Why we explore, even when there’s no payoff
August 25, 2025
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3:00Now PlayingWhy we explore, even when there’s no payoff
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as posted by the channelBecome a Big Think member to unlock expert classes, premium print issues, exclusive events and moreThis interview is an episode from @TheWell, our publication about ideas that inspire a life welllived, created with the @TempletonFoundation.
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Watch Betül Kaçar’s other interviews ►
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.
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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 Biology.
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About The Well
Do we inhabit a multiverse? Do we have free will? What is love? Is evolution directional? There are no simple answers to life’s biggest questions, and that’s why they’re the questions occupying the world’s brightest minds.
Together, let's learn from them.
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