Philosophy

Philosophy

A vintage, hexagonal brooch featuring a realistic painted human eye in the center, surrounded by a metallic frame.
3 min
The case for useless knowledge
Astrobiologist Betül Kaçar on why the simple act of asking questions (without needing a reason) is one of the most powerful things a human can do.
Two ancient coins depicting explicit erotic scenes with human figures in sexual positions, shown against a black background.
40 min
The Roman Empire, explained in 39 minute
"One of the ways you can see the Roman Empire is it's the worldwide web of its day."
parallel universe Ask Ethan: Are parallel universes and the multiverse real?
Parallel universes are among the most profound notions in all of quantum physics. It's a compelling and fascinating idea, but is it true?
Collage with a man in a suit, stacked mugs, an upside-down creature, dice, and the text "THE NIGHTCRAWLER" at the top on a dark grid background—hinting at the power of intuition amid surreal imagery. The importance of intuition and the limits of rationalism
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
A man looking at a meteorite.
20 min
How two freak accidents shaped human evolution
“So many things could have happened in a different way that we wouldn't be here at all, both individually, for sure, and certainly as a species.”
A person wearing a wide-brim hat and vest crouches beside a tree stump covered with various fungi, gazing in wonder at the fascinating growths in the green forested area. 3 ways to find and invite more wonder
Wonder is like a guest you haven’t planned for.
Two torn paper cutouts of open mouths are positioned against a black background, both appearing to be yelling or shouting.
6 min
The true cost of always needing to win an argument
“What did you win? You won awkward silence. You won their contempt. You won the first to apologize. When you win an argument, you will lose their confidence, you will lose their respect, you will lose the connection.”
Close-up of a person's eyes looking up, with white abstract doodles and lines superimposed over their forehead, symbolizing thoughts or imagination.
3 min
How to expand your influence, according to 2 experts 
Your body language sends messages before your mouth does. Author Robert Greene and negotiation expert Daniel Shapiro PhD explain the key characteristics of nonverbal power and emotional presence that shape how others perceive you.
Unlikely Collaborators
Two tall, rectangular scientific instruments, including a NASA nuclear reactor prototype, stand on the rocky lunar surface with Earth visible in the background against the blackness of space. What a nuclear reactor on the Moon really means for NASA’s future
There are real concerns with long-term power generation on the Moon; nuclear could be the answer. But for NASA, will the cost be too high?
An older man with white hair and a suit receives a document from another man in a robe during an event, as several people look on in the background. In the age of viral misquotes, capturing such moments accurately becomes ever more crucial. Einstein didn’t say that: How viral misquotes evolve and replicate
From Einstein to Twain, Garson O’Toole investigates the truth behind your favorite — and often misattributed — quotes.
Bogumil Baranowski, dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and patterned tie, stands and smiles in front of a plain light blue background. The Bogumil Baranowski interview: “Treat everyone with care”
The investment advisor and host of the Talking Billions podcast explores childhood curiosity, building networks through kindness, and more.
An older man in a suit and red tie sits on a chair against a white backdrop, with a colorful outer space scene in the background.
1 min
Michio Kaku wants to solve Einstein’s unfinished equation
“An equation, perhaps no more than one inch long, that would allow us to, quote, 'Read the mind of God.'”
creation of adam sistine Ask Ethan: Why do scientists avoid the possibility of God?
When it comes to our Universe's origins, scientists discuss the Big Bang, cosmic inflation, and other theories. Why doesn't "God" come up?
A red flower with a green stem and leaf drawn using overlapping scribbled lines on a black background.
18 min
Anxiety gives you an advantage. Unlock it with neuroplasticity
“Anxiety is focused on things that are important to you in life. That is the key.”
Aerial view of people walking on a paved surface, casting long shadows behind them in bright sunlight. Most social trends aren’t what they seem
Our minds crave simple, linear narratives. But society rarely follows a straight line.
Abstract digital artwork featuring concentric blue circles, lines, and green geometric shapes over a dark blue and black textured background, evoking a sense of vibe physics within its captivating composition. Why “vibe physics” is the ultimate example of AI slop
The conversation you're having with an LLM about groundbreaking new ideas in theoretical physics is completely meritless. Here's why.
5000 exoplanets 5 big unanswered questions about the origin of life
Somewhere, at some point in the history of our Universe, life arose. We're evidence of that here on Earth, but many big puzzles remain.
Illustration of a brain with highlighted regions overlaid on a close-up image of blue synapses and neurons, representing neural communication.
3 min
How and why your memories shift over time, explained by neuroscience 
Your brain changes when you experience something, and it changes again when you remember it. Two neuroscientists explain what that means for memory, perception, and identity.
Unlikely Collaborators
Vintage illustration of a human head in profile with labeled sections of the brain, representing different personality traits and mental faculties.
3 min
This one essential trait begins shaping us seconds after birth
What if emotional regulation isn’t just a trait, but a skill parents and teachers can help develop? Ethan Kross reveals what science says about shaping young minds.
Full moon over a city skyline at night, high-rise buildings aglow and lights reflecting on the calm water—a scene that inspires 5 science lessons about the moon's impact on our world. 5 science facts that come from simply watching the Moon
Even just by examining the Moon with the unaided eye, we can learn an incredible amount about the Moon, Earth, and more.
1 min
What 85 years of research says is the real key to happiness
“We can make ourselves more likely to be happy by building a life that includes the conditions that make for happiness.”
Ask Ethan: Did our Universe really arise from nothing?
The Big Bang was hot, dense, uniform, and filled with matter and energy. Before that? There was nothing. Here's how that's possible.
A graphic titled "The Night Crawler" features grayscale and red-tinted images of two men, one writing and one smiling—possibly Brad Feld—overlaid on a grid background with abstract shapes. The art of mentorship and long-term thinking
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
A man in a suit shown in profile, with the back of his head dissolving into a star-filled galaxy against a dark blue background.
17 min
How the illusion of self shapes your reality
"The sense that we are a solid entity, an unchanging entity that exists someplace in our body and takes ownership of our body, and even ownership of our brain rather than being identical to our brain, that is where the illusion lies."
quantum particles The Universe requires quantum fields, not just quantum particles
Realizing that matter and energy are quantized is important, but quantum particles aren't the full story; quantum fields are needed, too.
A painting of a praying woman with clasped hands and an upward gaze appears through the outline of a keyhole, set against a black background, evoking an air of mysticism. The public-private myth: Why religion can’t be kept behind closed doors
It makes no sense to talk about a “religious life” and a “public life” — there is just life.
A person sits behind bars at a desk with a computer in a dimly lit setting, suggesting restriction or confinement.
8 min
The genius guide to future-proofing your career
“The simplest, most powerful way to reinforce work, not jobs, is to ask people to do something different.”
A slot machine displays various icons, including brains, cherries, a clover, and the number seven—an homage to Anne-Laure Le Cunff’s work—with two brains and a seven visible in the central row. How to escape the “dopamine crash loop” and rewire your curiosity
Stuck on a hamster wheel of mindless social media scrolling? Neuroscientist Anne-Laure Le Cunff explains how to consciously redirect your reward system.
A man slumps in a chair, eyes closed, as small monkey-like creatures torment him with various objects in a room near a fireplace and table. The migraine mystery: Why evolution never cured the pain in our heads
In "The Headache," Tom Zeller Jr. explores one of the human brain's most enduring, and painful, enigmas.