social change
Why generational pressure is the key to climate change policy
Change is coming, but not from the generation that currently holds positions of power.
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#7: The colossal problem with universal basic income | Top 10 2019
Continuing the countdown, Big Think's seventh most popular video of 2019 explains why universal basic income will hurt the 99%, and make the 1% even richer.
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5 min
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Legalized marijuana linked to lower opioid abuse; death rates
A new study analyzed more than 1.5 billion opioid prescriptions over eight years.
Why the singular “They” is Merriam-Webster’s word of the year
"They" has taken on a not-so-new meaning lately. This earned it the scrutiny it needed to win.
Greta Thunberg, climate change activist, wins Time Person of the Year
Going from a solitary teenage protester in front of the Swedish parliament to a global icon in little more than a year certainly merits a distinction.
China tightens its grip on freedom in academics
Scholars often debate risking their livelihoods and personal safety in order to conduct research in certain areas.
How much does it cost to save a life?
Our personal choices can help to effectively combat poverty, says Peter Singer.
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Open academic culture, more crucial than ever, is in peril
Why campuses are becoming polarized — and what we can do about it.
Millennial income 20% less than boomers at same stage of life
Millennial income did not recover from the Great Recession like older generations', a disparity that can have dire consequences for future generations.
Intellectual dark matter: What is it, and why is it meaningful?
Throughout history, we find knowledge that can't possibly be documented, but still it exists.
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Greta Thunberg faces right-wing media attacks after U.N. speech
But few critics actually addressed the science on climate change.
AI: Our New Best Friend
The fourth wave of the Industrial Revolution is here. If change is led by the right people, we will have ethical machines, says Intel's Lama Nachman.
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Will robots free people from slavery?
Even if automation makes human trafficking economically inefficient, that alone won't end this unethical practice.
To overthrow a tyrant, try the 3.5 Percent Solution
A study of 323 uprisings against repressive regimes yields stunning insights.
Academic freedom: What it is, what it isn’t and why there’s confusion
Academics are often attacked for having the audacity to pursue their research wherever it leads. But engaging with difficult, challenging ideas is a large part of what academia is about.
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Why top-down reform won’t save the education system
Countless top-down reforms haven't improved the U.S. education system; can community-based education make a difference?
Silicon Valley wants to be a meritocracy. Here’s why it’s not.
If you're a great engineer, you can get ahead in Silicon Valley — to a certain extent.
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Have conservative groups mastered the art of internet activism?
Left-leaning groups don't seem to have made as full use of the internet as right-leaning ones. As one conservative put it, Paul Revere had a horse, but they have the internet.
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With our low voter turnout, is America still a democracy?
In Upheaval, Jared Diamond points out the sad facts of American voter turnout.
Upward mobility requires education. Here’s how America falls short.
America's educational system has become frayed by lackluster civic engagement.
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Could A.I. detect mass shooters before they strike?
President Trump has called for Silicon Valley to develop digital precogs, but such systems raise efficacy concerns.
3 unsung heroes who helped society overcome division
The true course of progress is not only charted by great men and women, but also by ordinary people having conversations.
Insiders and outsiders keep democracy alive: Whistleblowing, civil disobedience and discourse
From the Revolutionary War, to Rosa Parks and #MeToo, whistleblowing and civil disobedience are in America's DNA.
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Finally, white nationalists are being called terrorists. We need this to continue.
Over the weekend, Pete Buttigieg warned of the dangers of white national terrorism. Officials in El Paso agree.
Are immigrants being scapegoated? Andrew Yang (and new research) suggests yes.
Immigrants add way more to the American economy than they take.
Computing history: From government secrets to a failed tech utopia
Historian Maragaret O'Mara explains why a tech utopia was, and still might be, a pipe dream.
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College education is still a class luxury in America. PeerForward is changing that.
Like it or not, most jobs still require some kind of secondary degree. PeerForward is working with low-income communities to ensure that students aren't excluded based on their zip code.
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You can crowdsource innovation. Here’s how Lumina does it.
What are the best ideas out there to innovate our rapidly changing education system? The Lumina Foundation has partnered with Big Think to find them.
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Have you accidentally offended someone? Here’s advice for you and them.
Here's what to say in an era where many people are too afraid to say anything.
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Hispanic people experiencing largest homeownership gains in America
At 18 percent of the population, Hispanics account for 67.2 percent of U.S. net homeownership gains.