bigthinkeditor

Until now, the concept of info-vision–streaming information across a person’s field of view– was science fiction, but scientists have developed a prototype lens promising the real thing.

Researchers from the University of Milan and Facebook have found that the average number of acquaintances separating any two people in the world is now not six but 4.74.

Israel has established itself as a hi-tech hub thanks largely to some government jump-start funding, but compulsory military service and Jewish immigration have also been key.

This video depicts police at the University of California, Davis pepper-spraying seated protestors.

‘Tis the season to be savvy. Here’s a round-up of Big Thinkers’ favorite tech ideas for simplifying – and beautifying – your holiday. 

If and when Iran builds nuclear weapons, the U. S. would have a small arsenal of deterrence measures to discourage Iran from using them. The good news is they are likely to succeed.

How can China win affection across the world, and global supremacy to boot? By establishing a harmonious society free of today’s huge gaps between rich and poor.

Revelations about the Zwickau terror cell are a wake-up call for Germany, where more than 140 people have died as a result of far-right violence since reunification in 1990.

The shift in U.S. strategic attention toward Asia has even some astute commentators wondering why Americans should care about Asian security. It’s about keeping Asia divided.

A new book reveals the uncomfortable, even ugly, compromises that aid organisations are forced to make with groups and regimes which abuse human rights, to continue their work.

This week Big Think decided to give Twitter a big bear hug. Why? We realized the Twitosphere had (undeservedly) become the neglected stepchild of our various social media profiles. To […]

Twila Tharp’s choreography is showcased in this medley featuring “River of Dreams/Keeping the Faith/Only the Good Die Young” at the 2003 Tony Awards.

Two-thirds of online adults now use social media, and mainly to connect with family and friends. Few use these platforms to flirt or find new friends, a survey has found.

The argument over pseudonyms–the “nym wars”–is at the heart of Salman Rushdie’s recent tussle with Facebook and how the Internet might be organized in the future.

Seth Godin takes marketers to task over their failure to adjust to the internet revolution which has seen the cost of cost of a new customer plunge, in some cases to close to zero.

Wondered why your favorite Web page gets hung up or downloading of a large file inexplicably stalls? It’s often due to telecom operator using a technique called throttling.

Move away from the idea of getting people to click on ads and learn from sites which have generated a huge amount of loyalty online—like Drudge, Reddit, Techmeme and Fark.

It seems the prospect of a two-tier Europe is growing stronger. But there is already a three-tier one, in fact. The European Union is about as united as a conference of anarchists.

The “I’m stronger than you on national security” saber-rattling by Democrats and Republicans is cheap and dangerous, yet many Americans are sucked in by it.

In the middle-to-long term, the Iranian state can’t keep ignoring that democracy and human rights, not independence alone, are the measure of successful governance in the Arab world.

The Obama administration regards Asia as the defining competition of the next century. But instead of looking east, the U. S. really needs to look south–it needs Latin America.

Once upon a time it was Uncle Sam who came to the rescue of other nations but eyes are on Beijing to save Europe. America is not ‘over’ but let’s acknowledge its heyday has passed.

Math Problem for Today: 111111 X 111111 = ? Follow Daniel Honan on Twitter @DanielHonan

“There’s always an opportunity to give money, if that’s an option,” says Mary Ellen Iskenderian. “But giving money is just not sufficient.”  

Honda’s Asimo robot can now run faster, balance better on uneven surfaces, hop on one foot and even pour a drink. Some of those skills may allow it help clean up the Fukushima plant.

Employers now have a new tool “to cut through the crap and get to the right person” when recruiting–a video interview screening service.

Twitter’s microblogging/social network is much smaller than Facebook. So why do tweets have the edge in promoting news content–especially on mobile?

Two-thirds of people surveyed in the U. K. support the temporary shutdown of services such as Twitter and Facebook in future riots in order to stem the spread of unrest.

Online encyclopedia pioneer Jimmy Wales is excited about the explosion of people online, saying it even gives those living under tyrants the power to demand change.

Iran–with apparent help from Soviet, Pakistani and North Korean experts–is near to nuclear capability, according to a bombshell report by the International Atomic Energy Agency.