A Pep Talk from Steven Pinker
Despite what we see in the headlines, the data-driven optimist thinks we should be grateful to live in the best era in humanity’s long, troubled history
Stories by John Horgan
John Horgan, who has written for Scientific American since 1986, comments on science on his free online journal Cross-Check. He has also posted his books Mind-Body Problems and My Quantum Experiment online. Horgan teaches at Stevens Institute of Technology.
I’m Agonizing over My Naive Realism
The philosophical position that the world has an objective, physical existence may be dubious, but we need it to address our very real problems
Quantum Mechanics, the Chinese Room Experiment and the Limits of Understanding
All of us, even physicists, often process information without really knowing what we’re doing
Hearing about the Big Bang for the First Time
A jaded old science writer rediscovers the thrill of science by teaching undergraduates
Quantum Mechanics, Free Will and the Game of Life
Some thoughts triggered by the death of the mathematician John Conway
Can Science Illuminate Our Inner Dark Matter?
Neither introspection nor brain scans can reveal our deepest thoughts
Premature Freak-Outs about Techno-Enhancement
Debates about whether to “improve” our mind and body often exaggerate the feasibility of doing so
Is the Schrödinger Equation True?
Just because a mathematical formula works does not mean it reflects reality
Quantum Mechanics, the Mind-Body Problem and Negative Theology
Scientists and philosophers should keep trying to solve reality’s deepest riddles while accepting that they are unsolvable
Will Artificial Intelligence Ever Live Up to Its Hype?
Replication problems plague the field of AI, and the goal of general intelligence remains as elusive as ever
Distrust Authorities, Including Me
The presidential election and pandemic have highlighted the fallibility of experts, but that doesn’t mean we should dismiss them all
Will the Universe Remember Us after We’re Gone?
Physicists insist that information never vanishes, not even in black holes, but this “law” reflects wishful thinking
Has the Drug-Based Approach to Mental Illness Failed?
Journalist Robert Whitaker is more concerned than ever that psychiatric medications do more harm than good
Big Tech, Out-of-Control Capitalism and the End of Civilization
A new documentary, The Social Dilemma, warns that the harm wreaked by digital technologies is outweighing the benefits
How to Be a Mystical Skeptic
Psychologist Susan Blackmore stays grounded in science while exploring the outer reaches of consciousness.
How Do I Know I’m Not the Only Conscious Being in the Universe?
The solipsism problem, also called the problem of other minds, lurks at the heart of science, philosophy, religion, the arts and the human condition
Quantum Escapism
How quantum mechanics gives me a refuge from reality
Does Optimism on Climate Change Make You Pro-Trump?
Apocalypse Never, a book by iconoclastic environmentalist Michael Shellenberger, triggers polarized responses
Who Wants to Be a Cyborg?
Philosopher Susan Schneider weighs the pros and cons of radical technological enhancement
Let’s Defund the Pentagon, Too
We must begin moving beyond militarism, as Martin Luther King urged more than 50 years ago
On Crazyism, Jerkitude, Garden Snails and Other Philosophical Puzzles
Eric Schwitzgebel investigates an eclectic assortment of mysteries with (unintentional?) irony and humor
My Quantum Experiment
An aging science journalist with a literature degree sets out to learn quantum mechanics, mathematics and all
The Problem with Protesting Violence with Violence
Empirical studies have shown that nonviolent movements are more successful than violent ones at bringing about positive social changes
Exposing the World’s Biggest Carbon Emitters
“Energy accountant” Richard Heede does research needed to hold major polluters accountable for their actions