Culture & Religion — December 18, 2009

Lady Gaga Ushers in a New Era in Feminism

Well, not exactly. But Jessica Valenti, founder of Feministing.com, spoke with Big Think about how she admires the pop star for her pluck and blunt sexuality. Much of the interview focused on the beginnings of her blog and what she sees as threats to feminism.

Valenti also spoke about the challenges she faces as a political writer, especially with so many aggressive “haters” commenting on her blog. Along with talking about her influences, the newly wed also candidly discussed her controversial marriage.

a computer generated image of a human brain.

Thinking

The great free will debate featuring Michio Kaku and Steven Pinker

Who — or what — really controls your mind?

Building destroyed by the Halifax Explosion. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.

The Past

The largest accidental explosion of all time

More than a century ago, Halifax suffered an accidental blast one-fifth the size of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

a collage of photos of a man with a hat and a book.

High Culture

6 great books with wildly unreliable narrators

Dive into the twisted truths and concealed realities told by literature’s most unreliable narrators.

a group of five matches on a pink background.

The Well

Signs you’re burned out — and how to bounce back

If you don’t feel better after the weekend, the “burnout paradox” could explain why.

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7 min

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with

Laurie Santos

Starts With A Bang

The trick to instantly identifying JWST images

If you can identify a foreground star, the spike patterns are a dead giveaway as to whether it’s a JWST image or any other observatory.

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Technology & Innovation

Thinking Ahead at The Wall Street Journal

When News Corporation bought The Wall Street Journal in 2007, coverage was expanded to include arts and entertainment and large color photos were placed on its front pages. While a […]