The Latest from Big Think

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benjamin franklin lightning rod
Benjamin Franklin's lightning rod saved countless lives, but some religious leaders denounced his invention.
Plants are very sensitive to touch, with research showing that touching a plant can change its genome and launch a cascade of plant hormones.
The European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter recently captured images that could help scientists better under the mysterious physics of our Sun.
When was the last time you spent some quality time with yourself?
Dr. Tyson explains where we might find aliens, why "dark matter" is a misleading term, and why you can blame physics for your favorite team's loss.
Bruce Willis has announced he is stepping away from acting.
quasar-galaxy hybrid
Single objects rarely change the course of an entire scientific field. Distant object GNz7q, a galaxy-quasar hybrid, might do exactly that.
Studies show that feelings of ease and comfort in a given situation are tied to feelings of authenticity.
lithium-sulfur batteries
A lucky discovery involving lithium-sulfur batteries has a legitimate chance to revolutionize how we power our world.
Eurasia
Archaic humans ventured into Eurasia in waves, not always successfully. They may have started their journey in North Africa or West Asia.
hacked satellite
"Dead" satellites aren't just space junk. They are also targets for hackers to hijack and use to broadcast misinformation.
nuclear power plant attack
U.S. nuclear power plants are built to survive external attacks. Even missiles or a commercial aircraft strike would not cause a meltdown or radiation leak.
Many atheists think of themselves as intellectually gifted individuals, guiding humanity on the path of reason. Scientific data shows otherwise.
John Templeton Foundation
sperm infertility
A new, easy-to-use, $5-device helps address male infertility. It isolates healthy sperm cells based on their natural behavior.
zombie
An emerging field studies parasites that take over the nervous system of a host.
Standard probiotics cannot compare to the diversity that your microbes have.
For some reason, the charges on the electron and proton are equal and opposite, and their numbers are equal, too. But why?
stone jars
The Assam stone jars were described as early as 1929. Almost a century later, archaeologists still puzzle over their placement and purpose.
dyson spheres
A new paper combines two concepts from the edges of astrophysics: Dyson Spheres and black holes. A Type III civilization could combine them.