Guest Thinkers — December 21, 2010

Editor’s Note

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

There was a post in the space this morning that was of a pretty different tone than what we usually try to do. Greg and I have discussed this, and while we both agree with the bulk of the post, it has been removed. We apologize for the confusion.

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Interior of a particle physics laboratory showing a complex particle accelerator setup with multiple cables, detectors, and machinery designed to study glueball particles.

Starts With A Bang

What do unexpected experimental results actually tell us?

Scientific surprises, driven by experiment, are often how science advances. But more often than not, they’re just bad science.

Black and white illustration of people in 18th-century attire at a dining table, overlaid with red-orange borders and white arrows indicating interaction among the individuals.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: Is it better to debate people or shrug and drink wine?

If philosophers really enjoy one thing, it’s a good debate — but not an argument.

A collage featuring a detailed hand drawing, a scientific diagram of a circular interconnected pattern, and a black and white diagram resembling a microorganism on a blue background.

Life

“Life does not exist”: The deceptively tricky task of defining life

“What modern science has taught us is that life is not a property of matter.”

Starts With A Bang

Why haven’t we detected a signal from intelligent aliens yet?

Life arose on Earth early on, eventually giving rise to us: intelligent and technologically advanced. “First contact” still remains elusive.

The Future

How Arc Institute is bringing science into the century of biology

There is one obstacle that reliably blocks innovative ideas: how we fund science.

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Given how much interest my earlier post on rumors of fighting between Huthi supporters and Salafis in Dammaj generated, I thought I would link to this News Yemen article on […]