Does democracy require universal suffrage? Yes, I think so. So does the Supreme Court. Economist Bryan Caplan isn’t so sure. A few years ago Caplan identified several pernicious biases individuals […]
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Summary: A solid, informative history of the rise of the American secular movement. Books like Jennifer Michael Hecht’s Doubt: A History or Susan Jacoby’s Freethinkers show how brave nonbelievers have […]
Given the increasing influence that neuroscientific explanations have over our justice system, we must insist on improving scientific literacy so that the foundations of justice are upheld.
Computer algorithms can already recognize the kind of music most people like but will they ever create original compositions that suite our taste? One programmer says yes, definitely.
The psychological phenomenon known as the mere-exposure effect explains why we prefer the self-image we receive from the mirror each morning to a new and interesting camera angle.
By studying individuals who become aware that they are dreaming in the midst of a dream, scientists can identify the parts of the brain that are responsible for self-awareness.
Scientists have used beams of light to activate specific areas of a monkey’s brain, allowing the monkey to react to assigned tasks more quickly and complete them faster than before.
A few weeks ago, I posted a video of “Satellite,” the first single from Anna Dagmar‘s newest album of the same title. I first saw her play at a concert […]
When it comes to debating the merits of religion, we atheists have an unfair advantage. Lately, almost every day when I go to work, there are Jehovah’s Witnesses in the […]
According to the International AIDS Society, out of the world’s 34 million people infected with the HIV virus very few are actually receiving the necessary treatment to control the disease.
Scientists have discovered a “scaffolding” protein that regulates pain, mental illnesses and other neurological complications.
“In the decade since the Human Genome Project wrapped up, scientists have had a surprising amount of difficulty transforming genetic knowledge into medical treatments.”
Researchers have conducted a study, in combination with previous studies, to find the correlation between night shift workers and heart problems.
The state of California is leaving it up to its voters to decide if packaged foods containing genetically engineered ingredients, should come with a label.
It appears that workers in at least one industry will be benefiting from an income redistribution from the wealthy next month – strippers in Tampa Bay. According to The New […]
According to Walter Mosley, the desire to be famous is more pronounced in young people today because of the way the media portrays success. It doesn’t make for a good career strategy.
Driving down the Massachusetts Turnpike I came up behind a small sporty coupe. What was striking even from a distance was the color. It was a neon green that I […]
Today Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times has posted a thoughtful blog about universal health coverage, inspired in part by the tragic events in Aurora, Colorado. I’ve been involved in the […]
Given the substantial role that money plays in our culture, asking to borrow some from a friend is a loaded emotional gamble, says author Anneli Rufus, who suggests asking family.
In animals of reasonable intelligence, a cause-and-effect logic is naturally present. Children, however, lack a concrete understanding of the world which encourages them to persist and learn.
This semester when college students return to campus at America’s leading universities, they may be surprised to find out that the men and women teaching them subjects like Machine Learning or Listening to […]
Novels that are transparently taken from more original works are sometimes praised as the stuff of art and other times are lamented by authors who think they violate their sacred work.
I’m not sure if you’ve ever heard of an American runner named Billy Mills. Mills was the surprise winner of the gold medal in the 10k at the 1964 Tokyo […]
Writers can spend days, weeks holed up in a room, churning out words, not knowing if their work is any good—engaging, or just shallow “busy work.” Actors, on the other […]
The Olympics are obviously a contradictory event, says David Brooks. An opening ceremony which celebrates virtues of unity and equality are shortly followed by fierce competition.
Elle Zober’s husband left her for a 22-year old “yoga girl,” and Elle didn’t take it with a whimper. Instead she channeled her heartache and disappointment into crafting what has […]
The often-overlooked function of our justice system is its putative role. So how far are people willing to go to punish criminals? How many of your own resources would you sacrifice to punish a thief?
When a German court in Cologne ruled last month that baby boys could not be circumcised for religious reasons, Jewish and Muslim groups erupted in protest while a chorus of […]
If “LA MoCA” sounds to you like something you’d order from Starbucks, then you probably don’t know anything about the recent kerfuffle surrounding what is being called the murder of […]