“The U.S. military’s Central Command has proposed pumping as much as $1.2 billion over five years into building up Yemen’s security forces, a major investment in a shaky government.”
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“Here’s the central paradox of American jobs and education. While benefits from going to college are increasing exponentially, the fastest growing jobs aren’t for high-earning college graduates.”
“By reshaping our minds, the internet is robbing us of the ability to think critically and creatively, says the author of The Shallows, Nicholas Carr.” The New Scientists conducts an interview.
“Is it possible to reach peace in the Middle East? Israelis, Palestinians and negotiators from around the world—and the United States, in particular—are making another go at it.”
“The contemporary customer is mad as hell—fed up with inept service, indifferent employees, and customer-service departments that are harder to negotiate than Kafka’s Castle.”
“Apple has unveiled a new music social network that could rival Facebook and Twitter, as well as an Apple TV that can stream movies and television shows directly from the Internet.”
A new book tells the story of how a Parisian perfume magnate persuaded Proust’s family not to destroy his effects, among which were his manuscripts and famous overcoat.
“A small fleet of privately developed spacecraft will head into orbit in the next few years.” Technology Review looks at which companies are most eager to explore the final frontier.
“The universe was not created by God, scientist Stephen Hawking has said in his new book. Professor Hawking believes the laws of physics were behind the Big Bang instead.”
“Impossible, you say?” one of the early pages asks rhetorically in Art of McSweeney’s, a study of the art of the quirky periodical McSweeney’s Quarterly. “Nothing is impossible when you […]
Keith Olbermann helped MSNBC craft a model that allowed the network to adhere to one ideological segment of viewers over another, creating the incentive to brand themselves in terms of ideology rather than news.
Everyone in jail claims to be innocent, but attorney and law professor Barry Scheck has proven that many of these convicted criminals may actually be telling the truth. Scheck is […]
The Montessori method is easily the best-known system of self-directed learning in formal education. Now, Montessorium is putting the 100-year-old educational tradition at the fingertips of today’s children with two […]
Props to my colleague Lindsay Beyerstein for this great catch yesterday: Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle’s campaign received a donation from someone who listed her employer as “husband” and her […]
If the current activity around the world wasn’t enough, I just found a report that Nevado del Huila in Colombia had an ash-producing explosive eruption today. The Colombian government is […]
As ballot papers for Labour’s leadership land on doorsteps this week, those charged with electing the next Leader of the Opposition, namely party members, MPs and affiliated trades unionists have […]
Now that I have dispensed with the pleasantries, we can get back to volcanoes! The volcano that many of you have been following is still Sinabung in Indonesia. After a […]
Welcome to the next iteration of Eruptions! For everyone who has never seen Eruptions before, I thought I’d start off with a little introduction. My name is Dr. Erik Klemetti, I […]
“Apple is expected to use its press conference later today to unveil new-look iPods, a revamped Apple TV and possibly a music-streaming service, according to industry observers.”
“People who drink heavily live longer than those who completely abstain from alcohol, according to a new study conducted by a psychologist at the University of Texas.”
Despite its social taboo, the use of hallucinogenic drugs in laboratory experiments has a robust history in the treatment of diseases like alcoholism and depression.
“Human charity is ultimately rooted in our compassionate feelings, and not in some rational, utilitarian calculations. We are not Vulcans.” The Frontal Cortex on why we help want to help others.
“The men are real. The girls are cartoon.” Increasing numbers of Japanese men are flocking to Atami, a city that promotes weekend date packages with one of three virtual girlfriends.
“Science fiction never imagined Google, but it certainly imagined computers that would advise us what to do.” A Times Op-Ed on whether or not Google will determine our futures for us.
Life expectancy continues to climb, but why aren’t we celebrating? As populations age the assumption is that their productivity declines, but we should rethink this foregone conclusion.
“How useful are global gatherings that invite great minds to share ideas and innovations in person?” From TED to Google to Aspen, organizers gather great minds to share their thoughts.
Is it true that more sensible decisions are reached by putting our heads together? Scientific American on studies that examine the effect of communication on problem solving.
“If Americans become too passive and entitled, the flames of entrepreneurial spirit will die down.” Dr. Jeffrey Cornwall says new economic policy will affect our entrepreneurial culture.
There are some reports of a possible eruption in the Congo, but the details are scant
The new activity at Indonesia’s Sinabung continues and now over 21,000 people have been evacuated. Meanwhile, Etna continues to rumble away, possibly towards a new eruptive cycle.