THE SMARTEST PEOPLE · THE BIGGEST IDEAS

Moses' Choice

Buck Angel on his metamorphosis to manood

Born into a female body, Buck shares the long journey it took to become the man he is today.

Lee Smolin on the nature of time

Lee Smolin delves into the “most abstract concept and most pervasive experience” humans encounter.

Robert J. Sawyer on aging and the future

Sci-Fi Author Robert J. Sawyer takes a look at the past to consider possibilities for the future.

Haim Goldenberg on mind-blowing mentalism

Illusionist Haim Goldenberg bewilders the audience with his unique brand of mentalism.

Ray Jayawardhana on searching for new planets

In the hunt for other solar systems, Ray Jayawardhana is considered a “rock star”.

Daily Special

ideacity gathers speakers and performers, mavericks, big names, new names, unusual suspects and hidden treasures; and has them give it their all in a 17-minute talk or performance, on stage, in front of an audience of like-minded ideazens. 50 Presenters over the course of three days, punctuated by extra-long schmooze breaks and really roaring parties every night; it’s an unexpected combination of elements that never fails to exceed the sum of its parts.

For more information on how to attend Canada’s Premier Meeting of the Minds, visit the registration page.

idealist News

The Zynga Abyss

January 25, 2012

In the 1890s, while studying natural sciences at the University of Saint Petersburg, a Russian mathematician named Ivan Pavlov was analyzing dogs’ saliva output over time. Pavlov noticed that dogs tended to salivate more before eating and that merely the … Read more

The Orchid Olympics

January 23, 2012

Orchids are seducers. They trick animals into pollinating them and usually give nothing in exchange. Some orchid species mimic nectar-producing flowers to lure bees; others emit the fetid smell of rotting meat to attract carrion flies. In China, Dendrobium sinense orchids release … Read more

Sheril Kirshenbaum: The Portrayal Of Science In Hollywood

January 17, 2012

From Sheril Kirshenbaum‘s blog, The Culture of Science. Popular Mechanics has a nice article by David Kushner about the portrayal of science in Hollywood. It’s a topic I’m extremely interested in because the scientists that appear on film and television inform a great … Read more

Is There a Difference between the Brain of an Atheist and the Brain of a Religious Person?

January 16, 2012

Andrew Newberg, director of research at the Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University and Hospital in Philadelphia, responds: Researchers have pinpointed differences between the brains of believers and nonbelievers, but the neural picture is not yet … Read more