The Latest from Big Think

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A new method of extracting rare-earth elements could put us on the track toward a circular economy.
litter morality
When we fail to help in a bad situation, we are morally responsible. So, why don't we pick up others' litter?
Two colleagues working on a problem in front of a computer.
Lessons from child development research teach us how we learn to trust others.
library benefits
Investments in public libraries are a long-term investment in children and communities.
Putin literature
Vladimir Putin adores Fyodor Dostoevsky. A close reading of the legendary author’s texts reveals the feeling might have been mutual. 
Kids' underdeveloped brains seem to help them acquire new languages with little effort.
Einstein
More than any other of Einstein's equations, E = mc² is the most recognizable to people. But what does it all mean?
adult learning theory
Adult learning theory is a guidepost for designing training for maximum engagement.
tribalism
The paradox of tribalism is that humans need a sense of belonging to be healthy and happy, but too much tribalism is deadly. We are one tribe.
whale migration
The world’s great whales aren’t just vulnerable where they congregate, but everywhere they roam.
It took a series of ingenious experiments in the 20th century to uncover some of our biggest cognitive biases.
hottest planet
Despite being the closest planet to the Sun, Mercury "only" reaches 800 °F at its hottest. Venus is always hotter, even at night.
gui
Graphical user interfaces are how most of us interact with computers, from iPhones to laptops. But they were once condemned as making students lazy and destroying the art of writing.
A rolled up newspaper with Joe Biden on the front page.
George Washington, for example, was quite happy to engage in deception, if that deception would help protect the United States.
socratic problem
Socrates lived during a time when people did not strive to separate fact from fiction. So how much of what we know about Socrates is true?
scholz's star
Planet Earth has been around for over 4.5 billion years, but humans? For 99.998% of our planet's history, humans were nowhere to be found.
Can an orgasm a day really keep the doctor away?
Altos Labs, a new biotech firm with $3 billion in funding, has announced plans to combat aging. But what does that mean for human life span, exactly?