Big Think

Are humans naturally selfless? Psychologist Abigail Marsh is using studies on psychopathy and altruism to find out.

Abigail Marsh, a psychology and neuroscience professor at Georgetown University, explains how the world is impacted by those with psychopathy, and, additionally, those who practice extreme altruism.

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🩸 **“No, Periods Aren’t for Detox – And Humans Don’t ‘Cycle Sync.’”**

Renowned OBGYN Dr. Jen Gunter busts some of the most harmful myths about menstruation, from the fantasy of pheromones and "cycle syncing" to the false idea that periods cleanse the body of toxins. Menstruation isn’t a monthly detox—it’s a complex biological process deeply tied to human evolution, reproduction, and health.

She warns: most people, including many doctors, are dangerously underinformed about what a normal cycle looks like. And that ignorance isn’t just annoying—it’s being weaponized by laws that treat women as little more than vessels for pregnancy.

Dr. Gunter explains the real science behind menstrual cramps, PMS, and the role of prostaglandins—the real culprits behind period pain and menstrual diarrhea. Apps and social media may glamorize menstrual tracking or fitness syncing, but she emphasizes: much of that advice is based on bad or no science—and in some cases, tracking apps could be used against women in places where reproductive rights are under attack.

🔥 "Evolution doesn’t care if you suffer,” she says. “It just wants you to reproduce." That’s why **understanding your cycle is not just about health—it's about power**.

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Menstrual myths debunked, cycle syncing is a myth, menstruation and toxins, real menstrual science, Dr. Jen Gunter menstrual cycle facts, understanding period cramps, prostaglandins period pain, NSAIDs for menstrual pain, endometriosis warning signs, dangers of period tracking apps, abortion laws and menstrual data, menstrual education and advocacy, real purpose of menstruation, decidualization explained, evidence-based menstrual care, hormone myths busted, ovulation pain (mittelschmerz), menstrual diarrhea causes, reproductive health awareness, menstrual cycle variability, estrous vs menstrual cycle.

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"There is so much more uncertainty and volatility in a world that is moving fast with big countries that are more at odds with each other and with fewer rules of the road that leaders, companies, and societies are adhering to."

Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media, has been delivering his insightful Top Risks Report for 15 years. The primary objective? To systematically outline how we should approach the world's most significant threats and opportunities in any given year.Bremmer's Top Risks report stands in stark contrast to the clickbait and anger-inducing algorithmic news dominating social platforms. Rather than succumbing to sensationalism, the report serves as a rallying point for professionals and the wider public to focus on what truly matters for global success. It navigates the realm of reality, steering away from ideology and personal biases."The G-Zero world and America first are working together in lockstep, and that means more ungoverned spaces, more rogue actors, more geopolitical instability and more conflict. That's where we're heading in 2025." Here, Bremmer presents his top 10 risks demanding our attention and preparation in the year 2025.

Chapters For Easier Navigation:00:00: Top 10 threats of 202500:48: Mexican standoff02:28: Ungoverned spaces04:56: AI unbound07:03: Beggar thy world08:40: Iran on the ropes10:34: Russia still rogue12:22: Trumponomics14:44: US-China breakdown16:51: Rule of Don19:45: The G-Zero winsAbout Ian Bremmer:Ian Bremmer is the president and founder of Eurasia Group, the leading global political risk research and consulting firm started in 1998. Today, the company has offices in New York, Washington, and London, as well as a network of experts and resources around the world. Bremmer has authored several books, including the national bestseller The End of the Free Market: Who Wins the War Between States and Corporations?

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One day we might fall into a black hole. Here’s what we can expect, according to physicist Janna Levin.

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📏 **Do we really need to measure intelligence?**

In today’s culture, there's a constant push to quantify everything — including how "smart" someone is. But are test scores really telling us the full story?

Our current education system defines intelligence as a student’s ability to recall and reproduce information on a standardized test. This narrow approach may reveal how well a child performs *under specific conditions*, but it says little about their **true potential**.

📚 The real issue?

This system often undermines a child’s sense of agency. It trains them to solve problems crafted by others, within constraints they didn’t create — rather than exploring open-ended, real-world challenges.

🌱 Instead, we should recognize a different kind of intelligence:

**Ecological, adaptive, lived intelligence** — the ability to navigate complexity, think creatively in real time, and make meaning on the fly. This is the kind of thinking our society truly needs, yet we rarely measure or nurture it.

🧠 Intelligence isn’t just about getting the “right” answer. It’s about asking new questions, adapting, inventing — and thriving in unpredictable environments.

Maybe it’s time we stopped testing for conformity and started supporting **real-world intelligence**.

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Can the power of community transform our educational systems for the better? This neuroscientist says absolutely.

Mary Helen Immordino-Yang is a neuroscientist and USC professor, and she has spent her career studying education and the ways we can enhance it. Her findings claim that diversity has a huge impact on brain growth and even life experience. She explains that similarly to how fabric is composed of thousands of intricately woven threads, our schools need the active coordination of many people and skills, making them stronger together.

Immordino-Yang stresses the importance of this strong social fabric, explaining that spending time around those who differ from us can help us become adaptable and truly deepen our understanding of the world around us. This idea calls for a new approach to education, where teachers and students work together to create systems of learning that help them grow alongside one another, instead of on confined and isolated paths.

**🎓 Rethinking Education: From Standardized to Human-Centered**

Our current education system is built on a “single story” — one path, one right answer, one judgment that matters. But this model fails to capture the true potential of young minds.

### 🌍 A New Center:

We need a *Copernican shift* in education:

- **From** testing outcomes

- **To** lived experiences, relationships, and agency

Ask:

- What thinking happens in this space?

- How do we co-create meaning?

- What power do students and teachers have to shape learning?

### 🧠 Humans as Ecosystems:

We're not just individuals learning in isolation — we are **part of each other’s environments**. Our development is shaped by our social worlds, and in turn, shapes them.

### 🛠️ What Needs Repair:

- Standardized systems **disconnect knowledge from purpose**

- They suppress agency — the very thing that fuels real thinking

- We must **rebuild education as a community project** that nurtures human development

> 🎯 True learning happens when students feel ownership, think deeply, and build meaning **together** — not just when they get the “right answer.”

About Mary Helen Immordino-Yang:

Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, EdD, is an expert on the psychological and neurobiological foundations of social emotion, self-awareness, and culture, and how they impact learning, development, and education.

She is a Professor of Education at the USC Rossier School of Education, a Professor of Psychology at the Brain and Creativity Institute, a faculty member in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at the University of Southern California, and the Director of the USC Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning, and Education (CANDLE).

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**🕊️ From Prison to Freedom: A Journey of Inner Liberation**

Before he ever stepped into a prison cell, he was already imprisoned—by trauma, grief, and the belief that his life had no other path but death or incarceration. This gripping story traces a man’s transformation from a street-hardened teen to a soul awakened behind bars.

🚨 Shot at 17. Convicted of second-degree murder at 19.

🔒 Spent 19 years incarcerated—seven in solitary confinement.

😞 Haunted by shame, loss, and a sense of dehumanization.

But inside those walls, he found **three personal miracles**:

📚 **Books** – Malcolm X’s story sparked hope and a thirst for education.

💌 **Forgiveness** – A letter from his victim’s loved one opened his heart.

👶 **Fatherhood** – His son’s words drove him to become a man worth admiring.

He reimagined his prison cell as a **university**, a **creator’s den**, a **meditation room**. And when the doors finally opened—just after his 38th birthday—he stepped into the world reborn.

🌍 Now, freedom means…

Dancing for no reason.

Crying without shame.

Being present.

Loving deeply.

**"Freedom is trusting that the moment you're in is divine."**

—A raw and powerful reminder that true liberation starts from within.

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Sure, IQ is important, but is it as impactful as emotional intelligence? Renowned psychologist and author Daniel Goleman explains.

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With just four simple questions, she begins to dismantle the beliefs that once held her hostage. What happens when you stop believing your own thoughts? What if freedom is closer than you think?

“I saw that when I believed my thoughts, I suffered, and when I didn’t believe them, I didn’t suffer.”

Author and public speaker Byron Katie shares how she transformed her life after discovering ‘The Work’, a method for identifying the thoughts that cause pain and suffering. By asking herself four simple yet profound questions, she found a way to recover from her agoraphobia, reunite with her family, and begin teaching others how to heal. Katie’s strategy for ending suffering lies in asking yourself four questions about the thoughts you’re having: Is it true? Can you absolutely know it’s true? How do you react when you believe it? Who are you without the thought?By asking yourself these questions, Katie explains how you can begin to escape the mentalities that hold you back. Her method shows us that peace doesn’t come from changing the world—it comes from changing how we see it.

About Byron Katie: Byron Katie is an author and teacher who helps people find peace by questioning their stressful thoughts. In 1986, after years of depression, she experienced a life-changing realization that led her to create The Work, a simple process of self-inquiry. Her books, like Loving What Is and A Thousand Names for Joy, have touched millions. Through workshops and talks, Katie shares a path to clarity and freedom, helping people live with more acceptance and ease.

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He co-created one of TV’s funniest shows. He still felt like a failure in his 30s. This is comedian Neal Brennan’s story about conquering toxic self-talk.

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