The Well

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Ideas that inspire a life well-lived

Do we inhabit a multiverse? Do we have free will? What is love? Is evolution directional?

Life’s biggest questions rarely have simple answers. That is precisely why they continue to occupy the world’s most thoughtful minds. The Well is a place to engage those questions, drawing on insights from science, philosophy, and the humanities.

Created by the John Templeton Foundation in partnership with Big Think, The Well brings together ideas that inspire deeper understanding and a more considered approach to living.

in partnership with

The Templeton Foundation supports interdisciplinary research and catalyzes conversations that inspire awe and wonder.

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Physics doesn’t explain the universe. Computation does.
What do the laws of physics, biological evolution, and your free will have in common? The same mathematical principle runs through all of them. Stephen Wolfram has spent 40 years finding it.

by Stephen Wolfram

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Everything Articles Videos
A stylized, purple-tinted depiction of a black hole in space, showing a glowing accretion disk and a star-filled background.
5mins
The Well
The problem with the theory of everything
Gravity defies quantum mechanics. What does that mean for a theory of everything?
Janna Levin
Two spherical, yellowish biological structures are positioned side by side against a dark background.
7mins
The Well
Biohacking our way to health
This biologist built a living robot from frog cells — and it could hold the key to the future of regenerative medicine.
Michael Levin
Illustration of an astronaut being propelled through a futuristic, tunnel-like structure against a black background.
9mins
The Well
A 9-minute journey inside a black hole
Ever wonder what would happen if we got sucked into a black hole? Turns out we could live in it for a while — if it was big enough.
Janna Levin
A faint, grayscale image of a classical statue’s face with soft features and minimal details visible against a plain background.
4mins
The Well
The science of the “self”
How do “you” emerge from a collection of cells? A biologist explains.
Michael Levin
Two mirrored human faces with dotted lines and patterns radiating outward, set against a solid blue background, suggesting connectivity or symmetry.
6mins
The Well
The false reality of loneliness
Scientists can't define spirituality. But we can study its healing effects, says this Columbia psychologist.
Lisa Miller
Ancient headless stone Buddha statue with one arm missing, seated cross-legged against a solid dark purple background.
9mins
The Well
How we lost collective spirituality — and why we need it back
Spirituality declines, depression rises. Is there a link?
Lisa Miller
An image of a sunset through a window.
The Well
The case for “dusking”: In a world of light and noise, embracing the dark can be healing
How the simple act of watching twilight can radically transform our perception of the world and our role within it.
Marjolijn van Heemstra
John Templeton Foundation
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5mins
The Well
Why evolution is the Picasso of science
Evolution doesn’t fix things — it reinvents them. A biologist explains.
Michael Levin
John Templeton Foundation
Black and white illustration of a plant stem cross-section with honeycomb-like cell structure, shown on a green background.
8mins
The Well
Can cells think?
We know that humans are an intelligent species. But this biologist breaks down the intelligence of each of our cells — and it will blow your mind.
Michael Levin
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The Well
Respect alchemy. The crazy, criminal pursuit gave us modern science
Alchemy had its golden age in the 17th century, when it counted Isaac Newton and Robert Boyle among its adherents.
James Hannam
John Templeton Foundation
A vintage illustration shows two rows of glowing, human-like figures with radiating lines, set against a dark, textured background.
6mins
The Well
How spirituality protects your brain from despair
Modern life replaced spirituality with goal-setting — and it’s making us depressed. Here’s how to win back your happiness.
Lisa Miller
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The Well
Is atheism destroying the moral fabric of society?
The debate goes back at least 400 years.
Michael McGhee
John Templeton Foundation
A man wearing a red headscarf sleeps against a tree with an open book in hand, while a dog lies nearby on the grass. A basket and fishing rod rest beside him.
6mins
The Well
Hustle culture kills happiness. Here’s how to escape it.
Hustle culture is part of our DNA — but it’s making us unhappy. Yale psychologist Laurie Santos explains how to escape your inner drill sergeant and find peace in imperfection.
Laurie Santos
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6mins
The Well
How your brain creates reality, explained by a neuroscientist
Your "social reality" isn’t an absolute reality. A leading neuroscientist explains why.
Lisa Feldman Barrett
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The Well
AI must be emotionally intelligent before it is super-intelligent
Sophia, the humanoid robot, is not just mirroring emotions; she's leading a revolution in emotional intelligence.
Julia Mossbridge
John Templeton Foundation
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6mins
The Well
Why virtue is key to your happiness
Knowing your key strengths can make you happy in anything you do. Here’s how to identify them.
Laurie Santos
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The Well
The hero of the Anthropocene has 8 billion faces — one of them is yours
The crisis of the Anthropocene challenges our traditional narratives and myths about humanity's place in the world. Citizen science can help.
Mary Ellen Hannibal
John Templeton Foundation
Two detailed anatomical illustrations show human heads: one sliced horizontally to reveal the brain, and the other showing exposed facial muscles, bones, and tissue.
5mins
The Well
The neuroscience of trauma
What sets trauma apart from regular bad experiences? A leading neuroscientist explains.
Lisa Feldman Barrett
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The Well
Theology professor: “Ancient Aliens” is fantasy fiction for atheists
Gods and angels have been replaced with hi-tech extraterrestrials.
Stephen Bullivant
John Templeton Foundation
Eight burnt matchsticks stand upright on an orange background, with the last match forming a scattered, crumbling silhouette.
6mins
The Well
Signs you’re burned out — and how to bounce back
If you don’t feel better after the weekend, the “burnout paradox” could explain why.
Laurie Santos
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