Argue smarter, not harder, with Harvard’s former debate coach Bo Seo This two-time debate world champion gives three tips for constructing the perfect argument. ▸ 1:13:43 min — with Bo Seo
Harvard debate coach’s masterclass on arguing Two-time debate world champion Bo Seo gives 3 tips for constructing the perfect argument. ▸ with Bo Seo
Business 6 ways voice tech can transform your company AI-powered voice technology is poised to revolutionize the ways we do business.
Business “Parrhesia”: The importance of speaking truth to power and how to do it well It’s time for an honest conversation.
Neuropsych Everyone is wrong about “Love Languages.” Here’s why. Big Think spoke to the author of “The 5 Love Languages” about the popular relationship theory — and its lack of scientific support.
Business 5 essential tools for a first-time CEO Boardroom veteran David Roche offers key strategies that can lay the groundwork for CEO success.
High Culture Want to write a book? Oliver Sacks and Susan Barry began theirs as letters In “Dear Oliver,” neuroscientist Susan Barry describes how her 10-year correspondence with Oliver Sacks unleashed her inner author.
Business How “intersectional leadership skills” harness trust as the currency of collaboration Wherever businesses are a powerful force for society, successful leaders embrace the “mission mindset” of shared purpose.
Neuropsych The hidden connection between morality and language Are people are more likely to act less emotionally and more rationally when speaking their second language?
The Learning Curve 4 key strategies for great conversations Many conversations start awkwardly and derail from there, but a few simple techniques can put them back on track.
Pessimists Archive Today, people fear Twitter. In the 1850s, they feared telegrams Telegrams were the “Twitter of the 1850s and 1860s” — and they elicited the exact same overblown fears as Twitter does today.
The Future Practical physics: How quantum uncertainty will make our communications secure We are not yet at the point where quantum communications can be deployed to secure the internet, but we might not be far off.
High Culture Even lawyers hate “legalese” “In witness whereof, the parties hereunto have set their hands to these presents as a deed on the day month and year hereinbefore mentioned.”
The Well How to articulate your thoughts effectively Make it simple. Make it clear. Make it stick. Alan Alda on how to get everyone to understand your thoughts. ▸ 5 min — with Alan Alda
High Culture Why R is the weirdest letter You can learn an awful lot about people, culture, and politics by studying R.
Neuropsych The strange persistence of first languages After my father died, my journey of rediscovery began with the Czech language.
The psychology of persuasion, as told by an Ivy League professor It just takes one “yes.” Wharton professor Jonah Berger shares his three tips for getting what you want from others. ▸ 6 min — with Jonah Berger
Smart Skills “We are not enemies”: How to master the rhetorical genius of Abraham Lincoln His greatest speeches were loaded with empathy.
Smart Skills Sobremesa: To live a better life, we should eat dinner like the Spanish Quality down time is important for relationships. Here are three practical suggestions to create more of it.
Business Dare and care: An astronaut’s guide to leadership Former spacewalker Mike Massimino tells Big Think how NASA missions shaped great leaders.
The four types of planetary civilizations, explained by Michio Kaku Humanity is a type 0 civilization. Here’s what types 1, 2, and 3 look like, according to physicist Michio Kaku. ▸ 6 min — with Michio Kaku
Neuropsych The sound of swearing is universal across languages Use words with plosives and affricates if you really want to make sure everyone knows you mean business.
The Future How a device transmits radio waves with almost no power Apart from the energy needed to flip the switch, no other energy is needed to transmit the information.
Strange Maps America’s news deserts are growing Most counties in the U.S. have only one local newspaper, often one that publishes weekly instead of daily.
Thinking What humanity can learn from the “internet” of mushrooms The world is facing many crises, and we should look to natural interdependence and ancient wisdom as we explore science for solutions.
Business Meetings can really suck. Here’s how to fix that Organizational scientist Steven Rogelberg discusses the common meeting mistakes leaders make and how they can change course.
Neuropsych Brain implant translates neural activity into letters, letting a paralyzed man “speak” Giving speech to the speechless.
Hard Science The case for stopping efforts to contact aliens Since 1962, humanity has been sending messages into space with the intent to make contact with intelligent extraterrestrials. Are those efforts worth the risks?
Business 6 forces that cause us to self-sabotage constructive feedback — and how to overcome them “Feedback is a gift,” is an easy bumper sticker to apply, but a harder philosophy to put into execution in your real life.
Hard Science Could we use quantum communication to talk to aliens? Quantum communication offers a surer path to sending an interstellar message, as well as receiving one. But can we do it?