Category Archives: Science

Recent Features and Headlines, 14 Sept 2022

Posted on 14 September 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Ockham’s Razor; Randall Munroe; The best time to be alive; nephew of longtermism; political headlines.

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More on the Wars Against Education and Science

Posted on 31 August 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

So many examples to keep up with!

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The Universe Is Enormous, and Reductionist

Posted on 23 August 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

A couple science links (for a change) and some more endpiece. Big Think, 22 Aug 2022: This logarithmic view of the Universe will blow your mind Subtitle: “As we look to larger cosmic scales, we get a broader view of … Continue reading →

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Son of Longtermism

Posted on 22 August 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Some 14 days ago, in this post, I linked and quoted from a NYT guest essay by William MacAskill about valuing the future as much as we value the present. Which struck me as a reasonable position to take, a … Continue reading →

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Randy Olson, HOUSTON, WE HAVE A NARRATIVE

Posted on 1 August 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

This is an interesting book that I’m disappointed by only because it’s not the book I wanted to read. That is, not the author’s fault. An interesting, useful, book nonetheless. (University of Chicago Press, 2015, trade paperback, 260pp) Olson’s book … Continue reading →

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Demographic Studies: Red v Blue, Abortions, Social Services, and Mortality Gaps

Posted on 30 July 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Two items today that fit neatly together. They are illustrations of demographic trends that seem always to align. Red states, religion, support for authoritarian politicians, disapproval of abortion, disapproval of certain books, distrust of science, and lack of social services. … Continue reading →

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Intercessory Prayer and Science

Posted on 10 July 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

About a month ago I put together a post in part about how belief in prayer reflects a fundamental inability to understand cause and effect in the real, actual, physical world; that post is here. I had a current link … Continue reading →

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Climate Change Denial and Christian Nationalists

Posted on 5 July 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Today, links about the threats, to American democracy and the survival of the planet, from conservatives, especially the religious ones. NYT, Paul Krugman, 4 July 2022: Another Step Toward Climate Apocalypse

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Ed Yong’s New Book

Posted on 21 June 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Another quick post. Ed Yong, the science writer, has a new book out today — in fact my copy is running late, and will be delivered tomorrow — called An Immense World — about how animals perceive the world much … Continue reading →

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More Thinking about Women and Men

Posted on 19 June 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

To follow up on yesterday’s post, two items today.

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