Culture & Religion — June 24, 2014

Fairy Tales: From Fact to Folklore

Professor Richard Dawkins was once again recently the centre of controversy after the media suggested that he had claimed children should not be read fairy tales:

“I think it’s rather pernicious to inculcate into a child a view of the world which includes supernaturalism…”

Dawkins subsequently claimed his views had been taken out of context and misrepresented:

“@RichardDawkins thinks Santa Claus causes children ‘great harm’ http://t.co/27eOdwnR2I” Total lie. Does the Daily Mail EVER print truth?

— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) June 4, 2014

Starts With A Bang

Is NASA wrong about this star’s “supernova” fate?

This beautiful JWST image of Wolf-Rayet star WR 124 has been called a “prelude to a supernova” by NASA. That might be entirely wrong.

two hands reaching towards each other in the dark.

The Future

Gods in the machine? The rise of AI may result in new religions

Some would say AI is immortal and all-knowing — Godlike, even.

Steven Spielberg in front of a pterodactyl

Pessimists Archive

Why Steven Spielberg shouldn’t fear AI

AI helped create films like “Jurassic Park” and “A.I.”, so Steven Spielberg and other artists shouldn’t worry about losing their jobs.

a wooden bowl filled with erythritol next to a wooden spoon.

Health

Study linking sugar substitute “erythritol” to heart attack and stroke is flawed

Be skeptical of a new study questioning the sweetener’s safety.

a painting of a woman and a man with the words is it liberation?.

Has the sexual revolution backfired?

Sexual attitudes are more man-like than ever. Here’s what that means for women.

▸

7 min

—

with

Louise Perry

Up Next

Federal Court: Unvaccinated Children Don’t Have Full Rights to Public Education

Parents’ constitutional right to freely exercise their religion does not necessarily except their children from receiving vaccinations, provided the parents want their children to attend classes at publicly funded schools.