Personal Growth — November 27, 2009

Shopacalypse Now

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

It’s Black Friday here in the U.S., the worst shopping day of the year. Do yourself a favor and check out an alternate reality: the Rev. Billy’s Church of Life After Shopping, where today is Buy Nothing Day.

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Starts With A Bang

Ask Ethan: Is antigravity even possible?

Humans, when we consider space travel, recognize the need for gravity. Without our planet, is artificial or antigravity even possible?

An open book reveals binary code on the left page, symbolizing AI's complexity, while a silhouette of a person balancing on a tightrope graces the right, bridging precision and creativity in harmony.

Business

Why AI could transform all jobs into BS

Oxford professor of ethics, John Tasioulas, thinks we should consider the loss of opportunity for “striving and succeeding” that AI is likely to bring.

A white lab mouse sits in a glass petri dish, cradled gently by hands clad in blue gloves. The captivating scene underscores the crucial role of lab mice in scientific research and discovery.

Life

Scientists kill 192 million lab mice each year. Is there a better way?

Can laboratories become more humane, or is it time to end animal research altogether?

A yellow road sign reading "SLOW NOW" stands before a breathtaking mountainous landscape under a clear blue sky, reminding travelers of the art of slow productivity.

Business

Why “slow productivity” is the key to great work and happy teams

Cal Newport explains how you and your teams can accomplish more while improving quality and supercharging workplace morale.

A robotic hand and a human hand reach towards each other, with a glowing DNA helix in the background, symbolizing humanity's last exam in the intersection of technology and biology.

Starts With A Bang

Why “humanity’s last exam” will ultimately fail humanity

A crowdsourced “final exam” for AI promises to test LLMs like never before. Here’s how the idea, and its implementation, dooms us to fail.

Up Next

Politics & Current Affairs

Thanking 10

Thanks giving for President Barack Obama was largely about thanking the armed forces giving their lives in Afghanistan.