Surprising Science — February 1, 2011

Energies of the Future

By 2030 the physicist expects that we will have hot fusion reactors.

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Every Wednesday, Michio Kaku will be answering reader questions about physics and futuristic science. If you have a question for Dr. Kaku, just post it in the comments section below and check back on Wednesdays to see if he answers it.

Today, Dr. Kaku addresses a question posed by Davis Tan: What future energy source will solve our energy crisis?

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Interior of a particle physics laboratory showing a complex particle accelerator setup with multiple cables, detectors, and machinery designed to study glueball particles.

Starts With A Bang

What do unexpected experimental results actually tell us?

Scientific surprises, driven by experiment, are often how science advances. But more often than not, they’re just bad science.

two particles different wavelength speed of light

Starts With A Bang

How a failed experiment led to Einstein’s first big revolution

The Michelson-Morley experiment of 1887, despite expectations, revealed a null result: no effect. The implications were revolutionary.

Einstein with his class of students in 1896

Starts With A Bang

The scientist’s 10 commandments

There are many things that separate science from ideology, politics, philosophy, or religion. Follow these 10 commandments to get it right.

The Present

Khan Academy’s founder on how AI can supercharge “mastery learning”

“We should be informed and educated about the risks of AI, but we can’t be afraid,” Khan Academy founder Sal Khan told Big Think.

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.

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