How dirty debaters win against better opponents How to defeat debaters who deal in distractions, according to a two-time world debate champion. ▸ 5 min — with Bo Seo
The Future A far-out plan to build an asteroid city The authors call it “wildly theoretical” — but let’s take a look, anyway.
Neuropsych “Jumping genes”: A new model of Alzheimer’s “Jumping genes” exist in various forms, including as remnants of ancient retroviruses, and make up about 45% of the human genome.
Neuropsych We need boredom to live better lives. But social media is destroying it When boredom creeps in, many of us turn to social media. But that may be preventing us from reaching a transformative level of boredom.
Hard Science The case for dark matter has strengthened Though a single measurement is not enough to definitively decide the debate, this is a major win for dark matter proponents.
The Learning Curve 5 ways to set yourself up for success There is no sure-fire formula for success, but you can be better prepared to create your own.
Harvard professor argues for rationality Is it better to be rational or optimistic? Steven Pinker explains. ▸ 7 min — with Steven Pinker
The Past How biologist and artist Ernst Haeckel defrauded and hijacked science He was also a eugenicist — but at least he could draw pretty pictures.
Starts With A Bang Ask Ethan: Is the Universe’s expansion accelerating or not? Yes, dark energy is real. Yes, distant galaxies recede faster and faster as time goes on. But the expansion rate isn’t accelerating at all.
Neuropsych Lost wallets are more likely to be returned if they hold cash The cost of seeing yourself as a thief is pretty steep, the results of a 2019 study suggest.
Sponsored The surprising business model of Costco While Costco warehouses may remind shoppers of Walmart, this membership-only retailer has a business model that more closely resembles Amazon or Netflix.
Health No, the COVID vaccine did not cause Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest Concluding that Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest was caused by the COVID vaccine requires accepting highly improbable leaps of logic.
Starts With A Bang I blame Jupiter for the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, a massive asteroid struck Earth. Not only did Jupiter not stop it, but it probably caused the impact itself.
Strange Maps The Viking woman who sailed to America and walked to Rome The amazing life of “Gudrid the Far-Traveled” was unjustly overshadowed by her in-laws, Erik the Red and Leif Erikson.
13.8 Our language is inadequate to describe quantum reality The quantum world — and its inherent uncertainty — defies our ability to describe it in words.
The Learning Curve Bored at work? Your brain is trying to warn you. Boredom isn’t the enemy; it’s a catalyst for changing your relationship to work.
The mind-blowing stats on male inequality Male inequality — the enormous cultural shift happening right under our nose. ▸ 15 min — with Richard Reeves
Starts With A Bang The key lesson to learn from science’s greatest debate In 1920, astronomers debated the nature of the Universe. The results were meaningless until years later, when the key evidence arrived.
Strange Maps Want to sleep longer? Move to Albania If you want to sleep more, try working less, eating better, and exercising more. Alternatively, you could emigrate to Albania.
Life Scientists tested the intelligence of 13 dog breeds. Labradors are the dumbest But they’re still lovable.
The Present Why 2023 will be “the year of mixed reality” 2023 will see an “arms race” in mixed reality hardware and software. This truly will revolutionize our society.
Hard Science What is negative energy? And can it give us wormholes and warp drives? Quantum mechanics has taught us that even empty space contains energy. “Negative energy” is the state of having less energy than empty space.
Starts With A Bang Dark energy and the myth of the disappearing Universe As time goes on, dark energy makes distant galaxies recede from us ever faster in our expanding Universe. But nothing truly disappears.
The Present Mathematics explains why non-conformists always end up looking alike It’s called the “hipster effect,” and a study from Brandeis University mathematician Jonathan Touboul explains how it happens.
Health Got a strong sense of smell? Then you probably also have this special skill. Follow your nose all the way home.
Health “Law of Jante”: The grim Danish philosophy that actually makes people happy Denmark’s 10 Jante Laws are grim, and yet they bring so much happiness.
Hard Science The 12 most exciting space missions of 2023 2023 will see the launch of new rockets, the return of OSIRIS-REx, and a mission to Jupiter that could help us find extraterrestrial life.
Starts With A Bang How has the Universe changed since last year? In the grand scheme of the cosmic story, a single year isn’t all that significant. But over time, the annual changes really add up!