Elizabeth Whitworth

Senior SEO Writer

Elizabeth has a lifelong love of books. She devours nonfiction, especially in the areas of history, theology, and philosophy. A switch to audiobooks has kindled her enjoyment of well-narrated fiction, particularly Victorian and early 20th-century works. She appreciates idea-driven books—and a classic murder mystery now and then. Elizabeth has a Substack and is writing a book about what the Bible says about death and hell.

Expertise

History, Theology, Government

Awards

Contributions to joint task force efforts (FBI), Contributions to Special Operations Division (DOJ & DEA), Efforts to fight the war on drugs (NSA), Contributions to Operation Storm Front (US Customs Service)

What Are Dark Matter and Dark Energy? Cosmological Placeholders

What are dark matter and dark energy? Do our current theories of physics need to be reworked to account for them? Since humans first looked up, we’ve wondered about our place in the cosmos, yet everything we’ve learned has shown that our ignorance still outstrips our knowledge. Neil deGrasse Tyson explores two of these areas of mystery: dark matter and dark energy. Read more to find out what we do and don’t know about these scientific frontiers.

The Way of Integrity: Exercises to Help You Find Your True Self

Does something in your life feel “off“? Are you living according to your inner truth or according to your culture’s expectations? You may not be living in alignment with your true self. In The Way of Integrity, Martha Beck seeks to connect readers with their inner truths and lead them to a life of happiness, well-being, and spiritual growth. We’ve put together a couple of practical exercises based on Beck’s ideas. See how these two The Way of Integrity exercises can help you become more true to yourself.

Dark Energy in the Universe: Einstein’s Cosmological Constant

What was Einstein’s cosmological constant? Was he right that he was wrong about it? In recent decades, astronomers have witnessed a mysterious force they’ve named “dark energy” that’s accelerating the universe’s expansion. The theoretical underpinnings of dark energy go back to Einstein’s equations of relativity. Read more to understand what scientists know—and what they speculate—about dark energy in the universe.

How Does Culture Influence Who You Are and What You Want?

How does culture influence who you are? How does it impact your goals and your behaviors? Sometimes your environment can make it hard for you to be yourself. Culture places certain expectations on people, and it can be difficult to stay true to what you really want and who you really are. Keep reading to understand how it can be easy to lose yourself amid cultural pressures.

Neil deGrasse Tyson: Dark Matter & the Missing Mass Problem

What’s dark matter? Could it be undiscovered black holes or even planets? We can’t see wind, but we know it’s there because of its effects on things we can see. That’s how it is with dark matter. In 1937, astronomers observed galaxies moving around as a result of a huge mass they couldn’t see. This “missing mass” problem gave rise to the concept of dark matter. According to Neil deGrasse Tyson, dark matter is a mystery that raises fascinating questions. Continue reading to learn what dark matter is not and what it might be.

What Makes You Anxious? Tackling Your Mind’s Forbidden Zones

What makes you anxious? What are you avoiding? What do you hate to even think about? Martha Beck argues that, if you’re not happy, it’s because you’re out of alignment with your true self. To get in alignment, you must discard false beliefs. One way to do this is to move inward toward your brain’s zones of denial. These are the things that make you anxious. Keep reading to learn about these “forbidden zones” and see why peace is on the other side.

Are We Made From Stardust? Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains

Are we made from stardust? What do people mean when they say that? In his book Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses the process of the Big Bang and what followed. Our bodies contain water, made up of hydrogen atoms that were created by the Big Bang. The Big Bang, however, didn’t create the other elements. That’s where stars come in. Keep reading to learn about the link between human beings and stars, according to Tyson.

Listening to Your Inner Voice: Mo Gawdat Solves for Happy

What does your inner voice tell you? Should you listen to it? That little voice in your head, Mo Gawdat says, might be getting between you and happiness. If you think your inner voice is equivalent to you, suffering will be your companion. But, you can free yourself from this misconception and find more joy. Continue reading to learn how to listen to your inner voice and respond to it appropriately.

How to Challenge Your Beliefs & Discover Your Inner Truths

Can a lie feel like it’s true? How can you tell when something you believe is false? How can you recognize the truth? Martha Beck argues that the only way to overcome the chronic misery of misalignment with your true self is through a four-stage process of realignment. The second stage is challenging your false beliefs and recognizing your inner truths. Let’s unpack Beck’s methods for challenging your beliefs—exposing what’s false and uncovering what’s true.

Microwave Background Radiation: When the Cosmos Glowed

What’s cosmic microwave background radiation? What does it tell us about the history of the universe? After the Big Bang, all of the universe’s matter comprised a sea of hydrogen and helium gas so dense that any light it gave off was quickly reabsorbed. A universal dark age began that would last nearly 400,000 years. Then, the cosmos began to glow. Read more to learn about this glow that we can still observe today and to understand what it tells us about the universe and its history.