Brain-machine interfaces have already allowed primates to manipulate virtual objects with virtual arms. The technology could ultimately benefit the paralyzed, allowing them to walk.
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“Americans are happier when national wealth is distributed more evenly than when it is distributed unevenly,” says a recent study examining current and past wealth inequality.
Two simple pieces of brain-training software have successfully been used to stave off depression before it starts by showing individuals how to recognize positive mental states.
In our time of confined specialization, it’s hard to comprehend the multimedia talents of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, whose poetry and painting helped shape the Victorian Age into the paradox-laden, hot […]
Like the Beatles discography or the screenplay for Casablanca, the King James Bible is a rare instance of true collaborative genius.
New research from the Mayo Clinic sheds light on the aging process and suggests that by removing old cells that can no longer divide, age-related disease can be slowed or stopped.
Religious groups in the Netherlands have opposed a call from the Royal Dutch Medical Association to discourage male circumcision on grounds that it is dangerous and unnecessary.
Global emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide shot up in 2010. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that carbon dioxide emissions grew globally by 564 million tons, which is […]
Here’s a statement that I’m getting really tired of hearing: “We didn’t have computers when I was in school and I turned out okay. There’s no reason why kids today […]
Our genes may have a lot to do with the way we look and behave, but they certainly don’t dictate our destiny. That’s true when it comes to our weight too, say researchers.
The breadfruit is football-sized prickly fruit full of nutrients and energy. It grows on one of the world’s highest-yielding trees and backers say it could help alleviate world hunger.
A virtual nurse designed to deal with hospital overflow is a hit with patients. They report preferring the virtual nurse to a live doctor because they do not feel rushed or talked down to.
On my old site, I had regular link roundups for all the stories I saw that interested me, but that I didn’t have the time to write about at greater […]
Amid growing fears of a government collapse in Athens, Prime Minister Papandreou scrapped plans for a bailout referendum but, referencing European unity, has refused to step down.
Silicon Valley venture capitalist and billionaire Jim Breyer says that, while the U.S. is still king, China is a great place for V.C.s who want a big return on technology investments.
You listen in on a conversation among your conservative friends. “You know what I HATE,” says Rick. “I hate the government telling me what to do. I hate them […]
In the 21st century, biology will usher in advances in regenerative medicine. Stem cells will be at the center of discovery and application in that new field.
Over-reliance on foreign aid as opposed to tax revenue, says Sophal Ear, a leading expert on post-crisis economies, leads to corruption.
An article in the Wall Street Journal titled “The Churches Of Cain And Obama” attempts to explain the philosophical differences between these two men by examining the teachings of their […]
Big Think is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Hudson Union Society, which we hope will be a mutually beneficial arrangement to help foster our shared goal of […]
The way our brains act, it seems, is sensitive to the way we, their owners, think, from something as concrete to learning, the subject of the current study, to something as theoretical as free will.
“Consciousness of course is one of the largest questions of brain structure and function. And we approach it now perhaps differently than we have in the past with our new tools. But I’m not convinced that we understand it any better,” says Joy Hirsch.
Yesterday I received from an old friend and partner the document below. As most of you, if not all, maintain accounts at both banks and brokers, or at least one […]
“Climate change poses a serious challenge to business, and business must be part of the solution,” says Branson. The business mogul says change is happening too slowly.
American universities face tougher challenges than ever before but it is rare that a bold leader emerges from the academic ranks. How can higher-education overcome its crisis?
Stan Richard’s insistence on strict rules may seem at odds with running a successful, creative advertising agency but his company has created some of our time’s most memorable ads.
With the successful docking of its Tiangong space module and the Shenzhou-8 space craft this week – the so-called “Space Kiss” – China has shown the world that it is […]
The other day I came across this article from Bloomberg News, from which I learned something that surprised me: a large black market exists for human organs, in spite of […]
–Guest post by Jan Lauren Boyles, American University doctoral student. With looming austerity measures that would triple the cost of UK tuition hanging in the balance, Jon Offredo joined the throng of […]
Two articles have appeared recently on the topic of sperm snatching. The first is a new blog here at Big Think and the second is an article in yesterday’s Daily […]