Guest Thinkers — February 16, 2011

Shocking Economics 2008

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

I’m not quite sure what to make of this Shocking Economics 2008 video but it’s definitely thought-provoking. Sources are available at the American Freedom University web site. Happy viewing!

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

A robotic prosthetic arm with visible internal mechanisms, wires, and a mechanical hand. Labels such as "SFU" and "BESOM" are visible on the arm casing.

The Present

The Cybathlon: Bionic athletes compete for the gold — and push assistive technologies forward

In the international competition, people with physical disabilities put state-of-the-art devices to the test as they race to complete the tasks of everyday life.

An older man with white hair and a suit receives a document from another man in a robe during an event, as several people look on in the background. In the age of viral misquotes, capturing such moments accurately becomes ever more crucial.

High Culture

Einstein didn’t say that: How viral misquotes evolve and replicate

From Einstein to Twain, Garson O’Toole investigates the truth behind your favorite — and often misattributed — quotes.

A plant with leaves and roots resembling a dandelion has four glowing light bulbs in place of flowers, creating innovation clusters against a black background.

The Future

The myth of lone genius: How innovation clusters drive progress

Studying why innovation clusters form can shed light on how to better promote research and growth.

An image of a cluster of galaxies, meaning science.

Starts With A Bang

10 thoughtful insights about the great cosmic unknowns

An in-depth interview with astronomer Kelsey Johnson, whose new book, Into the Unknown, explores what remains unknown about the Universe.

The Future

“Mad King” behavior: A prediction for how 21st-century nuclear war would unfold

“We are not our grandparents. It’s time to start thinking differently,” journalist Annie Jacobsen told Big Think.

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