Surprising Science — February 12, 2011

The Singularity Is Near

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

With Time magazine’s recent cover story on futurist Ray Kurzweil, his theories about the singularity have entered the mainstream. Now hear them straight from the source.

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

Starts With A Bang

Ask Ethan: Could the CMB arise from galaxies, not the Big Bang?

The CMB has long been considered the Big Bang’s “smoking gun” evidence. But after what JWST saw, might it come from early galaxies instead?

Microscopic view of several rod-shaped bacteria floating against a blue background.

Books

Why your microbiome may matter more than DNA for your lifelong health

In “The Microbiome Master Key,” Brett and Jessica Finlay argue that we need to stop waging war on all germs and start working with the microbes that make us who we are.

Collage featuring a snail, two hands gripping a baton symbolizing succession, and a boat, overlaid on a pink and black grid pattern with the text "THE NIGHTCRAWLER" at the top.

Business

Inside the subtle art of succession

Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.

Images show the planet Uranus. The left image highlights its bright rings, while the right image, captured by the James Webb Space Telescope, depicts surprising details of glowing rings and a cloudy atmosphere. Discover more wonders in our solar system with these stunning visuals.

Starts With A Bang

A unique mission to both Uranus and Neptune could launch in 2034

Once every 12 years, Earth, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune all line up, opening a window for a joint mission. Our next chance arrives in 2034.

Infographic displays spacecraft names and missions around the Sun, planets, and moons, illustrating the current and planned science fleet exploring the Solar System.

Starts With A Bang

American science to soon face its largest brain drain in history

Over the first half of 2025, the US has cut science as never before. This disaster for American science may be a gift to the rest of the world.

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Lincoln’s Wild White House Seances

Abe and Mary Todd Lincoln held seances in the White House trying to contact the spirit of their dead son Willie. Or was it a calculated political move?