Values and ethical living

Self-knowledge and personal growth Relationships, work and leisure Values and ethical living

Bioethics Civic life Cultural diversity Ethics Fairness and equality Human rights and justice Meaning and the good life Nature and the environment Neurodiversity Progress and the future Race and ethnicity Values and beliefs Virtues and vices Wisdom

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Illustration of diverse people in warm earth tones overlapping in a crowd, highlighting various cultures and expressions.

Wisdom

idea

Wisdom is a virtue, but how do we judge if someone has it?

Our team explored who is considered wise in cultures with contrasting philosophical traditions. The results surprised us

by Maksim Rudnev & Igor Grossmann

Photo of a busy night street market with people and colourful tricycles in the Philippines, lit by street lights and signage.

Communication and language

idea

The tentacles of language are always on the move

An evolutionary biologist explains how human language can shift as slowly or rapidly as organisms adapting to life on Earth

by Klaus M Stiefel

Photo of five burned matchsticks with blackened, charred tips, arranged in a row on a white background. The order shows partially burnt matches through to a fully burnt match.

Mental health

guide

How to recover from burnout

Feeling worn down, checked out, or bitter about work? The answer is not to ‘just work harder’. Try these steps instead

by Debbie Sorensen

Black and white photo of three children standing outdoors under a cloudy sky. The boy on the left wears a flat cap and checked shirt with trousers, while the two girls on the right wear patterned headscarves and dresses, smiling and looking into the distance.

Values and beliefs

film

For Hutterites, ‘love thy neighbour’ is both gospel and practical necessity

Directed by Colin Low

Photo of six people sitting on a bench in a waiting area appearing bored or pensive.

Civic life

idea

Bureaucracy and other civic bullshit can be good for us

No one enjoys waiting in stuffy buildings or on congested roadways, but there’s an upside to our fellowship of frustration

by Joel Cox

Clay sculpture of a standing female figure with folded arms against a dark background, worn and aged with visible markings

History of emotions

idea

To ancient Assyrians, the liver was the seat of happiness

Cutting-edge computational techniques are shedding light on how the emotional experiences of past cultures compare to ours

by Juha Lahnakoski & Ellie Bennett

Black-and-white photograph of a person in a jacket standing outdoors in a foggy environment, looking up with eyes closed.

Spirituality and religion

guide

How to find new spiritual practices

Even if religion isn’t for you, there’s a world of rituals and tools to lift yourself up and connect to something greater

by Morgan Shipley

A rake with a wooden handle rakes through sand dunes, its trail mixing with shadows from a line of multicoloured flags.

Meaning and the good life

film

An artist captures the joys of solitude amid a month living in a beach shack

Directed by Lynne Sachs

A protest with people holding signs that read ‘We are worth more’ and ‘Strike for 15’; large Ronald McDonald figure in the background

Human rights and justice

idea

Most protests fail. What are activists doing right when they win?

The science of protest reveals successful tactics and common weak points. Those who want change should take it onboard

by Lisa Mueller

Painting of a bundled stack of old ten-dollar bills tied with a green ribbon set against a dark brown background.

Virtues and vices

idea

Greedy people might be frowned upon, but are they the winners?

Some individuals have a persistent tendency to want ever more stuff and status. Psychologists are examining the lives they lead

by Karlijn Hoyer

A person hugs two young children near a brick wall in a garden, with plants and greenery around them.

Caregiving

guide

How to get the most out of caregiving

Giving care is hard, but it’s one of the most meaningful things you can do. Here’s how to change up your perspective

by Elissa Strauss

A woman with grey curly hair is sorting plant materials on an outdoor table in a garden, with various green and flowering plants in the background.

Nature and the environment

film

From freeze to bloom – the rhythms and splendour of life on a flower farm

Directed by Oriel Danielson