July 29, 2013

A View of the Clouds From Above

A view of the clouds from above, via Astronaut Karen Nyberg

bigthinkeditor

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

A view of the clouds from above, via Astronaut Karen Nyberg.

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Map of Europe overlaid with an image of a contemplative monkey, set against a dark blue grid background.

Thinking

Is philosophy too Western for its own good?

Whether we should tear down philosophy’s Berlin Wall and let East and West finally merge depends entirely on what we think philosophy is—and what it’s for.

Starts With A Bang

Ask Ethan: Does mass or energy increase near the speed of light?

Perhaps the most well-known equation in all of physics is Einstein’s E = mc². Does mass or energy increase, then, near the speed of light?

Open book with a tangled scribble on left page and a black-and-white photo of a person covering their eyes with hands on the right page.

Neuropsych

Turn life’s disruptions into a path forward with this 2-step process

When plans fall apart, adaptability can build something better.

A woman smiles at a baby in a crib, holding a toy while the baby reaches out, attempting their first words. They appear to be in a domestic setting.

The Past

In praise of history’s famous first words

While death-bed utterances are more famous, baby’s first words have influenced us too.

Abstract collage with red dice and handwritten text overlay, featuring a hand writing with a pen. Against a background of grid and bookshelf patterns, it captures an existential crisis. The title "The Night Crawler" hovers above, probing life's uncertainties.

Business

The “existential crisis” of knowledge work

Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.

Up Next

Politics & Current Affairs

Moscow Metro to Track Riders’ Movement Via Cell Phones

Soon, the Moscow metro police will be able to track individuals’ movement through the city’s ornate underground transport system by reading data from the cellular phones.