Society

Ancient technology that was centuries ahead of its time

These forward-thinking inventions are often called “ahead of their time.” They are reflections of the ingenuity of their civilizations.

Tim Brinkhof

Building Community

More Americans than ever have no friends. Here are 5 steps to make more friends.

The last decade has seen a steep drop in adult friendships and a worrying increase in loneliness. Is this the cost of our modern life?

Elizabeth Gilbert

Psychology

The secrets of cooperation

Most people care what others think of them. In many situations, that can be leveraged for the common good — cooperation.

Bob Holmes | Knowable Magazine

Education

How college in prison is leading professors to rethink how they teach

College in prison reduces the chance of reoffending, but it also dramatically changes the perspective of the professors who teach them.

Mneesha Gellman

Criminal Justice

Norway helped remake a US prison. Here’s what happened.

With single cells, a communal kitchen, Nordic-like furnishings and a landscaped, outdoor green space, it looks unlike any other U.S. prison.

Synøve Nygaard Andersen and Jordan Hyatt

Psychology

The missing apex of Maslow’s hierarchy could save us all

In his later years, psychologist Abraham Maslow added a new apex to the pyramid of human needs: self-transcendence.

Robby Berman

Homelessness

New tiny home village for unhoused people to open in 2023

Salt Lake City is building a new tiny home village to help Utahns experiencing chronic homelessness get off the street permanently.

Kristin Houser

Criminal Justice

Biden pardons federal cannabis possession cases, urges states to do the same

The Biden administration is pardoning federal possession offenses, encouraging states to do the same, and reexamining its drug scheduling.

B. David Zarley

Psychology

Americans are becoming more likely to cooperate with strangers, not less

Americans are more likely to cooperate with strangers today than they were in the 1950s, according to the American Psychological Association.

Kristin Houser

Drugs

San Francisco decriminalizes plant-based psychedelics

San Francisco joins Oakland, Santa Cruz, DC, and Denver in decriminalizing some psychedelics.

B. David Zarley

Poverty

Fighting poverty with direct cash payments

GiveDirectly has delivered over $500 million in cash to impoverished people, letting recipients decide how best to meet their needs.

Zach Winn | MIT News Office

Psychology

To make great changes in your life, follow the philosophy of kaizen

Kaizen asks us to make small changes, slowly and over time. It's a hard skill to master in an age of instant gratification.

Jonny Thomson

Psychology

Mathematicians suggest the “37% rule” for life’s biggest decisions

Mathematicians tell us that, to maximize the chances of the best outcome, we ought to ditch the first 37% of any options.

Jonny Thomson

Sections

Video

Freethink

We focus on solutions: the smartest people, the biggest ideas, and the most ground breaking technology shaping our future.