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Wolverines Zack Marshall Releases Statement after leaked text messages
On Monday night, there were leaked text messages surfacing across the internet about Michigan Wolverines tight end Zack Marshall being critical of offensive coordinator Jason Beck. Well, Marshall released a statement on his Twitter on Tuesday afternoon and said, What…
South Siders get hands-on at U. of C. science festival
Martha Dehoyos watched as three of her children dug through trays of mud, sand and pebbles looking for fossils at the paleontology booth Saturday afternoon during the fifth annual South
Baltimore’s small business owners want the city to codify more protections
Zehbras CrossFit is the thriving, Black-owned, affordable, and accessible fitness space owner and CrossFit coach Jeanelle Spencer long wanted to bring to Baltimore’s Black Butterfly. On any given weekday afternoon, barbells slam onto rubber mats as Spencer’s neighbors in Waverly cycle through burpees, pull-ups, squats, and more in the small gym at 3302 Greenmount Avenue. […]
Wilton business damaged by Monday afternoon fire
The cause of the fire and extent of damage are still unknown at this time.
Minnesota gubernatorial candidates discuss business platforms at Economic Club discussion
Minnesota gubernatorial candidates Sen. Amy Klobuchar (DFL) and Rep. Lisa Demuth (R) faced off Monday afternoon in a forum hosted by the Economic Club of Minnesota. Each candidate took the stage independently to answer questions from a moderator for 30 minutes apiece.
Minnesota gubernatorial candidates discuss business platforms at Economic Club discussion
Minnesota gubernatorial candidates Sen. Amy Klobuchar (DFL) and Rep. Lisa Demuth (R) faced off Monday afternoon in a forum hosted by the Economic Club of Minnesota. Each candidate took the stage independently to answer questions from a moderator for 30 minutes apiece.
Why Sphere Entertainment (SPHR) Stock Is Trading Lower Today
Shares of content production and distribution company Sphere Entertainment (NYSE:SPHR) fell 12.3% in the afternoon session after Craig-Hallum analyst Ryan Sigdahl downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold and reduced the price target to $132 from $170. According to TipRanks, Sigdahl pointed to demand for The Wizard of Oz at Sphere fading faster than expected. The firm cut its estimates to reflect that weaker outlook and lowered its price target to $132 from $170. A reduced target on the show that ha
1 killed, 2 injured when car crashes into Santa Fe Springs business
One person died and two people were injured when a car crashed into a business Monday afternoon in Santa Fe Springs. The crash was reported at about 2:30 p.m. near Telegraph Road and Slauson Avenue in the community about 15 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Details about what led to the crash into the front of the building, possible…
Bills player dismisses Patriots hero as ‘practice squad player’
After a 0-3 start to the season, the New England Patriots were able to bounce back in a big way on Sunday afternoon, pulling off an upset win over the Buffalo Bills on the road after Patriots wide receiver Efton Chism III made a ridiculous catch to give the Patriots the lead with under two…
Dave Portnoy on Fox ‘Big Noon’ Exit: Ryan Day Thinks I ‘Doxxed’ Him
Portnoy tells FOS that Ohio State pushed for his removal.
Why Sphere Entertainment (SPHR) Stock Is Trading Lower Today
What Happened? Shares of content production and distribution company Sphere Entertainment (NYSE:SPHR) fell 12.3% in the afternoon session after Craig-Hallum ...
Todd Promenade returns on Saturday, Nov. 7
TODD — The Todd CommUnity Dance organizers are pleased to announce the second Todd Promenade event, featuring an afternoon of square dance calling, flatfoot dance, and playing music for dances
Jobs in health care. Jobs for women. The US labour market is segmenting. Chernobyl’s radiation and Lenin’s love of literature.
Thank you for opening your Chartbook email. Elmer Bischoff, Two Figures at the Seashore, 1957 The only really dynamic job-creator in the US economy is health care: The largest crunch has come in Federal government, which has shed 2.7 m jobs. Source: tchouvkov on Twitter Tech is struggling. [ Joey Politano 🏳️🌈@JosephPolitano The US tech sector continues bleeding jobs in official data released today—overall, employment decreased by 17k last month and is down 69k over the last year That's nearly as bad as the worst of the 2024 tech-cession, and much worse than the 2022 boom or even pre-2020 norms 12:42 PM · Oct 2, 2026 · 15.2K Views 15 Replies · 47 Reposts · 390 Likes ](https://x.com/JosephPolitano/status/2106001807847940232?s=20) The new jobs are all for women. [ Justin Wolfers@JustinWolfers I'm not sure who saw this coming, but so far nearly all the jobs created during the second Trump administration have gone to women. 1:09 PM · Oct 2, 2026 · 33K Views 70 Replies · 146 Reposts · 644 Likes ](https://x.com/JustinWolfers/status/2106008723533533601?s=20) Meanwhile, real wages are being eaten up by modest over-target inflation. [ Heather Long@byHeatherLong The financial pain is real: Wage growth fell to 3% (y/y) in September. That's the lowest in 5 years. Wage growth: 3% Inflation: ~3.4% Inflation has eaten up all wage gains for the average worker since April. Many people are having to make hard choices about what to buy and what … 1:24 PM · Oct 2, 2026 · 37K Views 24 Replies · 275 Reposts · 533 Likes ](https://x.com/byHeatherLong/status/2106012367712620728?s=20) HEY READERS, THANK YOU for opening the Chartbook email. I hope it brightens your day. I enjoy putting out the newsletter, but tbh, what keeps this flow going is the generosity of those readers who clicked the subscription button. If you are persuaded to click, please consider the annual subscription of $60. It is both better value for you and a much better deal for me, as it involves only one credit card charge. Why feed the payments companies if we don’t have to. Subscribe Elmer Bischoff, Bathers, 1960 Americans are disillusioned with higher ed. For contributing subscribers only. Subscribe Where the Chernobyl radiation went. h/t Simon Kuestenmacher aka simongerman600 How Lenin’s love of literature shaped the Russian Revolution - Tariq Ali This, then, was the intellectual atmosphere in which Lenin came of age. His father, a highly cultured conservative, was the chief inspector of schools in his region and much respected as an educationalist. At home, Shakespeare, Goethe and Pushkin, among others, were read aloud on Sunday afternoons. It was impossible for the Ulyanov family – “Lenin” was a pseudonym adopted to outwit the tsarist secret police – to escape high culture. At high school, Lenin fell in love with Latin. His headteacher had high hopes that he might become a philologist and Latin scholar. History willed otherwise, but Lenin’s passion for Latin, and taste for the classics, never left him. He read Virgil, Ovid, Horace and Juvenal in the original, as well as Roman senatorial orations. He devoured Goethe during his two decades in exile, reading and rereading Faust many times. Lenin put his knowledge of the classics to good use in the time leading up to the October revolution of 1917. In April of that year, he broke with Russian social-democratic orthodoxy and, in a set of radical theses, called for a socialist revolution in Russia. A number of his own close comrades denounced him. In a sharp riposte, Lenin quoted Mephistopheles from Goethe’s masterwork: “Theory, my friend, is grey, but green is the eternal tree of life.” Source: The Guardian Elmer Bischoff, The River, 1953 If you’ve scrolled this far, you know you want to click: Subscribe
Students, politicians gather on Beinecke to protest Trump negotiations
On Friday afternoon, protesters marched to Beinecke Plaza, where they convened with Connecticut politicians, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal LAW ’73, to urge Yale administrators against settling a federal investigation into its admissions practices.
Another forgettable afternoon for Bo Nix
Bo Nix had 214 yards passing, 10 yards rushing, and one TD in the team's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Local business plans Halloween event at Buckhannon’s Jawbone Park
Majestic Mountains Studio is planning a Halloween event at Jawbone Park in Buckhannon on Oct. 31 from noon to 5:30 p.m. The free event will feature vendors, games, crafts and costume contests.
Fire destroys The Farmers' Creamery in Mio
Fire crews were dispatched to The Farmers' Creamery on West Kittle Road around 1:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon, after multiple 911 calls.
Rodri Studied Business by Day, Played for Villarreal by Night
Rodri combined morning training at Villarreal with afternoon business administration lectures in Castellon, cycling between the two without his flatmates knowing he played professional football. They found out only when he appeared on television wearing Villarreal’s number six shirt, a moment Rodri has called the best period of his life. The 30-year-old turned down a…
Mission in motion unites palm beach nonprofits for impact
One afternoon. Forty nonprofits. Countless lives will be touched across Palm Beach County, as Extraordinary Charities brings fashion and philanthropy together for “Model Your Mission,” its signature luncheon and runway
AP Top 25 rankings: Channel 2 sports director Zach Klein’s ballot for this week
The Associated Press will release its latest top 25 rankings on Sunday afternoon.
MLB playoff schedule: NLDS gets the Sunday stage
LOS ANGELES — After a four-game Saturday, the National League has Sunday to itself with a pair of Games 2 of the NLDS first in Milwaukee and then in Los Angeles. After winning Game 1 in 100-degree heat on Saturday afternoon behind Tarik Skubal, the Dodgers turn to Blake Snell for Game 2 in trying […]
TV and streaming viewing picks for October 4, 2026: How to watch MLB Postseason, NFL Week 4 and WNBA Semifinals
All Times Eastern College Field Hockey Stanford at Louisville — ACC Network/ESPN Unlimited, noon College Football ACC Huddle: Final Score — ACC Network, 8 a.m. SEC Football Final — SEC Network, 8 a.m. The Final Drive — Big Ten Network, 10 a.m. Inside College Football — CBS Sports Network, 11 a.m. College Football Final —…
Washington Wizards Hold First Scrimmage of 2026 Training Camp
After a light practice on Friday, the Washington Wizards hosted a scrimmage inside CareFirst Arena on Saturday afternoon
My afternoon becoming a background actor on ‘The Chosen’
I spent an afternoon on the Texas set of ‘The Chosen,’ where a stop at the costume closet transformed me into a first-century background actor
Presbyterian clears St. Thomas, 55-21
The nation's fifth-longest FCS home winning streak stayed intact in dominant fashion on Saturday afternoon, as the Presbyterian College football team put the pedal to the metal and raced past St. Thomas by a final score of 55-21.
Players who stood out in Nebraska football’s hard-fought win over Maryland
Nebraska (5-0, 2-0) didn’t miss a beat after a dominant road victory last week and took care of Maryland (2-2, 0-1) 48-23 Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. The Huskers fought through a disappointing first quarter and an array of penalties to take the lead against the Terrapins in the second quarter, and they held that lead through the end of the game. Nebraska totaled 447 yards of offense, led by receiver Kwazi Gilmer and methodical drives. Here’s who stood out on the afternoon:
Syracuse Football: Why Amari Odom Needs to Remain Starting Quarterback
The signal caller helped lead the Orange to their second victory of the season Saturday afternoon against UConn.
TH South Flag Football advances to sectional championship
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Terre Haute South Flag Football defeated Northview, 40-6 in Saturday’s sectional semifinal game at TH South. The Lady Braves would defeat Terre Haute North in the championship game later in the afternoon.
TH North Flag Football advances to sectional championship
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Terre Haute North Flag Football defeated North Central, 25-12 in Saturday’s sectional semifinal game at TH South. The Lady Patriots would fall to Terre Haute South in the championship game later in the afternoon.
Barstool's Dave Portnoy pulled from Fox's 'Big Noon Kickoff' appearances, AP source says
Dave Portnoy and Barstool Sports will no longer make appearances on Fox's “Big Noon Kickoff” pregame college football show, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.The person talked to the AP on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been publicly announced.
Barstool's Dave Portnoy pulled from Fox's 'Big Noon Kickoff' appearances, AP source says
Dave Portnoy and Barstool Sports will no longer make appearances on Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” pregame show, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
Baptist Health Calhoun Hospital Foundation Golf Classic Set for Oct. 7
ANNISTON, AL. — The Baptist Health Calhoun Hospital Memorial Foundation will host its annual Golf Classic on Wednesday, Oct. 7, with proceeds benefiting the health system. The tournament will feature a four-person scramble format with a shotgun start. Golfers may participate in either the morning session, beginning at 7:30 a.m., or the afternoon session, beginning […]
Why did Dave Portnoy leave 'Big Noon Kickoff'? Barstool founder's deal with Fox Sports comes to abrupt end
The news came less than 24 hours before the show was set to broadcast from Michigan-Minnesota.
Barstool's Dave Portnoy blames Ohio State, Ryan Day for 'Big Noon Kickoff' exit
Barstool Sports and Dave Portnoy will no longer appear on Fox Sports' "Big Noon Kickoff," according to The Athletic.Per the report, Portnoy blamed Ohio State and coach Ryan Day for the decision.
Dave Portnoy Says Ohio State Football Coach Ryan Day Led to His Ouster From Fox’s ‘Big Noon Kickoff’
Football fans tuning in to Big Noon Kickoff on Fox Sports on Saturdays will no longer be watching Dave Portnoy and his Barstool Sports crew, reported the New York Times. Barstool founder Portnoy, 49, confirmed the news and claimed that Ohio State University was to blame. Portnoy is a proud alumnus of the University of Michigan, […]
Health officials order Pearl City junkyard to cease operations after fire
The Hawaii Department of Health has ordered a Pearl City junkyard to cease operations immediately after a Wednesday afternoon fire sent heavy smoke throughout the area and prompted a state warning to residents with respiratory conditions to take precautions.
Gophers HC PJ Fleck Goes Stage-Diving Off FOX Set
Minnesota Gophers coach PJ Fleck launched himself off the FOX Big Noon Kickoff set and crowd-surfed over fans in maroon and gold before the Michigan game.
Five Minnesota Players Michigan Fans Need To Know
Minnesota is playing good football right now, which means a lot of guys are showing up individually. Here are a few that Michigan fans should be aware of heading into this afternoon's game.
How to watch Dodgers vs. Braves NLDS Game 1
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers open their 2026 postseason run on a sweltering Saturday afternoon, hosting the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium. Tarik Skubal will start for the Dodgers in Game 1, the team’s prized trade-deadline acquisition set to make his seventh career postseason start. Amazingly, […]
Three Georgia Bulldogs Keys to Victory Against Vanderbilt Saturday Afternoon
The Georgia Bulldogs will try to get to 5-0 on Saturday.
Ivy Tech Valparaiso to Host Fall into Wellness Mental Health Fair Oct. 5
Community event will connect students, employees and community members with mental health resources, wellness activities and support VALPARAISO, Ind. — Ivy Tech Community College’s Valparaiso Campus will host its Fall into Wellness Mental Health Fair on Monday, Oct. 5, bringing together students, employees and community members for an afternoon focused on mental health, well-being and connection. The free event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Commons Area at Ivy Tech Community College, 3100 Ivy Tech Drive, Valparaiso. The fair is open to students, faculty, staff and members of the community. Designed to make conversations around mental health
12 SportsZone Catch of the Week: Week 6
Vote for the player who you think had the best catch during week 6 of high school football in north central West Virginia. The voting will close at noon on Monday, Oct. 5, and the winner will be revealed during the 12 SportsZone at 6 p.m. that night.
Tarik Skubal named Game 1 starter as Shohei Ohtani provides health update
LOS ANGELES — With less than 24 hours before the first pitch of Game 1 of the NLDS, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made his decision: Tarik Skubal will take the ball Saturday afternoon against the
‘I didn’t realize he was this soft’: Dave Portnoy blames Ryan Day’s ‘temper tantrums’ for being removed from ‘Big Noon Kickoff’
Dave Portnoy and other top personalities at Barstool Sports have been a part of Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff college football pregame show for a little over a year. That is now over, with The Athletic reporting on Friday evening that Barstool Sports would no longer feature on the program. Sources told The Athletic that “there…
Why BrightSpring Health Services (BTSG) Stock Is Up Today
What Happened? Shares of healthcare services provider BrightSpring Health Services (NASDAQ:BTSG) jumped 4.8% in the afternoon session after BMO Capital analy...
Know the Foe: Charlotte
Memphis returns to the gridiron on Saturday for its first conference matchup of the season against Charlotte. The game was originally scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. CT start, but on Thursday, it was announced the game would be moved to 10 a.m. CT due to a threat of inclement weather Saturday afternoon.
Politics Friday: Keith Ellison, Ron Schutz appear in their first attorney general race debate
Friday at noon, the first head-to-head debate in the race for Minnesota attorney general. In his bid for a third term, DFL incumbent Keith Ellison faces Republican Ron Schutz, a prominent Twin Cities attorney.
VSU Hosts Free Science Saturday Oct. 17
VALDOSTA – VSU will host free Science Saturday activities exploring chemistry and geosciences from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 17.
NFL Predictions: Buccaneers vs. Packers Week 4 Picks and Scores
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still searching for their first win of the season as they prepare to host the Green Bay Packers Sunday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay enters Week 4 at 0-3 following last week’s 23-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The Buccaneers will also be without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield, […]
Eagles-Rams matchups to watch in Week 4
Here are some key matchups to watch when the Eagles host the Rams in Week 4 on Sunday afternoon.
More than just a boost: Caffeine’s effects on teens
Energy drinks and coffee are common among teens. A pediatric cardiologist explains concerns about caffeine, heart palpitations, and sleep.
Afternoon Explorations at Roper Mountain Science Center: Your Thursday & Friday Ticket to Dinosaurs, Stingrays, and the Rainforest (2026–2027)
Have you always wondered how you can visit Roper Mountain Science Center? Afternoon Explorations! From September to May, explore on select Thursdays and Fridays.
Lewiston voters to decide whether to restrict city's needle exchange program
Safe & Healthy Maine, a new campaign initiative, is encouraging Lewiston voters to vote “no” on Question 1 this November. The question asks whether the city should restrict syringe service providers from giving anyone clean needles unless they turn in used ones.
Good science requires much more than evidence
Empiricists believe that scientific theories are true only if they make correct empirical predictions: if we can't verify these predictions, then there is no reason to expect that they tell us anything about reality. However, Professor of Philosophy at King's College David Kyle Johnson argues that this is mistaken. In response to Bas van Fraassen, who has written on this subject for the IAI, he argues that we have many reasons for believing a theory to be true, such as it being parsimonious and having large scope — qualities which have been used throughout the history of science as criteria for judging theories. In 2024, Princeton philosopher Bas van Fraassen wrote a short article for IAI News entitled “Science Does not Describe Reality: The Limits and Benefits of Explanation.” At the time, I was working on two projects (a science book and a Great Course) that, when completed, would (among other things) defend science’s ability to describe reality. I wanted to write a response to van Fraassen, but the projects demanded too much of my attention. But now that those projects are complete, I am in a position to explain the objections to van Fraassen’s thesis. Summarizing van Fraassen’s argumentIn a nutshell, his argument is this: What scientists do is make predictions based on theories and then invite others to test to see whether those predictions are borne out. “If theory T is right, result R should happen in experimental condition C.” Many think that running an experiment that shows that R happens in condition C is proof that theory T is true (and should be believed). But, van Fraassen argues, that R happened in condition C is only a reason to think that R happens in condition C. That’s the only observable, or empirical, result we can actually see, so that is all that we are really justified in believing. (The underlying theory that made that prediction still may or may not be true.) That is why he calls those who accept his position “empiricists.”Before I explain what is wrong with this position, let me explain what it gets right. What van Fraassen Gets RightFirst, a theory correctly predicting the results of an experiment is not, strictly speaking, “proof” that the theory is correct. The basic line of reasoning is this:If the theory T is true, result R should happen. Result R did happen. Thus, theory T is true.In other words:“If T then R. R. Thus, T.”This is a deductively invalid, fallacious mode of reasoning, called “affirming the consequent.” Those premises do not guarantee that the conclusion follows. “If I am in Pennsylvania, then I am in the USA. I am in the USA. Thus, I am in Pennsylvania.” Clearly that argument doesn’t guarantee its conclusion; neither does the above argument.However, science is not a deductive method of reasoning; it is an inductive one. And inductive arguments merely try to raise the probability of their conclusion, not “prove” them for certain. Thus, the fact that an experimental result doesn’t prove a theory is true is irrelevant; it’s not supposed to. That is not what scientific reasoning is about.___If the hypothesis that something exists clearly provides the best explanation for what we can observe, then the belief that it exists is what is rational.___Second, it’s also true that a single experimental result doesn’t provide enough justification to believe that a theory is true. Scientists do not come to a consensus about whether a theory is true by looking at a single experiment; they look at all the evidence to determine where the preponderance of evidence points. The mere fact that I am in the USA raises the probability that I am in Pennsylvania, but not nearly enough to conclude that I am in Pennsylvania. However, if I am also regularly encountering people wearing Eagles and Phillies hats and seeing advertisements for Founding Father tours, I probably am. In the same way, a theory successfully predicting the outcome of one experiment is not enough to conclude that it is true; but if a theory makes a wide variety of predictions that are all vindicated by multiple experiments, performed by many different groups and people, all actively trying to prove the theory false (which is what good scientific experiments are designed to do)—that is a good reason to conclude that the theory is true. In other words, if you repeatedly try to prove something false but can’t, that is a very good indication that it isn’t. The problem of underdeterminationIn reply, those whom van Fraassen calls “empiricists” often point to the “problem of underdetermination.” For any given theory that makes successful predictions about what happens in experimental conditions, there are countless other possible theories that make exactly the same predictions—and since they do, the experimental evidence in question is just as much reason to accept any of those theories as it is to accept our original one. Thus, the argument goes, we have no way of knowing whether our original theory is true, or one of the other “predictively equivalent” theories is true. SUGGESTED VIEWING How Occam's Razor changed the world With Johnjoe McFadden As an example of underdetermination, philosophers often offer this example. The evidence of fossils seems to provide reason to conclude that the universe is quite old; ancient fossils are what the “ancient universe” hypothesis predicts. But it’s also possible that God created an ancient-looking universe 200 years ago, complete with a “fake” fossil record for us to find, to make it look old. The existence of fossils is what that theory predicts too. So, the argument goes, the fossil record can’t be used as evidence that the universe is ancient; the fossil record supports the “200-year-old ancient-looking universe” theory just as much. The problem of underdetermination points out that, for any theory with supporting evidence, we could invent another completely different theory that predicts exactly the same evidence, and thus undermine that evidence’s ability to support the original theory.But this “argument from underdetermination” betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of what scientific reasoning is and how it works. To explain, let me use another rather strange (but very real and commonly discussed) philosophical thought experiment called “The Grue Problem.” The “Grue” ProblemSuppose I want to know what color emeralds are, so I observe a few, see that they all appear green, and form the theory that “all emeralds are green.” I thus predict that the next 100 emeralds I find will also appear to be green. And let’s say that happens, and so I thus conclude that my theory that all emeralds are green is true. Now, one might rightly point out that I don’t know for sure that all emeralds are green—I have not seen them all. Maybe some I haven’t found yet are blue. Fair enough. After all, we used to think that all swans were white, until we found some black ones. But let’s say that I go on a quest and collect every emerald in the universe—and, for the sake of the argument, let’s say I can do this, and can even know that I have every one of them. So, I collect them all, look at them all, and verify that they all appear green. Can’t I now rightly conclude that all emeralds are green?Inspired by the problem of underdetermination, a friend might argue that I cannot.Sure, they all appear green now—but there could be another kind of color called “grue.” Something is grue if it is green up to a certain point in time, but then spontaneously turns blue. And there could be an infinite number of “shades” of grue. Something that is one shade of grue will turn blue at noon today, but something that is another shade of grue will turn blue at noon tomorrow, etc. So yes, the emeralds appear green now; and since they haven’t turned blue yet, they are not some “past” shade of grue. But they might be some “future” shade of grue (e.g., they may turn blue at noon tomorrow). And since all future shades of grue are consistent with “being green up to this point in time,” the evidence you have is completely consistent with the notion that all emeralds are some future shade of grue, rather than green. Indeed, that they would appear green until now is what the “some future shade of grue” hypothesis predicts. So, we have just as much reason to conclude that all emeralds are some shade of grue as we do to conclude that they are green.You’re probably thinking “It’s not equally possible that the emeralds are grue; they are obviously green.” You are right! But explaining why your instinctive reaction to my friend’s argument is correct will help inform why van Fraassen’s “empiricist” is wrong and science actually does describe reality.The main mistake my friend makes is in thinking that the “empirical evidence” (of all the emeralds appearing green) is (or even should be) all I am using to draw the conclusion that all emeralds are green. It is not. I am also considering known facts about how colors typically work; things don’t usually change color, and when they do, they don’t do so suddenly, without cause, and all at once. So, even though the simple evidence of the emeralds all appearing green up to this point is consistent with them being some future shade of grue—that is even what the grue hypothesis “predicts”—it is still exceedingly unlikely that they are. The hypothesis that they are green is much more likely. Understanding science refutes the problem of underdetermination The misunderstanding about science that the “empiricist” pointing to “the problem of underdetermination” makes is similar to the one that my friend made. Science is not just about considering experimental evidence; in fact, it’s not even just about considering empirical evidence. As Ernan McMullin and many other philosophers of science have pointed out, the inference that makes science is “inference to the best explanation” (sometimes called “abduction” or “retroduction” by McMullin). While, depending on the circumstances, scientists use many different kinds of reasoning, science as a whole is, simply put, the process of considering multiple competing explanations and comparing them to certain criteria—explanatory criteria (the kinds of things explanations must be and do, by definition, to be a good explanation)—to see which explanation is the best.And these criteria do not deal only with empirical results. Yes, successful predictions raise the probability of a hypothesis, but it’s also the case that the more new assumptions a theory makes, the less likely it is to be true; every new assumption presents an opportunity for the theory to be false. (The fewer assumptions a theory makes, the simpler or “more parsimonious” it is said to be.) Likewise, the more existing evidence a theory contradicts, the less likely it is, because in order for a theory to be true, every piece of evidence it contradicts has to be somehow faulty. (The fewer established theories a new theory contradicts, the more “conservative” it is said to be.) And, obviously, the more something explains, the better explanation it is. (This is called having “scope.”) If a theory raises unanswerable questions, it’s not expanding our understanding, and thus is not wide-scoping. Scientists consider all these things when deciding which theory to accept, because the theory that adheres best to these explanatory criteria is most likely to be true.___the mere fact that a theory’s predictive success is why it “sticks around” or “becomes accepted” in the scientific community is not a reason to be skeptical about its truth.___The reason the grue hypothesis is no good is because it invents an entirely new kind of color—not just a new shade, but an entirely different category of color (a different way colors work)—and thus is not parsimonious. It raises unanswerable questions about how and why emeralds would just spontaneously change from green to blue (and thus does not have wide scope). And it contradicts what is already well established about how color works (and thus is unconservative).The theories that the problem of underdetermination points to do the same thing. Yes, the theory that God created an “ancient-looking universe” (complete with an ancient-looking fossil record) two hundred years ago is also consistent with the empirical evidence (of a fossil record) that presently exists; but that theory is monumentally unparsimonious (it requires many extra assumptions about infinite entities) and not wide-scoping (it raises unanswerable questions about why God would do such a thing). So, I can rationally conclude that it is false.Indeed, the history of science includes many examples of theories that were rejected because they lacked parsimony and/or scope, even before their falsity (and the truth of their competing theory) was confirmed by observation. As I point out in my book, geocentrism was rejected by the scientific community because it lacked parsimony, almost 200 years before the observation of parallax confirmed that the Earth moves around the sun. And the continuum theory of matter was completely rejected by 1860, because it couldn’t explain chemical reactions or organize matter into a periodic table, even though the experiments that eventually confirmed atomic theory weren’t even proposed until the 1870s. Solving the best of a bad lot problemIn response, the “empiricists” are likely to object, this time pointing to the “best of a bad lot” problem. “We have no reason to conclude that an explanation that has been shown to be better than others is true because we have no guarantee that the true theory was among those that we were considering.” If you have a “lot” (a collection) of poor explanations, even the best one is not true.The responses to this problem, however, are numerous. Peter Lipton argues that the set of hypotheses that scientists consider are not just randomly selected and thus unlikely to contain a theory that is true; they use existing knowledge to home in on what is most likely to be true. A doctor trying to explain abdominal pain is not going to bother wondering whether demons are causing it; they are going to stick with things like appendicitis and kidney stones, because they are most likely. Further, despite its name, inference to the best explanation is not just the process of comparing hypotheses and accepting the best one; we also want one that is a good explanation in its own right. If it’s not, we are going to keep looking until we find an explanation that is. And while that process does not guarantee that we will come across the exact truth, it’s very likely that the theory that emerges as the best will be at least approximately true, and thus we will be justified in believing it. And lastly, as I point out in my book, although many theories not based in scientific evidence (like geocentrism and continuum theory) have been completely overturned, science almost always progresses by the refinement of scientifically established theories—not their replacement. (Although our sun is not the center of the universe, heliocentrism was our first step in understanding the Earth’s true place in the universe.) So even if a theory we accept today may not be completely right, accepting it is a step on the journey toward the complete truth. The example of atomic theoryNow, it’s worth pointing out that most empiricists are not skeptical of all scientific theories; they are only skeptical of the ones that hypothesize the existence of “unobservables.” It’s not like they think that round Earth, heliocentrism, and germ theory are just useful (but untrue) “instruments” for making predictions about how to most efficiently navigate the seas, predict planetary motion, and treat diseases. They admit that the Earth actually is round, that the planets revolve around the sun, and that germs exist and cause disease. These facts and entities can be observed; the theories that suggest they exist are true. It’s only when theories start hypothesizing the existence of unobservables—like electrons, or quantum fields—that can’t be observed directly, that we should start doubting the theories’ truth. And to be fair to van Fraassen, in this published work, he doesn’t really say that we should doubt the truth of such theories. Only that scientific reasoning does not rationally force us to accept them as true. Skepticism, or agnosticism, he argues, is warranted. SUGGESTED READING Science is based in metaphor By Andrew Reynolds But the history of atomic theory throws a monkey wrench into that argument. Atoms used to be unobservable; again, scientists first accepted the theory that they exist because it had such grandiose explanatory power. But then atoms were seen with electron microscopes. They thus moved into the category of the observable. But this didn’t substantially change anything about what scientists were justified in believing; it certainly didn’t change any “atomic skeptics’” minds. It just confirmed what everyone already knew! If the hypothesis that something exists clearly provides the best explanation for what we can observe, then the belief that it exists is what is rational. The fact that the thing itself is not technically observable does not make doubting its existence rational.What’s more, the atoms were seen with an electron microscope. But electrons are themselves unobservable. How can an electron microscope reveal an atom if electrons are not real? This leads us to what is famously known as Hilary Putnam’s “miracle argument.” It’s (not) a miraclePhilosopher Hilary Putnam’s miracle argument is somewhat famous. Basically, he argued that a scientific theory being able to repeatedly make successful predictions—even about unobservables—without being at least approximately true would require a “miracle.” In other words, it would be such an improbable occurrence that it could not rationally be believed—the better explanation for why scientific theories about unobservables make the right predictions is because the unobservable entities and structures they hypothesize exist.Van Fraassen has addressed this argument. Indeed, in his original article, where he references Alison Gopnik’s point about orgasms not being “necessary for procreation” even though the desire for orgasm “drives the creation of progeny,” he is pointing to his own argument about how organisms are not naturally selected by evolution to get true beliefs; to the extent that belief-forming processes are selected for, the ones that are selected are the ones that are useful for survival—not the ones that produce true beliefs. In the same way, van Fraassen argues, scientific theories are accepted, not because they are true, but because they aren’t falsified; they make successful predictions; that’s what makes them “stick around.” So, the fact that they make successful predictions (and thus became accepted) is not a reason to think they are true.This argument is similar to C. S. Lewis’s “argument from reason,” which he used to argue against evolution: “The truth of evolution undercuts our ability to know that it is true.” Lewis’ argument famously failed; Elizabeth Anscombe, by Lewis’s own admission, demolished Lewis in a debate on the topic, and I have explained elsewhere why modified versions of the argument fail as well. In short, it’s because it fails to recognize that a belief-forming process can make an organism more likely to survive because it reliably produces true beliefs. It is therefore not the case that beliefs generated by naturally selected belief-forming processes are automatically false or unjustified.In the same way, the reason a theory “sticks around” could be because it’s not falsified, because it “makes correct predictions.” But the reason it makes correct predictions is most likely because it is true. (In pointing this out, I am echoing the arguments of Musgrave, Lipton, Psillos, and Kitcher, who refuted van Fraassen’s argument and analogy long before his 2024 article.) It would be a huge coincidence that it could do so without being true. And that is the point of Putnam’s miracle argument. Thus, contrary to van Fraassen’s suggestion, the mere fact that a theory’s predictive success is why it “sticks around” or “becomes accepted” in the scientific community is not a reason to be skeptical about its truth. ConclusionLet me close by saying something about the fact that empiricists don’t doubt the truth of all scientific theories, just the ones that hypothesize unobservables. In today’s society, this theory is dangerous to espouse publicly. The nuance between being skeptical about all of science, and just the highly technical theories about unobservables, is guaranteed to be lost to the average reader. And there is so much unjustified skepticism and doubt about the findings of science and experts that a headline like “Science Does Not Describe Reality” could easily fuel the anti-science movement, worsen climate change denial and cause the next pandemic.This is why I believe it was important to still respond to van Fraassen’s article, a full two years after he wrote it. Not only, as I have argued, does it represent a philosophically inaccurate view of how scientific reasoning works and what scientific reasoning can do, but it is a dangerous view to boot. It should thus be rejected.
Coloradans’ revolution against the two-party system
Our major Colorado news outlets have been desultory, even derelict, about reporting on a revolution in our electorate. The result is voters don’t get the information they need to consider the full range of substantive candidates. Here are the numbers. As of September, unaffiliated voters make up 51.8% of Colorado’s registered voters. Voters 18 to […]
Apple TV Is Down
Several Apple services went down for maintenance on the afternoon of September 30. Only Apple TV remains inaccessible.
Florida State football releases initial injury report vs. UVA
Desperate for a win, Florida State football (2-2, 0-1) welcomes Virginia (3-1, 1-0) to Tallahassee on Saturday afternoon at 3:30. On Wednesday, Florida State released its initial injury report against the ‘Hoos. Among notable names that did not see the field last week against Central Arkansas, Darryl Desir was listed as out, with Quindarrius Jones […]
NL Wild Card Game Discussion: Phillies vs Braves Wednesday
It’s game 2 of the National League Wild Card series as the Atlanta Braves will try to eliminate the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday afternoon. LHP Cristopher Sánchez will make the start for the Phillies while the Braves will hope RHP Tyler Mahle can help them dispose of Philadelphia. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00pm central time […]
Fall clothing drive at Rome Polish Home
The Rome Polish Home will host a Cozy Fall & Halloween Community Day on South George Street starting at noon on Saturday, Oct. 3, according to organizers.
J.W. Simpson Library Slates Fall Programming
CRAFTSBURY — J.W. Simpson Memorial Library has new creative programs every other Thursday afternoon for all ages, a Charity and Sylvia book discussion at the Care Center, and an author
Striker Noonan agrees to join Forest
Michael Noonan will join Nottingham Forest on 1 January next year.
Some Baptist Health systems temporarily offline
Baptist Health Central Alabama is managing an unexpected IT disruption after a server outage at a third-party vendor knocked systems offline Monday afternoon.
Ukraine’s Academy of Sciences warns against Russian cooperation after attack
The National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine has urged the international scientific community not to “restore or legitimise institutional cooperation with Russian state scientific and educational structures,” after a Russian drone hit its Presidium building in central Kyiv, killing at least two people and injuring several others. The drone strike took place in the early afternoon on September 28 while staff were working.The academy called the strike, one of several Russian attacks on Ukraine’s capital using jet-powered drones in recent days, an act of terrorism. “It is a strike [. . .] on the very idea that knowledge, research, and the search for truth should serve life, not its destruction,” it said in a statement.The academy thanked the global scientific community for its solidarity following the attack and warned against any temptation to normalise scientific relations with Russia.“Science cannot exist outside of moral responsibility. There can be no ‘ordinary scientific cooperation’ with a state that kills people and destroys scientific institutions of another country,” it said.“We urge not to create opportunities for Russian state institutions to return to the international scientific community as if nothing happened. There can be no ‘science beyond politics’ when science is attacked with weapons.”After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Europe almost entirely cut institutional ties and joint programmes with Russian science, although personal academic contacts are still ongoing.Related articlesRussia widens targeting of European research centresHow geopolitical rifts cut scientific collaborationThe European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities (ALLEA), for instance, continues to exclude the Russian Academy of Sciences from its network.ALLEA condemned the latest attack as a “barbaric act” and part of a broader “systematic targeting of Ukraine’s scientific and cultural infrastructure.” This is a “deliberate attempt to erase the conditions under which free inquiry, knowledge, and democratic life are possible,” it said in a statement.Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, more than 4,650 educational institutions across Ukraine have been damaged, and a further 423 have been destroyed, according to ALLEA.National academies across Europe joined ALLEA in condemning the attack. “Science is about the pursuit of knowledge for the benefit of humanity, so this is an attack on civilisation itself,” said Paul Nurse, president of the UK’s Royal Society.Attacks on scientific, university and cultural institutions “are attacks on the foundations of society and constitute a clear violation of international law,” wrote the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.The presidents of the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine also released a joint statement condemning the attack and pledging to continue to support the Ukrainian research community.The targeting of the Ukrainian academy prompted outcry from European leaders. “Today, science became a target for Russia,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on social media.“These strikes are the latest illustration of the Russian regime’s hostile contempt for science and truth,” said French President Emmanuel Macron.
UConn News and Notes: Basketball Tickets, Game Time and Injuries
Tickets to the Huskies' home preseason basketball games go on sale Tuesday afternoon.
Community Invited To October Meeting Of County Health Council Thursday, Oct. 1
BY LISA HAMPTONChairLos Alamos County Health Council I wanted to personally invite you to attend the Thursday, Oct. 1 Health Council Meeting at noon, in the Municipal Building.October is Domestic V…
Former Five Year Yankees Utility Player Announces Retirement
Former Yankees utility player Tyler Wade announced his retirement from professional baseball this afternoon in a post on social media via his Instagram. Wade (age 32) spent nine years in the big leagues, making his Major League debut in 2017 for the New York Yankees and appearing in 30 games. Wade was drafted by the […] The post Former Five Year Yankees Utility Player Announces Retirement appeared first on HEAVY.
Court docs reveal accusations of family abuse preceded Bay Area killing
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The man gunned down Saturday afternoon at a Dublin sports complex spent the past year embroiled in a bitter custody dispute with his wife — the
Sector Update: Healthcare Stocks Rise Late Afternoon
Healthcare stocks rose late Monday afternoon with the NYSE Healthcare Index and the State Street Hea
Man shot to death in Hyde Park business Saturday afternoon
The Boston Police Department is asking the public to provide any information to help solve this incident.
Faraday Future Announces This Week’s Investor Weekly Report From YT Jia Has Been Rescheduled to September 28; FF EAI “Built in USA” Upstream & Downstream Business Partner Conference Part Two to Be Held September 29
FF Founder and Global CEO YT Jia’s Investor Weekly Report has been rescheduled for the afternoon of September 28 and will be released at its usual time. FF has invited 10 global partners to share insights on the EAI robotics industry, FF’s “Built in USA” strategy and related topics, highlighting the potential for collaboration between […]
Trunks of Treasure event returns to benefit mental health programs
Transitions-Mental Health Association brought back its Trunks of Treasure event at Filiponi Winery on Sunday afternoon.
Parents-in-law accused of killing Dublin man at sports park
A Dublin man was shot to death in the parking lot of a local sports park Saturday afternoon and his elderly parents-in-law have been booked in jail on suspicion of committing the homicide, city police said in a case update Sunday.
🚨 Official: Europe’s youngest coach sacked!
Difficult start to the season.Parma officially announced this Sunday afternoon the departure of its coach, Carlos Cuesta.At 31 years old, the Spaniard was the youngest coach in Europe’s five major l...
Drew Greene: Credit to the girls
Leeds United Women made it three wins from three to top Group T of the FA WNL Cup with a 4-1 victory over Bradford City Women away from home.Grabbing her side’s third of the afternoon was attacker D...
Sixth annual Oktoberfest! returns to Barefoot Landing on Oct. 3
On Saturday, Oct. 3 from noon to 6:00 PM, the sixth annual Oktoberfest! returns to Barefoot Landing, promising family-friendly fun with German and fall-inspired food and drink specials on offer from participating restaurants.
Team News ahead of Women’s Cup clash
Leeds United Women will be looking to secure a third win of the FA WNL Cup Group T campaign with a win over West Yorkshire rivals Bradford City this afternoon.The Whites are returning to Silsden AFC f...
Bengals vs. Steelers news and pregame discussion
A huge early-season AFC North contest is up for grabs on Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh.
Man killed in shooting at Dublin Sports Grounds
Police are investigating after a man was shot to death at the Dublin Sports Grounds on Saturday afternoon.
Rangers 6, Twins 2: Ober and Out
Well, in their quest to aid major-league history and prevent a sub-.500 team from winning their division, the Texas Rangers knocked the Twins around in a rain-delayed, 6-2 victory on Saturday afternoon. With the Houston Astros just underway, the Rangers improve to 80-81, and give themselves a fighting chance of claiming the West with another […]
Difficult Afternoon for Chivas, Who Fell to Querétaro
Despite the fact that Chivas took the initiative, created chances and constantly looked for the opponent's goal, they could not overcome the deficit and fell 2-0 to Querétaro this afternoon at Estadi...
Boston 25 News
On a beautiful Friday afternoon in Stow, business is brisk at Shelburne Farm. There is a big storm coming, and people are getting their weekend apples now.
Inaugural NMB Live! fills Main Street with music, family fun and community spirit
Main Street was filled with music, laughter and plenty of activity Saturday as residents and visitors gathered for NMB Live!, a daylong celebration of music, food, shopping and family fun. The free festival took place Sept. 26 and brought the North Myrtle Beach community together for an afternoon of live music and other forms of entertainment.
Dodgers on Deck: Sunday, September 27 at Giants
The end of the 2026 regular season is upon us, as the Dodgers play their 162nd game on Sunday afternoon against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Nothing is at stake, and the Dodgers are running a bullpen game. Sunday game info
Boston College Comes Up Short, 21-14, to Virginia Tech
On Saturday afternoon, Boston College lost 21-14 to Virginia Tech. The storyline on everyone’s mind heading into this contest was the weather. With a nor’easter rolling into town on Saturday morning, the game was played in constant rain and gusty wind. The conditions drilled both teams, especially in the first half. We did not see […]
Investigation underway after man fatally shot inside business in Hyde Park - Boston News, Weather, Sports
BOSTON (WHDH) - Boston police are investigating after a man was fatally shot inside a business in Hyde Park on Saturday afternoon.Officers responding to aRead More
Game 161: Rangers at Twins
First Pitch: 3:10 pm CDTTV: Twins.TVRadio: TIBN / WCCO 830 / The Wolf 102.9 FM / Audacy Last night, you got Joe Ryan and Jacob deGrom. This afternoon, you get Bailey Ober and Nathan Eovaldi. After another full season of Saturday previews, all I can tell you is that after last night’s veteran matchup resulted […]
Community Encouraged To Attend Los Alamos County Health Council Meeting On Thursday
As Chair of the Los Alamos County Health Council, I wanted to personally invite you to attend the Thursday, Oct. 1 Health Council Meeting at noon, in the Municipal Building.
Man shot and killed inside Hyde Park business, police say
Police are investigating a fatal shooting inside a Boston business on Saturday afternoon.
Presidents Cup Saturday scores, live updates: U.S. chips away at International Team lead ahead of afternoon foursomes
Presidents Cup 2026: Day 3 foursomes matches, starting times
The U.S. and International teams will compete in four foursomes (alternate shot) matches Saturday afternoon at Medinah.
3 Keys to Victory: Michigan Football vs Iowa
Michigan Football is set to host Iowa later this afternoon. Here are our 3 keys to victory today for the Wolverines:
Game day information: Pitt vs Bucknell
Pat Narduzzi and Pitt will open Acrisure Stadium’s doors to Bucknell on Saturday afternoon.
CenterPointe Hospital to host Naloxone education and distribution event
The Boone County Overdose Response Coalition and Boone County Public Health and Human Services will host a naloxone education and distribution event at noon on Wednesday at CenterPointe Hospital.
Bengals News: Amarius Mims’ bold claim about Cincinnati’s offensive line
A big one between the Steelers and Bengals looms on Sunday afternoon.
Georgia governor candidate Rick Jackson talks veteran health care
Republican candidate for Georgia governor Rick Jackson made a campaign stop in Savannah on Friday afternoon, meeting with local veterans to address health care challenges facing military families and residents across the state.
Georgia governor candidate Rick Jackson talks veteran health care in Savannah
Republican candidate for Georgia governor Rick Jackson made a campaign stop in Savannah on Friday afternoon, meeting with local veterans to address health care challenges facing military families and residents across the state.
Reception supports EPHC health care scholarship
The Eastern Plumas Health Care Foundation invites the community to gather for an afternoon reception on Saturday, Nov. 14, featuring locally inspired hors
Boston 25 News
On a beautiful Friday afternoon in Stow, business is brisk at Shelburne Farm. There is a big storm coming, and people are getting their weekend apples now.
Will ABC show Trump during Tennessee vs. Texas game amid media ban
ABC will broadcast Tennessee's game against Texas at noon ET on Sept. 26, a game President Donald Trump plans to attend. The matchup comes amid Trump's ongoing feud with several major media outlets.
Preview & Prediction: Boston College Football vs Virginia Tech
It was a dark and stormy… afternoon at Alumni Stadium