Culture & Religion

Spontaneous talk on surprise topics. Historian Yuval Noah Harari, bestselling author of Sapiens and Homo Deus, on the dizzying ethical questions that surround what’s coming next – from superhuman cyborgs to algorithms that know us better than we know ourselves. 

We’re about to kick off the sixth great extinction event. And we’ll follow shortly after.   

Yale psychologist Paul Bloom suggests a bit of reason in your feeling in his new book, Against Empathy.

Spontaneous talk on surprise topics. Artificial Intelligence inventor Ben Goertzel on thinking (and feeling) machines. 

An affectionate sendoff for popular beloved global-health statistician Hans Rosling.

American ingenuity is often foreign-born. With 51% of tech unicorns (valuation over a billion dollars) having an immigrant founder, we take a look at the Top 20 tech influencers with strong immigrant ties. 

Francis Collins of the NIH suggests there’s no conflict between science and religion because they ask different questions.

There are millions of unexploded landmines around the world, killing civilians and military personnel every month.

Physician Danielle Ofri argues that honest conversation is the most powerful mechanism for healing. 

Kellyanne Conway’s recent appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, where she used the dystopian-sounding phrase “alternative facts,” sounded eerily similar to George Orwell’s 1984 concept of newspeak and doublethink. 

In eleven states the number of nonmedical exemptions are increasing. 

The Mayan Riviera contains the largest coral reef in the Western Hemisphere. However, commonplace cosmetic products used by tourists threaten its health. A local couple is working hard to change that.

An Israeli study found that the smell of women’s tears sunk men’s testosterone levels and sex drive.  

Ever lose yourself in a great book or movie? This is a form of hypnosis.   

Repealing Obamacare without a fit replacement will leave tens of millions uninsured. Who is responsible for the fall out? A moral hypothetical raised by Kurt Vonnegut can help. 

Spontaneous talk on surprise topics. French philosopher and filmmaker “BHL” on evil, complacency, and the necessity of outsider thinking.  

Rates of crime and recidivism in America are very high. One Cleveland-based French restaurant, however, leads the way in helping ex-cons to thrive and not reoffend after their sentences.

Dying is expensive, but it shouldn’t be so.

Joe Camel didn’t want you to know about the secret ingredient to his success. 

Scientists in the UK have even identified four cases of “chronic déjà vu.”

Spontaneous talk on unexpected topics. Comedian and author Isy Suttie on the terrors of adulthood and more. Surprise ideas from Paul Bloom, Maysoon Zayid, and Slavoj Žižek. 

Does the move come out of an obligation to fairness, or some other reason?   

In his new book, James Hamblin looks at how we treat our bodies, internally and externally. 

Can big data help determine how happy we are? Using findings from Facebook and UC Berkeley, author Andrew Zolli shows how the levels of happiness we display online may not correlate with how happy we truly are. Featuring Zolli’s talk from the Aspen Ideas Festival.    

What would it take to adopt a basic income? Frank Stilwell, a Professor Emeritus in Political Economy at the University of Sydney, explains the pros and cons.

David McCandless hilarious classification of modern device-dependent, internet-obsessed mental disorders.

Studies have shown that cannabidiol (CBD) can help with epilepsy, heart disease, diabetes, and even schizophrenia.   

A Japanese company is laying off 34 workers and replacing them with artificial intelligence based on IBM’s Watson Explorer. While advancing automation may be helpful in alleviating Japan’s aging and declining population, what does this mean for other workers across the globe?   

The average worker sends and receives over 120 emails every day, and many employees are stressed from late night and weekend work emails. France recently created a “Right to Disconnect” from the neverending emails. Will it work?    

Here’s what we need to remember about the history and logic of “cardinal virtues.”