Dunbar’s number is a popular estimate for the maximum size of social groups. But new research suggests that it’s a fictitious number based on flimsy data and bad theory.
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We can do so much more, so much faster, with the same data. When you think about how astronomy works, you probably think about observers pointing telescopes at objects, collecting data […]
Which is good, because if they do, they violate the cosmological principle. In theory, the Universe should be the same, on average, everywhere. A simulation of the large-scale structure of […]
The author of ‘How We Read’ Now explains.
Ancient corridors below the French capital have served as its ossuary, playground, brewery, and perhaps soon, air conditioning.
If you ask your maps app to find “restaurants that aren’t McDonald’s,” you won’t like the result.
We have to use the right definition for the specific question we’re asking. When it comes to the Universe, we frequently characterize objects by examining and reporting on their physical […]
With the rise of Big Data, methods used to study the movement of stars or atoms can now reveal the movement of people. This could have important implications for cities.
The world is changing, and technology is driving that change. Today, that observation is about as compelling as the insight that water runs downhill. It’s just what technology (and water) […]
Studies show that religion and spirituality are positively linked to good mental health. Our research aims to figure out how and why.
Cosmic rays aren’t just limited by the speed of light. Even among non-scientists, it’s well-understood that there’s an ultimate speed limit to the Universe: the speed of light. If you’re a […]
There’s a lot to love about the innovations of Scrivener 3 for the Mac.
This spring, a U.S. and Chinese team announced that it had successfully grown, for the first time, embryos that included both human and monkey cells.
Scientists should be cautious when expressing an opinion based on little more than speculation.
Even with six months’ notice, we can’t stop an incoming asteroid.
New research suggests that there is no “typical” form of Alzheimer’s disease, as the condition can manifest in at least four different ways.
The mummy was first thought to be a male priest. But a recent radiological analysis revealed a surprising anomaly.
We give it the flight plan, and it takes care of the rest. It has to. Here’s why. No matter how advanced our technology becomes, there are certain limits that can […]
Noise causes stress. For our ancestors, it meant danger: thunder, animal roars, war cries, triggering a ‘fight or run’ reaction.
The unique light signatures of nautical beacons translate into hypnotic cartography.
Automation technologies manufacture goods or provide labor with minimal human intervention. They can trace their origins as far back as the 16th century—and arguably further—but didn’t take off until the […]
Companies can identify you from your music preferences, as well as influence and profit from your behavior.
Many people believe that in the face of profound evil, they would have the courage to speak up. It might be harder than we think.
And which ones are probably examples where we’ve fooled ourselves? Every once in a while — multiple times per year — a new research finding fails to line up with our theoretical expectations. In […]
Prep for the most essential cybersecurity exams with over 400 hours of training.
Scientists discover what our human ancestors were making inside the Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa 1.8 million years ago.
Roughly the size of a thumbnail, this newly discovered toadlet has some anatomical surprises.
New machine-learning algorithms from Columbia University detect cognitive impairment in older drivers.
Regularities, which we associate with laws of nature, require an explanation.