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Philosophy
The world’s largest library of lies has good news about fake news
"What’s happening now has, in fact, been happening since the very invention of language and writing."
Why America’s veneration of the Constitution may ultimately break it
In "We the People," Harvard historian Jill Lepore examines how the U.S. Constitution became unamendable and its implications for the health of the democracy.
21 min
The alarm bells are sounding for young men. Will we listen?
“It's certainly clear that the issues of boys and men haven't gone away in the last few years. If anything, they're getting even more attention, which is good when it's the right kind of attention.”
Ask Ethan: How many generations of stars came before the Sun?
Our Sun only arose after 9.2 billion years of cosmic history: with many stars living and dying first. How many prior generations were there?
Mapped: If America were 100 people, this is what they’d believe
Nearly 30 would be "nones" — an amorphous group that spans from zealous atheists to the vaguely spiritual.
16 min
Lawrence Wright: Fiction goes where reporting cannot follow
“As a reporter, you can look into the eyes of the people you're talking to and try to evaluate what they're thinking when they say what they say. But you are not really gonna get into their brain. There's only one artistic form that allows you to do that. “
400 years later, astronomers finally understand Saturn’s rings
Since the time of Galileo, Saturn's rings have remained an unexplained mystery. A new idea may have finally solved the longstanding puzzle.
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If AI is modeled only on human intelligence, will it inherit only human ways of seeing the world?
3 min
How humans create reality through language and beliefs
Language is a huge part of human development, even the language we keep to ourselves. Three experts explain how words and beliefs can change our brains and our lives:
Unlikely Collaborators
3 min
How censorship turns ordinary men into martyrs
When Jesus was crucified, it led to even more followers. When books are banned, people flock to read them. Humans are fascinated by the forbidden, which is why censorship – especially in the digital age – doesn’t work. Jacob Mchangama explains.
Ask Ethan: How and when will the Universe die?
As the Universe ages, it continues to gravitate, form stars, and expand. And yet, all this will someday end. Do we finally understand how?
The beauty of writing in public
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
What do distant observers see when they look at Earth?
From here on Earth, looking farther away in space means looking farther back in time. So what are distant Earth-watchers seeing right now?
The sci-fi hypothesis that explains why you click with certain people
You may actually be on the same wavelength.
3 min
How REM sleep unlocks human function
Sleeping better helps you think better, which helps you live better. Three experts explain why quality sleep is imperative to brain function, problem solving, communication, and more.
Unlikely Collaborators
5 great thinkers who rejected their own ideas
Philosophers rarely change their minds. These thinkers did — often at social and professional cost.
The “atom” lost its original meaning, and that’s good for science
Proposed over 2000 years ago by Democritus, the word atom literally means uncuttable. Revived in 1803, today's "atoms" can indeed be split.
Why liminal spaces are your brain’s secret laboratory
Life's "in-between" stages pack unique cognitive benefits — if you know how to tap into them.
3 min
So you spend a lot of time alone. Here’s why that’s not a bad thing.
“The media is 10x more likely to describe experiences of being alone as negative, as compared to positive.” Psychologist Ethan Kross shares how reframing the idea of loneliness can help us feel more peace when we’re on our own.
Ask Ethan: Where are we located relative to the Big Bang?
If you think of the Big Bang as an explosion, we can trace it back to a single point-of-origin. But what if it happened everywhere at once?
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Achieving Remarkable Things
John Amaechi's journey from British bookworm to NBA player and organizational psychologist reveals that high performance requires vision, grit, and the recognition that success is often a collective effort rather than an individual achievement.
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How to Rewire Your Brain for Learning
Barbara Oakley, instructor of a popular MOOC, offers strategies for enhancing learning skills by leveraging insights from neuroscience and cognitive science, addressing the challenges posed by our brain's hardwiring in changing habits and acquiring new skills.
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Dealing with High-Conflict People
High-conflict personalities, characterized by predictable behaviors, create drama in relationships, but by recognizing these patterns in ourselves and others, as suggested by lawyer and therapist Bill Eddy, we can effectively navigate these challenging situations.
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Living Well by Design
Deepak Chopra and Harvard neurobiologist Rudolph Tanzi advocate for "radical well-being," emphasizing that optimal health relies on proactive measures—such as sleep, nutrition, exercise, and emotional regulation—rather than reactive responses to health issues.
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How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes
In this expert class, writer Maria Konnikova explores how Sherlock Holmes's rational sleuthing techniques can be applied to real-world science, enhancing our understanding of memory, creativity, and problem-solving.
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Thinking Strategically
Ian Bremmer advocates for strategic thinking in a rapidly changing world by broadening perspectives, engaging with diverse viewpoints, and understanding root causes, while also stressing the need for personal authenticity and connection to effectively tackle global challenges.
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How to Work Smarter with AI
As generative AI sparks diverse opinions on its implications for humanity, Ethan Mollick suggests we shift our focus to understanding AI's capabilities and potential applications, emphasizing experimentation to enhance our skills and foster a responsible partnership with technology.
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How to Build a Championship Mindset
Former NBA player Shane Battier, known for his resilience and team-boosting skills rather than standout statistics, uses his basketball journey to highlight the fundamental principles of effective productivity regimens.
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How Great Leaders Listen, Share, and Engage
Charlene Li emphasizes that instead of mastering specific social media tools, leaders should prioritize engaging their audience through strategic listening, informed priority-setting, and effective communication, as social media platforms will continue to evolve.
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Re-envisioning Inclusion
The decades-old movement to diversify workplaces has yielded mixed results, as NYU Law professor Kenji Yoshino suggests that companies often impose restrictive definitions of diversity, and advocates for fostering connections with those who feel pressured to suppress their identities for acceptance.