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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.
Business Insider wants your nominations for its Rising Stars of Longevity 2026
Submit your nominations for Business Insider's 2026 Rising Stars of Longevity, spotlighting those doing impactful work in the aging space.
Sam Blackburn's Christmas wish list for Ohio sports teams, column
TR columnist Sam Blackburn has dusted off his Santa hat and offered up gifts to Ohio's sports teams. The Browns, Bengals and Reds have long lists.
From football to softball, the biggest Texas Tech sports stories of 2025
What a wild year 2025 was for Texas Tech athletics. Relive the best and biggest stories of what was a loaded year for the Red Raiders.
How Trump’s attacks on ‘climate alarmism’ have already transformed U.S. science
Experts say the cuts to the federal workforce and climate science funding could cause decades of loss in human knowledge and discovery.
Georgia health officials map out $1.4 billion plan for new federal rural health funds
State officials have introduced a $1.4 billion plan to improve rural health outcomes over the next five years under the federal Rural Health Transformation Program created as part of this summer’s budget reconciliation bill. In a 96-page application, officials from the state’s Department of Community Health requested funds to improve access to primary and specialty […]
Serpent Lake Leak Reveals First Intel-Nvidia Chip after $5 Billion Partnership
Intel ($INTC) and Nvidia ($NVDA) are developing a new laptop chip called Serpent Lake that integrates their technologies, according to leaked information provided b...
Two British anti-hate speech campaigners sanctioned by US state department
Imran Ahmed and Clare Melford among five Europeans hit with visa bans over claims they wish to ‘suppress American viewpoints they oppose’
Eagles vs Bills predictions, expert picks on Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts matchup
Our expert picks on Eagles vs Bills matchup and possible Super Bowl preview
6 charts to show your family when they ask why you don't have a new job
From the highest unemployment in years to job switchers seeing more modest raises than years past, charts show how the job market fared in 2025.
Cracker jokes and custard chemistry: ways to smuggle science into Christmas
Researchers share the easy ways to uncover moments of festive discovery, proving you don’t need a lab coat to experiment this Christmas
The big sports quiz of the year 2025
Have you followed the football, rugby, basketball, NFL, cycling, F1, tennis, horse racing, sumo, athletics and golf?
Gold, silver and platinum hit record highs as investors look for Santa rally; BP to sell stake in Castrol for $6bn
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
‘A gamechanger’: 200,000 UK small businesses sign up to TikTok Shop
Big brands such as Sainsbury’s and M&S also selling directly in app through links in videos and livestreams
How orange juice could help support heart health
Drinking orange juice can help support health by reducing inflammation and hypertension, among other factors, a recent study suggests.
NJBIA Business Outlook Survey Spotlight: NJ's Economic Climate
NJBIA released its 67th annual Business Outlook Survey on Dec. 2. While much of the attention of the survey focused on 2055 energy cost increases and
Elder, Mason teachers set trend for student-led sports media teams
Mason, Elder media teachers discuss how sports broadcasts give creative and educational outlets for students in their communities and beyond.
Kate Winslet says turning 50 changed how she defines success
"I think that women get more interesting as we grow older," Kate Winslet said.
Ukraine explains how it attacked Russian Sea Dragon with drone carrying an airburst warhead
The SBU said that it used the drone to strike a Russian Sea Dragon maritime recon aircraft, a key step for its later attack on the submarine.
Waymo explains why its robotaxis clogged San Francisco streets during a power outage
Waymo says the San Francisco power outage overwhelmed its robotaxis at scale, creating a backlog that led to response delays.
I quit my job at 29 and traveled solo. I didn't tell my parents until I'd finished my business plan.
Cassi Zheng spent her 30th birthday alone in Tokyo. It gave her a chance to stop focusing on what was missing.
Spurs cruise past Thunder ahead of Christmas rematch, now account for 2 of OKC's 4 losses on the season
The now 26-4 Thunder have lost twice to the Spurs. And they'll run it back again on Christmas.
Broncos vs. Chiefs 2025 Prediction, Odds, Picks
Preview the Week 17 matchup between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs with predictions, odds, over/under, spread, betting lines and more.
Jeffrey Epstein's wills listed former bank CEOs and other Wall Street figures as possible estate executors
Jeffrey Epstein's wills named figures like Larry Summers and Jes Staley as possible executors, DOJ files show.
Explosion at a Pennsylvania nursing home kills at least 2, governor says
The explosion collapsed a part of the building and happened just as a utility crew had been on site looking for a gas leak at Bristol Health & Rehab Center in Bristol Township, just outside Philadelphia.
Public Health Informatics Specialist
📊 DATA MEETS PUBLIC HEALTH! 📊Northern Nevada Public Health is seeking a PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATICS SPECIALIST to turn data into life-saving insights! 💡 $78,936/yr + excellent benefits & NV PERS retirement! 📍 Reno, NV | Perfect for you if you have: Bachelor’s in computer science/data sciences and 2+ years health informatics experience; OR an equivalent combination of training and experience ✅ Skills in SQL, R, Python, Power BI desired | Ready to start the new year using your tech skills to improve public health outcomes? This role combines cutting-edge data analysis with meaningful community impact! 🚀 You’ll analyze health data, support disease surveillance, and help shape public health decisions that protect our community! 🌟👉 Apply now: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washoecounty ⏰ Application Deadline: January 30! #HealthInformatics #HealthStatistics #DataScience #PublicHealth #WashoeCounty #TechJobs #RenoJobs
Redacted Material in Some Epstein Files Is Easily Recovered
The ease of recovering information that was not properly redacted digitally suggests that at least some of the documents released by the Justice Department were hastily censored.
Sitting out the $1.7 billion Powerball? Let these stats about just how unlikely winning is comfort you
The chances of winning the Powerball Grand Prize is much smaller than being struck by lightening, killed in a shark attack, or born on a Leap Day.
This new 3D chip could break AI’s biggest bottleneck
Researchers have created a new kind of 3D computer chip that stacks memory and computing elements vertically, dramatically speeding up how data moves inside the chip. Unlike traditional flat designs, this approach avoids the traffic jams that limit today’s AI hardware. The prototype already beats comparable chips by several times, with future versions expected to go much further. Just as important, it was manufactured entirely in a U.S. foundry, showing the technology is ready for real-world production.
This tiny peptide could help stop brain damage after injury
A four–amino acid peptide called CAQK has shown powerful brain-protective effects in animal models of traumatic brain injury. Delivered through a standard IV, it zeroes in on injured brain tissue, calming inflammation and reducing cell death while improving recovery. The peptide worked in both mice and pigs, whose brains are closer to humans in structure. Researchers are now preparing to move toward early human clinical trials.
The Science (and Pseudoscience) of Everyday Life
Everyday life is full of small behaviors we treat as moral choices, scientific truths, or acts of civic virtue—often without much reflection. From abandoned shopping carts to climate guilt over pet ownership, from misplaced faith in statistical “significance” to misunderstandings of animal behavior, these examples reveal how intuition, habit, and oversimplified science shape what we believe.
Sony WF-1000XM6 rears its head as launch information surfaces in new leak
The long-awaited Sony WF-1000XM6 has reappeared before the end of the year in a new leak. This time, a retailer has hinted at availability and launch colour options ahead of schedule.
State Department imposes sanctions on former EU official, disinformation group leaders for ‘censorship’
The US State Department on Tuesday imposed visa sanctions on a former top European Union official and employees of organizations that combat disinformation for alleged censorship – sharply ratcheting up the Trump administration’s fight against European regulations that have impacted digital platforms, far-right politicians and Trump allies, including Elon Musk.
Analysis: Extreme redactions undercut Epstein files release
Rather than settling matters, the government’s release of the Epstein files has had the opposite effect.
Paul Mauro on Gene Simmons' advice about politics: I didn’t see this coming
‘The Five’ discusses KISS rocker Gene Simmons’ message to Americans to stay out of other people’s politics.
Pro-Palestine prisoners pause hunger strike as their health deteriorates
Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gib, on remand at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, had refused food for almost 50 days in protest at the ban on Palestine Action
See photos of sports fans dressed as the Grinch ahead of Christmas
Sports fans across the United States got into the holiday spirit by dressing as their favorite Dr. Seuss character.
Columbus immigrant business owners say ICE fear is driving customers away
Immigrant-owned businesses in Columbus say fear tied to ICE activity has slashed foot traffic, leaving owners struggling to keep their doors open.
Death certificates reveal new information about Rob Reiner and wife Michele's deaths
The death certificates for Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner have revealed new information about the timeline of the filmmakers' deaths.
Maine suspends payments to Portland health care provider accused of fraud
The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is also seeking financial information about Gateway Community Services as part of its investigation into suspected fraud in Minnesota.
Possible measles exposure at Denver International Airport
Colorado public health officials are warning about a potential measles exposure at Denver International Airport.
Science funding was hit in 2025. What does that mean for the future? : Consider This from NPR
2025 was a hard year for science. The Trump administration upended federal funding for all kinds of scientific pursuits, slashing budgets across agencies like NASA, NIH and NOAA. NPR's Rob Stein and Katia Riddle spoke to scientists and officials who worry that those cuts could cause the United States to lose its competitive edge as a global hub for research and innovation, and steer future generations away from careers in science. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Michael Levitt, with audio engineering by Zo vanGinhoven. It was edited by Sarah Handel, Scott Hensley and Amina Khan. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
I won $28 million in the Powerball when I was 21. One choice saved me from becoming a broke lottery winner.
Tim Schultz won the Powerball in 1999 as a 21-year-old gas station attendant. Here's what he thinks lottery winners should do — and his one regret.
Scientists warn: We are witnessing multiple irreversible changes in Antarctica
Antarctica faces abrupt, irreversible climate changes as warming nears 1.5 °C, threatening ice, oceans, ecosystems, and coasts worldwide.
AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro: Ultra Short Throw Projection for Home Entertainment
If you're looking to set up an immersive, cinema-style home theater, AWOL Vision offers an all-in-one option worth considering.
Southern Californians, your health insurance costs could rise in 2026
Covered California warns that some people may be at risk of dropping their health insurance. It all comes as the deadline to enroll nears.
The best DirecTV deals: Save on entertainment, sports, news, and more
The best DirecTV deals offer discounts on everything from budget genre packs to pricier signature plans.
Supreme Court won't let Trump deploy National Guard in Chicago
In a rare loss for Trump at the high court, the justices kept in place a temporary hold on the use of National Guard troops to quell protests in Chicago.
Martinis, seafood, and a plastic cup: See some of the zanier expenses at the center of JPMorgan's latest dispute with Charlie Javice
JPMorgan no longer wants to pay Charlie Javice's legal bills. Inside the latest dispute between the bank and the startup founder convicted of fraud.
In Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood, children's entertainment comes with strings
For more than 30 years, Puppetworks has delighted Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood with performances of The Tortoise and the Hare, Pinocchio, Aladdin and, during the holidays, retellings of stories like The Steadfast Tin Soldier.
Seetharaman named S&T’s chair of materials science and engineering
Dr. Sridhar Seetharaman has been named chair of materials science and engineering at Missouri S&T. He will begin his duties in January.
AI is transforming everything about how we work — and it's doing it a rapid pace unlike anything before it
AI transformation, workforce strategy, and new job roles are reshaping how companies like ServiceNow and Weber Shandwick operate today.
Christmas Day sports: Here's a look at the premier matchups on the holiday
The evolution of the Christmas Day sports calendar in the U.S. has given fans a respite if they need a break from family gatherings or just some entertainment while they sip on eggnog.
Christmas Day sports: Here's a look at the premier matchups on the holiday
The evolution of the Christmas Day sports calendar in the U.S. has given fans a respite if they need a break from family gatherings or just some entertainment while they sip on eggnog.
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.
I compared TJ Maxx and Marshalls this holiday season. I would only recommend one.
TJ Maxx and Marshalls are two of the best-known discount department stores in the US, but they are not the same.
ASTP/ONC seeks relaxation of health IT certification criteria with HTI-5
The proposed rule aims to reduce burdens and costs on health IT developers. It also includes measures to promote FHIR-based interoperability, strengthen information blocking rules and simplify certification of AI models.
Which Mid City Mall businesses are closing? What we know
Mid City Mall went on the market in 2024, according to previous reporting by The Courier Journal.
Year in review: Trump's economy : The NPR Politics Podcast
As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is taking a look back at the year that was in different political areas. Today, we look at President Trump's handling of the economy, including his tariff policy.This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
Elon Musk, AI and the antichrist: the biggest tech stories of 2025
A look back at the biggest tech stories of the year, from the rise and fall of Musk’s Doge to lucrative investments into AI
Vermont high school sports scores, results, stats for Tuesday, Dec. 23
Vermont high school sports scores and results as reported to the Burlington Free Press sports department.
Vince Zampella, video game pioneer behind megahit Call of Duty, dies at 55
One of Vince Zampella's crowning achievements was the creation of the Call of Duty franchise, which has sold more than half a billion games worldwide.
Wisconsin judge sends Slender Man attacker back to mental health institution after group home escape
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin woman who almost killed her sixth-grade classmate to please the fictional horror villain known as Slender Man was ordered back to a state psychiatric hospital Tuesday after she escaped from her group home last month.
Favorite 'Dogs: Back Browns to Push Steelers to the Brink
Pittsburgh might have the AFC North sewed up ahead of its Week 17 matchup, which is why Will Hill sees the Browns keeping it close.
Scientists create replica human womb lining and implant early-stage embryos
Studying chemical chatter as tiny balls of cells embed could shine a light on early pregnancy and glitches that lead to miscarriage
Lemon Slice nabs $10.5M from YC and Matrix to build out its digital avatar tech
Digital avatar generation company Lemon Slice is working to add a video layer to AI chatbots with a new diffusion model that can create digital avatars from a single image.
An LSU professor’s tips for responsible AI adoption in business
As artificial intelligence tools become more accessible, business leaders across a range of industries are having to work out how to adopt them without putting sensitive information or the trust o… Already an INSIDER? Sign in. We are glad you enjoy reading Business Report. Continue reading this story and get ACCESS to all our content […]
Boston issues flu warning amid dramatic spike in cases
Boston health officials issued a flu warning on Tuesday amid a dramatic spike in cases in the city. The City of Boston and the Boston Public Health Commission said in a release that flu cases are surging earlier this year than they did last year, with a recent 114% increase in cases. They said flu related emergency department visits are…
Michigan Matters: An anniversary at The Henry Ford, and looking back at politics in 2025
FanDuel SN channels could be sold as broadcaster scrambles for funds
If a sale falls through, Main Street Sports Group could ultimately be shut down following the current NBA and NHL seasons.
Ikea has made some of its Matter-compatible smart home devices even cheaper.
As the cost of some electronics continues to skyrocket, Ikea has dropped the price of several of its new smart home accessories. The Myggspray motion and Klippbok water sensors are now down to $7.99 from $9.99, and while the three-pack of the colorful two-button Bilresa remotes launched in the US for $19.99, they’re now $14.99. [Image: Two of Ikea’s new Matter-compatible smart home sensors and its two-button remote are now cheaper in the US. https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/ikea_matter.jpg?quality=90&strip=all]
Green Bay area high school sports results for Monday, Dec. 22
High school boys and girls basketball teams were in action.
Protecting California’s public lands from oil and gas drilling is defending public health
Federal plans for oil drilling along a million acres in California would change healthful, wild spaces into sources of pollution and illness.
I'm 'Shark Tank' investor Kevin O'Leary. I wake up at 5 a.m. with no alarm and refuse to answer emails.
"Shark Tank" and "Marty Supreme" star Kevin O'Leary explains his daily routine, which includes eating protein, biking, taking naps, and avoiding email.
Why Apple's Foldable iPhone May Be Smaller Than Expected
Apple's first foldable iPhone, rumored for release next year, may turn out to be smaller than most people imagine, if a recent report is anything to go by. According to The Information, the outer display on the book-style device will measure just 5.3 inches – that's smaller than the 5.4-inch screen on the iPhone mini, a line Apple discontinued in 2022 due to poor sales. The report has led some people to wonder why Apple would settle on such a compact form factor.
What voters say they want for Christmas
Political opposites are closing 2025 as they did 2024: on each side of America’s Donald Trump divide. But CNN’s “All Over the Map” survey did provide several interesting takeaways. Some may be instructive about the midterm election climate, at least at this beginning stage.
Why Sports Is The Fastest Way To Break CTV’s Programmatic Ceiling
Programmatic media buying is expected to account for the majority of growth in the CTV market in 2026. This year alone, over 90% of CTV ad dollars were transacted through programmatic pipes. That data isn’t surprising. Programmatic has solved a real problem by helping brands reach TV viewers with targeted precision at much lower costs. […]
Amazon's chief security officer says the tech giant blocked over 1,800 suspected North Korean agents from applying for jobs
Stephen Schmidt said AI and machine-learning roles have been increasingly targeted by fraudsters due to high demand.
A new matcha pop-up opens in Des Moines
Matcha Luv is a locally owned matcha pop-up.
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.
Nine mental-health tips for a happier 2026
Regardless of any resolutions you may have for 2026, one thing is for sure: Everyone wants to have a happy new year.While losing weight or saving money may be great goals, the most straightforward path to happiness is caring for your mental and emotional health. A robust body of research shows that simple cognitive and behavioral strategies can reliably boost happiness and reduce stress – and they’re generally free and accessible to all.These strategies don’t have to be super time-consuming, but they do require intention: They only work if you do them.Here, psychologist Valentina Ogaryan, PhD, clinical director of the Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, shares her top tips for cultivating more calm, centeredness and happiness in the new year (or anytime):Make time for playPlay isn’t just for kids, and it’s far from frivolous. The National Institute for Play says engaging in silliness, fun and just-for-pleasure activities reduces stress and increases optimism and resilience. A recent review also found that play improves mental health.“Adults can benefit from play as much as children,” Dr. Ogaryan says, “not just as a reward, but something that helps regulate.”So go ahead and dance with your dog, build something with Legos, tell a joke, sing karaoke or do anything else that feels like fun. Don’t worry about being productive, just enjoy yourself. And, if you can, opt for more analog play, Dr. Ogaryan suggests, as a respite from our ever-more-digital world. Move your bodyWhether you dance, ski, do yoga, play pickleball, ride a bike, roller-skate, hike or lift weights, physical movement benefits overall happiness and well-being. A 2018 review study of more than 1.2 million adults in the U.S. found that doing any kind of exercise was “significantly and meaningfully associated” with better self-reported mental health.The sweet spot was 45 minutes of movement three to five times a week, but even short bursts of physical activity can boost brain health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.“Movement helps support mood and regulate the nervous system,” Dr. Ogaryan says.Plus: exercise can improve sleep quality, and sleep is essential for mental health.Prioritize sleep“Sleep plays a major role in managing stress,” Dr. Ogaryan says. Research shows that lack of sufficient sleep increases the risk of various diseases, including depression.While stress can interfere with sleep, practicing good sleep hygiene can make logging ZZ’s easier. That means maintaining a consistent bedtime; keeping the bedroom cool, dark and quiet; and avoiding social media, news and stimulating shows before bed.Consume lessWe live in a consumer culture, inundated by endless streams of content and advertising everywhere we go, which makes it easy to get overstimulated.“Something really helpful for stress reduction is to simply consume less,” Dr. Ogaryan says – less news, less social media, less information, less noise, less screen time. “It’s about reducing the input,” she says.Consider setting a maximum number of news articles per day, for example, or a time limit on scrolling. Maybe even go device free for an afternoon or a whole day.Practice present-moment awarenessWith so much coming at us all the time, focusing on the here and now can make life feel more manageable, Dr. Ogaryan says: “When everything feels super overwhelming, when everything feels larger than life, let’s make our world a little bit smaller for that moment in time.”She suggests taking things one day, or even one hour, at a time. Ask yourself: What’s my next right action? Release the need to know how everything turns out and liberate yourself from having to handle everything right now. Let the future take care of itself and just focus on the current moment. Then the next one. Have a daily anchorFrom work to the daily commute to family and life responsibilities, our days can feel jam-packed. Dr. Ogaryan recommends creating a centering daily anchor that can fit into even the busiest day.Maybe it’s a 10-minute walk during your lunch break or mindfully enjoying your coffee in the morning. Let your anchor adapt to your needs each day, she says, but be intentional about using that time to ground yourself and calm your nervous system. You might even say to yourself, “I choose this walk to help me become centered,” or “My day already feels stressful, so I’m going to take the next 10 minutes to enjoy this cup of coffee, feel the warm mug in my hand and just be present.” Having an anchor won’t erase the busy-ness from your day, but it will allow you to approach it more calmly.Be kind to yourselfMost of us have a harsh inner critic in our heads who works overtime. But that critical voice only increases our stress, triggering the same fight-or-flight response as caustic words from another person.To feel happier, we need to replace that inner critic with a kinder, more compassionate voice, Dr. Ogaryan says. Studies show that self-compassion is a source of eudaimonic happiness – the kind of happiness associated with purpose and meaning in life.While our knee-jerk reaction may be to self-criticize – “How could you let it get to this point? You didn’t manage your time well and now the project is going to be late. You’re so inept.” – we fare better mentally by treating ourselves with kindness, like we would a friend. That might sound like, “You’ve got a lot on your plate, but you are capable and you’ll get it done. I believe in you.”We may think that speaking kindly to ourselves means letting ourselves off the hook, so we end up becoming lazy do-nothings. But research shows the opposite: People who are self-compassionate are more likely to try harder in the face of failure and ultimately reach their goals.You can thank your inner critic for its good intentions, but resolve to talk to yourself in a kind, compassionate voice.Connect with othersHumans are social animals built for connection. Stress can be isolating and cause us to withdraw, but connecting with others is a salve for the psyche, Dr. Ogaryan says.“We know that not all relationships are always easy, but if we can think about intentional, nourishing connection – even in really small doses – it could really help center us,” she says.Take a moment to laugh with your colleagues, hug your pet, have a conversation with a friend or smile at the barista making your coffee. A study found that even tiny interactions with casual acquaintances and strangers decreases loneliness and improves happiness and well-being.Seek supportIf you try these practices and happiness remains elusive, or if you can’t access the wherewithal to follow these tips, seek support from your physician or a therapist. Mental health conditions are among the most common health issues in the U.S. and around the world – more prevalent than diabetes or heart disease. One in five people in the U.S. experiences a mental illness each year, with depression and anxiety the most common, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.“We can all think about these tips,” Dr. Ogaryan says. “But it’s important to recognize if you’ve done everything you can and you’re still really struggling, it’s really important to seek help.”
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.
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