Commentary On Science And Society

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The Rev. Katie Hotze-Wilton signs a Missouri marriage license after performing a ceremony on Nov. 5 in St. Louis.

Jeff Roberson/AP

A Dark Side Of The Focus On Gay Marriage

by Barbara J. King

November 6, 2014 • As more states embrace gay marriage, might there be hidden costs for gays to such a single-issue emphasis? Anthropologist Barbara J. King takes a provocative look at this question.

File photo of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo. Reed Saxon/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Reed Saxon/AP

Despite Disasters, Explore We Must

by Marcelo Gleiser

November 5, 2014 • The crash of Virgin Galactic's spacecraft has renewed criticism of commercial space exploration. Commentator Marcelo Gleiser says disasters and loss of life are the cost of pushing humanity's limits.

iStockphoto

Why Lab Rats Don't Observe Daylight Saving Time

by Tania Lombrozo

November 3, 2014 • The effects of a time change can be significant and lasting for both hamsters and humans. Commentator Tania Lombrozo turns to an expert to learn more about circadian rhythms.

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Madison Bumgarner and Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants celebrate winning Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Kansas City Royals. David J. Phillip/AP hide caption

itoggle caption David J. Phillip/AP

Three Cheers For The Instant Replay

by Alva Noë

October 31, 2014 • The end of the World Series allows us to revisit baseball's experiment with instant replay. Commentator Alva Noë argues it has been a success — because it makes the game not more fair but more fun.

YouTube

Animal Behavior: Two Dogs And An Ice Cream

by Barbara J. King

October 30, 2014 • Anthropologist Barbara J. King says this short video clip of dogs Daisy and Cooper will brighten your day.

Albert Einstein's formula of relativity.

iStockphoto

Can Scientific Belief Go Too Far?

by Marcelo Gleiser

October 29, 2014 • Can scientists have too much faith, insisting that an idea is right despite contrary evidence? Commentator Marcelo Gleiser says yes, which could pay off in the end — or be a colossal waste of time.

This image from Monday shows extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the hot solar material in the sun's atmosphere. NASA/SDO hide caption

itoggle caption NASA/SDO

Need Perspective? Watch Our Crazy Star, The Sun

by Adam Frank

October 28, 2014 • Astrophysicist Adam Frank often tells his students that one reason to study science is that it puts our lives in perspective. Take a look at this video of the sun, and you'll see what he means.

An Apple employee explains the features of the new iMac, including its Retina 5K display. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

What An Advertising Challenge Illustrates About The Mind

by Tania Lombrozo

October 27, 2014 • Commentator Tania Lombrozo uses Apple's new Retina 5K display offering to illustrate a deep point about the limits of human learning.

AP/National Park Service

Behind The Scenes: Ethics Of Wolf Wars And Turtle Travels

by Barbara J. King

October 23, 2014 • Unethical practices are widespread in the making of wildlife films and TV programs, says anthropologist Barbara J. King. She urges viewers to fight back.

The Void Is A Busy Place

by Marcelo Gleiser

October 22, 2014 • Is there such a thing as complete emptiness or nothingness? Not according to modern physics, where empty space gets more active all the time, says commentator Marcelo Gleiser.

iStockphoto

Does Being 'Spiritual But Not Religious' Really Mean Anything?

by Adam Frank

October 21, 2014 • The self-defined "unaffiliated" are apt not to reject science's promise of knowledge based on evidence but, rather, to embrace it, says commentator Adam Frank.

iStockphoto

Are Factual And Religious Belief The Same?

by Tania Lombrozo

October 20, 2014 • Commentator Tania Lombrozo considers a new paper that may help make sense of the coexistence of seemingly contradictory religious and scientific beliefs.

iStockphoto

What Art, And The Game Telephone, Teach Us About Copying

by Alva Noë

October 17, 2014 • The basic phenomenon of speaking, expressing meaning in words — and also that of copying or recording what we hear — is laid bare before our eyes by artist Alvin Lucier, says commentator Alva Noë.

David Jones/iStockphoto

When Is It OK For Scientists To Become Political?

by Adam Frank

October 16, 2014 • The power of science and pervasiveness of technology puts scientists in a position of unique responsibility that can make political activism very slippery, says commentator Adam Frank.

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Alexandru Sava/iStockphoto

The Never-Ending Climb Of Mount Science

by Marcelo Gleiser

October 15, 2014 • Commentator Marcelo Gleiser says the mystery that surrounds us will always be here; there is no complete or final knowledge, and this fact gives science a unique character.

Women's 200 meters respective silver and bronze medal winners from India Dutee Chand, left, and Asha Roy wave to the crowd after their race on the final day of the 2013 Asian Athletics Championship. Manjunath Kiran/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

itoggle caption Manjunath Kiran/AFP/Getty Images

Policy

Why Can't Dutee Run?

by Alva Noë

October 10, 2014 • Commentator Alva Noë says the decision to ban the Indian sprinter from competition suggests her fault is that she isn't "deficient" enough to count as female.

Due to fears of Ebola, Excalibur, the pet of a nurse assistant infected with the virus in Madrid, was euthanized as a precautionary measure. AP hide caption

itoggle caption AP

Culture

Ebola, Outrage And The Killing Of A Dog

by Barbara J. King

October 9, 2014 • Excalibur, a dog whose owner was diagnosed this week with Ebola, has been euthanized in Spain. Anthropologist Barbara J. King takes a look at the global response, urging compassion for all creatures.

Pete Coppolillo/ Working Dogs For Conservation

Culture

When Dogs, Cats And Rats Come To The Rescue

by Barbara J. King

October 9, 2014 • Humans haven't cornered the market on heroism. As anthropologist Barbara J. King notes, other animals ranging from dogs and cats to elephant seals and African pouched rats can win our hearts, too.

Philosophy

Superintelligence: Triumph Or Threat?

by Marcelo Gleiser

October 8, 2014 • If we are able to create intelligent machines, how can we guarantee they will keep us alive and well, as opposed to wiping us out? Nick Bostrom explores the question in Superintelligence.

Tony Zhou's essay on the dilemma directors face integrating new technologies references this scene from the BBC TV series Sherlock, in which text messages are depicted on screen. YouTube/A Brief Look at Texting and the Internet in Film hide caption

itoggle caption YouTube/A Brief Look at Texting and the Internet in Film