Why it’s possible to be optimistic in a world of bad news
The original optimist, Leibniz, was mocked and misunderstood. Centuries later, his worldview can help us navigate modern life
by Sumit Paul-Choudhury
Progress and the future
We need the toolkit of utopian thinking, now more than ever
Many dismiss utopian ideas. But imagining a better world is a vital political skill for tackling today’s challenges
by Caitlin Rajan
The empathy gap that is imperilling future generations
To protect our descendants from catastrophe, we must overcome the emotional hurdles that make it easy for us to look away
by Matthew Coleman
How to do mental time travel
Feeling overwhelmed by the present moment? Find a connection to the longer view and a wiser perspective on what matters
by Richard Fisher
The myth of machine consciousness makes Narcissus of us all
The idea that AI can be conscious is a mistake. It’s just a very shiny mirror of humanity, reflecting what we want to see
by David Bentley Hart
Working ‘like chopsticks’, two married artists create independently, in tandem
Directed by Bryan Chang and Vicky Du
What does water want? Most humans seem to have forgotten
Asking what water wants sounds a bit mystical, even radical. But it’s a practical, proven path to creating a better world
by Erica Gies
Stick figures meet existential angst in this acclaimed, darkly comedic short
Directed by Don Hertzfeldt
The fate of a London landmark inspires a feverish rumination on progress
Directed by Alice May Williams
What the journey from Star Trek to Siri says about our culture
The talking computer in Star Trek takes the culture and technology of the present and dreams up future possibilities
by Liz W Faber
What our fantasies about futuristic food say about us
Once ‘future foods’ were powdered and automatic, but times change and today they have become about speed and social justice
by Kelly Alexander
Over-optimism about racial justice is widespread and harmful
Achieving racial justice takes work, but narratives of ever-unfolding progress can make it seem as if the job is already done
by Michael Kraus
Utopian thinking prompts us to get real about society’s needs
Visions of utopia challenge what is considered to be realistic and help us start to see what must change in social life
by William Paris
The sex tech to come could offer more than ‘the real thing’
Sexbots and other artificial lovers might arouse discomfort, but their continued advances could have unexpected upsides
by Rob Brooks
From the astronauts to humanity itself, ‘Earthrise’ has left an indelible mark
Directed by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee
The sink in the hall: how pandemics transform architecture
From the sink in the hall to the UV light in the bus depot: how pandemics past and present can transform architecture
by Theodora Philcox