by Tania Lombrozo
Academic philosophy is an outlier within the humanities, with fewer than 20 percent of full-time faculty positions occupied by women. Commentator Tania Lombrozo discusses some recent findings that might help us understand why.
by Alva Noë
We face a paradox: Although we lack sufficient reason to believe in the consciousness of others, it would be plainly unreasonable for us to give up this commitment.
by Barbara J. King
Recent anthropological research raises questions about whether our sedentary lifestyle contributes significantly to the obesity epidemic. Commentator Barbara J. King looks at the data and has thoughts on what it means for the Paleo diet.
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by Marcelo Gleiser
Science is often accused of extinguishing our enchantment with the world, of being too cold and rational. Quite the opposite is true, says Marcelo Gleiser. Modern science has restored a sense of wonder to the world with its revelations of objects unseen and realities unknown.
by Adam Frank
Big Data raises concerns about more than just privacy. The debate opening up before us is an essential one for a culture dominated by science and technology. Who determines if a technology is adopted? Who determines when and how it will be deployed? Who owns our data? What are our rights in this new world?
by Tania Lombrozo
Some people believe that the recipient of an organ transplant will take on characteristics of the organ donor. Commentator Tania Lombrozo considers what this reveals about the way we conceptualize ourselves and our bodies.
by Alva Noë
Commentator Alva Noë enters the Encyclopedic Palace at this year's Venice Biennale and finds it short on art, ideas and engagement. What was the curator thinking? But it's not all bad news. The Biennale is sprawling and there is much to enjoy, if you know where to look
by Barbara J. King
Higher education is not immune to prejudice, a statement seemingly confirmed by a university professor's tweet denigrating the academic skills of obese people. The result has been a powerful online debate. Yet the question still remains, what should be done about unwarranted bias against obese people?
by Barbara J. King
An update, and thanks, from commentator Barbara J. King following her earlier post about her new cancer diagnosis.
by Marcelo Gleiser
Last week NASA scientists put the space telescope Kepler in a kind of technological coma. The craft, designed to search for Earth-like planets orbiting stars in our cosmic neighborhood (within a few thousand light-years, that is), failed and seems to be unfixable. But it has left us with an undeniable legacy.
by Adam Frank
Given the resistance that has grown in this country to any form of science that treads too closely to someone's cherished ideology, celebrating science for the gift that it is with a big, honking festival seems like a good idea, says commentator Adam Frank.
by Tania Lombrozo
Are most people's political opinions based on information or illusion? Commentator Tania Lombrozo discusses recent research on confronting our own lack of understanding when it comes to questions of complex public policy.
by Alva Noë
Commentator Alva Noë is taken by the work of Tino Sehgal at the 2013 Venice Art Biennale. It's hard to explain, but in the end he concludes that we do not stand apart from art. We are engaged with art in ways that we don't always expect.
by Adam Frank
Big Data promises a future where our Big Cities become more flexible and responsive to human needs, argues commentator Adam Frank. While danger may lurk in the data sets, the fact is that we may need to mine Big Data for solutions to our everyday problems.
by Marcelo Gleiser
Can we act backwards in time? We can if we're talking about the world of quantum particles! It seems that the human mind plays a role in this time puzzle, too. Our role may even have something to do with why the universe exists.
