Guest Thinkers — August 16, 2010

BLOOPER OF THE WEEK: TD Celebration Fells OSU Star Receiver

Despite my misgivings about the vast commercialization of college athletics, and its impact on university culture, I did tune in to at least parts of Monday night’s BCS championship game. Just in case you were one of the 20 million or so viewers wondering how star OSU receiver Ted Ginn might have injured his ankle after returning the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown…the picture above, captured by the Columbus Dispatch, tells it all, and the paper has the scoop here. Consider this the “soft journalism” post of the week.

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

Guest Thinkers

HOUSE DEMS PROMOTE FIRST 100 HOURS ON SECOND LIFE: New 3D Virtual Community May Revolutionize Strategic Communication As It Moves From Independence to ‘Massification’

Haven’t heard of Second Life? It’s a 3-D virtual world built by users or “residents” worldwide. Imagine the video game World of Warcraft, but no game, just a cyber-community evolving […]