sociology
Between 30% and 50% of the US population says they believe in ghosts.
This is a perversion of justice.
We can never hope for a future with no problems. The solutions to problems create new problems, which in turn require new solutions, as WIRED founder Kevin Kelly explained recently.
Fiona Broome remembered Nelson Mandela dying in prison in the 1980s (he didn’t). Oddly, many people had the same false memory.
From time-traveling billiard balls to information-destroying black holes, the world’s got plenty of puzzles that are hard to wrap your head around.
Expressing gratitude encourages others to continue being generous, promoting a cycle of goodness.
Americans are more willing to put the greater good above their own interests today than in the 1950s.
From politics to culture, we blame “tribalism” for humanity’s problems. This explanation is entirely wrong.
Instead of liberation, the sexual revolution has led some people, particularly men, to be addicted to porn.
If you don’t mourn in North Korea, you risk being executed.
We asked 11 experts about the future of progress for humanity.
If you want to escape the negativity, head to Kazakhstan.
Democracy is in decline, regardless of how we measure it.
When you don’t know what you’re looking for, it’s easier to miss it.
Just a small gesture or a thoughtful comment can often alter a situation, or people’s perceptions of it, in ways that relieve tensions and make them feel appreciated and included.
Think you should speak about 40% of the time in conversation? How about 70%?
“Our risk-benefit analysis showed that benefits exceeded procedural risks… by up to 200 to 1.”
Queen Elizabeth II has died. How is this loss different from that of a loved one?
Bring not a bagpipe to a man in trouble.
For many people, a challenge to their worldview feels like an attack on their personal identity.
Today’s young people are intelligent and kind, but they are overworked and burned out.
The minimum wage is a popular policy, but it’s not the only way governments have tried to help workers secure a decent living.
Be famous within five miles.
We’re overthinking being nice.
Mixed messages and competing interests have left college students feeling lost and stressed.
People who rate themselves as highly knowledgeable about cats are more likely to interact with cats in ways they don’t like.
Bloodcurdling war cries, shrieking elephants, and whistling arrows all made soldiers flee in terror.
What’s the point of all that money?