The Standard Model of particle physics is the most successful scientific theory of all time. It describes how everything in the universe is made of 12 different types of matter particles, interacting with three forces, all bound together by a rather special particle called the …
Photo: gettyimages on bbc.com Juan Villoro After amassing an astronomical fortune, Elon Musk considered it logical to go to outer space. Owner of SpaceX, the hyper-billionaire born in South Africa in 1971, reactivated the space race when the launch pads at Cape Canaveral had already become scrap metal. His first three rockets exploded, but the …
World Science Festival #BrianGreene #Neuroscience #Brain How does the brain retrieve memories, articulate words, and focus attention? Recent advances have provided a newfound ability to decipher, sharpen, and adjust electrical signals relevant to speech, attention, memory and emotion. Join Brian Greene and leading neuroscientists György …
Physics’ greatest mystery: Michio Kaku explains the God Equation Bigthink.com Michio Kaku on Bigthink.com MICHIO KAKU: What is the mind of God, that Albert Einstein chased after for 30 years of his life? Einstein wanted an equation that would unify gravity, electromagnetic force, and the two nuclear forces. He wanted unification of all four forces into …
A. I. Paul Nephew This entire article was written by OpenAI’s GPT-3 Davinci Model The only text I provided to the machine was: “Write an essay about texts written by AI.” AI has the potential to generate text that is indistinguishable from that of a …
Humans will soon have new bodies that forever blur the line between the natural and synthetic worlds, says bionics designer Hugh Herr. In an unforgettable talk, he details “NeuroEmbodied Design,” a methodology for creating cyborg function that he’s developing at the MIT Media Lab, and shows us a future where we’ve augmented our bodies in a way that will redefine human potential — and, maybe, turn us into superheroes. “During the twilight years of this century, I believe humans will be unrecognizable in morphology and dynamics from what we are today,” Herr says. “Humanity will take flight and soar.”
Juan Villoro The last decade of the 20th century saw the emergence of a peculiar invention capable of transforming users into merchandise. I am referring, of course, to the internet, online portals, search engines, and social networks. Silicon screens have become enchanted mirrors where people …
Legendary architect Renzo Piano — the mind behind such indelible buildings as The Shard in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the new Whitney Museum of Art in New York City — takes us on a stunning tour through his life’s work. With the …
As global demand for natural gas grows, companies use advanced technology to transport it from source to customer. Gas can be piped over relatively short distances. But cooling the gas to -162°C (-260°F) makes it a liquid for easier, safe shipment to faraway markets overseas. …
Juan Villoro “Organizing a library is a silent way of exercising the art of criticism,” wrote Borges. Books live in contagious density; they dialogue with each other; they benefit from other people’s discoveries, but also errors: Ptolemy, who was wrong, allows us to assess Galileo’s …