There’s a lot of talk on BIG THINK about evolutionary explanations of this or that human behavior. They’re all pretty fascinating, although far from completely convincing. Darwinian explanations, for what […]
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Hours after AQAP pulled off one ambush in Abyan, they were back at it, ambushing another convoy of soldiers this afternoon. This time they attacked a convoy (Ar) that included […]
For a disorder that affects 1 in every 110 American children and 1 in every 70 American boys, there are a surprising number of misconceptions about autism. Study after study […]
Lots of things going on the planet right now concerning volcanoes, but many don’t have a lot of information to go with the news. I’ll try to fill in as […]
The autism-vaccine fraud has left a lot of mistrust to mop up. Since Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s erroneous report, science and public health took a huge step backward.
Negotiations that take place over computer have more chance of success when those negotiating think there is greater physical distance between each other.
Along with CD binders, bookshelves, and DVD collections, please add to the list of defunct media storage devices: Your hard drive.
At 10 am this morning, a group of al-Qaeda fighters shouting Allahu Akbar ambushed a convoy of military vehicles from the Central Security Forces, killing anywhere from 6 to 12 […]
When we cry, we may be doing more than expressing emotion. Our tears, according to striking new research, may be sending chemical signals that influence others’ behavior.
There’s been a pretty bizarre spate of mass animal deaths reported around the world. What the hell is going on? Unfortunately, there’s no good answer.
Young Muslim women are often forced to lead double lives in Europe. They have sex in public restrooms and stuff mobile phones in their bras to hide their secret existences.
English is in a constant state of flux. New words are formed and old ones fall into disuse. But no trend has been more obtrusive in recent years than the changing of nouns into verbs.
Who will set 2011′s standards in NewNet technologies like social media and real-time feeds? These are the disrupters to watch: Facebook, Twitter, Skype and LinkedIn.
If you look at the hard science on how people really behave it’s clear that it’s unusual for them to behave in a purely selfish fashion.
Nearly every major initiative to solve the new century’s most pressing problems has ground to a standstill amid political gridlock, summit pageantry, and perfunctory news conferences.
If the adage “history is written by the winners” is true, then what does that mean for African American history, especially now that more W’s are slowly but surely showing […]
Amongst the weaponry of the Spanish Inquisition were such diverse elements as fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope, or at least that’s how the […]
1. The study of great books is usually contrasted with the use of textbooks and other technical books. It is contrasted, in other words, with study of the studies that […]
No one has a crystal ball, but some predictions that I made in recent years are coming into sharp focus with every scientific advance. For starters, every year, more organs […]
Nobody in Congress really cares about the deficit. Sure, everyone would love to cut the deficit as long as it doesn’t mean having to cut any programs they like. What […]
Dwight Garner wins the Lede of the Day Award for his scathing and accurate assessment of the New York Times Book Review’s self-help bestseller list: The New York Times Book […]
Since branding Wall Street’s pre-eminent investment bank, Goldman Sachs with the epithet “vampire squid,” Rolling Stone correspondent Matt Taibbi has made quite a name for himself in the mainstream American […]
The symptoms of autism are far better understood than its causes; psychiatrists classify the disorder as having two major components: impaired social cognition and a tendency toward narrow interests and repetitive behaviors.
Open Congress has the latest on the senate Democrats’ filibuster reform plan: Senators Tom Udall [D, NM], Tom Harkin [D, IA] and Jeff Merkley [D, OR] have released an official […]
People choose mates that are very similar to themselves in terms of education and income. They don’t tend to select partners who bring vastly different skill sets to the marriage.
GUEST POST WITH MANJULA KHANNA Our lives are techno-infused: the air is pregnant with possibility in an environment of constant connectivity and ever changing information. We use technology for almost […]
Yes, it is time for the first Smithsonian/USGS Global Volcanism Program Weekly Volcanic Activity Report of the new year. Well, not entirely of the new year, but we can count it […]
Some on the right are challenging congressional Republicans to increase federal investment in science and technology.
Oh, those Pakistanis. First, they claim that a drone strike killed Fahd al-Qusa and then months later al-Qusa appears safe and sound on the front page of al-Sharq al-Awsat, where […]
One of the regular features of the old Waq al-waq was the day in papers, and as I slowly adjust to the new site I’m bringing it back. We start […]