The physics of entropy and the origin of life How did complex systems emerge from chaos? Physicist Sean Carroll explains. ▸ 6 min — with Sean Carroll
Starts With A Bang Ask Ethan: Can hidden variables save quantum physics? There could be variables beyond the ones we’ve identified and know how to measure. But they can’t get rid of quantum weirdness.
Culture & Religion 3 reasons “you” won’t return after this life The idea that “you” persist after death does not hold up to the current understanding of memory and identity.
Starts With A Bang 10 quantum myths that need to be busted The very word “quantum” makes people’s imaginations run wild. But chances are you’ve fallen for at least one of these myths.
Neuropsych The Japanese call this practice tsundoku, and it may provide lasting benefits Or, how I learned to stop worrying and love my tsundoku.
Leadership What causes burnout, and how to prevent it The concept of burnout is nothing new. But there are ways to prevent burnout and promote greater engagement with work.
The surprising reason secrets destroy us Deep secrets don’t explode. They do something worse, explains Michael Slepian. ▸ 3 min — with Michael Slepian
Neuropsych How do lie detectors work? Experts explain how lie detectors work, what happens in the brain when we tell lies and how accurate polygraph tests are.
The Past How electricity stormed past steam and became the power of the future The shift from steam to electricity was inevitable — but some foresaw it earlier than others.
Starts With A Bang What is the true nature of our quantum reality? For nearly a century, physicists have argued over how to interpret quantum physics. But reality exists independent of any interpretation.
Health “Mad honey”: The rare hallucinogen from the mountains of Nepal Of the world’s 300 honey varieties, none is stranger and more dangerous than mad honey.
The Past The history of ice, one of the first luxuries Seneca thought the use of ice was a “true fever of the most malignant kind.”
Starts With A Bang What was the biggest explosion in the Universe? Ever since the Big Bang, cataclysmic events have released enormous amounts of energy. Here’s the greatest one ever witnessed.
The Future World’s biggest cultivated meat factory is being built in the U.S. It will be able to produce 22 million pounds of cultivated meat annually.
High Culture Lessons from 5 great books that will change your life These five great books should prompt us to work on what needs fixing the most in the world: ourselves.
Health New “future-proof” drug can fight COVID and the common cold A new drug inhibits a human enzyme that coronaviruses hijack in order to replicate.
The Present Top 10 most popular stories on Big Think in 2022 These were the stories you clicked on the most.
The Future New battery is cheaper than lithium-ion with four times the capacity Lithium-ion batteries pose challenges for our transition toward renewable energy. Sodium-sulfur batteries might be a solution.
The Past No, Christmas is not a stolen pagan festival. There are 3 problems with that argument “The Da Vinci Code” popularized the idea that Christians stole much of their theology. It’s wrong, especially regarding Christmas.
Should you bring a kid into this world? Climate change. War. Civil unrest. Is it responsible to have kids today? ▸ 4 min — with Ari Wallach
Sponsored How Amazon made $200 billion a year in pure profit Some analysts predict that Amazon’s revenue will double over the next five years.
Neuropsych Sleep duration clearly divides adult lifespan into 3 phases Sleep less, sleep less, sleep more.
Hard Science Weather forecasts have radically improved. Have you noticed? “A modern five-day forecast is as accurate as a one-day forecast in 1980.”
Starts With A Bang The 4 fundamental meanings of “nothing” in science All the things that surround and compose us didn’t always exist. But describing their origin depends on what ‘nothing’ means.
Thinking Killer robots and the banality of evil “Lethal autonomous weapon” sounds friendlier than “killer robot.”
The “heroic dose” of psychedelics, according to Johns Hopkins Our society is in a mental health crisis. Are psychedelics the way out? ▸ 11 min — with Matthew W. Johnson
Neuropsych Psychedelics alter users’ beliefs about God, reality, and superstition Belief in God and the afterlife increased, while belief in superstition decreased.
Starts With A Bang Standard Model survives its biggest challenge yet For years and over three separate experiments, “lepton universality” appeared to violate the Standard Model. LHCb at last proved otherwise.