Laurie Vazquez
Contributing Writer
Laurie writes about science and technology for Popular Science, TIME, and FiatPhysica. Her passion is figuring out how things work and explaining them in plain English. She is always on the hunt to find and share the coolest ideas out there, and is excited to do that for BigThink. When she's not doing that, you’ll probably find her playing video games, her viola, or writing science fiction radio plays for KSVR’s Radio Theater Project. You can also find her on Twitter @mslauriewrites.
The words we speak might actually help us see the future. Here’s how.
This is not the outcome you’re looking for.
The US Air Force’s Space Horizons Team wants to juice America’s space program. Here’s how.
New research out of the University of London shows that some viruses are more likely to kill men than women. Here’s why.
In honor of John Glenn, here are some of the most badass things that happened in space that you might not know about — but totally should.
When the rest of the world chooses nationalism, Iceland chooses radical change.
Pedal faster, we need the juice! The tech giant is about to become the world’s greenest company. Here’s how.
HINT: Don’t just learn the opposite view. Argue it.
It seems inevitable that there will be a Mars colony, but the path there won’t be easy. There are two key challenges ahead that will push innovation.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is not nearly as smart as we want it to be. Because we are not nearly as smart as we want to be.
Retired Marine Gen. James N. Mattis is known as “Chaos,” “Warrior Monk,” and “Mad Dog.” The names reflect his blunt way of speaking, and his ability to get results.
Why do people believe fake news? It’s not because it gets shared all over Facebook; it’s because they don’t trust mainstream news. And Snopes agrees with them.
Some much-needed good news this week.
If anyone can convince Donald J. Trump to take climate change seriously, it might be the US military.
Don’t believe everything Google tells you. Facebook and Google are taking measures against fake news, but it’s becoming clear that it’s a symptom of a bigger problem.
It’s not by burning people’s pictures and wearing the flag as a cape, but by understanding ourselves better, and understanding the person beside you.
Three Ways America Can Be United Again – Through Decision-Making
3 Ways We Can Make America Great Again – Through Decision Making
Looks Like We’re Making America Great Again. Here Are 3 Ways to Contribute.
It takes “deliberate practice,” though, to increase your odds of attaining success.
The polls are in, and what will be the deciding factor in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election is something a little more human.
If humans are going to explore the solar system, we need to figure out how to live in space. The best way to figure that out is on the Moon — and you can help. Here’s how.
It’s worse — and better — than you think.
Romantic advice from some of humanity’s biggest thinkers.
Elon Musk wants to put 1 million people on Mars in 40 years. The internet had questions. Here are his answers.
Of all the fictional ways humanity might possibly kill itself, zombies are the most likely. Here’s the data to prove it.
Global warming is largely caused by carbon dioxide. Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory just figured out a way to change it into something better.
Cross ‘multi-tasking ninja’ off your resume, it’s out, say Stanford researchers and other cognitive experts. Here are three tips for transitioning back to single-tasking.
Mark Zuckerberg insists the future of virtual reality will put “people first.” The development trajectory of the technology tells another story.
A new study from Cornell University shows how metaphors influence our ability to be impressed by genius and uncovers a gender hook – it seems we prefer to conceive of male genius as an exciting idea explosion, and female genius as a long, hard labor of hard work.
How do we make fair contracts? These guys figured it out, and their work has implications in ethical and business questions about companies like Enron and privatized prisons.
131,000 people in the United States wait for an organ donation every single day. 10% of them will get one – unless we allow organ donations from drug deaths.
People tend to believe that learning in the style they feel best suited to makes them soak up information more efficiently. This study debunks that belief.