The Ig Nobels glory in weird ideas that often turn out to pay a dividend

Civil debate between ideological enemies is really helped by real-life friendship

Even if the no-deal fiasco never materialises, the prospect is causing damage today

Those who enjoy the longest and most productive careers tend to shift focus regularly

Most of us would not mind having more money, but we may not all want more lovers

We are responsible for managing our own attention — and there is plenty we can do

Policymakers should seek to replicate Arpa, the US institution that founded the internet

Top jobs are difficult but the Peter principle was right: the wrong people are in them

Practitioners have traditionally thought more about theory than measuring real life

It is specific tasks that are automated, not whole jobs

Joblessness makes us unhappy, but lack of money is only part of it

Elite sport offers a global labour market while weaker home nations enjoy the benefits

Despite what the president says, tariffs between rich countries are low

Putting a price on our assets would lead to fairer taxes and a more dynamic economy

Data mining has opened a new front in the battle to see the future

A trust fund aimed at clearing UK debt highlights the merits of playing the long game

In politics, as in marketing, offering a third choice can be a game-changer

Research and knowledge are not always enough — people must also notice them

What we call artificial intelligence is best understood as low-cost prediction

Imagine a portable profile that we could take seamlessly from one provider to another

Optimism and pessimism both have their merits, but we need a dose of realism

There is a lot to be said for our own experience, but it has obvious limitations

Everything has a cost, whether we are making a political choice or a purchase

People’s life evaluations dip between their twenties and fifties, only to then improve