big ideas

Maybe we should worry more about solar storms.

Inside this article you’ll learn how carbon dating works. “1859’s Carrington event gave us a preview of how catastrophic the Sun could be for humanity. But it could get even worse than we imagined.” | learn more

under the microscope

Soft sounds numb pain.

A fascinating experiment demonstrates how. “Overall, low sounds seem to blunt neurological signals between the auditory cortex and thalamus, tamping down on pain processing in the thalamus, the team concluded. The analgesic effects lasted up to 2 days after the […]

retail therapy

The lipstick effect.

“In beauty circles, the Lipstick Effect, also called the Lipstick Index, is claimed to be the category’s leading economic indicator. The concept is that in times of a recession and other economic stresses, women will indulge in discretionary purchases that […]

to your health

Prosopagnosia.

Will this become a more common diagnosis in the future? “Brad Pitt is one of the most recognizable faces in acting. But, as the Academy Award winning actor revealed in an interview with GQ last month, recognizing faces is something […]

better doing

Life is not short.

“This is a fictional but realistic interview with Seneca based on his essay “On The Shortness Of Life”. His responses are either direct quotes, or based on his writings. Citations are included so you can see the original context for […]

better doing

It’s worse than you think.

“Here’s a surprisingly useful question to ask yourself next time you’re stumped by a problem, daunted by a challenge, or stuck in a creative rut: “What if this situation is even worse than I thought?” | learn more

oh, chicago

Timeout ranks Chicago 2nd best city in the world.

 I’m assuming they did this poll in the summer, not winter. “Every year, Time Out quizzes more than 20,000 urbanites from across the world about life in their cities, inviting them to weigh in on everything from the local food, […]

fun facts

The race to reclaim the dark.

“Some 200 places around the world have now achieved Dark Sky status. Frankie Adkins explores the benefits nights without light pollution can bring.” | learn more