Culture & Religion — May 7, 2012

Votifi

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Votifi is an online platform that encourages positive, nuanced political exchange.

After you sign up, the website sends you daily polls through your browser or mobile device and creates a political profile of you based on your responses. The site also breaks down basic political issues and attempts to get you involved in discussing them with other Votifi members.

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A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

A model of the Colossus depicting the grandeur of ancient Rome.

The Past

This virtual 3D model lets you wander the streets of ancient Rome

Archaeologist Bernard Frischer spent decades uploading the ruins of the Eternal City to the cloud. Here’s what it looks like.

A black and white photo of a branch with moss on it, featuring mushrooms.

Thinking

What humanity can learn from the “internet” of mushrooms

The world is facing many crises, and we should look to natural interdependence and ancient wisdom as we explore science for solutions.

A collage highlighting disinformation with a fake ear.

The Learning Curve

Disarming disinformation: How to understand and counter the “post-truth playbook”

Philosopher Lee McIntyre discusses the dangers of disinformation, how such falsehoods spread, and what we can do about it.

a set of colorful speech bubbles on a white background, displaying bad English.

The Learning Curve

The power of speaking strangely

The good side of bad English.

a woman holding a rainbow colored kite in the air.

Starts With A Bang

Ask Ethan: What is a woman?

If you think you know what sex, gender, and “the right thing to do” for trans youth and adults are, be sure it agrees with actual science.

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