Science & Tech

Science & Tech

Explore the discoveries that reveal how the world works, alongside the technologies that extend, reshape, and sometimes challenge what’s possible.

quantum gravity
Electromagnetism, both nuclear forces, and even the Higgs force are mediated by known bosons. What about gravity? Does it require gravitons?
Bright orange star surrounded by a dense field of smaller white stars in space.
Carl Sagan was far from the first to declare we are the children of ancient stars.
A metal ladder of misinference stretches into a round sky view, its rungs disappearing among the clouds against a dark backdrop.
Alex Edmans, professor of finance at the London Business School, warns us to be mindful of the incentives surrounding misinformation — including our desire to believe it.
In post-Soviet nations where ministers have a relatively high BMI, corruption tends to be high, too.
A person in a red shirt stands next to "Waves in an Impossible Sea," the 2024 science book by Matt Strassler. The background displays a blurred bookshelf.
Matt Strassler's journey into fundamental physics culminates in a brilliant explanation of the Higgs field. Enjoy this exclusive interview.
The image showcases the JWST observations of the Firefly Sparkle galaxy alongside UGC 12158, a modern Milky Way analogue. It includes a reconstructed galaxy reminiscent of a baby Milky Way, beautifully interpreted through a lens model.
The Firefly Sparkle galaxy was only spotted because of gravitational lensing's effects. Yet galaxies like these brought us a visible cosmos.
Illustration of a partially hidden scale showing a weight of 240 pounds, with the other half depicting a person in a striped shirt against a blue grid background.
A CDC survey suggests America’s obesity rate may be falling.
A person holds a smartphone and a book with an ornate cover, clasped together in both hands.
The tech world’s fixation on artificial intelligence has spawned beliefs and rituals that resemble religion — complete with digital deities, moral codes, and threats of damnation.
Wind turbines on grassy hills under a clear blue sky.
And can we run the grid of the future without AI?
A close-up of the quantum AI processor labeled "Willow" rests on a textured metallic surface, hinting at the mysteries of quantum computation and whispers of parallel universes.
By improving quantum error correction, quantum computations are now faster than ever. But parallel universes? That's utter nonsense here.
A healthcare worker wearing blue gloves gently inserts an IV into a man's hand as he lies on a hospital bed, battling lung cancer.
For a substantial part of human history, people thought smoking tobacco was perfectly healthy. Native American tribes, who introduced the tobacco plant to Europeans and — by extension, the rest […]
Google logo in large letters displayed on a glass building facade.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
moon landing Apollo 11
Sixty years ago, the Soviet Union was way ahead of the USA in the space race. Then one critical event changed everything.
A collage featuring hands holding a plant, additional hands in sepia tone, a grid background, orange accents, and the text "Reclaim Meaning" with the number 4.
What if the barrier to a fulfilled life isn’t technology but culture?
atoms
If atoms are mostly empty space, then why can't two objects made of atoms simply pass through each other? Quantum physics explains why.
Two young children with curly hair in striped sweaters enjoy lollipops, showcasing the whimsical nature of genes and behavior. The black-and-white photo gives a nostalgic feel.
When it comes to behavior, genetics may play a larger role than you think.
A large anthropomorphic figure blows bubbles labeled with financial terms, while a crowd of people chase after them, unaware of the bubble revisionism at play.
From tulips to Bitcoin, bubbles have been given a bad rap as destroyers of dreams — but they’re essential for our brightest future. Here’s why.
evolution universe cosmic history big bang
From a hot, dense, uniform state in its earliest moments, our entire known Universe arose. These unavoidable steps made it all possible.
A sky full of stars with a large central galaxy, surrounded by smaller galaxies and bright spots on a dark background.
It was barely a century ago that we thought the Milky Way encompassed the entirety of the Universe. Now? We're not even a special galaxy.
Two scientists in lab coats and gloves examine a small transparent plate with colorful dots, held by tweezers, in a laboratory setting.
It’s been 65 years since Richard Feynman saw “plenty of room” in the nano-world. Are we finally getting down there?