Program 1: Emotion?
How do emotions shape our worldview?
The nature and meaning of emotions have been debated since Plato, yet no single definition seems sufficient. NPR's Lynn Neary interviews some of today's great thinkers and asks a really big question: How do emotions shape our worldview?
Click here to learn about emotion
You can see an illustration of the complex interactions that comprise what we call emotions by clicking here. Come back to this page when you are done.
Program 2: Consciousness?
What is consciousness?
What is the self, the soul? How are they related to the brain, language, and culture? The modern idea of a conscious self underlies our concept of the human person, yet there is very little scientific consensus on a definition. NPR’s Lynn Neary talks to scientists and philosophers and asks a really big question: What is consciousness?
Click here to learn about consciousness
Click here to download basic information about research into the science of consciousness. You can personally experience the difference between conscious and nonconscious processing by clicking here. Come back to this page when you are done.
Program 3: Death?
How do we face our own mortality?
Death is a fact of life, an absolute and unavoidable certainty. Yet we don’t want to believe it will happen to us or those we cherish. NPR's Lynn Neary wonders if we are psychologically and physiologically equipped to deal with constant reminders of death. This leads to a really big question: How do we face our own mortality?
Click here to learn how we cope with death
Click here and you will learn that defining death is not as simple as you thought. Come back to this page when you are done.
Program 4: Religion?
Can science explain why we believe: A TRBQ Documentary Special
Go practically anywhere on this planet, and you’ll likely find a place where people worship. For as long there have been humans, we’ve felt the need to venerate certain special beings, objects, and ideas. Today’s evolutionary biologists see a signature feature that raises a really big question: Can science explain why we believe?
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About us
The Really Big Questions was created by SoundVision, a non-profit organization that explores complex subjects relating to the humanities, science and technology, and invites the general public to participate in the discovery. Our productions, which include The DNA Files, Science Literacy Project and The Really Big Questions, have been honored by the George Foster Peabody Awards, the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards, The American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, the Society of Professional Journalists, the American Institute of Biological Sciences, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Awards, and the Association of Women in Communications.Staff
- Executive Producer: Bari Scott
- Series Producers: Julie Caine, Gene Bryan Johnson, Loretta Williams
- Emotion: Written by Loretta Williams
- Consciousness: Written by Gene Bryan Johnson
- Death: Written by Julie Caine and Loretta Williams
- Religion: Written by John Reiger and Michael Ruse, Produced by John Reiger
- Reporters: Alex Cohen, John McChesney, Nova Safo, Jon Kalish, Marty Goldensohn, Noah Miller
- Editors: Gary Covino, Deb George
- Technical Engineer & Music Director: Robin Wise with assistance from Shawn Corey Campbell
Major Funding by the National Science Foundation 
Additional Support from the National Endowment for the Humanities
Meet our host
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Culture and Emotion: Stanford University's Jeanne Tsai discusses her work at the Culture and Emotion Lab.
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Just like humans: Chimpanzees will go to war over territory. Read the article here.
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