Biology’s Impact on Counting Words
A short video about the words we use for counting and how biology influences both language and math.
A Rare Shared Cultural Experience and the Value of Inconvenience
When was the last time everyone you knew experienced the same piece of culture at the same time? Is the age of shared cultural experiences over?
Welcoming a New Chef in the Kitchen, Tao Tao
Welcoming a new Chef in the Kitchen, Tao Tao.
Off for the Holiday — And We Want to Thank You
We’re off for the US Thanksgiving holiday. A musical salute to our readers.
Chefs’ Selections: The Best Books Read During 2019 Part 1
The beginning of the holiday season means it’s time for our annual list of our favorite books read during the year. Part 1 today, Part 2 tomorrow.
Data Visualization: Shuffling a Deck of Cards
Complex datasets can be difficult to visualize. Here, the position of each card in a deck of 52 is shown during shuffling.
Why Clouds Don’t Fall Out of the Sky
It turns out clouds are really heavy. So how do they float?
Accent Identification
How well do you know regional accents? Some tips on locating a speaker’s origins.
Pencil Making
How do they get the lead in the pencil? All will be revealed in today’s video.
Roadblocks to Better Open Access Models
The conversation around open access has shifted from “should we?” to “how are we going to?” The failings of the author-pays model are becoming increasingly evident. Finding better models is proving to be both urgently necessary and extremely difficult.
Have a Calm and Soothing Friday — By Learning About Logarithms
Have a calming, meditative end to your week by learning some math.
A Historical Look At Vaccine Skepticism
The Washington Post looks at the long history of vaccine skepticism.
Monty Hall and a Veridical Paradox
A logic problem for your Friday that at first may seem counterintuitive.
Summer Vacation — On Hiatus
We’re off for the week. Enjoy what’s left of your summer.
A Proto-VOIP Conference Call from 1978
Using an amazing new technology from 1978 looks awfully familiar.