The Latest from Big Think

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launch James Webb
For many, it was just a successful launch like any other. But for scientists around the globe, it was a victory few dared to imagine.
creative nap
Historical geniuses used the "creative nap" to give their minds a boost. Apparently, the "hypnagogic state" can help with problem solving.
Mental health, healing and pulling together were key themes of 2021, according to the world’s most popular search engine. Google processes billions of requests every day and its Year in Search […]
peer review
Done properly, peer review requires that journals fulfill their role as knowledge custodians, rather than being mere knowledge distributors.
mars water
Water on Mars is key for human survival on the Red Planet, not just for drinking but for growing food and making fuel and oxygen.
placebo effect
The placebo effect is not the "power of positive thinking." The fact that it is getting stronger is not a good development.
When we satisfy our curiosity, the brain has a particular way of rewarding us.
If you put very fine black powder powder in a confined space it explodes in a cloud of heat, gas and noise.
earth axis move throughout year axial tilt
Even with leap years and long-term planning, our calendar won't be good forever. Here's why, and how to fix it.
Are some of us simple destined for unhappiness?
New ideas inevitably face opposition. A new book called "The Human Element" argues that overcoming opposition requires understanding the concepts of "Fuel" and "Friction."
multiverse a fortunate universe
A wild, compelling idea without a direct, practical test, the Multiverse is highly controversial. But its supporting pillars sure are stable.
An elderly woman washing vegetables in a sink.
Research reminds us that mild cognitive impairment isn’t necessarily a prelude to dementia.
Developing an awareness of and an appreciation for science is what we all truly need, not what we've been doing.
A new “common-sense” approach to computer vision enables artificial intelligence that interprets scenes more accurately than other systems do.
mortality rate
A divergence in mortality rates between U.S. states suggests that public health policy plays a substantial role in how long people live.
Family reconcilliation
Family relationships are on many people’s minds during the holiday season as sounds and images of happy family celebrations dominate the media. Anyone whose experiences don’t live up to the holiday […]
In determining what qualifies as solid science, controversy is inevitable.