Guest Thinkers — December 21, 2010

Foreign Policy

Tomorrow the new issue of Foreign Policy hits the newsstands. Inside the issue I have a small(ish) article on Yemen. The article was solicited months ago as part of a project on things that could “explode” in 2010 – it seems that the editors of FP knew what they were doing when they included Yemen on the list. We’ll see if my comments on al-Qaeda are as prophetic as their vision.

This is all as a way of suggesting that you go out and buy the magazine tomorrow – if you don’t already have a subscription.

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

Senate Hearing on Yemen

The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will hold a hearing on Yemen this week – Yemen: Confronting al–Qaeda, Preventing State Failure – of which I will be a part. I […]