Words of Wisdom — January 22, 2015

Marguerite Yourcenar: All Forms of Wisdom Are Essential in the World

"There is more than one kind of wisdom, and all are essential in the world; it is not bad that they should alternate."

Marguerite Yourcenar (1903-1987) was a Belgian-born French novelist who was the first woman elected to the Académie française, in 1980. Yourcenar was one of her era’s most respected French-language writers. Among her most famous works are the novelsMémoires d’Hadrienand L’Œuvre au noir.

“There is more than one kind of wisdom, and all are essential in the world; it is not bad that they should alternate.”

Originally:

“Il y a plus d’une sagesse, et toutes sont nécessaires au monde; il n’est pas mauvais qu’elles alternent.” [Wikiquote]

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?

Microscopic image of a small electronic component with clear details of its structure and connections against a gray background.

The Future

Making microbots smart

What would it take to create a truly intelligent microbot, one that can operate independently?

Up Next

Personal Growth

English Org Rescues Discarded Books, Gives Them to Young Readers

Re-Read, a literature recycling social enterprise headquartered in Doncaster, England, has given away 54,000 books to children since it was established in September 2012.