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Philosophy
Some question the ethics of sanctions aimed at cancelling Russian art and culture and punishing ordinary citizens.
Singularities frustrate our understanding. But behind every singularity in physics hides a secret door to a new understanding of the world.
It didn't look like anything I'd seen before, but I'd be a great fool to consider "aliens" as a reasonable possibility.
Today, we could use Big Data to radically reform democracy. Tomorrow, we could build nanofabricators and usher in an era of abundance. Is society ready?
Nanofabricators could quickly synthesize whatever we need, molecule by molecule.
We take for granted that time is real. But what if it's only an illusion, and a relative illusion at that? Does time even exist?
There is strong evidence that invertebrates are sentient beings.
Moral dilemmas reveal the limitations of ethical principles. Oddly, the most principled belief system might not have any principles at all.
After mammoth investments and two decades of anti-aging research, what do immortality proponents have to show for it?
Realism in science cannot be completely unmoored from human experience. Otherwise, realism ends up tortured with unreal paradoxes.
"Immodest Acts" tells the story of Benedetta Carlini, a lesbian nun who claimed to be a mystic visionary but failed to convince the leaders of her faith.
How efficiently could quantum engines operate?
Inflection points veer life in unexpected directions. While unnerving, they provide opportunities for those who can navigate them.
Satire and an inflated sense of self-importance collide in a series of maps that goes back more than 100 years in American history.
Benjamin Franklin's lightning rod saved countless lives, but some religious leaders denounced his invention.
Plants are very sensitive to touch, with research showing that touching a plant can change its genome and launch a cascade of plant hormones.
When was the last time you spent some quality time with yourself?
Single objects rarely change the course of an entire scientific field. Distant object GNz7q, a galaxy-quasar hybrid, might do exactly that.
Studies show that feelings of ease and comfort in a given situation are tied to feelings of authenticity.
Many atheists think of themselves as intellectually gifted individuals, guiding humanity on the path of reason. Scientific data shows otherwise.
John Templeton Foundation
For some reason, the charges on the electron and proton are equal and opposite, and their numbers are equal, too. But why?
We should not expect aliens to look anything like us. Creatures that resemble octopuses or birds or even robots are legitimate possibilities.
As far as we can tell, there's no limit to how far it goes on; only a limit to how far we can see. Could the Universe truly be infinite?
Successful romantic relationships require desire, but that desire doesn't have to be sexual.
In the pursuit of happiness, money probably trumps meaning.
If we are wreaking havoc on ourselves and the world, it is because we have become mesmerized by a mechanistic, reductionist way of thinking.
Will all robots think like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg?
I hate grading. I love teaching, though, and giving students feedback is teaching.
There is much more to the Kama Sutra than just sex. It's a guide to anyone wanting more pleasure in life, however they take it.
Most cities reeked of death, defecation, and industrial waste. Still, focusing only on stench means turning a blind eye (or nose) to the many other smells that helped shape human history.