March 14, 2013

The Economics of the Big Soda Ban

While Michael Bloomberg’s plan to limit the sale of large sodas was shot down by a judge, Big Think Chief Economist Daniel Altman tackles the economic ideas behind this plan. Would it have worked?

Watch the video here:

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.

Starts With A Bang

The big idea of Grand Unified Theories of physics

If the electromagnetic and weak forces unify to make the electroweak force, maybe, at higher energies, something even grander happens?

Microscopic image of a small electronic component with clear details of its structure and connections against a gray background.

The Future

Making microbots smart

What would it take to create a truly intelligent microbot, one that can operate independently?

A philosophers' interpretation of a man's joyous life depicted through the painting of him holding a globe.

Thinking

4 philosophers on how to live a happy life

From Taoism to hedonism, philosophers have devised all sorts of ways to live your best life.

A striking view of a blue planet, similar to earth, seen from space with part of its surface illuminated by sunlight against a starry background.

13.8

A new theory for how oceans form on other worlds

Explore how the study of exoplanets is transforming our understanding of ocean formation.

A collage of various international banknotes featuring portraits of historical figures.

The Learning Curve

How scientific thinking can fix collaboration in a mixed-up world

A physicist, a psychologist, and a philosopher walk into a bar and discuss a framework for thinking better in the 21st century.

Up Next

Colorado’s Conservative Affirmative-Action Scheme

So the University of Colorado has hired my friend Steve Hayward to be a visiting professor in conservative thought and policy. Some alum’ funded the position because he believed that students […]