What is something you have learned about yourself when presented with a demanding or stressful situation?

Are there other pursuits (academic or otherwise) you feel have a geography problem when it comes to discovering or learning new things?

If you were to travel into space, what would you bring and why? Get personal or go broad.

What are some things or practices you believe we need to get rid of on Earth? What would you replace them with instead?

Where do you consider yourself a local? It can be big or small -- a different city or even the park around the corner. Discuss your experiences.

Like Selasi, do you get the "where are you from" or a similar question often? If so, how have you navigated it? If not, perhaps explore why that is.

Would you let algorithms randomize your life? Share with the group why or why not.

If so, how long would let them do so?Share a story about a time you tried something new and it pleasantly surprised you. Would you do or try it again?

Tali Sharot's research makes a three-point case in favor of the optimism bias. Which point(s) resonate with you most?

Knowing your proclivity to the optimism bias, how will you protect yourself from being unrealistic while equally empowering yourself to be hopeful?

Data shows that many things are, in fact, better today than they were 30 years ago. Does that align with or counter your assessment of today's world?

If 'combining ideas recursively' sparks problem-solving/progress, how can you intentionally combine ideas? Additional resource: Matt Ridley's Talk

How does 'stubborn optimism' avoid foolishness or irresponsibility? How can you transform your optimism so it helps you meet challenges you face?

In Figueres' words: 'What is the future you want, and what are you doing to make that future a reality?'

Which of the four steps (meeting basic needs, moving towards livelihood, training to earn money, integrating socially) do you think best instills hope?

Abed urges us to 'light the spark of self-belief in people'. How might you provide that spark for someone in your life?

When did you last spend an extended period of time away from your phone? What were the circumstances? How did that feel?

Why might so many of us be fearful of being bored?

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What are your favorite games to play with friends and/or family and why?

What other games could teach you life skills or help you learn more about topic you care about?

Hawke notes that poetry can be overlooked until we’re looking for empathy and guidance. What forms of creativity (poems or otherwise) do you turn to in moments like this?

What are other unexpected places that you’ve encountered passionate creativity?

What things in your community do you wish could be revived with art and beauty? Brainstorm ways to make this a reality

What are your favorite buildings in your neighborhood or location? Try to describe them in vivid detail and share why they appeal to you.

Per Galef’s talk, do you consider yourself a scout, a soldier or is there another way you’d describe yourself?

Like scout and soldier, are there other creative metaphors you’d use to describe other interactions / mindsets?

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What do you think spurs people to be cruel or altruistic?

How do you think your life and circumstances have influenced the way you treat others?

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What origin myths have influenced your life? Share an example or two.

Drawing from Bhatt’s talk or your own observations, what are the dangers of holding on too tightly to origin myths?

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What are some ways you have found to stop making the same errors over and over again?

What is one human limitation that you would like to see surmounted? What is one idea for a design that might solve it?

What are the pros and cons of Hart’s perspective?

If comfortable sharing, who in your life would you use Hart’s advice with and why?

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What's something you've changed your mind about, and why?

Thinking back to the topic you chose for the common ground question. What would it take to change your mind on that subject?

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Why, in your opinion, is dialogue so important?

What is it that makes people trust each other?

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How do you think play affects relationships between people, or even just yourself?

What are ways we could incorporate play into our day-to-day lives, from small-scale interactions to larger-scale society?

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What's one biological thing in your life that you would be curious to track? What are some ways you could measure it?

Williams urged her audience to not be afraid to ask doctors to show them the data. Where else might this mantra be useful? Additional resource: Abraham Verghese's Talk

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How do you think the conversation around bodies has changed in the last 20 years?

How might society better support and normalize differently abled bodies?

How much trans and Black history were you aware of before this talk? Additional resource: Karissa Sanbonmatsu's Talk‍

Which scene or piece of information from Stewart’s talk stands out to you the most? Why?

Is there anything about genetic modified humans that worries you? What might that be? If not, why not?

Would you support allowing genetically modified 'designer' babies in your country? Are there any medical exceptions that you would allow? Why or why not?

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Has Rahman’s talk changed how you view teens today or the decisions you made in your own adolescence? Why or why not? Additional resource: Gever Tulley’s Talk

Despite being about teens, how could you adopt some of Rahman’s learnings into your own life and understanding of yourself?

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Will you adopt Ferriss’s fear-setting practice? Why or why not?

Do you have a method for making hard choices or taking risks? If so, consider sharing with the group. If not, has Ferriss convinced you to develop one?

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When was the last time you felt fearless? What was it about that context or circumstances that made it so? Additional resource: Yvonne Aki Sawyerr's Talk

If you've never felt fearless, or if it's a rare occurrence, why might that be?

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What were some of the ways that Elmore propelled herself through tough situations? How can her tenacity be replicated in your own life?

How might you approach doctors appointments differently as a result of this talk?

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How do you define your locale’s nature? Is nature everywhere, nowhere, or somewhere in between? Describe in detail or share images to illustrate what you mean.

Has this talk challenged you to see your surroundings differently? If so, how? If not, why not?

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Schilthuizen shares some unexpected ways that creatures have adapted to the urban jungle. Which evolutionary adaptation impressed you the most?

How has your region changed in your lifetime? What animal-friendly environments have come and gone? Additional resource: Prosanta Chakrabarty's Talk

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What came to mind during this talk? Did your mind stay in the present, travel light years away, or reconsider what you see when you look up at the night sky?

What did this astrophysics history lesson teach you about cosmic life and Earth life? Additional resource: Dave Brain's Talk

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In what ways are your habits connected with the ocean? Consider your diet, travel, and consumer goods.

What adjustments are you willing to make to ensure that sea life can continue?

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Were you aware of this practice before the talk? If not, how does it make you feel? If so, share how you learned about it.

What do you think needs to be done to stop this destructive habit? Consider options starting from the everyday shopper all the way to your favorite retailers.

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Did Hill convince you to adopt his weekday vegetarian plan? Why or why not?

Meat is a big part of many cultures around the world. Brainstorm ways to adopt more vegetarian meals without sacrificing important parts of a culture overall.

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What are some of the consequences of our speedy society that you’ve encountered?

What are the occasions in your life or in your community when you wish things would happen faster? What are the times you wished happened more slowly? Are there commonalities within each category?

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How do you personally decide that a news outlet is trustworthy? After everyone shares, consider if there are any other methods from the TED-ED lesson you could use.

What are the benefits of relying on the same outlets for your news? What are the dangers and/or limitations?

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What surprised you most about the process of making memories?

Which memory-affecting factors (e.g. age, mental/physical health, stress, depression, isolation) are you most susceptible to? What would help you combat these factors?

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Before this talk, how did you feel about reconnecting with those who have dementia? How do you feel after watching this talk?

What memory do you hope outlasts any dementia you or a loved one might experience?

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Are there memories that you remember more positively than they really were? Why do you think that is the case?

How can bringing diverse perspectives to our history (e.g. psychology, anthropology, arts, media) provide a better representation of what happened during that time?

Was it surprising to find out that many foods are disappearing from our plates? Do you see this happening in your own home, city, or country?

Pallavi describes several ways in which we can better connect with our food. What is one way you can start today to better connect with your food?

Has this talk altered the way you see politics, or your place in it? Why or why not?

Did your childhood include anything like the Family Democracy Meeting? What do you think it would have been like if it had been in place? Would you adopt it with your own family? Why or why not?

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How have stereotypes about your own generation affected the way you see yourself and others?

How do you navigate the multigenerational divide — in and outside of work?

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How have your communities, households or otherwise married old and new knowledge to solve a problem?

When have you been corrected or shown a better way by old-school knowledge? If comfortable, share your story.

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Is there a destructive legacy from the past that impacts you today that you wish had been prevented?

What’s one small habit you could change or practice you could adopt that could have a ripple effect for future generations?

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Describe the feeling of an aha moment to you. Is there a pattern (a specific time, place, etc.) to when you usually have them?

How could you better create the conditions for aha moments in your own life?

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The third lesson was starting with joy. Abdelhamid felt joy from seeing women in her community support one another. What brings you joy? How has it inspired your journey?

Is there something you’ve been wanting to start? How might these lessons help you launch your idea?

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Where have you been most surprised to find your best ideas?

Was there a time your perspective changed on the definition of a professional? (e.g. a cook in your family, delivery person, neighborhood handyman, etc.)

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Restoration, as Crowther explains, is not a silver bullet. It alone cannot solve our climate crisis. What are some of the ways that your community is addressing the problem at the individual, neighborhood, or governmental level?

What’s your favorite forest, tree, or plant? Why?

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Of the three biases, which do you think people (yourself included) succumb to the most and why?

Was there a time when you didn’t believe something (big or small) was real when it actually was? What convinced you otherwise?

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What are the dangers of this, and how can tips from Edman’s talk help prevent you from being falsely influenced in the future?

If we’re living in a “post-truth” world, what would a pro-truth world look like to you?

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Why do you think people deny the existence of horrible things?

What are your thoughts on the rise in mashing facts, opinions and lies?

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What surprised you most about Shaw’s talk, and why?

Do you think this video has increased your likelihood of reporting incidents of harassment and discrimination that you have witnessed? Why or why not?

What type of appeal — emotional, fact-based, story-centered, ethical, etc. — works best to convince you to do something?

Before this talk, how did you feel about engaging in conversations about climate change — did you fit into one of the five inner defenses? How do you feel after watching this talk?

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Why is powerlessness a luxury in this instance?

Has there been a moment in your life, be it solo or collaborative, at work or at school, or at home or in your community, when stubborn optimism and determined action led to a much-needed change?

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Is the climate crisis visible in your community or your own life yet? If so, how is it showing up?

In a few decades, what is the story that you think will be told about the climate crisis? Will it be one of resilience, innovation, survival or defeat?

How will you feel about water moving forward after watching Leonard’s talk?

How do you feel about companies having the same rights as people — did it surprise you, anger you, etc.? Do you agree that water should have those same protections?

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How much do you experiment with the world around you? What did this talk make you want to test?

What were your favorite homemade science experiments as a kid and why?

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What is something that initially scared you but fascinated you once you learned more about it?

What do you think we’ll learn or discover in the next 100 years?

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Why do you think those who sent Cekic hate mail agreed to meet her for coffee?

How can you engage in a healthy dialogue with groups you demonize? Weigh the pros and cons of each approach.

How often are you in the learning zone versus the performance zone?

Share a time from your life that demonstrates the learning zone/performance zone principle. What did you have to learn and practice and how did you demonstrate your mastery of it?

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Has this talk altered your view on whistleblowing? If so, how? If not, why not?

Have you had a first hand experience involving the act of whistleblowing? Share with the group.

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Ming Francis observes we have the wrong diagnosis (bad apples) and the wrong cure (education) for racism. Why is it that education alone is not enough?

On an individual and country-wide scale, how can you confront inequitable treatment of any group of people?

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Why do some events inspire longstanding action and change while other big moments seem to fade without the same impact?

Can you name any economic, social or other crises that have occurred in your country? What was the response? Give us your perspective on the outcome.

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What do you think will transform after the global crises we’re experiencing now?

How could you incorporate Tómasdóttir’s perspectives and outlook into your own life and community?

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Which universal languages do you find yourself using most in interactions with loved ones, strangers, and/or colleagues?

Has Poet Ali changed your perspective on the number of languages you understand? Why or why not?

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What structures and rules from the real world would you most want to see brought to social media?

Which online spaces have you seen that work well for promoting the greater good? Which ones are falling short? In your opinion, what makes the difference?

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From your perspective, who creates the most value and why? Does the talk make you reconsider how you contribute in creating value?

Has Mazzucato helped redefine what “value” means to you? Why or why not? How would you define it now?

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Do you know of any other companies, in your community or beyond, with a similar approach?

What actions would you most like to see them change? How might you encourage them to do things differently?

Are there ever instances where you feel like ignoring your emotions is a good idea? Why or why not?

In what ways could you incorporate David’s advice into your own life to help yourself and others?

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Have you ever used any of the three strategies that Hone shares? Did you come upon it yourself or learn from someone else? If not, which do you think you’re most likely to use?

Outside of those highlighted in this talk, what strategies have helped you navigate tough times?

Have you ever experienced a natural disaster (e.g. an earthquake, forest fire, cyclone, flood, etc.)? If so, what helped you get through it? Was it friends and neighbors, an aid program, or both?

What disaster risk policies or actions would you most like to see enacted in your community?

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Of the six principles, which do feel are most urgent in our current times?

Though Reeve’s idea is presented for business, do you feel like you could adapt some of these principles to your own life, family, or community? How?

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Fetell Lee argues that those in the West are obsessed with the pursuit of happiness, yet in the process, overlook joy. Do you agree with this? Why or why not?

“Joy is about feeling good in the moment, right now.” What’s one thing you can do right now (or a little later today) that will bring you joy?

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In what ways — small and large — have you, or someone in your life, tried to lead with love? Are there any short stories you’d like to share?

Does this talk help change What did this talk do to help change how you see and interact with yourself and others? If so, how?

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Was there anything from the study and its learnings that surprised you?

Beyond the three big lessons, what have you learned in your own life about relationships that is (or is not) covered in the talk?

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Do you think Bush’s ideas would have traction in your current community or workplace? Why or why not?

If implemented, which of the 4 ideas would make the most difference to your work environment?

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How did this talk redefine your perceptions of economic growth, if at all?

Where do you think your own country is in the five stages of growth?

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Would you trust randomly selected representatives more or less than elected ones? Why?

“Would it be better” than your country’s current system? (Additional resource: Yuval Noah Harari’s Talk)

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Do you feel stronger about nationalism or globalism — considering the political climate in your country and abroad — after listening to Kabbaj’s talk? Explain.

How have nationalist — or globalist — perspectives affected the way your country is run, if at all?

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How could a new restoration story nurture the more generous sides of human nature (e.g. altruism, cooperation, empathy) and help move our societies forward?

Aside from economics, what’s another story you would like to see replaced?

In the civic arena, which source of power do you experience most often? How does it affect you?

Can you think of a time when you had power in the civic arena (e.g. you led a discussion, volunteered to help others achieve a goal)?

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Meslin redefines apathy as a “complex web of cultural barriers that reinforces disengagement”. What rating would you give to the apathy of your community? Why?

How much is your community supporting or discouraging your involvement? How does that impact the trust you have in your community?

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How do you think Harris' three changes might help us regain power over these unintended consequences?

Do you think it is possible for tech companies to foster meaningful connections while remaining profitable, or is the attention-grabbing, “race to the bottom” the only means of survival? Why/why not?

How do you respond to our political systems: with more silence (disengagement) or with more noise (engagement)?

How much do you trust your country's political system? How much more would you trust it if your representatives voted in accordance with what citizens decided on a democracy app?

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How are choice and love connected in your culture? Do you think the paradox of choice stunts or stimulates love? Why?

What did/would you want to know about a partner before committing to a relationship and/or getting married?

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What do you think is/would be challenging about loving children with their differences? How can you prepare yourself to love unconditionally?

How should education evolve in order to help families “love no matter what”?

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How loved and supported do you feel by your friends? How do you cultivate friendships where both of you feel seen?

Why do you think connectedness is correlated with the significant health issues Nelson cites? How does that make you feel?

In what instances have you experienced the early warning signs of unhealthy love? Did you realize it at the time? If so, how? If not, what helped you realize it?

What aspects of your life have/could improve because of experiencing healthy love?

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What are we failing to imagine (e.g. risks, natural disasters, etc…) that consequently jeopardizes our future?

Venkataraman calls for tools to help us think ahead. What tools do you think are helpful in fostering foresight?

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How can we make the economy more equitable for the people who will lose their jobs to machines?

Do you see machines as a support or as an enemy?

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What skills do you think young people need most to be prepared for the future?

How should education evolve in order to train them for the future?

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Has this Talk changed your perspective on video games? If yes, how so? If not, why not?

If games can help us connect, collaborate, empathize, and earn income, does it matter that they are not real?

Is there anyone with whom you have shared/are comfortable sharing your salary? If yes, what makes that relationship different from others?

If you could see your colleagues’ salary so long as you shared yours, would you do it? Why or why not?

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Why do you think we hide our problems around money? (sit silent in money shame)

Do you or people you know equate financial-worth with self-worth?

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What’s your view on neoliberal economic assumptions (e.g. raising wages kills jobs, people are paid what they are worth, humans are rational and selfish)?

To whom do you think corporations should be accountable (e.g. shareholders, customers, workers, community)?

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What surprised you most about the connection between happiness and wealth?

What positive or negative things have you become used to (your hedonic treadmill)?

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What parallels are there between the refugee crisis in Europe and the Mediterranean?

What responsibility do countries have for stabilizing these regions beyond accepting asylum seekers?

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Is there a way to harness social media for democratic good? (Additional resource: Pia Mancini's Talk)

How do you think social media has generally changed the global political climate?

If justice is the opposite of poverty, what are you doing/think needs to be done to fight the injustice of poverty?

How can you begin to solve poverty and incarceration given their disproportionate effects on marginalized communities?

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Are human rights core to the political discourse in your country?

Do you feel more or less secure than you did before 9/11, 10 years ago, last year?

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What is your view on the priority governments, companies, organizations and people place on technology-driven efficiency?

In what areas could the world stand become more efficient?

Have you asked your doctor these questions? If not, why not? If so, what was their response?

Do you have a relationship with your doctor that supports these conversations?

Would you be willing to have brain surgery to get the implant that amplifies deep sleep? Why or why not?

How often do you get the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep a night?

How often do you find yourself making unnecessary apologies? What leads you to apologize in these moments?

If a colleague is 20 minutes late, would you rather them say, "I'm sorry for being late" or "Thank you for waiting for me?"

Why do you think we "carry on like before" when it comes to climate change?

How persuasive do you find Greta's argument?

Are you encouraged or concerned about the impact of gene drive technology editing human nature?

What are the benefits and risks of using the technology and of not using the technology?

Are we anthropomorphizing animals by assigning them human-defined emotions?

Do you believe that animals grieve? Why?

How does the idea of intelligent life beyond humans — or the idea of humans being alone in the universe — make you feel?

What's the value of looking for alien civilizations if we're actually alone?