Politics & Current Affairs

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to resume his nation’s commercial whaling ventures in the Antarctic seas despite the International Court of Justice’s ruling in March forbidding it.

Young artists are fleeing New York and searching for new, accessible locales to set up shop. Detroit’s budding arts scene has welcomed them with open arms.

How do you avoid a panic? Timothy Geithner knows quite well. In his memoir, Stress Test: Reflections on Financial Crisis, he gives you a fly-on-the-wall look at how our global […]

NEW YORK – In his review of Nina Munk’s error-filled and out-of-date book, Bill Gates oddly abandons the rigorous approach to measurement and evaluation that defines his foundation’s invaluable work. […]

Constitutions that grant citizens the right to revolt often do so to legitimize the process by which a new government comes to power. Yet that right tends to come back to bite regimes whose opponents seek legitimacy.

Terminally ill patients in Quebec may now elect to end their lives. The new law comes at a time when national debate on voluntary euthanasia is heating up in Canada.

The wage hike represents uncharted territory for American economists, who are accustomed to seeing wage increases account only for inflation. The $15 rate, however, makes real gains.

Much weight falls on the shoulders of the executive branch’s mouth.

Philosopher Roberto Unger outlines the problem with illusion of false necessity.

The world’s most famous scientist has withdrawn from an annual conference to be hosted by Israel’s president, Shimon Peres, citing Israel’s mistreatment of neighboring Palestinians as the cause.

Chris Kirk, the Chief Executive Officer of GEMS Education Solutions, on how schools can better prepare students for the challenges of tomorrow.

The common theme that binds Stevens’ proposed amendments is his belief in the right of self-governance.

Because states are increasingly given to using untested chemicals to carry out executions, some legislatures have passed secrecy laws that shield the chemical providers from public scrutiny.

A new startup offers a solution to the problem of urban congestion: Collect data from transit programs, calculate estimated peak travel times, and offer rewards to commuters who avoid those periods.

Cash-strapped nutritional organizations have steadily increased the extent to which their views are influenced by large food companies from PepsiCo, Domino’s Pizza, Nestlé, and so on.

A forthcoming Boston College report suggests that smart businesses should evaluate their parental leave practices if they want to attract quality employees…regardless of gender.

Students, faculty, staff and alumni helped convince the university’s board that it would be better to divert those funds to companies offering environmentally friendly energy alternatives.

The law, which goes into effect on July 1, lays down fines for individuals and organizations who use profanity in their works of art. It also requires existing works to carry special labeling.

The meters, which roll out later this year, represent the city’s latest attempt to control air pollution. Drivers of electric cars will get to park for free, while those with diesel cars should probably consider taking public transportation.

This week the agency put out a Request for Information in hopes of attracting creative thinkers who can help them “achieve the most science at minimum cost.”

Experts say El Hierro is expected to become the first island in the world to get all its electricity from wind and water power without assistance from any outside power grid.

At the Pacific Community Ventures annual conference on impact investing this past Tuesday,  Executive Director Beth Sirull pointed to the leverage that PCV creates with its donations:  $3,300 in grants […]

Jen Sky is a very pretty woman. She’s a former Maxim covergirl, and starred on the Sci-Fi drama Cleopatra 2525. She’s also a very smart woman, who is dedicating her […]

Do smarter students smoke more pot?   According to the video below by DNews, children who tested as having high IQs were more likely to grow up to smoke a […]

As we approach our national day of mourning, the April 15th tax filing deadline, Americans once again are witness to an apparently spontaneous breakout of Kabuki theatre in our capital.  […]

“Education must be the only sector that hasn’t already been completely revolutionized by technology,” says Wendy Kopp, the CEO and co-founder of Teach For All, and the founder and chair […]

As far as I know, no major religion holds as a central tenet the unvacuumability of the penis.

Introducing Big Think @ GESF. Today, we’re releasing the first set of interviews consisting of answers to questions that you, our audience, sent us over Twitter and Facebook. 

John Horgan: The United States is an extremely militaristic culture right now and we are armed to the teeth and we are very aggressive in pursuing our interests violently around […]

Butterfinger bars and Reese’s Pieces nicely straddle the middle of the continuum, as does the airy, malty, chocolaty, rift-healing Three Musketeers.