Because two thirds of all countries in the world have abolished the death penalty, the majority of executions happen in just five countries—China, Iran, North Korea, Yemen, and the United […]
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New research suggests that the “green” part of “greenhouse effect” is really working. While having more plants may sound good, it’s still not clear how or whether desert areas will be affected.
This image, courtesy of Reporters Without Borders, rates countries based on the state of freedom of the press.
Writer Kyle Hill does his civic duty by providing some perspective, along with a link to the document containing the exact amounts of insects (and insect parts) the FDA considers acceptable for consumption.
MIT’s Solar System software combines several sources of data to create a map that can predict the annual yield of a panel array installed at a given location.
You can create mental machinery for decision making.
University of Florida researchers have developed a six-inch-long, lightweight vehicle that can fly over, under, and through a hurricane while sending information in real time.
What I advise you to do is to actually go off-piste, and find ways to interact with people outside of your field.
I’ve come up with many business ideas for my startups by attending conferences that are outside my realm.
In an effort to increase the number of riders on public transit, the city is offering $220 off the price of the bikes, which are much easier to carry on and off buses and trains.
A procedure makes eating sollid food so painful that dieters will be forced to stick with a liquid diet.
We need to search for disconfirming evidence to correct mistakes.
Picturing success will increase your optimism and increase your confidence, which will then help you out.
Maria Konnikova, author of Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes joined us for a Google+ hangout to discuss ideas from her Big Think Mentor workshop of the same name.
The Environmental Defense Fund developed a market-based proposal to reduce the omissions of sulfur dioxide, the cause of acid rain.
Through policy we can make capitalism work for the things that we need to survive as people on this fragile planet that we share.
In about 15 years we’ll be able to indefinitely extend life, says futurist Ray Kurzweil in a special appearance in the electro House musician Steve Aoki’s new video “Singularity.”
Should we move to a Fair Tax or a Flat Tax?
In the last month, two people that I’ve critiqued in this column have replied and created fruitful dialogues. J. Brown, a teacher whom I respect for his intellectual fortitude, just […]
The microbial pendulum is swinging back in the direction of embracing germs, and harvesting ancient wisdom into the mass personalization of microbial harmony.
Imaging technology has advanced to the point where a brain scan can detect a lie with up to 90 percent accuracy. That’s not good enough for the courtroom…yet.
Is DNA sampling just a 21st century version of fingerprinting, or a violation of our rights?
All too often we get plans which have this common assumption that the future’s going to be just like today.
We live in one unified world.
You can learn powerful habits of mind from the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.
Which sayings are true, and which ones just sound nice?
Solving puzzles can give you a sense of satisfaction that you don’t get in everyday life.
It’s your puzzle. Do it any way you like.
Every now and then we hear about people who are doing extraordinary things. It could be a world leader saving millions of lives, a businessperson revolutionizing an industry, or even […]