High Culture
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How AI learned to paint like Rembrandt
The Rijksmuseum employed an AI to repaint lost parts of Rembrandt’s “The Night Watch.” Here’s how they did it.
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A single “Like” on Facebook can reveal a crucial aspect of your personality
The internet and social media have made persuasive appeals more powerful than ever before.
Brains of jazz musicians have superior flexibility, study finds
Does what kind of music you play alter the benefits you get by playing it?
8 authors who became adjectives: Freudian, Shakespearean, and more
What does it really mean when something is "Dickensian"? Or "Kafkaesque"? Sometimes these words are overused to the point where they lose their meaning. Here's how these and 6 other words got their origin.
Guys with more testosterone like ‘sophisticated’ music less
A new study find a connection between having more testosterone and not liking classical, jazz, or avant-garde music.
Decoding popularity: Why successful people don’t try appealing to everyone’s tastes
History is littered with thousands of things that tried to appeal to everyone and yet failed miserably. If you want true success, try to appeal to a core group.
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Could A.I. write a novel like Hemingway?
Artificial Intelligence has come a long way in a short time. So at what point will it be able to emulate the great artists and writers of our time?
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How to maximize the brain benefits of storytime for infants
Not all books are created equal. Especially when it comes to the ones parents read to children to aid their development. A new study from the University of Florida points to an important characteristic to look for in children’s books.
Neil deGrasse Tyson Tackles the Science of Game of Thrones
Neil deGrasse Tyson, famous in part for using his scientific literacy to point out flaws in TV and movies, recently criticized the good and bad science behind HBO's Game of Thrones.
How reading rewires your brain for higher intelligence and empathy
Get lost in a good book. Time and again, reading has been shown to make us healthier, smarter, and more empathic.
7 of the greatest public speakers in history
We compiled a list of seven of the greatest public speakers of all time, people who forever changed the course of history with their words.
What You’re Missing at the Start of Every John Oliver Episode
The title sequence to Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is memorable for its minimalistic, sleek design. But what do those graphics actually say?
Your mind thinks in stories. Tell better ones to get ahead.
Knowing how to tell a good story is like having mind control. Alan Alda shares some incredible tips for captivating a crowd—or nailing your next job interview.
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Game of Thrones: Why Samwell Tarly Was the MVP of ‘Dragonstone’
Poop, soup, books — repeat. Who could forget that montage? Here are the key takeaways from the first episode of Game of Thrones season 7, which crashed the HBO website like wildfire taking down the Sept.
What’s More Violent: Shakespeare or ‘Game of Thrones’?
The stories in Shakespeare's plays and 'Game of Thrones' are often bloody, but which are ultimately more violent?
The Prince: Why One of the Most Hated Books in History Still Matters
Why is Machiavelli's The Prince still relevant today?
Can You Fix a Broken Heart by Writing about It?
Break-ups can be bad for your health. But new research shows that writing about your separation can improve cardiac health—as long as you write in a certain way.
Why Are So Many Musical Geniuses Asocial? A New Study Reveals an Interesting Link
Musical savants have “enhanced pitch discrimination” and “increased auditory perceptual capacity.” But why?
What Explains the Bursts of Innovation in the Archaeological Record?
A new paper suggests population size and migration explain the sudden bursts of innovation seen 50,000 years ago.
Whether You Believe You Can or Believe You Can’t, You’re Right!
Kyle Maynard is a photographer, wrestler, and inspiration machine. Here's how he pursued his passion and helped others along the way.
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Fund the Arts! Stories Are Our Most Valuable Exports
Cut funding to the NEA and PBS? It would be incredibly costly to cut cultural spending.
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Minority Book Report: How Reading Grows Our Empathy
What's it like to be a minority in America? To find out, read a book written by one.
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The Eyeball Economy: How Advertising Co-Opts Independent Thought
In what Tristan Harris calls a "race to the bottom of the brain stem," media companies and advertisers will do almost anything to keep your eyes locked where they want them.
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Is Walking or Standing on the Escalator Faster?
Do you walk up the escalator, or stand and let yourself be delivered to the top? One of these methods is more efficient than the other.
Which of the 50 States Is the Weirdest? Humorist Dave Barry Knows
There's a place Americans feel they can do anything, and it's not Las Vegas.
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Every Joke Falls in One of 11 Categories, Says Founding Editor of The Onion
The Onion founding editor Scott Dikkers says every joke can be categorized in one of 11 "funny filters."
Digital Revolution: More and More People Are Paying For Content
"Shut up and take my money" isn't just a meme anymore, it's the way people are increasingly choosing to access art, news, and culture.
Is the Fruit of Political Humor Hanging Too Low?
In comedy there is always the temptation to go for the easy jokes – but now, more than ever, comedians have to challenge themselves.
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Pixar Has a Free Storytelling Course You Can Take Online, Right Now
In one of the best examples of free education this year, Pixar has released a six-part online course called 'The Art of Storytelling'.
How Do We Know How To Live? … How Adulting Schools Arose
Storied skills and a musical analogy might help us update the logic of "virtue ethics." In life, as in jazz, freedom without skills results in a lot foolish noise.
Why Can’t We Resist Clickbait? The Reason Will SHOCK You!
Columbia professor Tim Wu came to the Big Think studio to talk about clickbait. What happened next will shock you.
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