Why we explore, even when there’s no payoff

From the creator

Become a Big Think member to unlock expert classes, premium print issues, exclusive events and more: https://bigthink.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=yt_desc This interview is an episode from ‪@The-Well, our publication about ideas that inspire a life well-lived, created with the ‪@TempletonFoundation. Subscribe to The Well on YouTube ► https://bit.ly/thewell-youtube Watch Betül Kaçar’s other interviews ► https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_B7bI1QVmJAmONCikHTWjOU9TiJYETHs Astrobiologist Betül Kaçar believes science doesn’t always need a clear purpose; asking questions just to know is reason enough. Historically, scientific breakthroughs have come as a result of random, niche interests: questions asked just for the sake of satiating curiosity. For Kaçar, science is a patient act, and the simple desire to understand is one of the most beautiful parts of being human. Read the video transcript ► https://bigthink.com/the-well/the-case-for-useless-knowledge-asking-questions/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=youtube_description_bigthink ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Betül Kaçar: Dr. Betül Kaçar is a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor and NASA-funded research leader exploring life’s early evolution. Her team has developed methods to uncover ancient biological innovations. She earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Emory and trained at Harvard in Evolutionary Bi

Published 2025-08-25 · Watch on YouTube ↗
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