The Well Flow state: How to trigger the best performance of your life ‘Flow state’ is a peak performance mental state experienced by the world’s highest achievers. Learn how it works in just 7 minutes. ▸ with Steven Kotler
Thinking Satanic cults aren’t as bad as they sound Satanic cultists don’t even believe the Devil exists. Satanism is largely a religion focused on secular humanism and hedonism.
Starts With A Bang Is a new anomaly affecting the entire Universe? Early relics and late-time objects give incompatible results for the expanding Universe. This independent anomaly intensifies the problem.
Health Stockdale Paradox: Why confronting reality is vital to success Balancing realism and optimism in a dire situation is a key to success.
High Culture 13 books everyone should read—as voted by you Add these great titles to your wish list or secure copies for yourself.
The psychology of keeping secrets inside There are 38 kinds of secrets. The average person has 13 at any given moment. Michael Slepian explains how that can affect your health. ▸ 7 min — with Michael Slepian
The Future In Japan, humanoid robots could soon become part of the family More than any other nation, Japan tends to feel comfortable with the idea of humanoid robots entering the home.
High Culture The extraordinary journey of Leonardo da Vinci’s most mysterious portrait Like his “Mona Lisa,” Leonardo da Vinci’s “Lady with an Ermine” depicts a woman in a way that flouted the conventions of its time.
Health “Love hormone” oxytocin literally heals a broken heart Oxytocin can boost heart cells’ ability to regenerate.
Neuropsych Narcissists and psychopaths have more sexual partners — leading to 2 paradoxes Something doesn’t add up.
The Present Negative, emotionally manipulative news headlines have skyrocketed since 2000 The media is deliberately pushing your buttons.
Personal Growth Harvard negotiator explains how to argue “Conflict is useful. The question is how do you deal with conflict effectively.” ▸ 5 min — with Dan Shapiro
The Future Quantum sensors use “spooky” science to measure the world with unprecedented precision Quantum entanglement may remain spooky, but it has a very practical side.
Starts With A Bang Ask Ethan: How can matter be mostly empty space? Practically all of the matter we see and interact with is made of atoms, which are mostly empty space. Then why is reality so… solid?
13.8 Review: “The Biggest Ideas in the Universe” by Sean Carroll “Even with my training, I still got insights from the book’s descriptions. That’s how good Carroll is at explaining physics.”
Sponsored The psychology of financial anxiety — and how to overcome it More than half of Americans feel anxious over their financial situation.
Thinking The worst ideas of 5 great philosophers From Aristotle’s lazy cosmology to Immanuel Kant’s “scientific” racism, great minds are not immune to very bad ideas.
Starts With A Bang Are parallel Universes physically real, or just an unsupported idea? Are you unhappy with how various events in your life turned out? Perhaps, in a parallel Universe, things worked out very differently.
Culture & Religion This ancient Greek thought experiment will have you questioning your identity How much can something change and still be the same thing?
13.8 How do you turn a country into a scientific powerhouse? Fund basic science. Do we still remember what we learned in the 1940s?
Thinking Like it or not, we are all “doomsday preppers” to some extent How many tins of beans make a stockpile, and when does a basement become a bunker?
The Learning Curve Throw out the “career ladder”: 4 strategies for navigating a 21st-century workplace Today’s careers don’t offer a clear path forward, but the rewards can be worth more than a gold watch at retirement.
Starts With A Bang Why modifying gravity doesn’t add up The Universe gravitates so that normal matter and General Relativity alone can’t explain it. Here’s why dark matter beats modified gravity.
The Past Archaeologists discovered what they thought was an ancient synagogue. They were wrong. Instead of worshipping Yahweh, the devotees were perhaps dedicated to Mars and Jupiter.
Neuropsych Brain cells on a chip learn to play Pong within 5 minutes The researchers suggest that their results demonstrate intelligence in silico.
The Future Practical physics: How quantum uncertainty will make our communications secure We are not yet at the point where quantum communications can be deployed to secure the internet, but we might not be far off.
Neuropsych Why narcissists are likelier to promote conspiracy theories If you believe that you’re perfect, then somebody else must be responsible for your failures.
Starts With A Bang The secret to becoming an excellent physicist It’s literally the one and only trick that separates top-notch physicists from crackpots, dropouts, and those who can’t cut the mustard.
Neuropsych How hand gestures alter the perception of your speech Research has found that words are more accurately heard when accompanied by hand gestures.