Words of Wisdom — November 30, 2013

Jonathan Swift on How to Spot Genius

“When a true genius appears, you can know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him.” -Jonathan Swift (born on this day in 1667)

bigthinkeditor

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

“When a true genius appears, you can know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him.”

-Jonathan Swift (born on this day in 1667)

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

A creative spark ignites amidst darkness.

The Learning Curve

“The Onion” founder explains his strategy for sparking creativity

Scott Dikkers discusses comedy, the creative process, and life lessons learned playing peekaboo.

Collage of geopolitical symbols, featuring a close-up of a man's bald head, China's flag, a globe highlighting Taiwan, and circuit patterns.

The Present

Why the USSR and China fell behind the US in the Chip Cold War

Both nations made missteps, but China still has a chance to make up lost ground.

Person examining a petri dish with tweezers, holding small colored objects, against a dark background.

Health

Are microplastics really destroying our health?

They’re in our brains, hearts, and blood — but what are they doing to us?

Collage showcasing a stratospheric balloon soaring over Earth and a close-up of fingers, with "The Nightcrawler" emblazoned at the top, capturing the spirit of a creative renaissance.

Business

How AI is ushering in a creative renaissance

Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.

Two colorful cells with purple nuclei, green cell edges, and radiating filament structures against a black background.

Health

When muscles work out, they help neurons to grow

The findings suggest that biochemical and physical effects of exercise could help heal nerves.

Up Next

Meet R2-D2’s ‘Evil Twin’ Security Guard

While this robot may provide security, some experts also fear its monitoring capabilities will further erode personal privacy.