Science Archives

How Serious Are the Problems Caused by Deforestation?

Why are forests disappearing? What’s the impact of deforestation? How much good does reforestation do? Michael Shellenberger contends that the core of existential environmental dread revolves around the idea that humans are actively killing the planet. In order to remove a certain level of panic from the environmental discussion, he addresses the issues and misperceptions around the loss of rainforests. Keep reading to learn about the actual extent of the problems caused by deforestation and the outlook of reforestation.

Environmental Colonialism: The Human Cost of Climate Activism

Are we harming people in our efforts to save the planet? What’s environmental colonialism? What’s its impact on both humans and the environment? Award-winning science writer Michael Shellenberger says that climate alarmists create an atmosphere of existential dread that leads to all sorts of overreactions. Some of these measures—which basically amount to environmental colonialism—do more harm than good. Keep reading for Shellenberger’s attempt to bring some level-headedness into the midst of panic.

Linking Industrialization and Climate Change: Cause or Cure?

Should we slow the global efforts of industrialization or accelerate them? Which is better for the planet, including humans? Climate alarmists would have us believe that industrialization is to blame for the planet’s impending doom. Michael Shellenberger urges us to look at the connection between industrialization and climate change from a curative perspective rather than a causal one. Keep reading to see why Shellenberger believes that the solution to our climate problems relies on the industrialization of developing countries.

Where Good Ideas Come From by Steven Johnson (Overview)

Have you ever had a sudden burst of inspiration that led you to a new solution to a problem? Do you ever marvel at seemingly impossible modern inventions like the internet? If so, you might wonder how individuals come up with such incredible innovations and how they develop them over time. In Where Good Ideas Come From, Steven Johnson explains that good ideas and novel innovations are largely the result of social collaboration. Continue reading for an overview of this fascinating book.

The Adjacent Possible: Steven Johnson Explains Reachable Ideas

Why did it take so long for the invention of the computer to take hold? How can different people, working independently, come up with the same innovation? Good ideas don’t materialize miraculously from nothing. Instead, they build on existing knowledge and ideas. Emergence from the adjacent possible, Steven Johnson argues, is a hallmark of the most successful ideas. Keep reading to learn what the adjacent possible is and how we can mine it for good ideas.

How Can We Save the Planet? By Saving the Humans First

How can we save the planet? What’s wrong with most of the current solutions? Though it’s become widely accepted that climate change is real, the questions still remain of what steps we should take to fix the damage and whether they’ll be enough. In Apocalypse Never, Michael Shellenberger explains why he thinks most initiatives are misguided and provides his own proposals. Read more to learn Shellenberger’s analysis of the climate problem and to discover the fix he thinks we need.

Climate Change & Energy Consumption: What’s the Solution?

How can we move toward fuel sources with higher energy density and power density? What difference does that make for the environment, the economy, and society as a whole? The primary driver of climate change, and the most important issue to tackle, is society’s ever-growing energy consumption. In Apocalypse Never, Michael Shellenberger explains the problem and explores our options as we move into the future. Continue reading to learn about climate change and energy consumption.

What Is Carbon Capture Technology & Can It Save Us?

What is carbon capture technology? What are the pros and cons of carbon capturing? Is it a reliable way to avoid climate catastrophe? In March, the U.N. released a report declaring that without an immediate shift away from fossil fuels, the world will confront a climate catastrophe. Experts say the US must meet carbon emission reduction goals faster and that carbon capture technology will help get us there, but others remain skeptical. Read on to learn what carbon capture technology is and experts’ views on its benefits and drawbacks.

Limitless Mind: Jo Boaler Challenges Us to Rethink Learning

What if everything you know about learning was wrong? How would you approach learning differently, even at this point in your life? In Limitless Mind, Jo Boaler explains how neuroscience research has overturned our age-old beliefs about how learning works. She argues that it’s time we throw off the false limits imposed by others, ourselves, and outdated models of education. Continue reading for an overview of this book that’s likely to change the way you think about learning.

How Do People Learn? What Earlier Research Got Wrong

How do people learn? What’s encouraging about the latest science? Neuroscientists have discovered that the brain has much more capacity for development than was believed in the past and that many of the ideas on which the traditional education paradigm is based are flat-out wrong. Math educator Jo Boaler shares some research that gives us all hope. Keep reading to discover what we now know about how people learn.