social change
America’s prison catastrophe: Can we undo it?
The US prison system continues to fail, so why does it still exist?
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18 min
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Despite social pressure, boys and girls still prefer gender-typical toys
Fifty years of research on children's toy preferences shows that kids generally prefer toys oriented toward their own gender.
Why people become radical extremists and how to help them
New research sheds light on the indoctrination process of radical extremist groups.
Even in mathematics, who you know may matter more than your talent
The Field Medal was created to elevate promising mathematicians from underrepresented demographics. But has it followed through on that goal?
Politics desperately needs hope, so why does it no longer inspire it?
For some philosophers, hope is a second-rate way of relating to reality.
Hannah Arendt: Change the world, not yourself
How the German political philosopher called out Henry David Thoreau on civil disobedience.
Individual action can stop climate change. How? Environmental herd immunity.
If more people decide to apply pressure through their choices, slowly but surely we would reach climate change herd immunity.
Is it time to decriminalize prostitution? Two New York bills answer yes in unique ways
One bill hopes to repeal the crime of selling sex and expand social services; the other would legalize the entire sex trade.
10 pieces of wisdom from Roman emperors
Even tyrants and despots offer wisdom worth heeding.
Why do ‘Kevins’ vote for far-right parties?
In Germany and France, having an Anglo-Saxon first name is a good predictor of extreme voting behavior.
Twitter turns to the hive mind for moderation via its Birdwatch program
The platform experiments with letting users decide what content needs flagging.
The neoliberal era is ending. What comes next?
The next era in American history can look entirely different. It's up to us to choose.
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5 min
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The 3 keys to solving complex global problems
We have the money to change the world. What's standing in the way?
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4 min
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A normal tourist map, “but everything is negative”
'Critical Tourist Map of Oslo' offers uniquely dark perspective on Norway's capital.
One century ago, women’s suffrage swept America
In this 1915 map, Lady Liberty shines her light in the West on women in the East, still in electoral darkness
Be like Anastasia: Life in a New Age Slavic homestead
Anastasia lives alone in perfect harmony with nature – or so the story goes – and nature serves her devotedly.
What stops people from changing their minds?
A persistent barrage of information is not the best method for getting through to someone with a different point of view.
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5 min
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No bread, no circuses: The Olympics and climate change
Perhaps downhill and cross-country skiers don't face the fate of potters, typesetters and saddlers, but their situation is certainly unclear.
How socioeconomic status negatively impacts children’s brains
A new study shows how poor children are negatively impacted neurologically.
Live on Monday: Does the US need one billion people?
What would happen if you tripled the US population? Matthew Yglesias and moderator Charles Duhigg explore the idea on Big Think Live.
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Survey: Half of U.S. job seekers on the hunt because of coronavirus
The survey, performed by Morning Consult and commissioned by Amazon, found a majority of those job seekers want to move into new industries to stay relevant.
Venture investors need to invest in Black-owned businesses
Less than 1% of all venture capital funding in the US is given to Black entrepreneurs. Now is the time for that to change.
Equity made Estonia an educational front runner
Estonia has combined a belief in learning with equal-access technology to create one of world's best education systems.
Is a capitalist-socialist economy inevitable?
The American economy may be locked into an unhealthy cycle that only benefits a select few. Is it too late to fix it?
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19 min
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Mexico City just outlawed gay conversion therapy. These cities have not
Mexico City, already progressive, takes more steps to protect its LGBT+ citizens.
Google to fund 100,000 online certificate scholarships
The Silicon Valley titan has promised scholarships for its tech-focused certificate courses alongside $10 million in job training grants.
Anti-vax disinformation spreads unchecked on Facebook
Despite fact check campaigns, anti-vaccination influence is growing.
Education vs. learning: How semantics can trigger a mind shift
The word "learning" opens up space for more people, places, and ideas.
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3 min
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Most white parents don’t talk about racism with their kids
Seldom are these conversations actually anti-racist.