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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.
Men's College Basketball
Find all the latest college basketball news, live coverage, videos, highlights, stats, predictions, and results right here on NBC Sports.
Type 2 diabetes physically changes the human heart, study finds
Type 2 diabetes doesn’t just raise the risk of heart disease—it physically reshapes the heart itself. Researchers studying donated human hearts found that diabetes disrupts how heart cells produce energy, weakens the muscle’s structure, and triggers a buildup of stiff, fibrous tissue that makes it harder for the heart to pump. These changes are especially severe in people with ischemic heart disease, the most common cause of heart failure.
Bills Week 18 AFC playoff race rooting interests
Here’s how the Buffalo Bills could find themselves way back up the AFC playoff ladder by the end of Week 18.
Marquette Women’s Basketball Preview: vs Villanova
The Golden Eagles find themselves in something of a shaky spot as they welcome a red hot Wildcats team to Milwaukee.
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
How to get stronger as you age
New research finds that declining health is not inevitable as we age. It can also be a time to get healthier and stronger.
This ancient fossil could rewrite the story of human origins
Scientists may have cracked the case of whether a seven-million-year-old fossil could walk upright. A new study found strong anatomical evidence that Sahelanthropus tchadensis was bipedal, including a ligament attachment seen only in human ancestors. Despite its ape-like appearance and small brain, its leg and hip structure suggest it moved confidently on two legs. The finding places bipedalism near the very root of the human family tree.
Calendar Jan. 5-11
CoPo’s weekly political calendar will help you find political and public-policy events throughout Colorado. It includes candidate and issue campaign events, public policy meetings, court hearings, state and local party conventions, assemblies, debates, rallies, parades, speaking engagements, traveling dignitary appearances, water meetings, book signings, county commission hearings, city council meetings and more. As a subscriber, […]
Fossilized bones are revealing secrets from a lost world
Researchers have uncovered thousands of preserved metabolic molecules inside fossilized bones millions of years old, offering a surprising new window into prehistoric life. The findings reveal animals’ diets, diseases, and even their surrounding climate, including evidence of warmer, wetter environments. One fossil even showed signs of a parasite still known today. This approach could transform how scientists reconstruct ancient ecosystems.
Best Of: The Science And Stories Of Time Travel : 1A
Have you ever fantasized about going back in time to relive a moment — or change it?Maybe you’re more interested in traveling to the future where cars fly and the code to immortality has been cracked.If the idea of time travel resonates with you, you’re far from alone — particularly during a year of political upheaval.Scientists moved one step closer to understanding time travel, at least hypothetically, this year. Two physicists at the University of Queensland in Australia created a model for studying the phenomenonWe’re not there yet. But when it comes to books, movies and TV shows, that’s a different story. We’ve been thinking about hurtling through history for a very, very long time.Why do we return time and time again to stories about time travel? Will it ever become a reality?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
An experimental mRNA treatment counters immune cell aging in mice
A trio of mRNA molecules could help guard against the harmful effects of aging on immune cells, a study in mice finds.
Want to Protect Our Democracy? Here Are Three Key Mental Habits.
Long after Trump is gone, the damage will remain. Each of us needs to find a path back.
Google AI Overviews put people at risk of harm with misleading health advice
Exclusive: Inaccurate information presented in summaries, Guardian investigation finds
Scientists Find a Never-Before-Seen Animal Living in the Great Salt Lake
Utah biologists have characterized D. woaabi, the first of two nematode species recently discovered in the lake’s microbialites.
About 6 in 10 Americans say they feel politically connected by generation
Americans feel more politically connected by generation than they do by race or gender, CNN polling data finds.
Cold-shooting Rutgers resumes Big Ten action vs. Ohio State
Rutgers will need to find some better shot-making when it resumes Big Ten play by battling Ohio State on Friday in Piscataway, N.J.
Gen Z-ers are taking to Pinterest to find their vibe
A Pinterest executive said Gen Z uses the platform to figure out their aesthetic, which means looking at interview outfits or dorm room ideas.
Duke basketball looking to find its rhythm after 'unorthodox time'
Duke basketball starts ACC play 1-0 after a win over Georgia Tech, but the Blue Devils are searching for their rhythm after an "unorthodox" stretch.
Poll finds Trump, 3 potential presidential candidates, viewed unfavorably by Americans
As 2025 draws to a close, Americans are viewing Trump and these three potential candidates in an unfavorable light.
Researchers find ADHD strengths linked to better mental health
New research reveals a brighter side of ADHD, showing that adults who recognize and use their strengths feel happier, healthier, and less stressed. People with ADHD were more likely to identify traits like creativity, humor, and hyperfocus as personal strengths. Across the board, using these strengths was linked to better quality of life and fewer mental health symptoms. The study suggests that embracing strengths could be a game-changer for ADHD support.
Researchers find ADHD strengths linked to better mental health
New research reveals a brighter side of ADHD, showing that adults who recognize and use their strengths feel happier, healthier, and less stressed. People with ADHD were more likely to identify traits like creativity, humor, and hyperfocus as personal strengths. Across the board, using these strengths was linked to better quality of life and fewer mental health symptoms. The study suggests that embracing strengths could be a game-changer for ADHD support.
Find the fun: Your guide to entertainment season in Naples, Fort Myers
Entertainment season is heating up in Southwest Florida. And some of the area’s biggest events happen between now and April.
A Carriage House Reimagined for Work and Play
The designers John and Christine Gachot bought a retreat on Shelter Island, N.Y., and turned a carriage house on the property into a studio and recreation room.
Bringing a local community approach to Colorado health policy
Health policy is not always a straightforward topic of discussion. There are many aspects to the complex health care system we’re used to. When issues arise at the national level, disagreement and dueling press conferences can slow progress and constructive results that build a better future. When you bring these subjects into communities you’ll find […]
2025 NFL Week 18 Injury Report: Latest injuries for every team
Find out who's in and who's out for Week 18's NFL games with a full injury report for every team.
10 things we learned about Neanderthals in 2025
Findings about our extinct relatives, the Neanderthals, continue to surprise us, especially those from 2025.
Is finding "flow" the key to happiness?
“There’s nothing like cold water, icky garbage and a little bit of danger to get you out of your head,” said Susan Baur, founder of the group Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage.
San Jose businesses seek economic strength in numbers
San Jose’s local businesses have faced a whirlwind of economic shocks in recent years. A growing number of small business owners want to find their footing by banding together through the formation of new business improvement districts.
Where to Find Art and Entertainment in Palm Springs
Historic theaters, regional museums, artist-run galleries, and walkable arts districts shape Palm Springs’ creative scene.
Scientists replayed evolution and found a surprise
Environmental change doesn’t affect evolution in a single, predictable way. In large-scale computer simulations, scientists discovered that some fluctuating conditions help populations evolve higher fitness, while others slow or even derail progress. Two populations facing different kinds of change can end up on completely different evolutionary paths. The findings challenge the idea that one population’s response can represent a whole species.
Earth’s worst extinction was followed by a shockingly fast ocean comeback
A spectacular fossil trove on the Arctic island of Spitsbergen shows that marine life made a stunning comeback after Earth’s greatest extinction. Tens of thousands of fossils reveal fully aquatic reptiles and complex food chains thriving just three million years later. Some predators grew over five meters long, challenging the idea of a slow, step-by-step recovery. The find rewrites the early history of ocean ecosystems.
Good things in pop culture that got us through 2025
If you find yourself asking, "Did anything good happen in 2025?", we're here to tell you, "Yes."
Explosive Audit Urges Dissolving Insolvent City Employee Health Fund
The review by Comptroller Brad Lander finds the joint city and municipal union fund owes billions to the city following contract deals that aimed to save money on health care.
Chelsea v Bournemouth: Key stats and talking points
Chelsea host Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues aiming to beef up their home form, while the Cherries are just hoping to find any sort of form. The Premier League campaign is about to hit the halfway mark but it must feel a lot further on than that for Chelsea's players, whose off-season was massively shortened thanks to the Club World Cup campaign in June and July. Chelsea are fifth but lie 13 points behind Arsenal, and have six points fewer than they did at this stage of last season.
Earth's Core Seems to Be Wrapped in Layers Like an Onion, Study Finds
A mystery wrapped in an enigma.
South Carolina hopes to find shooting stroke vs. Albany
South Carolina knows its postseason hopes will ultimately come down to how the team performs in Southeastern Conference play, which begins Saturday with a home showdown against No. 11 Vanderbilt.
Having a ball with the Times' best sports stories of 2025
From wrestling to rodeo, with plenty in between, the Arkansas Times' sports coverage brought sports stories and angles you couldn't find anywhere else in 2025. Here are some of the best.
Even Low Doses of Aspartame Could Have Alarming Health Effects, Study Finds
Zero sugar but at what cost?
Wild things we learned about Earth in 2025
With findings on Earth’s polar extremes and its innermost core, scientists shaped how we look at the planet in 2025 in surprising and fascinating ways.
How one chocolatier survived when cocoa prices soared
When cocoa prices doubled, chocolatier Jerome Peñafort of Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie refused shrinkflation by finding new ways to innovate.
15 Top Retail & Entertainment Franchise Opportunities for 2026
Explore the best retail and entertainment franchises for 2026, including personalized apparel, pet wellness, and immersive experiences. Find your next franchise opportunity with 1851 Franchise.
Victorinox Has Never Made a Swiss Army Knife as Modern and Handy as This One Before
The stylish Synergy Alox boasts two user-friendly features you rarely find on SAKs, especially those of the urban EDC variety.
‘An icon in this town’: Dallas Regional Chamber chief Dale Petroskey steps down
In early July, Dallas Regional Chamber Petroskey announced he’d be stepping down from his high-profile post, citing a desire to spend more time with family...
With embrace of Native culture, St. Paul student finds his voice in state politics
Dexter Paasch of Harding High took advocacy to the State Capitol and will return next year as a student leader.
What game is Tom Brady calling today? Week 17 schedule
Find out what game is Tom Brady calling this week including the full 2025 season schedule.
First Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica camera reviews, comparisons and hands-on: Tough times for Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and others
2026 will not only be a challenge for Samsung. The Vivo X300 Ultra and Oppo Find X9 Ultra will also have to face an extremely dynamic 1-inch sensor and the first optical 200MP zoom camera in a phone, a combination that convinces in early camera tests and comparison shots. Initial hands-on reports also illustrate the advantages of the Leica Leitzphone Special Edition for ambitious photographers.
High school business club helps rescue dogs find second chances
Stafford High School’s FBLA chapter partnered with Old Dominion Humane Society, raising money and awareness for a volunteer-led, no-kill rescue organization.
AI is getting better and better at generating faces — but you can train to spot the fakes
Even the most skilled face recognizers are duped by AI-generated faces, a new study finds. But they can improve with training.
12 Tech Gifts Ideas That Older People Will Find Useful
If you're gift shopping for the older members of your family, tech may seem like a thorny prospect, but there are still some useful and accessible options.
Squirrels can find 85% of the nuts they hide
Our furry neighbors use a whole toolkit to locate their caches during the winter.
How Trump, 79, Turned Bruises and Cankles into Full-Scale Health Crisis
Trump now finds himself facing the same kind of scrutiny that haunted his predecessor.
Bay Cliff Health Camp finds new Executive Director
Monet Borione will take over for Clare Lutgen starting at the end of the year.
Yankees Mailbag: Finding the winter headliner
Continuing to ponder what the Yankees will do as the year wraps itself up.
Ohio children face barriers to accessing mental health services, report finds
Seventy-five of Ohio’s 88 counties were designated as experiencing shortages in mental health care professionals as of July 2025, according to a policy brief released earlier this month by Health Policy Institute of Ohio.
Has ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Gone ‘Overboard’ This Christmas? Fans Debate
‘Surely they can find someone with good taste to decorate,’ one viewer ranted.
NFL Christmas clunkers and NBA kryptonite, plus a holiday streaming guide
The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Today: We present a cornucopia of viewing options, and you can find all the latest sports news here. When the NFL handed the Christmas streaming keys to Netflix and Prime last offseason, it initially looked like a must-watch crusade. Put on your August expectations hat and consider these teams: Dallas! Washington! Detroit! Minnesota! Denver! Kansas City! We refuse to apologize for the excessive exclamation points. Those six teams...
10 things we learned about our human ancestors in 2025
Findings about our human ancestors continue to surprise us, especially those from 2025.
Friday letters: politics, media, public discourse and more
Reflections on Trump’s address I hope everyone had a chance to watch Trump’s address to the country on Dec. 17. If not, you should easily be able to find it on the internet. If you...
Israeli scientists say tiny organisms can revamp their own RNA to survive extreme heat
Using a novel method, Weizmann Institute of Science researchers map 16 types of simultaneous changes in dozens of samples; findings can lead to improved RNA-based medical technologies
Eating more vitamin C can physically change your skin
Vitamin C doesn’t just belong in skincare products—it works even better when you eat it. Scientists discovered that vitamin C from food travels through the bloodstream into every layer of the skin, boosting collagen and skin renewal. People who ate two vitamin C–packed kiwifruit daily showed thicker, healthier skin. The findings suggest glowing skin really does start from within.
2025 Turned Trump’s Biggest Strength Against Him
As usual when Donald Trump occupies the White House, 2025 condensed a decade’s worth of political upheaval into a single year. Identifying the most important of those developments is like picking through the wreckage to find a few family heirlooms after a tornado has torn through the neighborhood.
I'm watching brain surgery to see if Alzheimer's can ever be cured
BBC health and science correspondent James Gallagher finds out if it is scientifically possible to ever cure Alzheimer's
The economy is growing. That doesn't mean companies are hiring more.
Can't find a job, but keep hearing that the economy is strong? That might be the economic story of 2026.
Which states tax Social Security benefits? Check out our map and see what you may pay in 2026.
Some states tax Social Security benefits while others don't. See the map to find out if your benefits will be affected in 2026.
This common food ingredient may shape a child’s health for life
Scientists discovered that common food emulsifiers consumed by mother mice altered their offspring’s gut microbiome from the very first weeks of life. These changes interfered with normal immune system training, leading to long-term inflammation. As adults, the offspring were more vulnerable to gut disorders and obesity. The findings suggest that food additives may have hidden, lasting effects beyond those who consume them directly.
This common food ingredient may shape a child’s health for life
Scientists discovered that common food emulsifiers consumed by mother mice altered their offspring’s gut microbiome from the very first weeks of life. These changes interfered with normal immune system training, leading to long-term inflammation. As adults, the offspring were more vulnerable to gut disorders and obesity. The findings suggest that food additives may have hidden, lasting effects beyond those who consume them directly.
Popular painkiller offers little relief, raises serious health risks, study finds
A widely prescribed opioid painkiller showed limited effectiveness and increased risk of negative effects in a new analysis published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine.
Pacers vow to 'keep fighting' ahead of rematch with Celtics
The Indiana Pacers will try to find their scoring touch and end a six-game losing streak when they meet the Boston Celtics on Friday night in Indianapolis.
The 5 weirdest science experiments in history | BBC Science Focus Magazine
Although science often advances through tried-and-tested methods, sometimes scientists have to find creative ways to test their hypotheses.
I've Seen 'Home Alone' Countless Times But I Just Spotted This Mind-Blowing Detail
See 'Home Alone' in a whole new light when you notice this surprising detail hidden throughout the movie. Find out what it is here.
AHF • AHF Rose Parade® Float Honors ‘Food for Health’ Wildfire & Hunger Relief Efforts
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world's largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, currently provides medical care and services to more than 1.75 million clients in 45 countries. With more than 7,000 employees worldwide, AHF now has treatment clinics and other operations in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth, and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare.
The best everyday health advice we learned from science in 2025
We certainly saw some major health-related breakthroughs in 2025, including a universal cancer vaccine and human trials for the world's first treatment to reverse spinal cord injuries. But the year was also filled with smaller findings that can still have a big impact on your day-to-day health.
Astronomers discover one of the Universe’s largest spinning structures
Scientists have discovered a giant cosmic filament where galaxies spin in sync with the structure that holds them together. The razor-thin chain of galaxies sits inside a much larger filament that appears to be slowly rotating as a whole. This coordinated motion is far stronger than expected by chance and hints that galaxy spin may be inherited from the cosmic web itself. The finding opens a new window into how galaxies formed and how matter flows across the Universe.
I left Big Law at 29 to become a rabbi, then changed careers again at 40. Here's what I learned about finding the perfect job.
Justin Pines, the CEO of the Jewish Broadcasting Service, initially took a "safe" career path in corporate law, before becoming a rabbi.
Christmas Day sports on TV: Where to find big holiday games
This year’s major sports TV events on Christmas Day include five NBA games and three NFL games, with games spanning more than 12 hours.
Steam Down for Thousands of Users, Downdetector Reports
Steam faces significant outages with thousands reporting server connection issues. Find the latest updates and troubleshooting tips.
CBS News poll finds spending time with family is what Americans like most about the holidays
Waymo is testing Gemini as an in-car AI assistant in its robotaxis
Waymo is testing a Gemini-powered in-car AI assistant, per findings from a 1,200-line system prompt. The assistant can answer general knowledge questions, control certain in-cabin features, and more.
Christmas Eve is my late wife's birthday. This year, instead of crying, I'll celebrate the good times we had.
My wife Lori's birthday was Christmas Eve. For years, I could only cry — now, I've learned to find peace in her memory and love.
3 Rams make PFF's top free-agent signings list
Les Snead and Sean McVay did a great job finding talent in free agency in 2025.
Bruins Labeled Top Trade Destination For Veteran Forward
The Boston Bruins find themselves in the middle of their worst stretch of hockey in the 2025-26 campaign, as they have lost their last four games, with their two most recent defeats seeing them lose 6-2 to both the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens. Still, the B’s remain in the thick of the playoff hunt […]
City believes more expensive, restrictive parking rules will help businesses, not hurt them
Mayor Justin Bibb believes higher rates and enforcement into nights and weekends will make downtown parking easier to find and help businesses.
What Americans would tell Donald Trump or Democratic leaders if they could
Most Americans don’t have faith that their political leaders care what they have to say. But if they had the chance to tell Washington something, a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds, they’d say plenty, much of it about the economy.
The Year in Entertainment 2025: Trends that took over
If you're not careful, you can find out that it's not clocking to you that you haven't been standing on business by knowing all of the cultural trends that happened this year. That's why we're going over the memes, viral moments and trend-setting sensations that dominated the cultural landscape of 2025:
As tetanus vaccination rates decline, doctors worry about rising case numbers
The harrowing, deadly infection could make a comeback, especially in states vulnerable to climate-linked natural disasters, like Florida and Texas, an NBC News investigation finds.
Broncos-Chiefs Fantasy Football Week 17 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em
The Broncos and Chiefs meet on Christmas Day - find out which players we plan to start or sit ahead of a pivotal NFL Week 17.
UploadVR's Best of VR 2025 Awards – Game Of The Year, Hardware & Most Anticipated Of 2026
And finally, here are UploadVR's Best of VR 2025 Awards, featuring our picks for Game of the Year, New Hardware, and Most Anticipated. Find all of our winners here.
We are living in a golden age of species discovery
The search for life on Earth is speeding up, not slowing down. Scientists are now identifying more than 16,000 new species each year, revealing far more biodiversity than expected across animals, plants, fungi, and beyond. Many species remain undiscovered, especially insects and microbes, and future advances could unlock millions more. Each new find also opens doors to conservation and medical breakthroughs.
Earth's seasons vary wildly, even at the same latitude, new research finds
Earth's seasons look very different at locations not far from each other, 20 years' worth of satellite data reveals.
New poll finds Americans in sour mood on economy and US leadership
A wide-reaching new poll finds Americans are approaching 2026 with negative opinions about the economy, the direction of the nation and its leaders.
These space stories made us look up in 2025
Space is always inspiring and 2025 was no exception, with finding Betelgeuse’s buddy, debuting a prolific survey telescope and more.
Brand Innovators Outlook 2026: Entertainment
The entertainment industry faces a year of change and adjustment in 2026. New technologies and merger activity will keep movies, TV and live events in play. With the limitations of the COVID pandemic firmly in the rear-view mirror, the sector anticipates consumers will indulge in movies and live events, and brands will find new ways […]
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.
Scientists find a weak spot in deadly fungus that shut down hospital intensive care units
A deadly hospital fungus that resists nearly every antifungal drug may have an unexpected weakness. Researchers discovered that Candida auris activates specific genes during infection to hunt for nutrients it needs to survive. This insight came from a new living-host model that allowed scientists to watch the fungus in action. The findings could eventually lead to new treatments or allow current drugs to be repurposed.
Video: Why Scientists Are Performing Brain Surgery on Monarchs
Scientists in Texas are studying monarch butterflies to understand how they navigate thousands of miles, possibly by sensing Earth’s magnetic field. Alexa Robles-Gil explains how researchers are examining the butterflies’ brains to find answers.
When local news and science go dark, the river loses its voice: A warning and a rallying cry from Stroud Water Research Center
As federal money fades and science comes under fire, supporters of the Delaware River should find ways to advocate for the waterway.
49ers playoff picture: How win over Colts impacts postseason chances
San Francisco already clinched a playoff berth but finds itself in the thick of the NFC West and wild card races.
Best Of: What Beards Tell Us About Power, Politics And How We See Each Other : 1A
Abraham Lincoln was the first U.S. president to sport a beard. For the next 50 years, whiskers were commonplace in the White House. But then, they went out of style.Now, Vice President JD Vance is the first executive branch leader in more than a century with a furry face.And others are following suit. From the Senate to the campaign trail, more and more men in politics are letting their facial hair grow free. But what does that tell us about masculinity, power, and how we see each other?Why did our politicians remain bare faced for so long? And what does the reemergence of whiskers in the White House represent?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.