Culture & Religion — July 9, 2009

Call for Tweets on Pandemic and Genomic Science

Next week, Big Think will host two groundbreaking panels on pandemic and genomic science. A handful of the world’s foremost experts–including Esther Dyson, Francis Collins, Michael Woroby and Boonsri Dickinson–will discuss and debate the latest developments in swine flu research and the biomedical implications of personal genomics. Content from the evening will be released on the site, and we would be thrilled to have Big Thinkers participate! Please Tweet questions for our panelists at @Big_Think.

Collage of classical art suggesting a theme related to somatic markers.

Business

How “somatic markers” can transform your decision-making

Ditch the old brain vs. heart assumptions, and instead think about a heart-led brain.

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.

A wooden sign indicating "assisted migration rep 2" in a pine forest under a clear blue sky.

Life

Moving trees north to save the forests

As the world warms, trees in forests such as those in Minnesota will no longer be adapted to their local climates. That’s where assisted migration comes in.

Historical map illustration depicting a planned city layout with a circular central area and radiating streets.

Strange Maps

Ohio’s Circleville ditched the grid system. Then it got squared.

A small Ohio town tried to escape America’s addiction to rectangular grids. It didn’t last long.

Bullet Cluster separation mass gravity x-ray lensing

Starts With A Bang

Flagship NASA space telescope faces a penny-pinching death

NASA's only flagship X-ray telescope ever, Chandra, still works and has no planned successor. So why does the President want to kill it?

Up Next

Surprising Science

We Love Science, We Love it Not

The Pew Research Center has just released its new polling data on the state of science, and attitudes toward science in America are just as disheartening as you might imagine. […]