Words of Wisdom — March 6, 2014

Michelangelo on Vision

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A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”

– Michelangelo

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

An AI-generated illustration of a man sitting at a desk, accompanied by thought-provoking poetry.

Thinking

Can AI write authentic poetry?

Cognitive psychologist and poet Keith Holyoak explores whether artificial intelligence could ever achieve poetic authenticity.

Five new book covers of various genres on a colorful background.

High Culture

5 brilliant books that pioneered new subgenres of literature

From “The Castle of Otranto” to “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, these books changed the literary landscape.

A man consuming capsaicin-rich chili peppers in a vibrant red field.

Health

Capsaicin: Could the compound that gives chili peppers their heat treat diabetes and obesity?

Capsaicin is already used to treat nerve pain. Early research hints it could do more.

Three Egginton men are shown in front of a blue background.

13.8

A meeting of the greatest minds in science, philosophy, and literature

A new book envisions an encounter of minds between the Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges, the physicist Werner Heisenberg, and the philosopher Immanuel Kant.

Three silver boxes with designs on them.

The Past

Incense clocks: How to measure time with fire and smoke

These clocks burn powdered incense along a pre-measured paths, each representing a different amount of time.

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