The Latest from Big Think

Text reading "The Latest" in a large, serif font on a light background.
A black and blue image of a chemical symbol featuring mirror image.
This biochemist is determined to create a new life form by reversing the shape of molecules.
aliens
A true scientific view of if, where, and when extraterrestrial life exists is within our grasp thanks to biosignatures and technosignatures.
A map showing the world's major cities.
According to the CDC, 50 countries worldwide have drinkable tap water. But look closer, and the picture is more nuanced.
Keywords: Joyce Neighbors

Description: A black and white photo featuring Joyce Neighbors standing proudly next to a rocket.
A woman’s name would undermine the credibility of the mission. Names of former Nazis, however, were no problem.
A silhouette of a boy jumping into the water.
12mins
Thinkers like Richard Reeves, Louise Perry, and Judith Butler discuss parenthood and the future of the sexual revolution.
BetterHelp
entropy 2 stroke engine
The second law of thermodynamics is an inviolable law of reality. Here's what everyone should know about closed, open, and isolated systems.
“To take this in, you need to ride inside the mathematical symbols.” 
A painting of a group of people standing in front of a church.
Science and philosophy seem to be separate fields, but philosophical advancements have made the world more accepting of debate and unorthodox ideas.
A painting of a robot standing on top of a cliff.
To reap the benefits of AI technologies, businesses must keep humans in the driving seat.
Green chalkboard filled with various mathematical equations, graphs, and formulas written in black marker.
3mins
Yes, you CAN be a “math person” — as long as you follow these learning techniques.
NASA's JWST captures the deepest view of galaxies in the night sky.
JWST has already broken many of Hubble's cosmic records. Perhaps additional record-breakers already exist within this data-rich image?
A painting of a monk reading a book.
Discover how the threads of myth, legend, and artistry have been woven together by storytellers to craft history.
A group of marijuana pills on a white surface.
The benefits of the psychedelic seem to last long after the trip wears off.
A man sitting in a chair next to a woman, pondering Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy.
The great philosopher spent the final portion of his painful life in a vegetative state. Did illness get him there, or was it his own philosophy?
An image of a dark forest at night infused with the mysterious aura of the Bell Witch.
Serving as the inspiration for the modern horror classic “The Blair Witch Project,” what does our fascination with this unsolvable mystery tell us about our modern psyche?
A monkey being held by a person in a lab coat.
The milestone puts us one step closer to ending the organ shortage.
Artist, portrait
Once at the pinnacle of Amsterdam’s art scene, Rembrandt van Rijn eventually found himself outcompeted by his own students.
During the 1918 flu pandemic, a group of individuals lay together on beds in a vast room, seeking solace and care.
The young and healthy were not just as likely to die as the old and frail, according to a new analysis.
An old drawing of a man with his hand in his head, exploring the depths of free will.
Neural imaging has shown that the brain has “decided” what we’re going to do before we make a conscious choice — but is this even relevant to free will?
A broken glass with the words contradictory ideas.
6mins
Ideas that seem wildly controversial today may move humanity towards progress. Philosopher Peter Singer asks —how do we keep them from being stifled?