Do we inhabit a multiverse? Do we have free will? What is love? Is evolution directional? There are no simple answers to life’s biggest questions, and that’s why they’re the questions occupying the world’s brightest minds. Together, let's learn from them. Welcome to The Well, a publication by the John Templeton Foundation and Big Think.
Featured Interviews
“Can I explain how matter became life? Yeah, rocks to dinosaurs is one, yep.
Assembly Theory challenges the notion that life is vastly impossible, because Assembly Theory explains how rocks, step-by-step, by grinding together, undergo selection, and produce complexity, step-by-step-by-step. This is something that we are able to quantify very carefully.”
Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, EdD, is an expert on the psychological and neurobiological foundations of social emotion, self-awareness, and culture, and how they impact learning, development, and education.
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Arthur C. Brooks is a professor at both the Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, where he teaches public and nonprofit leadership and management practice. Before joining Harvard in[…]
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Robert Hazen is a renowned American mineralogist and geologist, known for his pioneering work in mineral evolution and mineral ecology.
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Featured Article
If the “self” is not real, then we are slaves to a billiard ball universe, trapped in a nihilistic nightmare in which we cannot change our fate.
“Common wisdom says we have a self and that self is the source of our free will, but...
the subject of the self is riddled with paradoxes. Because the mind has been categorized as something “nonphysical,” its definition alone places the self outside of physical cause-and-effect, and beyond the scope of science. However, as with many philosophical quandaries that involve the proposal of a thesis and the emergence of a counter-thesis (or antithesis, in the words of Hegel), a synthesis often emerges, reconciling seemingly disparate views into a more coherent and sensible perspective.”
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“The physics of the universe doesn't predict the emergence of biology.” Glasgow chemist Lee Cronin explains how inanimate matter becomes evolutionary.
“We have this incredible drive in our culture to enumerate everything, to measure everything.” Should we be doing that with intelligence?
“Not only does Mother Nature not care about your happiness, she knows that we need lots of negative emotions to keep us alive.” Harvard happiness professor on why suffering IS…
“We wouldn’t be able to talk about minerals if it weren’t for the minerals themselves.” Mineralogist Bob Hazen explains how Earth’s rocks can teach us about our planet’s technicolor history.
Traditional definitions of wellbeing focus on the absence of mental illness or disease. But true wellbeing goes beyond that, says this neuroscientist:
The mind-blowing theory that everything is evolving—from minerals to music—explained in 3 minutes by a Carnegie scientist:
Finding meaning isn’t just personally fulfilling — it’s critical to our brain’s development, explains USC neuroscientist.
There’s never been more ways to connect with the people in our lives — so why are we lonelier than ever?
All Stories
Yes, you CAN be a “math person” — as long as you follow these learning techniques.
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“Resilience” is being able to withstand hardship; “antifragility” goes one step further.
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If the “self” is not real, then we are slaves to a billiard ball universe, trapped in a nihilistic nightmare in which we cannot change our fate.
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We’re often ashamed to say, “I don’t know” — but this professional poker player thinks it’s one of our greatest strengths.
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There are 3 key principles that separate a good conversation from a great one — and they’ll completely change how you communicate.
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NASA’s Michelle Thaller explains what happens when the densest stars in the galaxy collide.
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Humanity is never fully in control of its creations. This lesson from Mary Shelley has remained relevant for over 200 years.
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From marketing to social media, today’s world preys on your values. Here’s how to reclaim them and find true happiness.
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A physicist discusses the boundaries of reality and experimentation.
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Quantum wormholes are mathematically possible — but might also be physically impossible. Physicist Janna Levin explains Hawking’s famous information paradox.
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Is true equality achievable — or even desirable? Go on a journey through the strange and unsettling “Land of Justice.”
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Do humans share one consciousness? This psychologist says yes.
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Gravity defies quantum mechanics. What does that mean for a theory of everything?
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This biologist built a living robot from frog cells — and it could hold the key to the future of regenerative medicine.
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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.
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How do “you” emerge from a collection of cells? A biologist explains.
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Scientists can’t define spirituality. But we can study its healing effects, says this Columbia psychologist.
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Spirituality declines, depression rises. Is there a link?
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How the simple act of watching twilight can radically transform our perception of the world and our role within it.
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Evolution doesn’t fix things — it reinvents them. A biologist explains.
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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.
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Alchemy had its golden age in the 17th century, when it counted Isaac Newton and Robert Boyle among its adherents.
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Modern life replaced spirituality with goal-setting — and it’s making us depressed. Here’s how to win back your happiness.
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The debate goes back at least 400 years.
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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.
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Your “social reality” isn’t an absolute reality. A leading neuroscientist explains why.
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Sophia, the humanoid robot, is not just mirroring emotions; she’s leading a revolution in emotional intelligence.
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Knowing your key strengths can make you happy in anything you do. Here’s how to identify them.
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The crisis of the Anthropocene challenges our traditional narratives and myths about humanity’s place in the world. Citizen science can help.
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What sets trauma apart from regular bad experiences? A leading neuroscientist explains.
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