Guest Thinkers — December 21, 2010

Programming Note (Updated)

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

For those with any interest, I will be on al-Jazeera English this evening – sometime around 8 pm EST – discussing US-Yemeni relations.

Update: It turns out I had the time and subject wrong, I went on at 7:15 and talked about the Huthi conflict. Who knew?

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

A black and white image of a bunch of spheres, symbolizing the multiverse concept discussed by scientists.

Starts With A Bang

How logic and reasoning can fail as scientific tools

In logic, ‘reductio ad absurdum’ shows how flawed arguments fall apart. Our absurd Universe, however, often defies our intuitive reasoning.

Starts With A Bang

Why “incompleteness” matters in theoretical physics

Physicists just can’t leave an incomplete theory alone; they try to repair it. When nature is kind, it can lead to a major breakthrough.

An abstract composite image depicting where life began with mountainous terrain, chemical structures, and a monochrome inset of a cloudy sky.

Starts With A Bang

What was it like when life first sprang forth on Earth?

Although early Earth was a molten hellscape, once it cooled, life arose almost immediately. That original chain of life remains unbroken.

An AI-generated illustration of a man sitting at a desk, accompanied by thought-provoking poetry.

Thinking

Can AI write authentic poetry?

Cognitive psychologist and poet Keith Holyoak explores whether artificial intelligence could ever achieve poetic authenticity.

A close up image of a group of pink bacteria on a black background.

Neuropsych

The growing link between microbes, mood, and mental health

Research suggests that to maintain a healthy brain, we should tend our gut microbiome.

Up Next

Guest Thinkers

Yemeni Government’s Statement

It has been a long day for Yemen watchers, but before I sign off for the evening I wanted to post the important paragraph from a statement from Yemen’s embassy […]