Surprising Science — February 13, 2011

Welcome to the Multiverse

Extra dimensions are old news. The newest mind-bending descriptions of reality dreamed up by the world’s smartest physicists include untold numbers of extra universes.

bigthinkeditor

Superstring theorist Brian Greene describes nine different theories which imply that we are living in a vast multiverse. He’s pretty confident that some of them are true, but less sanguine about others. One important takeaway, though, is what he calls the “Copernican pattern”: over the past 500 years, each new cosmological discovery has removed us from being in a privileged position in the universe. … Greene takes this further: what we call our universe is only one piece of an unbelievably vast multiverse.

Starts With A Bang

The idea that matter is mostly empty space is mostly wrong

Practically all of the matter we see and interact with is made of atoms, which are mostly empty space. Then why is reality so... solid?

Strange Maps

America’s news deserts are growing

Most counties in the U.S. have only one local newspaper, often one that publishes weekly instead of daily.

Two people walking past a dark brick wall with numerous security cameras pointing in various directions.

The Present

Are smart cities a wise idea?

When Google runs a smart city, who owns the data?

Illustration of a young woman with closed eyes, smiling, next to a large, detailed eye and surrounded by vibrant, abstract elements and smiley faces.

Neuropsych

Eyes wide shut: Why closing your eyes intensifies psychedelic trips

A recent study suggests that exposure to visual stimuli can diminish the effects of psychedelic drugs.

Starts With A Bang

The big idea of Grand Unified Theories of physics

If the electromagnetic and weak forces unify to make the electroweak force, maybe, at higher energies, something even grander happens?

Up Next

Guest Thinkers

America: A Nation of Criers

When it comes to grief and loss, America is no longer a nation of stoics; we are a nation of feelers. But is our expression of grief helping or hurting our ability to heal?