Guest Thinkers — December 21, 2010

Programming Note

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For those with a satellite or residences abroad, assuming of course, that you have any interest, I will be on al-Hurra this afternoon from 4 – 5 pm along with Dr. Muhammad Qubati of the GPC and Muhammad Ubadi of TAJ.

We will be talking about all things Yemeni, well, I suppose not all things I doubt Dhu al-Fiqar, al-Tahara or Waq al-waq (the place not the blog) will come up.

The most surprising and impactful new stories delivered to your inbox every week, for free.

Starts With A Bang

Ask Ethan: Couldn’t COVID-19 have originated in a Chinese lab?

In theory, scientists could’ve produced a deadly virus that accidentally infected lab workers. In practice, we know that didn’t happen.

A retro computer displays a ghost on the screen as pixelated chains drift across the foreground, reminiscent of a scene from a Ken Liu short story. This digital haunt unfolds against a vivid orange background.

High Culture

“The gods will not be chained”: A short story by Ken Liu

The first in a series of short stories by the Hugo- and Nebula-winning author that inspired the cult hit “Pantheon.”

A large circular particle accelerator with several cables and machines is where engineers work inside and around the structure. The facility, dedicated to solving the muon g-2 anomaly, has platforms and specialized equipment surrounding the central structure.

Starts With A Bang

New theoretical calculation solves the “muon g-2” puzzle

A longstanding mismatch between theory and experiment motivated an exquisite muon measurement. At last, a theoretical solution has arrived.

Ancient stone structure with stairs under a blue sky with scattered clouds, surrounded by vegetation.

The Past

A beginner’s guide to sociopolitical collapse

How (not) to end up in the ash heap of history.

An image of a dark forest at night infused with the mysterious aura of the Bell Witch.

The Past

The baffling and terrifying mystery of the Bell Witch

Serving as the inspiration for the modern horror classic “The Blair Witch Project,” what does our fascination with this unsolvable mystery tell us about our modern psyche?

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