Consciousness
idea
When does the first spark of human consciousness ignite?
We can’t ask babies what they’re feeling, but ingenious new methods are shedding light on the origins of subjective awareness
by Joel Frohlich
Death and dying
idea
It’s not foolish to foster hope in the face of illness and death
As a great loss loomed, I feared straying too far from the hard truth. But I learned to distinguish denial from hope
by Christiana Boules
Technology and media
idea
Why deepfakes pose less of a threat than many predict
Applying Descartes’ sceptical puzzle to deepfake videos reveals the challenge they present is one that we can rise to
by Keith Raymond Harris
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
Stories and literature
idea
Your life is not a story: why narrative thinking holds you back
Our stories help us make sense of a chaotic world, but they can be harmful and restrictive. There’s a liberating alternative
by Karen Simecek
Sadness and sorrow
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Avoiding sadness can backfire, here’s how to turn towards it
Everyone has stretches of sadness. Shifting how you think about and relate to sad feelings could help you through these times
by Beth Kurland
Place
idea
‘Place authenticity’ is an important, overlooked part of life
From indie bookshops to artisan cafes, spending time in unique, characterful places can enrich your own sense of self
by Ashley Krause
Work and vocation
idea
Six ways to use clothes to boost your confidence at work
Regardless of your budget or fashion sense, dressing with more intention can benefit your mindset and performance
by Dahlia Stroud
Technology and media
idea
Why teenagers are deliberately seeking brain rot on TikTok
Talking to teens reveals a hidden sophistication to their media use. Rather than policing it, maybe we could learn from it
by Emilie Owens
Knowledge and reason
idea
Long COVID brain fog was my enemy. How did it become my friend?
The confusion of my illness helped me understand Buddhist theories of ignorance and its role in the relief of suffering
by Emily McRae
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
The self
idea
Why bad doodles can reveal more about you than good drawings
For Marion Milner, ‘not being able’ is a valuable state – one that allows for new and unexpected forms of learning
by David Russell