Words of Wisdom — January 13, 2014

Jay McInerney on Living

“I like the fact that I’m living in the world rather than in a university.”- Jay McInerney (born on this date in 1956)

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A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

“I like the fact that I’m living in the world rather than in a university.”
– Jay McInerney (born on this date in 1956)

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Collaged image of text and a black-and-white scene with a dinosaur and mountainous backdrop. The year "1950" is visible in the bottom left corner.

The Past

How the search for dinosaurs on Venus exposed a warning for Earth

Dinosaurs and other beasts were once thought to be the “undisputed masters” of Venus.

Abstract design with human profiles, a silhouette of a person walking, and text reading "The Happiness Paradox 4" on a grid background.

The Present

Why happiness is not the best indicator of well-being

Achieving values and pursuing growth is the real secret to a fulfilled life.

Collage of scientific discovery elements including a portrait, butterfly, globe, molecular diagrams, a tree diagram, and a hand holding a test tube against a plain background.

Hard Science

Is discovery inevitable or serendipitous?

Are breakthroughs really a matter of chance, or are they simply waiting to be uncovered by the right person at the right time?

Starts With A Bang

Hidden variable alternative to quantum spookiness fails

Do we actually live in a deterministic Universe, despite quantum physics? An alternative, non-spooky interpretation has now been ruled out.

Young child sitting on a couch, illuminated by the screen of a tablet they are holding in a dimly lit room.

The Present

Beyond screen time: Rethinking kids’ tech use with the “Goldilocks hypothesis”

The digital world will always entail risks for teens, but that doesn’t mean parents aren’t without recourse.

Up Next

The Passive War: “The blind warning the blind about a nonexistent danger”

Over the past century a war has been fought in universities around the world which has resulted in countless bottles of red ink spilled over students’ work, in the form […]