The Well

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Ideas that inspire a life well-lived

Do we inhabit a multiverse? Do we have free will? What is love? Is evolution directional?

Life’s biggest questions rarely have simple answers. That is precisely why they continue to occupy the world’s most thoughtful minds. The Well is a place to engage those questions, drawing on insights from science, philosophy, and the humanities.

Created by the John Templeton Foundation in partnership with Big Think, The Well brings together ideas that inspire deeper understanding and a more considered approach to living.

in partnership with

The Templeton Foundation supports interdisciplinary research and catalyzes conversations that inspire awe and wonder.

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Ancient DNA just proved that ‘pure genetics’ don’t exist
The oldest bones in Britain share almost no DNA with anyone alive today. Here’s what that tells us about human history, genetics, and ethnic “homelands."

by David Reich

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Everything Articles Videos
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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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6mins
The Well
The 3 “demons” that haunted legendary scientists
Darwin, Descartes, and Maxwell all believed in these science ‘demons.’
Jimena Canales
John Templeton Foundation
A clock face with a spiral effect, showing multiple overlapping clock dials against a solid blue background, evokes the question: is time an illusion?.
The Well
Time: Do the past, present, and future exist all at once? 
The concept is so complex that scientists still argue whether it exists or if it is an illusion.
John Templeton Foundation
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9mins
The Well
How enlightenment permanently alters your brain
Enlightenment is a traditionally mystical and slippery concept, but when it is subjected to the rigors of empirical analysis, there is a lot to be learned about our brains and ourselves.
Andrew Newberg
John Templeton Foundation
Illustration of the top view of a human brain, showing detailed grooves and folds, with a textured, etched style on a dark background—evoking the complexity of mental feedback loops.
The Well
Why confirmation bias kills your brain
Humans tend to hunker down in our own minds and trust what we already believe to be true. This emotion-based way of thought isn't often the best way to think about anything, and often leads to gridlock.
Barbara Oakley
John Templeton Foundation
A silhouetted figure with outstretched arms appears in bright, radiant light against a blue sky, evoking an ethereal effect that invites reflection on arguments against God.
The Well
3 arguments against God, explained by a Catholic bishop
“The very best arguments against God have been formulated by believers.”
Bishop Robert Barron
John Templeton Foundation
A softly colored illustration of a double rainbow arches over a calm blue sea under a pastel sky, evoking harmony between religion and science.
4mins
The Well
Is religion a threat to science?
Some scientists see religion as a threat to the scientific method that should be resisted. But faith "is really asking a different set of questions," says Collins.
Francis Collins
John Templeton Foundation
A figure with wings kneels and gestures toward a standing, robed figure against a red background, evoking the question: what is hell like? Both appear in a detailed, engraved style.
4mins
The Well
Why this bishop hopes hell is empty
What’s hell really like?
Bishop Robert Barron
John Templeton Foundation
A bearded man with outstretched arms and blue drapery appears to be in motion, depicted in a classical painting style that evokes the search for evidence for God.
4mins
The Well
Can God exist in a scientific world?
There is no evidence for God as a “big being.” Is God something else?
Bishop Robert Barron
John Templeton Foundation
A metallic, blindfolded bust of a person is shown against a black background, symbolizing justice, impartiality, and the resolve to turn the other cheek in the face of adversity.
5mins
The Well
Why ‘turning the other cheek’ is fundamentally misunderstood
When should we seek justice, and when should we forgive? A bishop explains.
Bishop Robert Barron
John Templeton Foundation
A close-up of a painted human arm and hand reaching out with extended fingers against a light, cracked background.
5mins
The Well
What kind of atheist are you?
Atheists are not immune from supernatural thinking.
Clay Routledge
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4mins
The Well
The power of gratitude, explained
New research shows that having an attitude of gratitude is key to healthy relationships, and it can virally impact society.
Dr. Sara Algoe
John Templeton Foundation
A nude figure with outstretched arms stands against a sky with rainbows and flying birds, evoking a sense of belief in the supernatural.
4mins
The Well
Why do we believe in the supernatural?
From superstition to religion, we are surrounded by supernatural thinking. Is that a bad thing?
Clay Routledge
John Templeton Foundation
A blurred image of a green grassy field bordered by tall trees under a partly cloudy sky evokes a sense of nostalgia.
4mins
The Well
Nostalgia is a deeply misunderstood phenomenon
Escape a mental rut by using nostalgia.
Clay Routledge
John Templeton Foundation
Two figures embrace in the foreground as celestial bodies or stars, evoking supernatural thinking, tumble from a dark sky; in the background, a crowd with raised arms watches in awe.
7mins
The Well
Why our minds crave the supernatural
"Supernatural thinking is actually an important part of being a complete human being."
Clay Routledge
John Templeton Foundation
A bronze Buddha head sculpture with ornate crown and elongated earlobes, set against a black background, embodies the philosophies of self through its serene expression and timeless artistry.
3mins
The Well
Philosophies of self: East-West distinctions
People in the East and West really do think differently, especially when it comes to self-identity. Depending where you live, either associative or distinctive thinking will shape your sense of self.
Gish Jen
John Templeton Foundation
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