Guest Thinkers — December 21, 2010

More problems

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Just some more numbers confirming what we already know. Oil is falling, defecit is rising. I swear, one of these days we’ll have a nice post.

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

An e-reader displaying text is propped up against a stack of hardcover books.

The Present

How the Internet Archive’s “Free Digital Library” fell to the “fair use” test

The nonprofit made a bold gamble on the limits of “fair use” — and federal courts have not backed their play.

Digital illustration of a DNA double helix in red and blue, set against a black background.

The Future

Can we automate science? Sam Rodriques is already doing it.

“We can build AI scientists that are better than we are… these systems can be superhuman,” says the FutureHouse co-founder.

Starts With A Bang

The Steady-State Universe: A viable alternative to the Big Bang?

For nearly 60 years, the hot Big Bang has been accepted as the best story of our cosmic origin. Could the Steady-State theory be possible?

Global geoid map with colorful variations representing differences in Earth's gravity field. The scale ranges from -100 (low) to 100 (high). Europe's position is central.

Starts With A Bang

Scalar fields: the secret sauce of theoretical physics

Scalars, vectors, and tensors come up all the time in physics. They’re more than mathematical structures. They help describe the Universe.

Collage of geopolitical symbols, featuring a close-up of a man's bald head, China's flag, a globe highlighting Taiwan, and circuit patterns.

The Present

Why the USSR and China fell behind the US in the Chip Cold War

Both nations made missteps, but China still has a chance to make up lost ground.

Up Next

Guest Thinkers

To be anonymous

I have often wondered what I would say if I could say something without my name being attached to my comments, I’m still not sure. But I would certainly request […]