Category Archives: Science

The Political Divide

Posted on Tuesday 13 January 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Eric Levitz at Vox on the “fiction” of the Left/Right divide, and how core principles nevertheless do divide the parties; Brief items about ICE recruiting and the right presuming the worst about everyone; Noting the death of Erich von Däniken, … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Nature, Politics, Science | Comments Off on The Political Divide

ICE Thugs

Posted on Thursday 8 January 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Today’s posts are about the Minnesota ICE killing and the responses, from Trump and Vance to Jesse Bering, Jonathan V. Last, and others. An essay by Elay Shech about why we should trust science even though it keeps changing. (Because … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Psychology, Religion, Science | Comments Off on ICE Thugs

Government Suppression, and Dr. Noc

Posted on Monday 22 December 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

CBS, now controlled by a Trump acolyte, pulled a story from last night’s 60 Minutes at the last moment; Dr. Noc on Facebook, a new reliable source; Short items about Trump’s favorite excuse, Republicans again taking credit for funding due … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Science | Comments Off on Government Suppression, and Dr. Noc

Most People Are Nice; Scientific Truths

Posted on Tuesday 9 December 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

Hannah Seo at Vox: people are nicer than you think; Ethan Siegel at Big Think: 10 scientific truths that became unpopular in 2025; Briefly noted: the Texas governor wants to install Turning Point USA chapters in every high school; Trump’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Human Nature, Science | Comments Off on Most People Are Nice; Scientific Truths

Retreat and Hypocrisy

Posted on Monday 8 December 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

Why does Trump promote AI, while cutting funding for science and medicine? Why does Trump pardon drug traffickers, while shooting boats in the Caribbean that are supposedly, without evidence, trafficking drugs? Paul Krugman on the end of the free world; … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Science, Technology | Comments Off on Retreat and Hypocrisy

Steven Pinker, THE BETTER ANGELS OF OUR NATURE, post 7

Posted on Friday 5 December 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

Subtitled “Why Violence Has Declined” (Viking, Oct. 2011, xxvii + 802pp, including 106pp of notes, references, and index.) Summary: Chapter 9 concerns four ways in which humanity’s “better angels” turn people away from violence and toward cooperation and altruism. These … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Human Nature, Morality, Science, Steven Pinker | Comments Off on Steven Pinker, THE BETTER ANGELS OF OUR NATURE, post 7

Because It’s There, and Because We Can

Posted on Sunday 30 November 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

Big Think, Ethan Siegel, 28 Nov 2025: Ask Ethan: What’s the point of exploring the Universe?, subtitled “There are so many problems, all across planet Earth, that harm and threaten humanity. Why invest in researching the Universe?” (My first comment, … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, Conservative Resistance, Cosmology, Science | Comments Off on Because It’s There, and Because We Can

Greene and Pinker, and “Piggy”

Posted on Tuesday 18 November 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

A conversation between Brian Greene and Steven Pinker, two of the current greatest scientists/writers; Heather Cox Richardson on how Trump “cares,” and his “piggy” comments; Briefly noted items about how the GOP destroys, not builds; how the Trump administration uses … Continue reading →

Posted in conservatives, Science | Comments Off on Greene and Pinker, and “Piggy”

Bill Gates and Climate Change

Posted on Wednesday 5 November 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

There has been much consternation over a piece published by Bill Gates last week, about climate change. NY Times, David Gelles, 28 Oct 2025: Bill Gates Says Climate Change ‘Will Not Lead to Humanity’s Demise’, subtitled “In a memo, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Psychology, Science | Comments Off on Bill Gates and Climate Change

Notes from the Reality-Based Community

Posted on Friday 31 October 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

Hemant Mehta on a new wave of atheist content creators; Scientific “groupthink” is a myth, an effect of how our fundamental theories are extremely successful; Richard Dawkins can’t understand how Tom Holland and his readers believe ancient legends and myths … Continue reading →

Posted in Psychology, Religion, Science | Comments Off on Notes from the Reality-Based Community