" to measure time. Can we do better?
The JWST's observations of well-developed galaxies early in universal history may coincide with accepted astronomical theory after all.
Sometimes you just want to hear, "I know what it's like."
Life arose on Earth very early on. After a few billion years, here we are: intelligent and technologically advanced. Where's everyone else?
Six visionary science fiction authors on the social impact of their work.
Total eclipses are a product of a strange and almost eerie cosmic coincidence — one that makes Earth an even rarer world in the galaxy and, by proxy, in the Universe.
Our Universe requires dark matter in order to make sense of things, astrophysically. Could massive photons do the trick?
Throughout the world, traditional political organizations are increasingly seen as dysfunctional. But can democracies live without them?
Practically all of the matter we see and interact with is made of atoms, which are mostly empty space. Then why is reality so... solid?
Most counties in the U.S. have only one local newspaper, often one that publishes weekly instead of daily.
From Taoism to hedonism, philosophers have devised all sorts of ways to live your best life.
A physicist, a psychologist, and a philosopher walk into a bar and discuss a framework for thinking better in the 21st century.
Nicole has been dating someone for a while but it's not working out from her point of view. Is sudden radio silence an ethical option?
Irene is on a bus with her young kids when two men come on, cussing like sailors. Should Irene step in and say something?
Rich is brilliant at his job. He completes work in half the time of his coworkers. Should he have to sit at his desk just as long?
“Dune: Part One” screenwriter Eric Roth spoke with Big Think about the challenges of bringing Frank Herbert's sci-fi epic to the big screen.
Yes, the Universe is expanding, but if you've ever wondered, "How fast is it expanding," the answer isn't in terms of a speed at all.
Claims circulating on the Internet — some from dentists' websites — suggest toothpaste isn't necessary for dental health. Is that true?
Since 1962, humanity has been sending messages into space with the intent to make contact with intelligent extraterrestrials. Are those efforts worth the risks?
Is the Universe finite or infinite? Does it go on forever or loop back on itself? Here's what would happen if you traveled forever.
Japanese thought can’t be easily characterized by just a few books — but this essential guide is a great place to start.
"Hardcore History" host Dan Carlin recently spoke with Big Think about the history of humanity's drive to create — and whether or not we can control it.
Step back from the AI maelstrom and explore Lem’s "Summa Technologiae" for a detached look at technology’s role in human evolution.
The majority of the matter in our Universe isn't made of any of the particles in the Standard Model. Could the axion save the day?
This map samples some of the digits that make up the DDC system, invented by the brilliant but flawed Melvil Dewey.
The Universe is 13.8 billion years old, going back to the hot Big Bang. But was that truly the beginning, and is that truly its age?
The "first cause" problem may forever remain unsolved, as it doesn’t fit with the way we do science.
Although human beings arrived on Earth just ~300,000 years ago, we've transformed the entire planet completely. Here's how we did it.
Well-preserved ancient plants and other finds at the Clarkia fossil beds hint at what kind of evidence any Martian life may have left behind.