Guest Thinkers — December 21, 2010

Rumors of his death were greatly exaggerated

Lost in the news of all the AQAP terrorism talk has been news of the Huthi conflict. Recent rumors – when aren’t there any about the Huthi conflict – have suggested that ‘Abd al-Malik al-Huthi was killed and buried in Sa’dah.

Not so fast says his office, through this News Yemen piece, which is releasing an audio tape.

Strange Maps

America’s news deserts are growing

Most counties in the U.S. have only one local newspaper, often one that publishes weekly instead of daily.

Two people walking past a dark brick wall with numerous security cameras pointing in various directions.

The Present

Are smart cities a wise idea?

When Google runs a smart city, who owns the data?

Illustration of a young woman with closed eyes, smiling, next to a large, detailed eye and surrounded by vibrant, abstract elements and smiley faces.

Neuropsych

Eyes wide shut: Why closing your eyes intensifies psychedelic trips

A recent study suggests that exposure to visual stimuli can diminish the effects of psychedelic drugs.

Starts With A Bang

The big idea of Grand Unified Theories of physics

If the electromagnetic and weak forces unify to make the electroweak force, maybe, at higher energies, something even grander happens?

Microscopic image of a small electronic component with clear details of its structure and connections against a gray background.

The Future

Making microbots smart

What would it take to create a truly intelligent microbot, one that can operate independently?

Up Next

Guest Thinkers

Tuesday Papers (Late Edition)

Al-Ghad is finally out, and the paper is reporting about potential threats to oil facilities in Aden. This is of particular concern to a number of people, and there is […]