Guest Thinkers — April 2, 2010

The Jesus Paradox

Two new books — one by a Roman Catholic journalist, the other by an atheist novelist — offer modern responses to the difficult concept that Jesus was both mortal and divine.

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A weekly collection of thought-provoking articles on tech, innovation, and long-term investing from Nightview Capital’s Eric Markowitz.

Two new books offer modern responses to the Christian paradox that Jesus is thought of as both mortal and divine. Paul Johnson, a Roman Catholic journalist, focuses his biography on the earthly life of Jesus, assuming most of the stories of the bible to be true. Atheist novelist Philip Pullman takes a different tack, retelling the Gospel story with Mary having not one child, but twins — one called Jesus and the other Christ.

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?

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Mapping the Seas

Researchers have developed two new broadband acoustic systems that could represent a major improvement in how fish and other marine life are counted and classified.