Big Brains

Neutrino Hunters: Searching for Ghostly Particles in Antarctic Ice, with Abigail Vieregg

Deep beneath the ice of Antarctica and high above its frozen expanse, University of Chicago astrophysicist Abby Vieregg is hunting for neutrinos—some of the most elusive

Recreating A Sense of Touch, Using Our Minds, with Nicholas Hatsopoulos

What if your thoughts could allow you to feel the texture of an object, type a message or move a robotic arm? How does the brain translate thought into physical movement,

Why The Key to Treating Cancer May Be In Your Gut, with Thomas Gajewski

For decades, traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation have targeted tumors directly—often with severe side effects and mixed results. But what if the

The Little-Known Secrets To A Good Life, with Shigehiro Oishi

What makes a good life? For decades, psychologists have debated whether true fulfillment comes from happiness—a life of comfort and joy—or meaning—a life of purpose and i

How to Use Nature to Restore Your Focus, with Marc Berman

What if the secret to restoring your focus, improving your mental health, and even reducing crime rates wasn’t found in an app or a pill, but in a tree? In this episode,

How to Raise Kids in the Age of AI, with Dana Suskind

As AI rapidly changes how we work, learn, and communicate, it also raises an urgent question: What does it mean to grow up in a world dominated by smart technology? From

What Our Trash Problem Says About Our Culture, with Sarah Newman

Every day, we throw things away, only to be forgotten forever. But society didn’t always work in the same way. In this episode, we speak with University of Chicago schola

How Websites Trick You Using ‘Dark Patterns’ with Marshini Chetty

Why does it seem so difficult to cancel an online subscription, delete an account, or opt out of data tracking? You might think it’s just bad luck or a confusing online i

Quantum Technology, Explained: A Big Brains Live Event

Quantum technology is at a pivotal moment. No longer the faraway dream of scientists, the field is rapidly developing across the world, fueled by major investments from g

Our Untapped Superpower: Connecting With Others, with Nicholas Epley

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Why the Fed Matters Now More Than Ever, with Douglas Diamond

From setting interest rates to keeping inflation in check, the Federal Reserve sits at the center of some of the most important economic decisions shaping our daily lives

Anxious? Avoidant? How to Build More Secure Relationships

What if the way you relate to others isn’t fixed—but fundamentally changeable? In this episode, we speak with psychiatrist and neuroscientist Amir Levine, who is an Assoc

Could AI Models Forecast Extreme Weather Events? with Pedram Hassanzadeh

What if we could predict the world’s most dangerous weather events—not days, but weeks in advance? Extreme events like heat waves, hurricanes, and floods cause massive lo

Are Judges Too Powerful? The Rise of Universal Injunctions, with Samuel Bray

In recent years, a judge in one state had gained the power to halt policies across the entire United States. Known as nationwide or universal injunctions, these actions h

Could Data Centers Break Our Power Grid? with Andrew Chien

Artificial intelligence may live in “the cloud,” but its footprint is firmly on the ground. As AI systems grow more powerful, the data centers that train and run them are

Remarkable New Treatments for Spinal Cord Injuries, with Mohamad Bydon

When a two-year-old boy suffered a catastrophic injury that severed the connection between his skull and spine, doctors across Europe told his family there was no hope. H

Can You Improve Your Working Memory and Attention? with Edward Awh

In today’s world, our brains are overloaded with information, making it hard to focus and remember. But what are the true limits of the human mind—and why do they exist?

Why Knowing Your True Self Is So Difficult, with Eric Oliver

The process of understanding who we are is a lifelong journey for many of us. For two decades, that question has been one that University of Chicago scholar Eric Oliver h

The Breakthrough Quantum Sensor That Sees Inside Your Cells, with Peter Maurer

What if we could precisely measure a cell at its most fundamental level? In this episode, we talk with the University of Chicago scientist Peter Maurer about how he and h

How to Manifest Your Destiny with the Late James Doty

We've all heard the phrase "Manifest Your Destiny" when it comes to wanting a new promotion, figuring out a new career path or just trying to achieve that long-term goal.