The Latest from Big Think

Text reading "The Latest" in a large, serif font on a light background.
A line of waiters in formal attire, embodying a sense of unreasonable hospitality, carry trays with teapots and cups as they gracefully walk in procession outside the building.
Restaurateur Will Guidara explains why it’s not just what you do, but how you make people feel that leads to successful ventures.
Mousetrap with assorted colorful pills on the trigger, set against a red, wavy striped background.
Today's pseudoscience-ridden wellness industry owes a great debt to its forefathers.
Diagram showing the cosmic microwave background radiation with satellites COBE, WMAP, and Planck, illustrating improvements in observational detail and resolution.
First discovered in the mid-1960s, no cosmic signal has taught us more about the Universe, or spurred more controversy, than the CMB.
Red ants on green leaves with purple abstract shapes and squares in the background, symbolizing how AI for stronger teams can create a vibrant, interconnected ecosystem.
Jotform CEO Aytekin Tank highlights an AI-powered pathway towards more productive and more creative teams.
A hand writes on a piece of paper over an open book, next to Nathan Thrall's evocative orange-toned illustration of a face with a tear.
“The only requisite for nonfiction is that it’s true," says Nathan Thrall, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book "A Day in the Life of Abed Salama."
An open magazine reveals a woman wearing a hijab and headphones on one page, with de-bias technology illustrations mapping the faces of three individuals on the opposite page.
By designing smart systems, we can help ourselves live up to our best intentions — and perform even better in our workplaces.
elements
From LIGO, there weren't enough neutron star-neutron star mergers to account for our heavy elements. With a JWST surprise, maybe they can.
4 things you should consider before launching your next global learning program.
A pencil eraser gently rubs away a detailed sketch of a human brain on graph paper, subtly symbolizing the fine balance needed in critical thinking.
"Ultimately, the choice rests with each individual: whether to take the convenient route of allowing AI to handle our critical thinking, or to preserve this essential cognitive process for ourselves."
A business professional in a suit, embodying fractional leadership, holds a folder on the left; a fire extinguisher appears on the right.
An alternative vision of the future of work for senior executives might hold a solution to relentless workplace stress.
A dark nebula with dimming T Tauri stars nestled among dust and gas. The nebula casts a shadowy silhouette against a backdrop of numerous smaller stars in space.
It's the ultimate game of cosmic "cover up," as the dimming occurs when a circumbinary disk from a nearby star passes in front of T Tauri North.
Chemical structures over an image of a planet with a dark background, resembling a scientific illustration of molecular compounds in space exploration.
Life might be more common across the Universe than the "Hard Steps Model" suggests.
The golden statue of Athena stands prominently in a replica of the Parthenon interior, steeped in mythology. She holds a shield and a small figure, while the spacious setting boasts large columns and high ceilings.
An interview with renowned mythologist Martin Shaw about persona, presence, and how to spend life's finite time.
Illustration of the periodic table with a human silhouette reveals how heaviest elements shape us. Elements are color-coded, depicting the percentage composition of the body: 73% oxygen, 16.5% carbon, 9.5% hydrogen, and 1% others.
Matter is made up largely of atoms, where atomic nuclei can contain up to 100 protons or more. But how were the heaviest elements made?
A group of people watches a large wildfire at night, with flames lighting up the sky in the background.
Effective leadership requires long-term strategy — not tactical reactions.
Collage of a man speaking, an electricity pylon, and the title "The Nightcrawler" on a graphic background, hinting at the integration of next-gen AI.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
CMB polarization Planck
Cosmic inflation, proposed back in 1980, is a theory that precedes and sets up the hot Big Bang. After thorough testing, is it still valid?
Map showing regions in Europe and North Africa. Two parts labeled 'a' and 'b' highlight areas with IQ deficit contours. Several crosses are marked on the map.
The Roman Empire at one point emitted roughly 3,600 tons of lead dust per year, causing “widespread cognitive decline.”
A dense star field with various galaxies and cosmic bodies scattered, showcasing a vibrant and colorful view of space. Among them, an isolated galaxy grows in brilliance, capturing the imagination with its distant allure.
Scientists just viewed one of the tiniest, most isolated, lowest-mass galaxies ever found with JWST. Despite all odds, it's still growing.
Person sleeping with EEG cap and sensors on face, covered with a purple blanket.
"The amount of interest is enormous," says anesthesiologist Boris Heifets. "People are dropping in and coming out of the woodwork, trying to understand how to do this."