Latest Articles

Latest Articles

The newest essays, interviews, and features from Big Think.

Black and white drawing of a globe labeled “Ancient Continent,” with chaotic red scribbles covering the lower half.
From banned books to modern classics, these satirical masterpieces show how humor and irony can help expose society’s deepest flaws.
Split screen showing an older man and a younger man, with a microscopic view of rod-shaped bacteria in the center.
38mins
Dr. Martin Blaser explains how modern life is wiping out the microbes humans evolved with, and what early antibiotics and diet may mean for our health.
Two small, boxy satellites joined by an artificial gravity cable in orbit above Earth.
A huge obstacle for human bodies in space is that we fare poorly in zero/reduced gravity. Can two rotating, tethered capsules overcome that?
A man in a black t-shirt and tan pants sits in a chair in front of a white backdrop, gesturing with his hands.
1hr 4mins
Members
Philosopher Jack Symes explores the space between devout religion and atheism.
The word “why?” in a black serif font, circled by a loose, hand-drawn red scribble, reflecting why we ask why.
In her new book, Why We Ask Why, cognitive scientist Tania Lombrozo turns the question "why" back on itself.
A smiling woman with shoulder-length gray hair wearing a blazer.
6mins
Everyone wants to know if AI will replace their job. Jennifer Doudna, co-inventor of CRISPR, has a clear-eyed take from inside the lab.
hottest planet
Despite being the innermost and most absorptive planet, Mercury "only" reaches 800 °F at its hottest. Venus is always hotter, even at night.
A man in a black t-shirt and jeans sits on a chair in front of a white backdrop, framed by a digital background of microscopic viral structures and binary code.
1hr 24mins
Blaise Agüera y Arcas argues that function defines life more than material does, and that AI belongs in the same story.
A wireframe digital hand representing AI consciousness reaches out from a computer screen to pet a black and white cat.
Our beliefs about AI consciousness may depend less on evidence and more on self-interest.
Book cover of “The Shortest History of Reality” by Geraint F. Lewis, featuring blue tones, white text, and an atom illustration on a red background.
Complexity may explain how billions of simple neurons give rise to thought, creativity, and consciousness.
An older man in a suit jacket and striped shirt wearing glasses, gesturing with his hand while speaking about IceCube neutrinos.
Back in 1988, Francis Halzen had what he called a "cute idea." His vision grew into the IceCube observatory, and earns the 2026 Nobel Prize.
Portrait of a man in a powdered wig and red coat, reminiscent of the new dark ages, looking intently at an open book.
As screens consume greater amounts of our time, we risk losing the habits of mind that helped us build the modern world.
Close-up of a rough rock surface with brown and green mineral fragments scattered and embedded within darker matrix material.
Strong, durable Martian concrete needs a mix of small-grained Martian sand and pure sulfur. NASA found the ingredients are already there.
A steaming, rocky geothermal crater with mineral deposits, surrounded by barren, yellowish terrain under a cloudy sky.
It has some researchers taking a second look at other hypotheses that have been proposed — and mostly discarded — in the past. 
olympus mons
From base to tip, Mars's Olympus Mons is the highest known mountain in the Solar System. Evidence suggests a higher one could be out there.
Five people sit on the floor in a semi-circle, looking at a laptop and taking notes; photo is in black and white with a light green background.
The ritual behind the closest friendships and the best teams asks the same question: What are you working on that you need help with?
An older man in a white shirt hugs a figure made of digital green and blue pixels—an evocative portrayal of the growing connection between humans and AI social skills—set against a pale background.
AI can provide short-term relief from social anxiety, but it can come at the expense of the social skills you’re trying to build.
black hole
From Hawking radiation, even black holes are expected to eventually decay. Do they ever reach a point where we'll see what's inside of them?
Abstract collage showing a man on the phone, geometric shapes, and a rising line graph on a maroon background.
How problem-first programs can transform your approach to leadership development.
A classical portrait of a woman with gray hair and pearls, her mouth obscured by white scribbles.
Eli Burnstein’s new book reveals language’s strange power through some of history’s best-remembered quotes.