Atheist author and magician Penn Jillette asks why we can’t use the word “holidays” instead of “Christmas” to be more inclusive.
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I recently attended the second day of the Economist’s “The World in 2013” festival, and will be writing a post soon with some of my takeaways. Today, however, I want […]
Quote of the day: “We have art in order not to die of the truth.” – Friedrich Nietzsche Today’s Big Ideas: The National Intelligence Council’s New Report, by Ali Wyne […]
On Tuesday a judge will decide whether to authorize yet another round of evictions from a forest north of Nantes that is home to a growing number of international squatters protesting plans for a proposed airport.
The problem of scientists manipulating data in order to achieve statistical significance, labelled p-hacking is incredibly hard to track down due to the fact that the data behind statistical significance is often unavailable for analysis by anyone other than those who did the research and themselves analysed the data.
One important purpose of literature has always been to allow us to safely test our moral fibres against the grain of hardened anathemas: killing, adultery, incest, pornography, theft, anarchy have […]
In case you haven’t heard, the world may end soon. Very soon. On December 21st at midnight, in fact, the last date on the Mayan Long Count Calendar. Tosh, […]
Cities and towns across Britain are raising much-needed cash by offering landmark public sculptures, paintings, and other art to the highest bidder. Opponents say the value of art to a community goes far beyond money.
The government has been taking several steps to mitigate the pressure put on its students, including a recent decision to stop releasing the names of top performers to the media, which publicizes them widely.
Back in August I wrote a post covering a rash of reports on the worrying rise of bad science in TED talks. A couple of months later TED pulled the following […]
Since the publication in 1983 of Hayden Herrera’s groundbreaking biography of Frida Kahlo, “Fridamania” in all its forms has flowered around the world. Her art and her appearance have become […]
Swamped this week. Here’s a post originally published on my personal blog to fill the void. Like many features of the human condition, the first psychological account of disgust comes […]
This article was originally published on AlterNet. The renowned physicist Max Planck once said, “A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the […]
Currently the Eiffel Tower and businesses with neon signs turn their lights off after 1:00 am. Now a new proposal aims to save even more energy by requiring all French shops and public buildings nationwide to follow the same rule.
By creating atmospheres that make you frustrated and anxious, shops can increase the likelihood that you’ll lose sight of your purchasing goals and begin buying items on impulse.
Software that learns to tell stories by maintaining an interconnected web of concepts rather than through rote memorization could help computer programmers better understand how humans think.
China’s RT-Mart is beating out its Western rivals in the hypermarket industry by giving their stores features that are familiar to customers who normally get their groceries off the street.
Johns Hopkins Medicine has implanted the first pacemaker for the brain in the US. The device generates tiny electrical impulses that fire into the brain’s memory region 130 times a second.
According to Reuters, one in four Americans believe the world will end within their lifetime. Is it because our lives are so insignificant that we want to write ourselves into the world’s finale?
The same set of skills, called caregiving responsiveness, that make someone a good partner can be carried over into parent-child relationships, says a new study out of England.
Breaking The Taboo, the acclaimed film packed with hard hitting footage, facts, figures and interviews with former world leaders and drug tzars is now available to watch in full for free: […]
Like millions of other Americans over Thanksgiving weekend, I went to see Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece, Lincoln. I was mesmerized by Daniel Day-Lewis’s portrayal of the great statesman. I was also […]
Introducing a new feature here, here’s a school technology leadership scenario for you… SCENARIO: You’re a new central office administrator in a growing district. Just a few months into the […]
A European health body approved the West’s first gene therapy treatment last month. The move signals a long-awaited acceptance after accidents during the 1990s derailed the therapies’ progress.
A chemical compound found in the skin of grapes has been shown to have substantial health benefits, but how the chemical affects humans, and how much of it is helpful, is under investigation.
Recent research confirms that getting a good night’s rest is essential to doing good work during the day. Depriving yourself of sleep may even increase your risk of contracting serious illnesses.
Science writer Carl Zimmer is optimistic about current research into a vaccine that protects against all viruses. Although results are still years away, scientists are looking for characteristics that all viruses share.
A reader in his late 20s writes to me and poses this not-uncommon dilemma. The reader does not like his close friend’s fiancée. At all. He worries that his friend […]
Once thought to be useless muck, scientists now believe that the majority of our genetic information plays an important role in making proteins and helping to differentiate species.
We have a blind spot when it comes to predicting our own moral and ethical behavior, but new research suggests we are better, not worse, when part of a crowd.