asia
Free speech? Not everybody loves it, this map shows
In some countries, people want more freedom of speech. In others, they feel that there is too much.
3,000-year-old shark attack victim found
The skeleton of the world's oldest known shark attack victim exhibits telltale wounds.
Mysterious “Plain of Jars” in Laos has been dated
After years of speculation a team of researchers has pinpointed the age of this ancient mystery.
Japanese government appoints new “Minister of Loneliness”
While not the first such minister, the loneliness epidemic in Japan will make this one the hardest working.
What is the ‘self’? The 3 layers of your identity.
Answering the question of who you are is not an easy task. Let's unpack what culture, philosophy, and neuroscience have to say.
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12 min
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A new essay takes a holistic look at the trolley problem
Knowing what to do is one thing, doing it is another.
An ancient migration across the ocean was no accident
A new study shows that at least one long-ago journey would have required deliberate navigation.
“Clean meat” approved for sale in Singapore
Singapore has approved the sale of a lab-grown meat product in an effort to secure its food supplies against disease and climate change.
Why Erdogan wants to turn Istanbul into an island
'Kanal Istanbul' would create a second Bosporus – and immortalize its creator.
How kings created Angkor Wat—then lost it
The major temples seem much more interesting than what also appears on the landscape: apparently random mounds of earth.
4 lessons from Bhutan on the pursuit of happiness above GDP
The Himalayan Kingdom best known for its concept of "Gross National Happiness."
Want a company that lasts? Start a bank or a brewery
Maps show the oldest company in (nearly) every country – and a few interesting corporate trends.
An ancient tomcat skeleton is found along the Silk Road
The discovery pushes back humanity's history with domestication.
What if Middle-earth was in Pakistan?
Iranian Tolkien scholar finds intriguing parallels between subcontinental geography and famous map of Middle-earth.
What 11 emerging countries think about increased diversity
Pew Research Center data shows that most people think diversity improves lives in their countries.
48,000-year-old bone arrowheads and jewelry discovered in Sri Lankan cave
Artifacts uncovered in southeast Asia offer clues on early complex human cultures.
8 Taoist quotes we can all use right now
Those ancient Chinese philosophers earned their insights.
Who is actually at the greatest risk from coronavirus?
Information is the best armor against panic.
Wuhan coronavirus confirmed to be transmissible between humans
The new strain of coronavirus that has spread across Asia is causing concern ahead of China's Lunar New Year.
Singapore overtakes U.S. as world’s most competitive economy
But the U.S. remains an "innovation powerhouse," according to the annual report from the World Economic Forum.
What does self-actualization mean in different cultures?
Critics complain that Maslow's hierarchy of needs focuses too much on the West. Yet other cultures often have similar ideas about personal development.
Why, in India, female farmers are paying to become ‘womb-less’
In one Indian farming district, many women are paying for expensive and medically unnecessary hysterectomies in order to be more productive at work.
In this remote Indian village, every person’s name is a song
In the village of Kongthong, villagers don't call each other by their name; instead, they call out using unique, bespoke tunes that resemble birdsong.
Top 10 schools in Asia
Some of the world's most prestigious universities aren't in America.
Just how big is India’s ‘Mount Everest of Trash’?
The Ghazipur dump keeps growing and growing every year, catching fire and leaching toxins into the ground. What can be done about it?
New insights into hikikomori — people who withdraw from society for months or years on end
What causes people to retreat into their homes indefinitely?
Is Juche the state religion of North Korea?
Is Juche an ideology, a scam, or a very strange religion?
Meet the Bajau sea nomads — they can reportedly hold their breath for 13 minutes
The Bajau people's nomadic lifestyle has given them remarkable adaptions, enabling them to stay underwater for unbelievable periods of time. Their lifestyle, however, is quickly disappearing.
For a long time, the West shaped the world. That time is over.
The 21st century is experiencing an Asianization of politics, business, and culture.
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5 min
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This is the best (and simplest) world map of religions
Both panoramic and detailed, this infographic manages to show both the size and distribution of world religions.