Technology & Innovation — May 18, 2009

This Week on Big Think: A Smart Guide to the Working Life

Short of kidnapping your boss or stealing all the loose executive bonus money out there, what are some ways you can survive this job market? Big Think bucks the recession.

It’s Darwinian out there to be sure, but it’s all the more reason to explore this fascinating time in the way the world works, or doesn’t. We’ll take a stab at answering:

Is this work-more-for-less mentality really helping anyone?

Are master’s degrees worth the paper they are printed on?

Are taller people more likely to be fat cats?

Why is the Texas labor market charging ahead like a herd of steer?

Will Americans march for jobs like the rest of the world?

If there are any other areas thinkers want covered, let us know.

Strange Maps

America’s news deserts are growing

Most counties in the U.S. have only one local newspaper, often one that publishes weekly instead of daily.

Two people walking past a dark brick wall with numerous security cameras pointing in various directions.

The Present

Are smart cities a wise idea?

When Google runs a smart city, who owns the data?

Illustration of a young woman with closed eyes, smiling, next to a large, detailed eye and surrounded by vibrant, abstract elements and smiley faces.

Neuropsych

Eyes wide shut: Why closing your eyes intensifies psychedelic trips

A recent study suggests that exposure to visual stimuli can diminish the effects of psychedelic drugs.

Starts With A Bang

The big idea of Grand Unified Theories of physics

If the electromagnetic and weak forces unify to make the electroweak force, maybe, at higher energies, something even grander happens?

Microscopic image of a small electronic component with clear details of its structure and connections against a gray background.

The Future

Making microbots smart

What would it take to create a truly intelligent microbot, one that can operate independently?

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