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Edited version of the ZDFmediatek interview with David Foster Wallace. This version offers David Foster Wallace's ideas, without repetitions, long pauses, interviewer's comments. Although some cuts may appear rough, there is no attempt at editorial bias or content manipulation. Mr. Wallace's archives (books in his library, notes, and writings) have been recently acquired by the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas Austin.

Some argue that these genes bring benefits - mental illness and genius have a long-standing link - but archaeologist Penny Spikins at the University of York, UK, goes further. She believes that mental illness and conditions such as autism persist at such high levels because in the past they were advantageous to humanity. "I think that part of the reason Homo sapiens were so successful is because they were willing to include people with different minds in their society - people with autism or schizophrenia, for example."

What do you think is the life of a thematic design and decor? Check out the ship-interiors inspired boutique suites in Greece and leave us your views...

Don't you think our schools, hospitals, workplaces, markets and even our homes could be better off, with a few concepts of wellness incorporated in their design? Go through the feature and leave us your views...

Emmanuelle Moureaux explores the effect of colour on cognitive thinking in children with her new fit-out at a mall in Japan. Check it out here and leave us your views...

Concrete design studio use post modernism and pastiche elements to recreate Asian street-food themed restaurant in Amsterdam. Check it out and tell us what you think of it…

Zaha Hadid Architects' symbolic design of the Messner Mountain Museum is a take on 'exploring caverns and grottos' in her inimitable signature style. Check it out and tell us what you think about it…

Akin to an internal courtyard, a water body constitutes the focal point of this home. Check it out and tell us what you think...

The design of the new Al Jazeera UK headquarters breaks the mould of the 'black box' studio and re-imagines how broadcast facilities are designed. Tell us what you think of this

[Barring unforeseen events, I'm going to leave this post at the top of the page for today and tomorrow, as I think the events it examines, rather in detail and at length, are vitally important and merit much more attention than they've received] The Obama DOJ's effort to force New York Times investigative journalist Jim Risen to testify in a whistleblower prosecution and reveal his source is really remarkable and revealing in several ways; it should be receiving much more attention than it is.  On its own, the whistleblower prosecution and accompanying targeting of Risen are pernicious, but more importantly, it underscores the menacing attempt by the Obama administration -- as Risen yesterday pointed out -- to threaten and intimidate whistleblowers, journalists and activists who meaningfully challenge what the government does in secret. The subpoena to Risen was originally issued but then abandoned by the Bush administration, and then revitalized by Obama lawyers.  It is part of the prosecution of Jeffrey Sterling, a former CIA agent whom the DOJ accuses of leaking to Risen the story of a severely botched agency plot -- from 11 years ago -- to infiltrate Iran's nuclear program, a story Risen wrote about six years after the fact in his 2006 best-selling book, State of War.  The DOJ wants to force Risen to testify under oath about whether Sterling was his source.

Raised by independent-thinking bohemian parents, Taylor was unschooled until age 13. Join the filmmaker as she shares her personal experiences of growing up home-schooled without a curriculum or schedule, and how it has shaped her educational philosophy and development as an artist.

What does the future of science look like? About a year ago, I was asked this question. My response then was: Transdisciplinary collaboration. Researchers from a variety of domains-biology, philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, economics, law-all coming together, using inputs from each specialized area to generate the best comprehensive solutions to society's more persistent problems. Indeed, it appears as if I was on the right track, as more and more academic research departments, as well as industries, are seeing the value in this type of partnership. Now let's take this a step further. Not only do I think we will be relying on inputs from researchers and experts from multiple domains to solve scientific problems, but I see society itself getting involved on a much more significant level as well. And I don't just mean science awareness. I'm talking about actually participating in the research itself. Essentially, I see a huge boom in the future for Citizen Science.

Don't you think school buildings with built-in sustainability features serve as excellent education tools in themselves? Read about one such school in Ootacamund and leave us your views.

Do you think that white is the best colour to augment pared-down design elements? Check out this penthouse in Madrid by A-cero design and leave us your views…

Don't you think colours add an altogether new dimension to the spaces we inhabit? Get to know about a school building that oozes warmth by means of its diverse colour palette and leave us your views...

Cadena brothers, chef Alfonso and architect Ignazio Cadena design a dauntless monochromatic restaurant in California that celebrates the ethos of the two Americas and the symbolic essence of fire. Check out the story and tell us what you think...

To upgrade our thinking patterns is a beginning step to an upgrade in human consciousness, and is necessary if we are to succeed in adapting to our rapidly and inevitably changing world. In other words, if we don't enact a change, or learn to adapt to the incoming energies of change and transformation, our presence is likely to be no longer required, or needed. It is a sobering thought.