Guest Thinkers — December 21, 2010

Foreign Policy

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

My new piece in Foreign Policy is now on-line here.

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Three versions of a buttercup flower: left is yellow in visible light, middle is pinkish in ultraviolet, and right is colorless in infrared—a glimpse into the diverse sensory umwelt surrounding us.

How “umwelt” can make you more creative and productive

If you’re out on a walk, you will see a different world than your dog, a bee, or an ant. Here are three reasons why that matters.

Starts With A Bang

Ask Ethan: How does the Universe’s temperature change over time?

Today, the deepest depths of intergalactic space aren’t at absolute zero, but at a chill 2.73 K. How does that temperature change over time?

A clock face with moon phases as numbers, set against a blue sky with scattered clouds, creates a whimsical portrayal of lunar time.

Hard Science

Moon time is a thing now—here’s why it matters

Physicists recently created Coordinated Lunar Time, a time zone for our Moon.

Abstract design with human profiles, a silhouette of a person walking, and text reading "The Happiness Paradox 4" on a grid background.

The Present

Why happiness is not the best indicator of well-being

Achieving values and pursuing growth is the real secret to a fulfilled life.

A map depicting historical migration paths with two human figures positioned in different regions, illustrating ancient travel routes. The map shows various colored regions representing different terrains.

Strange Maps

The mountains where Neanderthals forever changed human genetics

Early modern humans interbred with Neanderthals — and scientists recently pinpointed a key site of contact.

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Guest Thinkers

Really easy tea leaves

GENEVA – The United Nations food agency said on Friday a lack of funds had forced it to cut back rations for around one million people in Yemen, despite growing […]