Science & Technology

"The nineteenth century believed in science but the twentieth century does not." — Gertrude Stein

The World Is a Strange Madhouse: 100 Years of Relativity
Paul Dicken marks the centenary of “The Meaning of Relativity,” Einstein’s attempt to explain his runaway theory and correct its “mad” cultural appropriations.
Paul DickenFeb 10, 2022
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Every Age Gets the Mythology It Deserves
Colin Burgess’s “The Greatest Adventure: A History of Human Space Exploration” fails to take off.
Michael D. GordinJan 19, 2022
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The Sleep of Reason Produces Cats
The so-called “scientific method” may be a cage of sorts.
Michael RossiJan 10, 2022
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Wages for Climate Stewardship?
Sayd Randle considers the problems of “Climate Stewardship,” the new book by Adina Merenlender and Brendan Buhler.
Sayd RandleJan 2, 2022
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Mystery Illnesses Writ Large
Modern medicine fails abysmally to account for mass psychogenic illnesses — they’re uncanny and paradigm-altering.
Jeff WheelwrightDec 24, 2021
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On Kinds of Minds and Kinds of Racism
To understand what kind of racism we face, argues George Makari, we need to understand the type of mind that undergirds it.
George MakariDec 14, 2021
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Space Tourism and Nature Writing
Christopher Schaberg considers "Four Fifths a Grizzly" and the future of nature writing.
Christopher SchabergDec 12, 2021
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Semipublic Intellectual Sessions: “What Comes After CRISPR?”
A transcript of the panel discussion “What Comes After CRISPR?” – a satellite event of the Semipublic Intellectual Sessions, which took place on November 5.
Amy Webb, Eben Kirksey, Hank Greely, John Dupré, Julien Crockett, Kevin DaviesDec 6, 2021
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Beautiful Lies: The Art of the Deep Fake
Nicholas Carr shows how Jonas Bendiksen’s beautiful photographs “open a door onto a weird and unsettling future.”
Nicholas CarrDec 6, 2021
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The Life Arboreal
Barbara Kiser reviews three books about our relationship to trees and the forest.
Barbara KiserNov 2, 2021
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Heels: A New Account of the Double Helix
Nathaniel Comfort reviews Howard Markel's new book about Rosalind Franklin, "The Secret of Life."
Nathaniel ComfortOct 26, 2021
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“Scientific Nightmare”: The Backstory of the “DSM”
Andrew Scull gives stellar marks to Allan Horwitz’s history of the DSMs.
Andrew ScullOct 25, 2021
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