This idea is brilliant: Lost, overlooked and underappreciated scientific concepts everyone should know

Brilliant but overlooked ideas are explored by today’s most innovative thinkers, including Steven Pinker, Jared Diamond, and Richard Dawkins. This collection features insights from 205 influential minds across various fields—physicists, economists, psychologists, and more—prompted by John Brockman’s question: What scientific term or concept should be more widely known? Readers will embark on a journey through bold and underappreciated scientific concepts that enrich understanding. Contributions include Jared Diamond discussing the lost brilliance of common sense, Richard Dawkins on reconstructing ecological history, and Rebecca Newberger Goldstein on expanding reality beyond the tangible. Carlo Rovelli explores the interconnected fabric of information, while Ian McEwan delves into the Navier-Stokes equations that influence weather and design. Other notable voices include Lawrence M. Krauss on uncertainty, Richard Thaler on the "premortem" concept, and Brian Eno on confirmation bias in the digital age. Rory Sutherland highlights the impact of sex appeal, and Lisa Randall emphasizes the power of the obvious. Additionally, Kevin Kelly shares insights on optimizing success, and Frank Wilczek discusses the creative potential of complementarity. This anthology also features thoughts from Sam Harris, Alison Gopnik, and many others, offering a rich tapestry of ideas that challenge conventional thinking.