From 30,000 feet above sea level, why aren’t the stars visible from an airplane? “Don’t get involved in partial problems, but always take flight to where there is a free […]
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Thinking, like seeing, has built-in blind spots. An old parable and Husserl’s matchbox can illuminate these geometric, biological, and cognitive limits. We can’t evade their unseen dangers unaided. In the […]
If you’re running a little short on potable water, you might want to take some empty jugs up to Portland Oregon, where for the next few days they will be […]
The two “go to” occupations for conveying the idea of genius are usually “rocket scientist” and “brain surgeon.” Only the best minds pursue the mysteries of the outer space beyond […]
The Standard Model can’t be all there is. Here are five compelling reasons why. “Other than the laws of physics, rules have never really worked out for me.” –Craig Ferguson Two […]
“Wu wei is an early Chinese term that means literally no doing or no trying,” says Edward Slingerland, author of the new critically acclaimed book about the power of spontaneity, Trying Not […]
“If you look at the neuroscience, the way that we’re wired has a profound effect on how we hear and respond to feedback,” says Sheila Heen, the co-author, with Douglas […]
Pack up your bags, because we may have found a new home. As Stephen Hawking warned us, humans must move to a new planet or face extinction. NASA has located […]
President Obama’s recent appearance on “Between Two Ferns,” Funny or Die’s internet comedy series starring Zach Galifianakis, and Macy’s CEO Terry Lungren’s interview this week with the popular social news […]
There is considerable debate right now about whether to pass an increase in the Federal minimumwage, from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour.Supporters of the proposal say that boosting the minimumwage would bolster the […]
“Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy” ― Isaac Newton
Incredible photos of the “blood moon” on April 15th show that the lunar eclipse was quite dramatic, as of course expected. Tuesday’s reddish moon is the first in a series […]
You never would’ve guessed that nuclear physics could be this easy. “Mr. Burns: Smithers, hand me that ice-cream scoop.Smithers: Ice-cream scoop?Mr. Burns: Damn it, Smithers! This isn’t rocket science, it’s brain […]
Ken Auletta on how media companies are figuring out how to monetize online television.
Scientists recently found that it’s not how attractive you are but how well you flirt that helps you find a potential mate. What are the classic tactics of flirting and […]
A recent study published in Nature Neuroscience found that trauma can be passed down through sperm. This builds on the study released last year which found that the children and […]
Isaac Newton was a rock star of scientists, so it makes sense that one of his discoveries stars in “High Ball Stepper,” the latest music video from Jack White. In […]
How do placebo pills reduce pain and even improve symptoms in Parkinson’s patients?What causes fireballs to allegedly shoot from Thailand’s Mekong River? And what is making that insanely annoying humming […]
It’s the weekend, and time to unwind with a NOVA documentary about quantum mechanics. In this instant classic released last year, theoretical physicist and string theorist Brian Greene takes you […]
This is not an April Fool’s Joke, but it should be. Researchers in Japan have solved the age old problem of having to pretend to be interested in something when […]
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about both the means and consequences of demonization. And like most Americans of my generation I generally think it’s a terrible thing. To […]
Four days ago the hybrid remote controlled vehicle Nereus began its 40-day mission to explore the Kermadec Trench, one of the deepest oceanic regions on the planet. Diving below 6,000 meters […]
It’s certainly cheaper than sending a person: NASA will be sending microbes into space. Researchers at UC Davis are leading the initiative. The big idea presented here is that the […]
February to May is talent season for NFL teams. Once the Super Bowl is over, the focus turns to replenishing and upgrading the roster, filling gaps and compensating for weaknesses […]
In part three of my five-part interview series with Bob Tewksbury, the new director of player development for the Major League Baseball Players Association, as well as a former major leaguer […]
Editor’s Note: This article was provided by our partner, RealClearScience. The original is here. You might recall from high school biology a scientist by the name of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. He proposed a […]
Editor’s Note: This article was provided by our partner, RealClearScience. The original is here. Cue Jeopardy music. Waiting. We’ve all done it, and pretty much all of us hate it. Can […]
On April 15th, people in North America were treated to a “blood moon,” when dispersed light from Earth’s sunsets and sunrises covered the face of the Moon during a lunar […]
This is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. It’s a time to celebrate what has been learned and to push the process further along. There is no screening test to diagnose Parkinson’s disease […]
“In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.” – Charles Darwin