Humanity’s languages and moralities evolved for social coordination. And for productive teamwork. Our moral sense, our social-rule processors, work just like our language-rule processors.
All Articles
On this week’s episode of Think Again – a Big Think Podcast, Ethan Hawke and host Jason Gots discuss fatherhood, perpetual warfare, and the daily struggle between light and dark within every person.
Neither happiness nor success “can be pursued,” says Viktor Frankl. These states of being must “ensue…as the unintended side-effect of one’s personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself.”
The gravitational waves were real. But earlier announcements that X-rays and gamma-rays were detected, too? Not so much. “What’s really exciting is what comes next. I think we’re opening a window […]
Most maps are directional tools, but some are their own destination, like this fun narrative-driven map from the New Yorker.
The FAA has issued a mysterious advisory telling pilots not to trust their GPS for several days this June.
Autoimmune disorders–what do we know about them? Turns out not much. Why are they increasing? Our squeaky clean environments and lack of contact with bacteria may be the reason. Fortunately, recent breakthroughs have brought new treatments, and a cure might even be on the horizon.
How many trees do you need to see before you feel relaxed? Less than you think.
Two new particles, one maybe seen and one theoretical, have the physics community buzzing.
At its hottest, the closest world to the Sun reaches up to 800º Fahrenheit. But another has it beat. “There is no question that climate change is happening; the only arguable […]
New studies shed light on a species of half-size humans who lived in Indonesia 700,000 years ago.
With threats like climate change looming ever larger, humans might have to go back to the roots to find solutions.
Traffic navigation apps like Waze are loved by some and hated by others. But why?
As baby boomers age, Alzheimer’s cases are expected to skyrocket, which threatens to bankrupt Medicare.
Believing life is fair might be better for your emotional health, but it also presents risks in how you treat others.
Google’s DeepMind and the Future of Humanity Institute are trying to find a way for human operators to stay in control if artificial intelligence starts acting out.
The value and morality of zoos is being questioned after the tragic shooting of a gorilla at Cincinnati Zoo.
Without the inherent quantum uncertainty to nature, the source of all our light and heat would never shine. “The bedrock nature of space and time and the unification of cosmos and […]
Norway, Europe’s largest petroleum producer, makes an unprecedented commitment to green energy.
Domestic violence might seem random, but it can actually correlate with what’s going on in the broader world.
Diverse friendships matter to our well-being as a society, but they start decreasing at quite an early age.
Meteor showers are something that everybody ought to see at least once in their lifetime.
With apps and digital connectivity ruling our lives, the need to physically be somewhere is less urgent. So what does this mean for robotic or driverless cars? Will the Millennial generation’s cold shoulder for cars affect the way they cost, look, and hit the market?
Hulk Hogan’s Gawker lawsuit is a classic freedom of the press case dressed up as a soap opera.
A group of German researchers are developing a way for robots to process pain. This “artificial robot nervous system” is designed to allow the robots to “feel” and avoid further unwanted stimulus.
The Sun might not be responsible for the short-term warming we’re experiencing now, but in the end, it’s all that matters. “We have known since the 1800s that carbon dioxide traps […]
When it comes to preparing first generation college students to succeed, it’s about tuition assistance, but also much more than that.
Poaching of African elephants has been a huge problem for decades, and the U.S. just took a major step toward addressing the issue.
Researchers are working on a pill to mitigate the effects of alcohol. Is it a price worth paying?