Stephen Johnson
Associate Editor, Big Think
Stephen Johnson is the Associate Editor of Big Think. A long-time contributor to Big Think, he is a St. Louis-based writer and editor whose work has been featured in U.S. News & World Report, PBS Digital Studios, MSN, Eleven Magazine, and The Missourian.
Chronic back pain: Novel mind-body treatment outperforms other therapies
The secret to alleviating chronic back pain may be to treat psychological issues like anxiety and repressed emotions.
Cassowaries: Ancient humans may have reared deadly birds 18,000 years ago
Often called modern-day dinosaurs, cassowaries are one of only a few birds known to have killed humans.
Meteorite’s fall to Earth retraced with dashcam footage
The unconventional method could help astronomers better track meteorites that fall during the daytime.
3D-printed, laser-cooked meat may be the future of cooking
A future kitchen appliance could make it possible to 3D-print entirely new recipes and cook them with lasers.
LSD hallucinations are due to abnormal brain communication
Scientists use tripping rats to show that LSD disrupts communication between two key brain regions.
How psychiatric ideas about trauma evolved after World War I
From "shell shock" to "combat fatigue," the wars of the past century have violently illuminated the power trauma can wield over the mind and body.
Long-standing neuroscience theory on uncertainty challenged
A new study upends a long-standing theory on how the brain plans motor actions in uncertain environments.
A thief left her phone at the scene. The victim took over her social media, sparking a wild internet-sleuthing saga
What started as a viral case of public shaming has morphed into a dark story involving internet sleuths, a criminal network, and the suspicious death of a 62-year-old man in St. Louis.
Theory of canine mind: can dogs understand human intent?
When you unintentionally step on a dog's tail, does it know that it was an accident?
Rhino mystery going back to Darwin solved
A recent study sheds light on the evolutionary history of rhinoceroses and their remarkably low levels of genetic diversity.
Controversy: was the Caribbean invaded by cannibals?
A 2020 study has revived a longstanding controversy over Christopher Columbus' claims of marauding cannibals in the Caribbean.
Instant gratification: The neuroscience of impulse buying
Our brains did not evolve to shop on Amazon.
Psychopaths don’t move their heads when talking
A new study found that people who scored high in certain psychopathic traits are more likely to limit head movements.
The 3D-printed bionic arm that is disrupting the prosthetics industry
Prosthetic arms can cost amputees $80,000. A startup called Unlimited Tomorrow is aiming to change that by making customized 3D-printed bionic arms for just $8,000.
How generosity changes your brain
Money can buy happiness — if you spend it on others, research suggests.
Science in the court: how neuroimaging can improve the “reasonable person” standard
For nearly two centuries, courts have relied on the subjective "reasonable person standard" to solve legal disputes. Now, science can help.
The healing power of love? Pair-bonding might prevent cancer in mice
Cancer cells seem to have a harder time growing among pair-bonded mice, according to a new study that explored the "widowhood effect."
Brain hacks for saving money
Our brains believe $10 today is more tangible than $100 next year.
Gamification: can video games change our money habits?
Fintech companies are using elements of video games to make personal finance more fun. But does it work, and what are the risks?
Bad at math? Blame your neurotransmitters
A new brain imaging study explored how different levels of the brain's excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters are linked to math abilities.
“Acoustic tweezers” use sound waves to levitate bits of matter
The non-contact technique could someday be used to lift much heavier objects — maybe even humans.
Which countries are going to Mars this decade?
We are likely to see the first humans walk on Mars this decade.
The neuroscience of branding
A new episode of "Your Brain on Money" illuminates the strange world of consumer behavior and explores how brands can wreak havoc on our ability to make rational decisions.
Immersive technology will revolutionize everything from theme parks to daily life
Virtual reality continues to blur the line between the physical and the digital, and it will change our lives forever.
Stock market bubbles: Our evolutionary roots explain why investors follow the herd
The same parts of the brain that help us navigate complex social interactions can also drive us to make wildly bad investments.
Busting the Easter Island myth: there was no civilization collapse
For decades, researchers have proposed that climate change and human-caused environmental destruction led to demographic collapse on Easter Island. That's probably false, according to new research.
How evolution shifts from unicellular to multicellular life
When facing a predator, single cells sometimes unite to defend themselves, paving the way for more complex multicellular life forms to evolve.
57% of U.S. structures lie within a natural “hazard hotspot”
A new study mapped areas of the U.S. that are most likely to suffer natural disasters.
A comet impact may have paved the way for human civilization
The Younger Dryas impact hypothesis argues that a comet strike caused major changes to climate and human cultures on Earth about 13,000 years ago.
Rumbling: New Zealand supervolcano needs to be monitored
The Taupo volcano was responsible for one of the most violent eruptions on record.