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A “dormant” brain protein turns out to be a powerful switch
Scientists at Johns Hopkins have uncovered a surprising new way to influence brain activity by targeting a long-mysterious class of proteins linked to anxiety, schizophrenia, and movement disorders. Once thought to be mostly inactive, these proteins—called GluDs—turn out to play an active role in how brain cells communicate and form connections.
El Paso content creators interview movie, entertainment stars in Hollywood
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Without much forethought but driven by relentless motivation, three young content creators from El Paso took a five-day trip to Los Angeles and West Hollywood, capturing int…
El Paso content creators interview movie, entertainment stars in Hollywood
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Without much forethought but driven by relentless motivation, three young content creators from El Paso took a five-day trip to Los Angeles and West Hollywood, capturing interviews with successful people in the movie and entertainment business as part of a motivational filming project. “You throw a bunch of young 20-year-olds […]
Textbooks Were Wrong: Human Hair Doesn’t Grow the Way Scientists Thought
A new imaging study challenges long-standing ideas about how hair grows and could lead to new treatments for hair loss. Scientists have discovered that human hair does not emerge because it is pushed upward from the root. Instead, it is pulled along by forces generated by a previously unseen netw
Earth may have a 'buttery' center, described as a new state of matter by scientists
New research suggests that the Earth's solid inner core is softer and more dynamic than previously thought, changing ideas.
Jim Cramer on International Business Machines: “It’s Inexpensive Relative to Its Growth Rate”
International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer shared his thoughts on. Cramer praised the company’s CEO, as he said: “Let’s take them one by one, starting with IBM, which has become an incredibly strong performer with a stock that’s nearly tripled since late 2022 when it broke free from its… […]
Memory loss does not progress the way scientists once thought
New research reveals memory loss with age follows a curved pattern, linked to widespread brain shrinkage rather than a single gene.
The Rise of AI and Its Impact on Mental Health
The rise of artificial intelligence comes with risks and benefits for the mental health of humans, requiring a thoughtful, mindful way forward.
Letters to Sports: Charging out of the NFL playoffs, again
Readers of the Los Angeles Times Sports section give their thoughts on the Chargers' playoff exit, the Dodgers signing Kyle Tucker, the, Lakers, Clippers and Chloe Kim.
Letters to Sports: Charging out of the NFL playoffs, again
Readers of the Los Angeles Times Sports section give their thoughts on the Chargers' playoff exit, the Dodgers signing Kyle Tucker, the, Lakers, Clippers and Chloe Kim.
Goodbye to drinking water: “Day Zero” will arrive sooner than you thought, and science already knows when and where it will happen
Day Zero is closer than it looks. A new study maps when and where drinking water shortages could hit first.
SC: Upstate woman wins in court, says business has yet to pay what's owed
An Upstate woman claims she is having a hard time getting what the court says she is owed from a business. It comes after she says she saved up to buy a vehicle, but the deal she thought she had turned out not to be so sweet.
Letters to the Editor: Some people will always find a way to downplay the importance of science
'Periodically, I’ve had chats with neighbors about the heat. Most of the talks have been thoughtful, but some have veered into cuckoo territory,' writes an L.A. Times reader.
Baseball Hall of Fame: CBS Sports' voters debate their ballots
Matt Snyder and Mike Axisa break down their differing thought processes on voting
A deadly chemical frozen in ice may have sparked life on Earth
Hydrogen cyanide, a toxic chemical, may have helped spark the chemistry that led to life. When frozen, it forms crystals with highly reactive surfaces that can drive unusual chemical reactions, even in extreme cold. These reactions could produce more reactive molecules that pave the way for life’s basic ingredients. The findings suggest frozen worlds may be more chemically active than once thought.
These genes were thought to lead to blindness 100% of the time. They don't.
New research finds that retinal diseases thought to map one-to-one to genetic mutations are more complicated than that.
Electrons stop acting like particles—and physics still works
Physicists have long relied on the idea that electrons behave like tiny particles zipping through materials, even though quantum physics says their exact position is fundamentally uncertain. Now, researchers at TU Wien have discovered something surprising: a material where this particle picture completely breaks down can still host exotic topological states—features once thought to depend on particle-like behavior.
How everyday foam reveals the secret logic of artificial intelligence
Foams were once thought to behave like glass, with bubbles frozen in place at the microscopic level. But new simulations reveal that foam bubbles are always shifting, even while the foam keeps its overall shape. Remarkably, this restless motion follows the same math used to train artificial intelligence. The finding hints that learning-like behavior may be a fundamental principle shared by materials, machines, and living cells.
Will the Patriots beat the Texans in the divisional round?
Share your thoughts in this week’s Patriots fan survey.
Surprise! Animal Crossing: New Horizons' free 3.0 update for Switch releases early
Good news, Animal Crossing: New Horizons' free 3.0 Switch update for all owners has been released earlier than we thought.
Three thoughts on Notre Dame football’s 2026 transfer portal class
While Notre Dame might not have the numbers with transfer commits, it’s still a great class. Here are a few thoughts on the Irish and the portal.
Initial 2027 Recruiting Class Big Board Pt.1
Hello everyone! We received such positive feedback from putting together a recruiting big board last year, that we decided to do it again. For the initial big board, we are revealing it in pieces instead of all at once like last year and how all the other versions will be displayed. We thought it would […]
Could Vestavia Hills be getting a new entertainment district?
Do you think Vestavia Hills needs additional entertainment districts? If so, where would you put them? Share your thoughts in the comments 👇 #vestaviahills #entertainmentdistrict #alabama #alcohol nw
I Thought Business Success Meant Sacrifice — Until I Was Miserable and Alone on Christmas Eve
Here's how millennials can take their first steps towards a personal plan, and why it matters.
Science Says Highly Intelligent People Tend to Be More Thoughtful, Generous, and Kind
'It’s smarter to be a giver than a taker.'
Quick-hit thoughts on Patriots vs. Texans divisional round matchup
Initial analysis of the Patriots’ divisional round opponent.
AFC Divisional Round Predictions: Early NFL Playoff Picks
The AFC Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs should be sensational with Buffalo at Denver and Houston at New England. Here are our first-thought early predictions.
Powell's Made This Political: Sen. Marshall
Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) shares his thoughts on the DOJ serving the Federal Reserve with subpoenas and whether or not he agrees with some of his GOP colleagues who will oppose any Federal Reserve nominations with this going on. Senator Marshall voices his support for President Trump's credit card interest rate cap proposal and discusses what's next on health care from the Senate. He speaks with Joe Mathieu and Julie Fine on the late edition of Bloomberg's "Balance of Power." (Source: Bloomberg)
Letters to Sports: Time for Mick Cronin to fix UCLA's problems
Readers of the Los Angeles Times Sports section give their thoughts on the state of UCLA basketball, USC football, the Lakers, Angels and Dodgers.
Good 2 Grow: Thoughts for the new year
I have flipped the calendar page and am ready for a new year.
Steam Machine Price Leaks Online, More Expensive Than We Thought
The Steam Machine's price may have leaked online via a Czech retailer, and it isn't great news if you were hoping for console rates.
Gavin Newsom on Democrats, 2028 and His Fruit-only Breakfasts
The California governor is powered by smoothies and bursting with thoughts about U.S. politics.
Kate Hudson Reacts To Being Called A ‘Monster’ By Biopic Musician's Son
The actor shared her thoughts on the harsh criticism of her performance in "Song Sung Blue," for which she is nominated for a Golden Globe.
Alex Baker Serves as Sought-After Thought Leader for Utah College Sports
Spencer Fane attorney Alex Baker recently published an article, Utes Incorporated: The Legal Engineering Behind a $500M Windfall, that has made him a
Kate Middleton Marks Her Birthday With A Thoughtful, Personal Video
The Princess of Wales reflected on a "deeply personal" creative project.
Newsom contrasts California ‘blueprint’ with Trump’s ‘carnival of chaos’ in final state of state address
The speech comes as Newsom prepares to close out his second term and define his record in office ahead of a possible presidential run. The governor, who has acknowledged he’s “thought about” seeking the Democratic nomination, is term-limited and will leave office in January 2027.
Netflix co-CEO says he doesn't read business books—instead, he reads one 1902 novella about a ship and its captain ‘over and over again'
Like Elon Musk and Tim Cook, Netflix’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos is a fan of good books. But instead of picking up traditional management reads, he leans on a 123-year-old fiction he once thought was about a reckless “hot dog.”
How far will the Patriots go in the playoffs?
Share your thoughts in this week’s Patriots fan survey.
Galaxies with ‘hoop skirts’ are more common than we thought
The discovery of thousands more galaxies with stars ringing their main disks could help astronomers study galactic evolution more generally.
Entertainment with a message
HOUGHTON — The Office of Sustainability and Resilience at Michigan Technological University has announced its 2026 Sustainability Film Series, which will begin Jan. 15. The series, now in its 16th year, continues the tradition of bringing timely, informative, and thought-provoking films to campus, Lauren Furey, manager of Sustainability Programs & Outreach at Michigan Tech, said […]
McQuade Distributing president talks decision to sell business
“There were a lot of tears, a lot of hard thoughts. I think the new company is going to be able to keep the community thriving. They’re good Midwest folks."
Neil Sweeney was a major part of the fabric of sports, education and life in Pleasanton
"I cannot think of once when I didn’t feel better about life when talking with Neil. I looked forward to hearing Neil’s thoughts on everything I wrote and was honored that he took the time to read my stories."
Advanced alien civilizations could be communicating 'like fireflies' in plain sight, researchers suggest
A new paper posits that advanced alien civilizations may communicate through subtle flashes, like fireflies do on Earth. The thought experiment suggests that we need to avoid human biases in our search for extraterrestrial life.
I Left This Steamy Series Off My 'Top 10 Shows of 2025' List and People Were *Not* Happy
As an entertainment editor, I consume a lot of content. But when I made my top ten shows of 2025 list (which included everything from 'Pluribus' to 'Severance,' followers thought I made a giant mistake by failing to include the steamy new series, 'Heated Rivalry.'
Allison Garrett Provides Tools for University Board Engagement in University Business
Spencer Fane attorney Allison Garrett has continued her ongoing thought leadership for University Business with the article, How to Perform a Quick
Taxpayers miss out on millions after ‘phoenixism’ at UK recruitment firms
Practice where companies are liquidated and reacquired, free of debts, thought to cost taxpayers about £800m a year
"Caught on Camera" — Popular New Jersey Car Dealer Thought It Was Business as Usual… Until the Cops Called
It would’ve been no more than another day in a life of a YouTube famous car dealer in New Jersey. Instead, the events of that day quickly spiraled into a chaotic mix of tense negotiations, ... Read more
Philosophy to the Rescue of Science
The pessimistic meta-induction—the argument that since past scientific theories have been shown to be false, we should expect that today’s will turn out false, too—makes the New York Times. . Elay Shech, professor of philosophy at Auburn University, takes up the topic in the context of current political disputes about science and our government’s seemingly increasing disregard of expertise: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of health and human services, made a version of this argument in August when defending his decision to halt hundreds of millions of dollars in mRNA vaccine development despite the objections of vaccine scientists. He said that “science is always evolving” and the experts could not always be trusted. Shech accepts that “many widely accepted [scientific] theories have been discarded” but that the question, “why should we trust the ones we have now?” is misleading. Why? It implies that the only possible attitudes toward science are naïve faith and wholesale pessimism. It assumes that science is a single global entity that rises or falls all at once, when in reality, science is an array of local domains of inquiry, each with its own standards of evidence and degrees of reliability. In place of skepticism, Shech recommends “disciplined trust.” The first step in the direction of disciplined trust is recognizing that “there is no single scientific method used in all of science.” Shech writes: Newton’s deduction from observed phenomena is very different from Darwin’s inference to the best explanation, which in turn differs radically from Einstein’s thought experiments with light beams, trains and elevators. What people call “the scientific method” is really many distinct ways of investigating the world—different strategies for representing, experimenting and classifying. Since different areas of science employ different methods and rely on different kinds of evidence, to make a case for skepticism “you need to look at the evidence and methods in a specific area of inquiry.” And that case will not be “a sweeping claim about all of science” but rather about that particular area of inquiry with, for example, what might turn out to be “well-understood methodological problems.” Shech’s piece is “Science Keeps Changing, So Why Should We Trust It?” (NYT gift link). Discussion welcome (readers are advised to keep in..
Scientists uncover a hidden switch that helps cancer cells thrive
A protein once thought to simply help cancer cells avoid death turns out to do much more. MCL1 actively drives cancer metabolism by controlling the powerful mTOR growth pathway, tying survival and energy use together. This insight explains why MCL1-targeting drugs can be effective—but also why they sometimes damage the heart. Researchers have now identified a way to reduce that risk, potentially unlocking safer cancer therapies.
Quick-hit thoughts on Patriots vs. Chargers wild card matchup
The Patriots will host the AFC West team at Gillette Stadium next week.
Everyday chemicals are quietly damaging beneficial gut bacteria
A large study has revealed that dozens of widely used chemicals can damage beneficial gut bacteria. Many of these substances, found in pesticides and everyday industrial products, were never thought to affect living organisms at all. When gut bacteria are stressed by these chemicals, some may also become resistant to antibiotics. The research raises new questions about how chemical exposure could be influencing human health behind the scenes.
A missing flash of light revealed a molecular secret
Scientists have found a way to see ultrafast molecular interactions inside liquids using an extreme laser technique once thought impossible for fluids. When they mixed nearly identical chemicals, one combination behaved strangely—producing less light and erasing a single harmonic signal altogether. Simulations revealed that a subtle molecular “handshake” was interfering with electron motion. The discovery shows that liquids can briefly organize in ways that dramatically change how electrons behave.
Messenger: Senior moment with a prescription sparks thoughts about US health care
As 2026 begins, a lot of Americans are worried about where they'll get their healthcare amid massive Medicaid cuts.
China’s “artificial sun” just broke a fusion limit scientists thought was unbreakable
Researchers using China’s “artificial sun” fusion reactor have broken through a long-standing density barrier in fusion plasma. The experiment confirmed that plasma can remain stable even at extreme densities if its interaction with the reactor walls is carefully controlled. This finding removes a major obstacle that has slowed progress toward fusion ignition. The advance could help future fusion reactors produce more power.
Some thoughts on hope as a new year arrives
Discover pearls of wisdom from award-winning author Essie Chambers on the power of hope and perseverance.
Historical Mysteries Solved by Science in 2025
Researchers across the globe put on their sleuthing hats this year to provide answers to questions that have lingered from decades to centuries. The thought-provoking findings offer new ways of
Gemini in Google Keep is more powerful than I initially thought
The productivity duo I didn't know I needed
A weak body clock may be an early warning for dementia
Your daily rhythm may matter more for brain health than previously thought. Older adults with weaker, more disrupted activity patterns were far more likely to develop dementia than those with steady routines. A later daily energy peak was also linked to higher risk. The study points to the body clock as a possible early warning sign for cognitive decline.
The hidden timing system that shapes how you think
The brain constantly blends split-second reactions with slower, more thoughtful processing, and new research shows how it pulls this off. Scientists discovered that brain regions operate on different internal clocks and rely on white matter connections to share information across these timescales. The way this timing is organized affects how efficiently the brain switches between activity patterns tied to behavior. Differences in this system may help explain why people vary in cognitive ability.
Letters to Sports: Times are tough for Lincoln Riley and his Trojans
Readers of the L.A. Times Sports section share their thoughts on USC losing in the Alamo Bowl, Lincoln Riley's coaching job, college bowl games, the Lakers and Bill Plaschke.
Buying more American-made brands? Tell us about it.
President Donald Trump's trade war was partially intended to boost US-made goods. Is it working? Take our survey to share your thoughts.
Two unstable atoms are rewriting neutron star explosions
Scientists have precisely measured two unstable atomic nuclei that play a crucial role in explosive X-ray bursts on neutron stars. The results reveal faster nuclear reactions than previously thought, reshaping how we understand element formation in extreme cosmic environments.
Two Kalamazoo business owners thought they got their big break, but it turned out to be a scam
De'Anthony Melton shares thoughtful response to Warriors trading him after ACL injury last season
De'Anthony Melton told NBC Sports Bay Area why he had no hard feelings toward the Golden State Warriors trading him to the Brooklyn Nets last season.
The most important PC gaming news stories in 2026
Thoughts on the year of gaming to come, and in particular, GTA 6, unions, Saudi Arabia, generative AI and sex.
Founder of popular cupcake chain says it’s closed all stores after 20 years in business
“Even though I sold the company over a decade ago, I still have such a personal connection to it and this isn’t how I thought the story would go," the former owner said.
Myth busted: Your body isn’t canceling out your workout
Being active boosts your daily calorie burn more than previously thought. Researchers found that increased physical activity raises total energy use without triggering the body to conserve energy elsewhere. Basic functions keep running at full speed, even as movement increases. The result: exercise truly adds to your energy output rather than being metabolically “offset.”
Burnley 1-3 Newcastle: What Howe and Joelinton said
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, speaking to BBC's Match of the Day: "We needed to win because we knew we were under pressure. I thought the lads responded really well, it was a really fast start. We scored some really good goals and then, us being us at this present time, we made it difficult for ourselves.
Warriors' Draymond Green delivers strong take on NFL MVP race
The Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green offered his thoughts on the NFL's ongoing MVP race, defending Matthew Stafford.
Stories That Stuck With Us This Year, Handpicked by the KQED Science Team
Our science reporters recount stories they found especially memorable, thought-provoking or that changed how they thought about something.
Wildfire Smoke May Be Far More Dangerous Than Scientists Thought
Wildfire smoke may be packing a much bigger pollution punch than anyone realized.
New Year's Predictions: What Business School Thought Leaders Say About 2026
Business school leaders see 2026 as a year of sharper choices – and clearer tradeoffs – for management education.
ADHD drugs don’t work the way we thought
ADHD stimulants appear to work less by sharpening focus and more by waking up the brain. Brain scans revealed that these medications activate reward and alertness systems, helping children stay interested in tasks they would normally avoid. The drugs even reversed brain patterns linked to sleep deprivation. Researchers say this could complicate ADHD diagnoses if poor sleep is the real underlying problem.
Broncos at Chiefs: The No Bull Review
No Bull thoughts, opinions, and analysis on the Denver Broncos’ Christmas Day win over the Kansas City Chiefs
Letters to Sports: Playing the blame game in USC-Notre Dame debacle
Readers of the Los Angeles Times Sports section share their thoughts on the USC-Notre Dame rivalry, the Rams, UCLA, Angels and college football.
A sobering thought: Even short-term Dry January can offer health benefits
Once a niche challenge, Dry January has become a mainstream reset — prompting new research into how even short breaks from alcohol can yield meaningful...
When Politics Isn’t Your Career: The Blessings of YWA Post-Graduation
When I moved to the Washington, D.C. area for college, I thought I knew where I was headed. If I didn’t get married right after college, I would girlboss (in a conservative tone, of course) my way into a conservative advocacy organization or some D.C. politician’s office, fight for America in a way only a […]
Level-5 CEO Wants People To Stop Demonizing Generative AI
Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino has shared further thoughts on AI after a past interview of his went viral online
New science points to 4 distinct types of autism
When Marc and Cristina Easton’s son was diagnosed with autism at 20 months, the Baltimore couple left the doctor’s appointment in confusion. Their toddler - who was very social - didn’t resemble the picture of the condition they thought they knew. And the specialists could offer little clarity about why or what lay ahead. It wasn’t until four years after their child’s diagnosis that the Eastons finally began to get answers that offered them a glimmer of understanding. This summer, a team from Pr
New science points to 4 distinct types of autism
When Marc and Cristina Easton’s son was diagnosed with autism at 20 months, the Baltimore couple left the doctor’s appointment in confusion. Their toddler - who was very social - didn’t resemble the picture of the condition they thought they knew. And the specialists could offer little clarity about why or what lay ahead. It wasn’t until four years after their child’s diagnosis that the Eastons finally began to get answers that offered them a glimmer of understanding. This summer, a team from Pr
A new superconductor breaks rules physicists thought were fixed
A shiny gray crystal called platinum-bismuth-two hides an electronic world unlike anything scientists have seen before. Researchers discovered that only the crystal’s outer surfaces become superconducting—allowing electrons to flow with zero resistance—while the interior remains ordinary metal. Even stranger, the electrons on the surface pair up in a highly unusual pattern that breaks all known rules of superconductivity.
'Just a random thought': Local business owner starts modern-day cash scavenger hunt
The prize for the lucky winners is not just the thrill of the chase but also a pocket full of cash.
I cofounded my AI startup while on paternity leave. Here's how I balance work and being a dad.
Aaron Cannon thought up his startup, Outset, while on paternity leave. As his kid has grown up, so has the company.
Scientists say evolution works differently than we thought
A major evolutionary theory says most genetic changes don’t really matter, but new evidence suggests that’s not true. Researchers found that helpful mutations happen surprisingly often. The twist is that changing environments prevent these mutations from spreading widely before they become useless or harmful. Evolution, it turns out, is less about reaching perfection and more about endlessly chasing a moving target.
Cowboys-Commanders Preview
This is not exactly what the NFL and Netflix had in mind when they thought they would be getting big-name quarterbacks Jayden Daniels vs. Dak Prescott and a high-stakes matchup of NFC East rivals Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys in the Christmas Day spotlight.
Craft Brewing Business is closing up for the holidays — thank you for another great year
As the year winds down, Craft Brewing Business is taking a break for the holidays. Before we do, we want to pause and say thank you. This year reminded us why we started this site in the first place — to cover the independent brewing industry honestly, thoughtfully and without hype. It has been anotherRead More
Your roommate’s genes may be shaping your gut bacteria
Scientists studying thousands of rats discovered that gut bacteria are shaped by both personal genetics and the genetics of social partners. Some genes promote certain microbes that can spread between individuals living together. When researchers accounted for this social sharing, genetic influence on the microbiome turned out to be much stronger than previously thought. The study suggests genes can affect others indirectly, without DNA ever being exchanged.
The disunity of science is a feature, not a bug
Mathematical models wield miraculous power, but mistaking them for reality has trapped science in a destructive quest for a “Theory of Everything.” Physicist and philosopher Ragner Fjelland argues that this leads to bloated, Frankenstein theories kept alive by clumsy, ad-hoc amendments, which reduce rather than boost science’s power. Fjelland calls for a radical shift in our attitude: we must reorientate towards creating entirely new theories, celebrating rather than lamenting disunity and diversity in science. Science, from the scientific revolution in the seventeenth century to the present day, has more or less developed in a “reductionist” way. The fundamental assumption is that all sciences may be ordered in a hierarchy that can be represented as an upside-down pyramid. At the top we find the human sciences, and at the bottom physics. Strong (or “ontological”) reductionism maintains that all theories at one level can be completely reduced to the lower level, all the way down to theories of atoms and elementary particles, or whatever is “at the bottom.” In the end, all diversity in the world can be unified in one fundamental theory. Hence it is called a final theory, or a Theory of Everything.One of the central figures in developing the idea of a Theory of Everything is the Dutch theoretical physicist Gerard 't Hooft, who received a Nobel Prize in physics in 1999 for his work. He emphasizes the non-empirical status of the theory:There exists no closely resembling alternative theory. This means that any slight change brought about in the rules would make the theory unlikely or inelegant. The theory will be a "package deal": take it, or leave it. This should hold both for the local laws and for the boundary conditions.This endeavor is not new. On the contrary, it goes all the way back to the birth of Western philosophy 2,500 years ago. The Babylonians made regular astronomical observations during a period of 600 years, from 747 BCE until 150 ACE. They developed mathematical techniques to predict astronomical phenomena, but they made no attempts at explaining them. However, the Greeks developed models, both material and theoretical, to explain the observed phenomena.The best example is Plato’s late dialogue Timaeus. Here he introduces a divine craftsman, the Demiurge, who has constructed the universe according to an original plan. Plato seems to have thought that the original plan is what is actually real, while the material world is merely an imperfect realization of it. He therefore does not, in the Timaeus, reconstruct the material universe, but the original plan, which can then be used to explain the material universe.Plato’s aim in producing a theoretical model is to reconstruct the original plan. That is what he carries out in Timaeus—and some modern physicists have embarked on the same project. For example, Einstein’s basic attitude is reflected in the title of Abraham Pais’ biography: “Subtle is the Lord...,” echoing Einstein’s comment, “Subtle is the Lord, but malicious He is not.” In an interview Einstein compared our situation to a child who enters a huge library. The child knows that someone has written the books, but he does not know the languages in which they are written. He suspects that there is a mysterious order, but he does not know what it is.___“We have all been working in what Husserl called the Galilean style; that is, we have all been making abstract mathematical models of the universe to which at least the physicists give a higher degree of reality than they accord the ordinary world of sensation.”Steven Weinberg, Nobel Prize in Physics (1979)___This Platonist view is contrary to a widespread impression of science, symbolized by the picture of the “father” of modern science, Galileo Galilei, with his telescope. According to this impression, Galileo liberated himself from the dominating metaphysics of his day—basically Aristotelian philosophy—and constructed a telescope that he directed towards the sky, showing that Jupiter has four moons. He also performed experiments with bronze balls rolling down inclined planes and found the law of freely falling bodies.However, in other cases Galileo emphasized the unreliability of our senses. It is easy to see why. He defended Copernicus’ heliocentric hypothesis. According to this hypothesis, we are not at rest at the center of the universe, but moving at a tremendous speed through space. Why don’t we observe this motion? Galileo praises Copernicus because “with reason as his guide he resolutely continued to affirm what sensible experience seemed to contradict.” In other places he directly refers to Plato. SUGGESTED VIEWING The quest for a final theory With Michio Kaku Galileo’s Platonism goes back to his early writings. In The Assayer, published as early as 1623, Galileo compared the universe to a grand book that is written in the language of mathematics, and “its characters are triangles, circles, and other geometric figures without which it is humanly impossible to understand a single word of it.” Therefore, things that cannot be described by mathematics—for example, colors, smells and odors—are not real. They are merely subjective.This division into subjective and objective, advocated by Galileo and his younger contemporary René Descartes, is normally associated with a mechanistic world view, which is regarded as the opposite of Platonism. When we reduce something to, for example, molecules and atoms, we move “downwards.” In contrast, the Platonist moves “upwards,” to abstract entities. However, it only shows that when we address fundamental questions, we should be careful in applying everyday spatial metaphors like “up” and “down.”___Nature is complex, and we cannot in general construct mathematical models that adequately describe the world.___The endeavor of finding a Theory of Everything has been heavily criticized. In 2006, the theoretical physicist Lee Smolin published “The Crisis in Fundamental Physics.” He argued that one of the most fundamental principles of science is that we should only regard theories as scientific if we have the possibility to show that they are false by experiments. Although he did not refer to Karl Popper, other critics have referred to Popper and argued that a theory is not scientific if it cannot be falsified (see for example Ellis & Silk 2014).These were not the first physicists to be anti-reductionists. In 1972, the journal Science published an article by the physicist Philip Anderson with the title “More Is Different.” This is the kind of article a scientist would normally write only after he has won a Nobel Prize. However, Anderson won the Nobel Prize for physics five years later, in 1977. The article is amazing, not primarily because it argues in favor of anti-reductionism in general, but because it argues for anti-reductionism within physics itself. Anderson’s conclusion was:At each stage entirely new laws, concepts, and generalizations are necessary, requiring inspiration and creativity to just as great a degree as in the previous one. Psychology is not applied biology, nor is biology applied chemistry.We may say that Plato started the “unity of science movement,” based on Euclidean geometry as the model of all knowledge. A distinguishing mark of geometry is that all possible constructions can be reduced to a few fundamental principles. We have to acknowledge that this approach has limitations. In general, we can easily model technological systems. In addition, we may construct simplified and idealized models that capture important aspects of systems, from various perspectives and for various purposes. But nature is complex, and we cannot in general construct mathematical models that adequately describe the world. In a complex system, each level has its distinct, emergent, properties that are characteristic of this level. Therefore, a complex system should be investigated at different levels and from different perspectives. Instead of exclusively pursuing a scientific ideal based on the unity of science, we should acknowledge the diversity—or even the disunity—of science.
Newcastle seek 'clarification' over Anthony Gordon penalty incident against Chelsea
Manager Eddie Howe says Newcastle "want to know the thought process behind the decision" not to award them a penalty against Chelsea on Saturday.
Report: DK Metcalf loses millions in guarantees following suspension
Metcalf’s two-game suspension is a bigger deal than we thought.
Entertainment Tidbits
Alec Baldwin says he had suicidal thoughts after prosecutors filed a second charge in the fatal Rust shooting. “The people I was most concerned about, the people that I had the deepest pain for, were my wife and my kids,” he said in a new podcast inter...
The Year in Politics: Analysts describe 2025 as ‘overwhelming, crazy, chaotic’
For a special edition of “Closer Look,” program host Rose Scott talks with several guests for a recap of local and federal politics in 2025. Guests also shared their thoughts about what they feel are some of the most pressing concerns for voters, the mishaps of both Democrats and Republicans and what each party must do as America turns 250 years old.
Trump’s marijuana reclassification needs to include health warnings
It’s far from obvious why President Trump would reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug at a time when we are learning the many ways it is more dangerous than thought.
A new drug could stop Alzheimer’s before memory loss begins
New research suggests Alzheimer’s may start far earlier than previously thought, driven by a hidden toxic protein in the brain. Scientists found that an experimental drug, NU-9, blocks this early damage in mice and reduces inflammation linked to disease progression. The treatment was given before symptoms appeared, targeting the disease at its earliest stage. Researchers say this approach could reshape how Alzheimer’s is prevented and treated.
Lee Health: A thoughtful transition; a confident future
I have informed the Lee Health board of directors that I will not renew my contract when it concludes on Sept. 30, 2026.
Poll finds Marylanders stressed for the holidays, not making resolutions
Santa may find Marylanders less than jolly when he arrives later this week. A new poll found just 11% of residents thought the holidays would be less stressful this year, compared to 41% who expect more stress. And politics plays a role.
Caltech pulls off a trick that scientists thought was impossible
Engineers manage to intertwine several qubits at once, taking the biggest leap yet toward a functional quantum internet.
Collaboration drives Telluride Science
Collaboration sits at the heart of Telluride Science’s mission, uniting global thought leaders to solve societal and planetary challenges.