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A hybrid potato that can reduce food waste and eliminate a suspected carcinogen in cooked potato products would seem to be an environmentalist’s dream. But the hybrid was created using biotechnology to blend potato genes from different varieties, so opponents of genetically modified food are fighting to keep this potentially beneficial product from ever reaching consumers.

California regulators have deemed the companies’ newest “charter-party carrier” services illegal. UberPool and Lyft Line offer discounts to passengers who choose to share a ride with a similar destination.

Professional skateboarder Chris Cole explains how the sport channels a unique form of creativity that also contributes to the industry’s success as a whole.

In his recent Big Think interview, Bill Nye proposed his version of an ideal core curriculum. Spoiler Alert: there’s science involved. As Bill explains, incorporating science and math into the […]

Being poor results in sleeping less for a variety of reasons. One major factor is public transportation and the fact that conforming to bus schedules can sometimes take hours out of one’s sleep schedule each day.

Hal Luftig, who’s won four Tonys and an Olivier award, explains why there’s no entertainment experience in the world quite like live theater.

Is the end near? Recent studies by KPMG, the UK Government Office of Science, and now the US National Science Foundation-supported National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center claim that civilization is headed […]

Two individuals separated by 5,000 miles have successfully communicated without typing or saying a word to each other. Rather it was their brains that did the talking.

Open-plan workspaces with minimalistic designs have become the standard for companies looking to avoid distraction and increase productivity. Yet these kinds of offices can actually reduce productivity.

When you hear about theatre companies going under, poor finances tend to be the major culprit. In the case of Arlington, Virginia’s American Century Theatre, the decision to close is more a matter of “mission accomplished.”

Until science develops the perfect app for circumventing procrastination, the secret to nipping your own bad habit is to establish mechanisms to control your deadlines.

After millions of years of adaptive evolution, our bodies have become naturally suited to functioning during the day, and certain organic chemicals are released into the blood stream accordingly.

Kant’s proposal may seem implausible, but it’s good advice: give up the search. 

It’s selfish to be nice. As we’ve previously reported here on Big Think, the kinder you are the happier you will be. While being nice is good for you, being […]

Bill Nye is a lot of things. He’s the world-famous Science Guy, for example. He’s also Executive Director of the Planetary Society and one of the nation’s most fervent bow […]

Perel, a world-renowned psychologist and relationship expert, defines the division between sexuality and eroticism as similar to the difference between animals and human beings.

Other particles — electrons, neutrinos, photons and more — can exist on their own. But quarks never will. Here’s why. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons user Maschen under C.C.-1.0. “In physics, you don’t have to […]

When levels of prosperity in a given country increase, women are more likely to benefit from improvements to education institutions. Any cognitive differences between men and women are not solely inherited.

Not only are supercomputers able to perform research at a quicker pace than scientists, their processes offer a unique approach to culling information. Because of this, supercomputers are capable of making discoveries that scientists can’t. 

More than an economic reality, the sharing economy is a sign of the times, suggesting that the individual consumerism that has powered the American economy may be shifting.

The business world today bears little resemblance to that of 40-50 years ago. Yet for some reason many companies still clutch to the archaic dogmas of strategy developed during that […]

Technological progress has moved without exception in a forward direction, and along with it, our gross domestic product has increased steadily. But are we happier as a result?

The best 2015 calendar makes a great gift. And you can win one for free just for reading this blog! “We are not the same persons this year as last; […]

What is Punk? Punk isn’t about mohawks or studded leather, says Henry Rollins – it’s about resistance to tyranny in any form. How Art Can Change Society, with Sarah Lewis Sarah […]

If you’ve been wondering what B-mode polarization is, or how it tells us about gravitational waves from inflation, wonder no more! In part 1 of this story we talked about […]

Kluger discusses why narcissists excel in politics and rates the narcissism of those who have called the White House home.

Telecommuters are able to be more creative, adapt personalized work habits, and set their own boundaries. Many believe that leads to higher productivity.

You can’t innovate and be competitive without change. But companies tend to shy away from change or have systems in place that serve as anchors, holding them back. Lisa Bodell, […]

Every person who ventures into the company of others engages in persuasion.  Granted, at times it may be annoying to engage in conversation that requires you to develop effective arguments, but if such conversations are on the wane or largely absent, then important relationships can slip toward reliance on manipulation, coercion or even toward a lack of any significant communication at all.  

No other idea explains even two of these. Image credit: NASA / CXC / ESO WFI / Magellan composite. Any recent article about the remaining mysteries of the Universe will […]