Science Archives

The 11 Best Books on AI: Preparing for Future Technology

Is artificial intelligence a problem or solution for humanity? What are the best books on AI to read right now? Determining AI as a problem or solution isn’t so simple. There’s still so much we don’t know about it, despite our hand in creating it, but there are many experts out there who can help you learn more about the potential benefits and risks of computer intelligence. Below we’ll look at the best books on AI that warn about the evolving technology and advise how to live with it.

Henry David Thoreau and Nature: Woods & Wildlife at Walden Pond

Why is Henry David Thoreau considered one of the founders of ecology? How did he connect nature with spirituality? During his two years at Walden Pond, Henry David Thoreau spent hours every day walking and observing the nature that surrounded him. He also strove to live by the rhythms of the natural world. Continue reading to learn about Henry David Thoreau and nature at Walden Pond.

Antarctica Is Melting: 3 New Discoveries About the Melt

Antarctica is melting, but why is that so consequential for the climate everywhere else on Earth? Would cutting emissions now help the situation? Changes that occur in Antarctica have planet-wide effects because the continent helps regulate the global climate. With the sea ice at its lowest peak since records began, some scientists are beginning to worry. Keep reading for a look at the three new discoveries about the loss of ice in Antarctica.

Time Is the Fourth Dimension: How H.G. Wells Explained It

How did H.G. Wells explain time and time travel in The Time Machine? Did he get it right, according to real science? A Victorian scientist builds a machine that can travel through time. The Time Machine, first published in 1895, is one of the earliest known science fiction stories. This literary classic by English author H.G. Wells popularized the concept of time travel and introduced the now-common phrase “time machine.” Read more to learn how the book explains that time is the fourth dimension.

How to Connect With Nature: Follow in Thoreau’s Footsteps

What rhythms does your life follow? When was the last time you bathed in a river? At Walden Pond, Henry David Thoreau spent hours each day walking in the woods. He bathed in the pond. He got to know individual trees. Drawing from Thoreau’s experience, you can learn how to connect with nature and get into its rhythm. Continue reading to learn more about Thoreau’s connection with nature and two specific ways you can follow his example.

Synopsis of The Time Machine: Get to Know H.G. Wells’s Classic

What year does the Time Traveller in The Time Machine travel to? What does he find when he arrives? H.G. Wells’s classic book The Time Machine, first published in 1895, is one of the earliest known science fiction stories. It popularized the concept of time travel and introduced the now-common phrase “time machine.” Continue reading for a synopsis of The Time Machine by H.G. Wells.

Lies in Science: How a Focus on P-Values Leads to Bullshit

Is the institution of science immune from misinformation? How can there be lies in science when practitioners are committed to the scientific method? In Calling Bullshit, Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West argue that science’s focus on statistical significance gives rise to bullshit for two reasons: we can easily misinterpret what statistical significance means, and we’re exposed to statistically significant findings only because of publication bias. Let’s take a close look at both of these problematic dynamics in science.

Bullshit: The Problem With Big Data You Should Know About

What’s big data? How helpful is training data? What can make it problematic? Professors Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West are so concerned about misinformation that they wrote a book about it. In Calling Bullshit, they argue that big data can foster bullshit because it can incorporate poor training data and find illusory connections by chance. Continue reading to learn about a problem with big data that should have everyone’s attention.

The 3 Stages of Learning a Skill—and the Science Behind It

What’s going on in your brain when you learn a skill? What stages do you go through? According to neuroscience research, you can improve any skill through practice because your brain is designed to learn and grow. During the skill acquisition process, you progress through the phases of cognition, association, and autonomy. Keep reading to understand these stages of learning a skill and the science that makes this growth possible.

What Is Aging in Humans? Definitions and Disproved Myths

What is aging in humans? What are common myths about aging? Though we all know on a basic level what “aging” is, scientists often use common terms differently than the general public. In Ageless, Andrew Steele defines aging and explores common myths that prevent laypeople and scientists alike from understanding aging as a process we can modify. Let’s look at the definition of aging, according to Steele and other experts.

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