What is this thing we call the universe? Sounds like a trivial question, nothing to worry about. Or, as a cynic would say, “Who cares?” It turns out that understanding the nature of the universe goes hand in hand with our understanding of who we are and how we fit into nature. To...

Cameron Neylon is a biophysicist at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, UK, and an advocate of open research, suggests that within scientific circles there is a lot of chatter about “openness”. As the reach of the web grows ever wider, scientists face increasing...

Investigation of the nature of addiction is with an appreciation of its variety and complexity We can be addicted to substances, like heroin, or coffee, or even food, and we can be addicted to activities, like gambling or sex or the Internet (maybe). However, merely using an addictive...

A brief series of lessons from Sherlock Holmes on the importance of true observation, of using our senses to their fullest potential to be fully mindful as we make our decisions. The first lesson is, perhaps, the most difficult to apply on a regular basis: pay attention to what isn’t there,...

The Arctic may be the world’s next geopolitical battleground. The melting ice will have profound consequences for the roof of the world, opening strategic waterways to shipping, reducing the ice cap on Greenland, and spurring a rush to claim rights to the wealth of natural resources that...