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Psychedelics may work by shutting down reality and unlocking memory
Psychedelics can quiet the brain’s visual input system, pushing it to replace missing details with vivid fragments from memory. Scientists found that slow, rhythmic brain waves help shift perception away from the outside world and toward internal recall — almost like dreaming while awake. By imaging glowing brain cells in mice, researchers watched this process unfold in real time.
An Invisible World Is All Around You, Scientists Say—If You’re Lucky Enough to See It
On “The Astounding Pop Mech Show,” Andrew Daniels and John Gilpatrick discuss the genetic quirk that could open up a whole new reality for some people.
Nebraska’s Young Players Waiting in the Wings
Nebraska, like almost every program outside of Dabo Swinney’s portal-resistant Clemson, is leaning heavily on the transfer portal to plug roster gaps. That’s the modern reality of college football, and it isn’t changing anytime soon. But even in the portal era, sustained success still depends on developing young talent into dependable contributors. Under Matt Rhule, […]
Young Women Speak Up for Women’s Sports
There is definitive scientific proof that males and females are biologically different. Acknowledging this reality is not about exclusion; it is about fairness, safety, and equal opportunity for women and girls. Scripture reminds us that “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). Recognizing biological truth brings clarity, not division. […]
'ANTM' returning for cycle 25, Tyra Banks says: 'My work is not done'
Tyra Banks reveals 'America's Next Top Model' is returning for cycle 25, eight years after the last new cycle aired on VH1: 'My work is not done,' Banks says in the 'Reality Check' Netflix series.
‘They put me on there to die’: conservatives unleash on GOP’s failures to carry out DOGE cost-cutting
The budget-slashing Department of Government Efficiency that upended the federal government at the start of President Donald Trump’s second term has stalled out on Capitol Hill, a reality that’s left conservative lawmakers fuming.
Point-of-Sale Finance Series: The New Regulatory Reality for Small Business Financing and Trade Credit — The Consumer Finance Podcast
Celebrating Women in Science Day 2026 at CERN
Every year, on 11 February, CERN celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. In an effort to amplify diverse voices in STEM, six women scientists from CERN open up about their careers and the lessons they hope to pass on to the next generation. Francesca is an Italian biomedical engineer pursuing her PhD at CERN, working in the robotics team of the Beams Department. She’s currently working on the MARCHESE project, in affiliation with Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, focusing on contactless monitoring of physiological parameters. Despite choosing a scientific career and often volunteering in scientific outreach initiatives, Francesca continues to nurture her passion for the humanities and arts. “I firmly believe that collaboration and inclusion are the right paths to improve the world together. I’m driven by a strong curiosity about everything around me.” Berare is a Turkish experimental physicist who worked with the ATLAS experiment during her MSc and PhD on searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. During her PhD, she became a Support Scientist for the Beamline for Schools (BL4S) competition, which marked the beginning of her journey combining research with science communication. She now works for both BL4S and ELISA, the mini proton accelerator at CERN’s Science Gateway. She fondly remembers the moment when the BL4S 2022 winners arrived at the experimental zone: “I felt incredibly lucky to share my passion with young, curious and really passionate people. We spent two weeks of beam time together watching their ideas turn into reality. All the intricate details of running an experiment, we accomplished them as a team.” Mia is a Canadian research fellow in the Accelerator Systems Department, working on beam developments for fundamental physics with radioactive molecules. Mia pursued a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering before moving to Vancouver for a master’s degree in engineering physics. Her interest in radioactive ion beam production brought her to CERN, where she studied actinide beams for three years as a PhD student in the Marie Curie European Training network “LISA” (Laser Ionisation and Spectroscopy of Actinides) at ISOLDE – a facility at CERN where scientists study the properties of atomic nuclei, with further applications in fundamental studies, astrophysics, and material and life sciences. Laura is a German mechanical engineer at CERN working on research and development to produce cavities for future accelerators. She studied mechanical and aerospace engineering at the Technical University of Munich. She joined CERN four years ago as a technical student for her master’s thesis and continued as a fellow working on collimators. Laura says that “as a child, I took part in girls’ day initiatives, which sparked my fascination for astrophysics and engineering. Later, it felt natural for me to give something back by organising workshops for young students to make STEM seem less intimidating and more accessible.” She particularly enjoys being close to the CERN Main Workshop and understanding how design ideas become real components. Paraskevi is a Greek physicist working at CERN’s HiRadMat (High-Radiation to Materials) facility, designed to deliver high-intensity beams to an irradiation area where material samples, as well as accelerator component assemblies, can be tested. She studied physics at NKUA, specialising in nuclear and particle physics, and is now pursuing her PhD at HiRadMat in collaboration with the University of Liverpool, studying novel materials for high-intensity beam diagnostics. “Continuous learning is one of my biggest motivators, and I am looking forward to exploring the limits of our knowledge on beam-material interactions,” says Paraskevi. Silvia is a Spanish physicist and deputy project manager for the Muon Drift Tube of the CMS detector, a general-purpose detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). She started her career at CERN more than 20 years ago as a technical student, working on prototypes of the first dipoles for the LHC. “My first motivation came in high school, from my teacher,” says Silvia about what made her pursue a career in STEM. “My favourite part about my job is learning. You can learn something new every day.” In parallel to this initiative, like every year since 2017, from 2 to 6 February 66 women scientists and engineers visited schools in Geneva, Switzerland, and in the Haute-Savoie and Ain regions of France to meet with students. Organised in collaboration with CERN, the University of Geneva, EPFL, LAPP and LAPTh, this event allowed more than 4200 students between 6 and 17 years old to meet a woman scientist, discuss their profession and career path, ask questions and participate in classroom activities.
Opinion | Music Softens the Hard Reality of Politics
Budapest Festival Orchestra conductor Iván Fischer wants his work to bridge the distance between the U.S. and Europe.
In an Age of Science, Tennyson Grappled with an Unsettling New World
His poetry reckoned with the immensities of reality, time, and grief, confronting a world upended by new truths about the earth and the heavens.
Sources: North Dakota State in serious discussions to join Mountain West as football-only member
North Dakota State’s long-awaited move to the Football Bowl Subdivision is inching closer to becoming a reality.
Star of 'Southern Charm' to share small business tips with Iowans
A reality TV show star and entrepreneur will make two appearances in Iowa next week. Craig Conover is a founding cast member on “Southern Charm,” which launched on Bravo in 2013, following the lives of several young professionals in Charleston, South Carolina. Conover says he’s thrilled to be making his first trip to Iowa for […]
Rocket CEO says U.S. mortgage industry is a 'tale of two cities.' His booming business shows a broader reality for American homebuyers
“Mortgage rates dropped to the lowest that they've been in the past three years,” Varun Krishna said, “and Rocket was right there to capitalize.”
RFK Jr. says he is 'ending the war on protein.' Experts say it doesn't exist.
The new dietary guidelines prioritize protein and whole milk, but experts say the 'war on protein' RFK Jr. has talked about doesn't match reality.
Watch your favorite reality TV, entertainment shows with Sling passes
Don't miss a must-see pop culture moment, get Sling's Entertainment Extra to keep up with all of you favorite shows.
Physicists push thousands of atoms to a 'Schrödinger's cat' state — bringing the quantum world closer to reality than ever before
Researchers have demonstrated that a nanoparticle of 7,000 sodium atoms can act as a wave, creating a record-setting superposition.
Elon Musk Calls Billie Eilish ‘Hypocrite’ Over Grammys Speech
Elon Musk weighed in on Billie Eilish’s controversial Grammy Awards speech, where she denounced ICE and declared “F*** ICE” on stage. The tech billionaire responded publicly, sparking fresh debate over the singer’s political activism and past comments. Elon Musk calls out Billie Eilish over her speech At the 2026 Grammy Awards, Billie Eilish used her […] The post Elon Musk Calls Billie Eilish ‘Hypocrite’ Over Grammys Speech appeared first on Reality Tea.
The Grammys riled Donald Trump – but the big winners were chosen for their music, not politics
The president called the ceremony ‘garbage’, but in reality it was a celebration of artists whose commercial success was matched by boundary-pushing boldness
Local Columnist Floats Wild Matthew Stafford–Detroit Lions Reunion Scenario
A Detroit Free Press columnist suggests a bold Matthew Stafford return to the Lions via a double trade — but how realistic is it? A full breakdown and reality check.
Sean Hannity: Democrats’ anti-ICE outrage is pure political theater
Fox News host Sean Hannity dissects how Democrats’ anti-I.C.E. ‘outrage’ is detached from reality on ‘Hannity.’
How scientists are making the power of invisibility a reality
“In my opinion, invisibility is no longer a science fiction concept.”
Former reality TV father of 8 reveals major health scare: ‘I could have died’
It happened just weeks before his marriage to his second wife.
The promise and reality of the rural health fund
In the 2025 budget bill, Congress created the $50 billion Rural Health Fund to help struggling hospitals, doctors, and patients in rural America. But rural hospitals are expected to lose three times that through Medicaid cuts in that same budget bill. So, what will it take to keep rural healthcare afloat?
Fact check: Trump says Democrats don’t talk about affordability anymore (they do) because inflation is over (it isn’t)
President Donald Trump tried Tuesday to concoct an alternative reality on the subject of “affordability” – piling lie on top of lie to try to convince Americans that the issue has vanished.
Snap is Spinning Out Its Specs AR Glasses Business
The subsidiary, Specs Inc., will keep focusing on products that build on the company's Spectacles, which create mixed-reality experiences for wearers.
Snap is spinning off its AR glasses into a separate business
Snap’s augmented reality glasses business will now be its own entity, with the company establishing Specs Inc. as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Spartans’ tale of resistance, then relentless reality
San Jose State lays down to a mighty second-half Boise State effort
Reality TV star brings sewing business talk to Cleveland event
Craig Conover will share his journey from home economics class to building a nationally recognized lifestyle brand during appearances at the Great Big Home + Garden Show.
Analysis: Twice within a week, Trump is forced to tone down big second-term power grabs
Even President Donald Trump’s push for total, unchecked power may struggle to overcome the potent combination of political reality and moral outrage.
'Pawn Stars'' Corey Harrison breaks ribs in 11 places in motorcycle crash, misses dad's wedding
Reality TV's Corey Harrison, of 'Pawn Stars,' missed his father Rick's wedding after breaking his ribs in 11 places in a motorcycle crash.
Ye apologizes for antisemitic remarks: ‘I lost touch with reality’
Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, is issuing an apology for his antisemitic remarks and past embrace of the Nazi swastika, saying mental health challenges caused him to lose “touch…
Reality dating show contestant Jardyn 'Pee Wee' Walker dies at 23
Jardyn 'Pee Wee' Walker, an alum of reality dating series 'Two Ways with Erica Mena,' was found shot to death in an alley in Missouri on Jan. 21, and his alleged killer has been arrested and charged.
Letters to the Editor: Yes, political extremists are dangerous, but more so when they’re in power
'Wingnuts are dangerous, but mainstream wingnuts even more so. It’s time we all wake up to the reality that there is nothing conservative about MAGA populism,' writes an L.A. Times reader.
The Sports Conspiracy That’s Too Easy to Believe
When the 49ers lost in the playoffs, some fans embraced a theory about electromagnetic waves instead of facing reality.
Collaborative Science Is Key to Conserving Highly Mobile Marine Species
Research from Pew marine fellows is a critical resource for helping to protect large ocean species and can offer invaluable input as a network of high seas marine protected areas (MPAs) nears reality.
Free business seminars offered for Newtown entrepreneurs
Ignite your entrepreneurial journey and turn your vision into reality through Build Your Success in Newtown, a free business seminar series.
World is entering time of ‘great power politics’, warns German chancellor
Friedrich Merz says global order changing at ‘breathtaking pace’ and urges leaders in Davos not to accept new reality
East Carson Street business owners say South Side is on the rise
Conversations about South Side often revolve around party animals or relentless crime. In reality, the area is much different.
Opinion | The curse of purity in Iranian politics
Time and again, idealism untethered from reality has brought ruin to Iran.
Focus: Vaccine makers feel a chill as US Health Secretary Kennedy's rhetoric becomes reality
Sweeping U.S. policy changes under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are having a chilling effect on vaccine makers as anti-vaccine rhetoric has turned into concrete changes to inoculation schedules and recommendations, investors and executives said.
Vaccine Makers Feel a Chill as US Health Secretary Kennedy's Rhetoric Becomes Reality
By Bhanvi Satija LONDON, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Sweeping U.S. policy changes under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are having a chilling effect on vaccine makers as anti-vaccine rhetoric has turned into concrete changes to inoculation schedules and recommendations, investors and executives ...
49ers GM John Lynch addresses debunked substation conspiracy theory about 49ers injuries
A debunked conspiracy theory with no basis in reality linking a power substation to injuries to the San Francisco 49ers has made its way up to general manager John Lynch.
Trump's whirlwind day in Davos: From the Politics Desk
Plus, a reality check on Trump's economic claims.
Why ‘aspirational clutter’ is some of the hardest to part with
The idea of who we are doesn’t always align with reality — and that’s often reflected in our unused stuff.
AMA micro grants for community health: What doctors should know
The deadline to apply for a $50,000 micro grant from the AMA is March 1. Dive into the details on eligibility and how to make your big idea a reality.
World enters 'era of global water bankruptcy': UN scientists formally define new post-crisis reality for billions
Amid chronic groundwater depletion, water overallocation, land and soil degradation, deforestation, and pollution, all compounded by global heating, a UN report today declared the dawn of an era of global ...
Will an iPhone Air 2 launch this year? Here's the likely reality
Leaker Fixed Focus Digital gained credibility for being one of the first to report the iPhone 16e naming, and continues...
Case study: From horror hit to global franchise - How Mob Entertainment powers its transmedia empire
In our new case study, Mob shares how they use Newzoo data and insight to make smarter decisions, align teams, and help separate hype from reality as they grow.
Which dog breed stereotypes are true? Here’s the science
A large dataset shows some dog stereotypes are based in reality, and others might be unfair characterizations
Are Spurs 'trapped' by place in English football's hierarchy?
Watch the New York Times' Rory Smith give his thoughts on the current state of Tottenham and why he everything the club does "ends up feeling like disappointment" as it navigates lofty ambitions and it's place in English football's hierarchy. It feels like super-club stadium, but the reality is Tottenham don't have the money to be a super-club.
Netflix’s ‘Love is Blind’ may be returning to Atlanta for Seasons 12 and 13
A ‘singles’-themed reality show — with several clues pointing to it being "Love is Blind" — is filming at Atlanta Metro Studios beginning in February.
With the Podcast “I’ve Had It,” Jennifer Welch Goes “Dark Woke” on Politics
A left-wing, atheist reality-TV host from Oklahoma is one of the most popular liberal podcasters, channelling outrage with MAGA and with Democrats she views as complacent.
Delcy Rodríguez calls for opening oil industry to foreign investment and warmer US ties
Rodríguez lays out a vision for Venezuela's new political reality after the United States captured and toppled former President Nicolás Maduro.
The Must-See Reality Show You've Never Heard of
One of my favorite reality shows of 2024 was the Netflix series, 'The Boyfriend.' Now, the beautiful and honest show about a group of gay and bisexual men living in a house is back for season two. Here's why it's must-watch TV.
San Antonio, Spurs to purchase $30M in Sports and Entertainment District
In a move to take the Sports and Entertainment District from a vision to a reality, the San Antonio City Council voted unanimously to authorize the city manager to execute a a $30 million private acquisition and escrow agreement between the city, the San Antonio Spurs Holdings, LLC and Chicago Title, who will act as the escrow agent for the federal government Jan. 15.
Ford employee's suspension shows limits of free speech at work
The advice from five legal experts all boiled down to a blunt reality: employees should watch their mouth at work if they want to keep their job.
Meta Compute, The Meta-OpenAI Battle, The Reality Labs Sacrifice
Mark Zuckerberg announced Meta Compute, a bet that winning in AI means winning with infrastructure; this, however, means retreating from Reality Labs.
'Suddenly Amish' TLC 'reality show' airs tonight; here's what to know
In a reversal of the 2012 TLC cable television series "Breaking Amish," the network returns with "Suddenly Amish," which follows six "English" individuals as they step into an Amish community
Cosm Shared Reality immersive entertainment solution venues
With the cost of attending live sporting events being out of reach for a lot of fans, there is a big market for creating a shared immersive experience that makes you feel like you are there. A company called Cosm, who have a ton of experience doing dome installations all around the world, has come … Continued
Meta plans layoffs at Reality Labs, impacting VR, Horizon Worlds teams
Meta plans layoffs in its Reality Labs division, impacting VR headset and Horizon Worlds teams, as it shifts focus to AI.
Meta Plans to Cut 10% to 15% of Employees in Reality Labs Business
The layoffs are set to be announced this week and would affect Meta’s work on the metaverse, as the company spends heavily on building artificial intelligence.
‘Completely bonkers.’ Trump’s Greenland mining dreams in Greenland collide with reality
Greenland’s untapped mineral wealth has landed the island at the top of President Donald Trump’s empire-building wish list.
Why Washington's Demond Williams returned after $6 million transfer gamble
The day after his audacious announcement to break his contract and transfer, Williams sobered up to the reality he may need the Supreme Court's help to actually pull the move off
Radical Entertainment, BondIt Take ‘Cheaters’ Rights Worldwide (Exclusive)
The syndicated reality-TV series, in which people have their partners investigated to reveal their infidelity, ran for 21 seasons through 2024.
I lost my daughter and discovered a terrifying legal reality
Shawnee Baker's daughter had catastrophic brain injuries and was kept on life support. She didn't have a healthcare proxy allowing her to die.
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth calls crucial Reality Labs all-hands meeting
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth calls key all-hands meeting at Reality Labs as the division faces budget cuts, strategic shifts to AI, and layoffs last year.
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth calls crucial Reality Labs all-hands meeting
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth calls key all-hands meeting at Reality Labs as the division faces budget cuts, strategic shifts to AI, and layoffs last year.
Spencer Pratt announces he's running for L.A. mayor after losing home in Palisades fire
One year after losing his home in the devastating Palisades fire, reality TV star Spencer Pratt has announced that he's running for mayor of Los Angeles: 'This is a mission.'
Behind the Lines: A Fine Line Between Sports, Entertainment and Reality
My studious, shy, parochial school-attending granddaughters, Jayne and Norah, have a not-so-secret appreciation of violent, combat sports, at least theatrical combat. For a Christmas present, Staci and Adam surprised the girls with tickets to the WWE Live Holiday Tour at Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena on December 27. Yes, the reflective eight-year-old Jayne, who competes in […]
Telehealth companies swoop in to offer Wegovy pill
In this edition of STAT's Health Tech: Telehealth jumps on the Wegovy pill bandwagon, Neuralink's grand vision collides with reality, and more
Asus ROG Enters Extended Reality With 240Hz Gaming Glasses
And yes, they do have RGB lighting.
The Dreamscape effect
Written by Bret HovellSeventh grader Samuel Granado is a well-spoken and bright student at Villa de Paz Elementary School in Phoenix. But he starts out cautiously when he describes a new virtual reality-enabled science curriculum at his school called Dreamscape Learn.“I don’t want to call, like, regular science class boring,” he says. “But Dreamscape is definitely more exciting and fun than, well, a regular science class.”Even his “regular” science teachers are likely to agree.
Philosophy to the Rescue of Science
The pessimistic meta-induction—the argument that since past scientific theories have been shown to be false, we should expect that today’s will turn out false, too—makes the New York Times. . Elay Shech, professor of philosophy at Auburn University, takes up the topic in the context of current political disputes about science and our government’s seemingly increasing disregard of expertise: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of health and human services, made a version of this argument in August when defending his decision to halt hundreds of millions of dollars in mRNA vaccine development despite the objections of vaccine scientists. He said that “science is always evolving” and the experts could not always be trusted. Shech accepts that “many widely accepted [scientific] theories have been discarded” but that the question, “why should we trust the ones we have now?” is misleading. Why? It implies that the only possible attitudes toward science are naïve faith and wholesale pessimism. It assumes that science is a single global entity that rises or falls all at once, when in reality, science is an array of local domains of inquiry, each with its own standards of evidence and degrees of reliability. In place of skepticism, Shech recommends “disciplined trust.” The first step in the direction of disciplined trust is recognizing that “there is no single scientific method used in all of science.” Shech writes: Newton’s deduction from observed phenomena is very different from Darwin’s inference to the best explanation, which in turn differs radically from Einstein’s thought experiments with light beams, trains and elevators. What people call “the scientific method” is really many distinct ways of investigating the world—different strategies for representing, experimenting and classifying. Since different areas of science employ different methods and rely on different kinds of evidence, to make a case for skepticism “you need to look at the evidence and methods in a specific area of inquiry.” And that case will not be “a sweeping claim about all of science” but rather about that particular area of inquiry with, for example, what might turn out to be “well-understood methodological problems.” Shech’s piece is “Science Keeps Changing, So Why Should We Trust It?” (NYT gift link). Discussion welcome (readers are advised to keep in..
Xreal Revamps Entry AR Glasses With Lower Price, Better Video
Xreal Inc., an early pioneer in augmented-reality glasses, unveiled an upgraded entry-level product at CES, where smart eyewear will be a prevailing theme over the coming week.
AI’s reckoning with reality represents a growing economic risk for 2026
Revenues may be rising rapidly, but not by nearly enough to cover the wild levels of investment under way
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.
Apple reportedly cuts production of Vision Pro headset after poor sales
Company had hoped the virtual reality device would herald a new era in ‘spatial computing’
One Big Beautiful Bill Act complicates state health care affordability efforts
This article first appeared on KFF Health News. As Congress debates whether to extend the temporary federal subsidies that have helped millions of Americans buy health coverage, a crucial underlying reality is sometimes overlooked: Those subsidies are merely a band-aid covering the often unaffordable cost of health care. California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and five other states […]
Youth baseball becoming year-round sport in Wis., producing more talent but with concerns
Youth sports have become a year-round reality for many as more and more indoor sports facilities are being built in Wisconsin.
My Favorite Reality Show of 2025 Had a Final Twist that Left Me Shook
Far and away, my favorite reality show of 2025 - aka the best reality show of 2025 - was 'The Celebrity Traitors UK.' No spoilers here, but that final twist left me shook.
From Marty Supreme to The Traitors: your complete entertainment guide to the week ahead
Timothée Chalamet sexes up table tennis in Josh Safdie’s Oscar contender, and the unstoppable reality format returns
Eastern Shore Family YMCA expands girls-only sports programming
It started with a simple question from a 9-year-old basketball player. “Coach Liz, can I have another girl on my team?” That moment, recalled by Liz Klenke, sports director with the YMCA of South Hampton Roads, highlighted a reality many girls face as they grow older in sports: fewer female teammates, fewer opportunities, and fewer spaces where they feel they ... Read More
One Big Beautiful Bill Act complicates state health care affordability efforts
As Congress debates whether to extend the temporary federal subsidies that have helped millions of Americans buy health coverage, a crucial underlying reality is sometimes overlooked: Those subsidies are merely a band-aid covering the often unaffordable cost of health care.
Virtual reality opens doors for older people to build closer connections in real life
Many retirement developments serve as a tranquil refuge for older people who can no longer traveling to faraway places or engaging in bold adventures.
What are asteroids really made of? New analysis brings space mining closer to reality
Scientists are digging into the hidden makeup of carbon-rich asteroids to see whether they could one day fuel space exploration—or even be mined for valuable resources. By analyzing rare meteorites that naturally fall to Earth, researchers have uncovered clues about the chemistry, history, and potential usefulness of these ancient space rocks. While large-scale asteroid mining is still far off, the study highlights specific asteroid types that may be promising targets, especially for water extraction.
Oklahoma is one step closer to creating business courts
Business Courts are one step closer to becoming a reality in Oklahoma, after years of work from lawmakers, state leaders and a special task force. The hope is that business courts would alleviate some of the backlog from district courts.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr honestly acknowledges the team's grim reality as a 'fading dynasty'
Steve Kerr shared an honest outlook on the Golden State Warriors' reality as a "fading dynasty."
Christal Jordan gives the latest in entertainment headlines
Celebs are getting into the reality TV business, but it's all about helping others, and telling stories.
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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