Big Think

Videos

Why Asia and America are trading places

Asia is experiencing a boom in terms of education and business.

Videos

Why Russia and China are besties

The Kremlin has been eying China for a very long time.

Surprising Science

In 1973, an MIT computer predicted when civilization will end

An MIT model predicted when and how human civilization would end. Hint: it's soon.

Surprising Science

Report: Atmospheric CO2 levels hit all-time high in 2017

A new report from the American Meteorological Society shows that Earth’s atmosphere had the highest levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in 2017 than it's had in the past 800,000 years.

Surprising Science

The tipping point where the planet becomes a 'Hothouse Earth' is terrifyingly real

"Hothouse Earth" is basically a self-sustaining engine of warming and carbon. Ummm...

Surprising Science

Study: Great white sharks will be swimming in British waters by 2050

As a result of warming seas, at least 10 types of sharks currently found in warmer areas will likely be found in British waters in coming decades.

Politics & Current Affairs

Are we prepared for climate change? Health experts say no

Health experts told Congress that we're woefully unprepared for the coming realities of climate change. Will we listen?

Surprising Science

This 'Great Polish Map of Scotland' tells a WWII story you never knew

The 'Great Polish Map of Scotland' is the coolest map story you've never heard of.

Surprising Science

Next biggest danger to the environment? Household cleaners.

A new study of Los Angeles finds that as car emissions are being reduced household chemicals are taking their place as the main cause of air pollution.

Surprising Science

15,000 scientists issue environmental 'warning' to humanity

Thousands of scientists from 184 countries have endorsed an open letter that outlines some of the Earth's most pressing environmental problems.

Culture & Religion

Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen's Face-to-Face Shows the Myopia of Climate Change Denial

Ice finally met fire on last night's episode of Game of Thrones, and their first conversation proved a perfect case study in the distance between power and reality.

Surprising Science

What the world will look like 4°C warmer

Will your grandchildren live in cities on Antarctica?

Surprising Science

Harvard Scientists Launch $20M 'Stratospheric Injection' Climate Change Experiment

US scientists fearing for Earth's climate future begin testing solar geoengineering. The consequences may be terrifying — which is exactly why we need these small-scale experiments.

Surprising Science

Need a New Reason to Hate Climate Change? It's Coming for Your Coffee

It often feels like the repercussions of climate change may not apply directly to you. But here's something that will hit home – a somber prediction for your coffee supply, and all those workers who farm it.

Surprising Science

After 25 Million Years, The Great Barrier Reef Is Dead — Or Is It?

Rowan Jacobsen recently wrote an obituary for one of Earth’s natural wonders: the Great Barrier Reef. “The Great Barrier Reef of Australia passed away in 2016 after a long illness. It was 25 million years old,” he wrote in Outside. But publishing its obituary might be a bit premature.

Surprising Science

Global Warming Forecast: Cloudy With a Chance of Forced Migration and Obedience to Russia

If global temperatures rise by just four degrees celsius, the forecast is cloudy with a chance of obliteration.

Think Again Podcast Mixtape #2– Staring at the Sea

In the second of our "year one in review" mixtapes, host Jason Gots curates the best moments thus far of Think Again - a Big Think Podcast, with excerpts from conversations with Henry Rollins, Kate Tempest, Sarah Jones, Mary-Louise Parker, and A.O. Scott

Think Again Podcasts

Think Again Podcast #54 – LIVE with Sarah Jones

Playing many different characters, Tony and Obie award-winner Sarah Jones responds to surprise "big ideas" in Think Again podcast's first ever live show at NYC Podfest

Culture & Religion

Three Reasons World War III Is Not Going to Happen Anytime Soon

Nine wars have been predicted to erupt since the early 1990s, and all have failed to materialize. That's a result of trade, the interconnectedness of financial markets, and supply chain integration.

Trending

Asia is experiencing a boom in terms of education and business.

The Kremlin has been eying China for a very long time.

An MIT model predicted when and how human civilization would end. Hint: it's soon.

A new report from the American Meteorological Society shows that Earth’s atmosphere had the highest levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in 2017 than it's had in the past 800,000 years.

"Hothouse Earth" is basically a self-sustaining engine of warming and carbon. Ummm...

As a result of warming seas, at least 10 types of sharks currently found in warmer areas will likely be found in British waters in coming decades.

Health experts told Congress that we're woefully unprepared for the coming realities of climate change. Will we listen?

The 'Great Polish Map of Scotland' is the coolest map story you've never heard of.

A new study of Los Angeles finds that as car emissions are being reduced household chemicals are taking their place as the main cause of air pollution.

Thousands of scientists from 184 countries have endorsed an open letter that outlines some of the Earth's most pressing environmental problems.

Ice finally met fire on last night's episode of Game of Thrones, and their first conversation proved a perfect case study in the distance between power and reality.

Will your grandchildren live in cities on Antarctica?

US scientists fearing for Earth's climate future begin testing solar geoengineering. The consequences may be terrifying — which is exactly why we need these small-scale experiments.

It often feels like the repercussions of climate change may not apply directly to you. But here's something that will hit home – a somber prediction for your coffee supply, and all those workers who farm it.

Rowan Jacobsen recently wrote an obituary for one of Earth’s natural wonders: the Great Barrier Reef. “The Great Barrier Reef of Australia passed away in 2016 after a long illness. It was 25 million years old,” he wrote in Outside. But publishing its obituary might be a bit premature.

If global temperatures rise by just four degrees celsius, the forecast is cloudy with a chance of obliteration.

In the second of our "year one in review" mixtapes, host Jason Gots curates the best moments thus far of Think Again - a Big Think Podcast, with excerpts from conversations with Henry Rollins, Kate Tempest, Sarah Jones, Mary-Louise Parker, and A.O. Scott

Playing many different characters, Tony and Obie award-winner Sarah Jones responds to surprise "big ideas" in Think Again podcast's first ever live show at NYC Podfest

Nine wars have been predicted to erupt since the early 1990s, and all have failed to materialize. That's a result of trade, the interconnectedness of financial markets, and supply chain integration.

Is this a map of Europe's future?