Latest

Text graphic displaying the words “The Latest” in large, bold, black serif font on a light background.
globular cluster terzan 5
For centuries, even after we knew the Sun was a star like any other, we still didn't know what it was made of. Cecilia Payne changed that.
A graph titled "The Long Boom 2000-2025" shows intersecting curves from 1975 to 2025, depicting a transition from an old to a new world. Text reads "I was here" at the intersection around 2005.
The latest from Peter Leyden's "The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050", an essay series published by Freethink.
A cartoon of three cosmic phenomena (CMB, Baryon Acoustic Oscillations, Supernovae) pulling on a triangle. Text below reads: "Something has to give...
DESI, by mapping galaxies, has claimed they see evidence for dark energy evolving by getting weaker. But that's only one interpretation.
A stone bust of a bearded figure with an orange band across its forehead displaying several question marks.
“It’s much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers that might be wrong.”
An open book reveals the art of smart manipulation: on the left page, a marionette illustration dances gracefully, while on the right, a flock of sheep grazes peacefully in a sunlit field.
We manipulate constantly — but few of us want to be called “manipulative.” Here, ex-Google executive Jenny Wood redefines an unfairly maligned trait.
A satin bowerbird stands on the ground, artfully surrounded by blue objects like an artist's palette, with dried twigs in the background, a testament to nature's evolution.
In his book, "Birds, Sex and Beauty," Matt Ridley explores why learning isn't always nature versus nurture.
A man in a suit sits on a stage chair with a headset, set against a vibrant green background, ready to discuss the latest advancements at OpenAI.
OpenAI has become a household name in artificial intelligence — but back in 2018 things looked very rocky. Here’s what happened.
From the vastness of space, Earth at night reveals its exo-earth beauty, with illuminated continents showcasing a tapestry of lights across North and South America. Major cities and regions emerge from the glowing darkness, painting a vivid picture against the backdrop of oceans.
Even from a single pixel, multiwavelength data taken over time can reveal clouds, icecaps, oceans, continents, and even signs of life.
An orange fruit hangs from a branch, accompanied by a small white flower with pink details, set against a background of green leaves.
A powerful psychedelic long used in African rituals shows surprising promise for treating traumatic brain injury and PTSD.
A foot in a brown shoe stepping on a banana peel against a blue background, illustrating one of the humorous fixes for success.
Professor of leadership Michael D. Watkins identifies ways high-performing teams can be sabotaged — and offers simple fixes for each.
Colorful galaxy with dark dust lanes and bright stars, set against a deep space background.
Someday, we'll look back and see a young galaxy forming stars for the first time. JADES-GS-z14-0, the farthest ever, isn't early enough.
Person in a red sweater sitting on a stool in a bright studio with white walls and colorful striped rugs.
49mins
"We try to stick to routines and we try to go through very long lists of tasks, often ignoring our mental health in the process. There is a lot more to think about on a daily basis, but our brains haven't evolved."
Einstein's general relativity has reigned supreme as our theory of gravity for over a century. Could we reduce it back down to Newton's law?
Illustration of two connected neurons with green and orange bodies, featuring detailed blue nuclei, against a black grid background.
A fresh view of intelligence — spanning living systems from bacteria to human civilization — challenges the idea that it’s merely problem-solving.
From a vantage point reminiscent of Carl Zimmer's explorations, an aerial view captures a massive swirling cloud formation over Earth, resembling a hurricane or cyclone against the infinite darkness of space.
In his new book, the popular science writer tells the story of how scientists discovered the “gaseous ocean” we all swim in — and the trillions of invisible life forms we share it with.
Collage featuring a power plant, Alpha School text and logo, graphs, and "The Night Crawler" title on a geometric blue and white background, seamlessly incorporating AI education elements.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
A person sitting on a chair in a studio setting with a white backdrop and two small tables on either side, each holding a small plant.
11mins
"Everything that we care about, everything we experience, everything we know, we know it through our conscious awareness of it."
Two side-by-side images of the Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula showcase different views with vibrant colors and star-filled backgrounds, embodying the great paradox of beauty within science.
Our scientific instruments are constantly improving, revealing nature's workings as never before. Without them, we'll remain in the dark.