A man walks into a bar and asks the bartender for a glass of water. The bartender pulls out a gun and points it at the man. The man thanks the bartender and walks out. Why did the man thank the bartender?
Read More
We may not watch a comedy show expecting to learn anything about the human brain, but comedians give us a unique window into how powerful our brains are at recognising and creating patterns.
Read More
When things are established, familiar and work well, it’s rare to question whether there’s an alternative that may prove better. Yet, experimenting and trying new things without an obvious need can sometimes result in a step change.
Read More
What are the next two letters in this series - O, T, T, F, F…..? Sleep pioneer, William C. Dement, set this challenge to 500 students, with an instruction to think about the problem for 15 minutes before going to sleep and to write down any dreams they remembered as they awoke.
Read More
Conflict can feel really uncomfortable, unprofessional and unproductive. Yet, avoiding conflict can come at the expense of understanding a situation more deeply. Conflict can help clarify issues and lead to better outcomes. After all, it’s the grit that makes the pearl.
Read More
A study by Stanford University found that walking, on average, boosts your ability to generate novel ideas by a colossal 60%. The positive effect continues even once you’ve stopped walking and sat down.
Read More
Do you struggle to get out of bed in the morning? If so, it could be your advantage. Cognitive neuroscientist Mark Jung-Beeman suggests that when we’re stuck on a difficult problem, one of the best things we can do is set our alarm clock to go off a few minutes early.
Read More
Take this challenge: You have a cardboard box full of sand and some buried coins. You’re given a set of chopsticks and a spoon. Without tipping the box over or touching the sand with your hands, how do you get the coins out?
Read More