Guest Thinkers — August 16, 2010

At the Sydney Morning Herald, a Mooney Focus on Framing

The most surprising and impactful new stories delivered to your inbox every week, for free.

In an op-ed today at the Sydney Morning Herald, Australia’s paper of record, Chris Mooney weighs in with more on our framing science thesis. Chris has been on the road in Australia the past few weeks, talking about his forthcoming book as well as our arguments relative to effective science communication.

The most surprising and impactful new stories delivered to your inbox every week, for free.

Starts With A Bang

Ask Ethan: Couldn’t COVID-19 have originated in a Chinese lab?

In theory, scientists could’ve produced a deadly virus that accidentally infected lab workers. In practice, we know that didn’t happen.

A woman smiles at a baby in a crib, holding a toy while the baby reaches out, attempting their first words. They appear to be in a domestic setting.

The Past

In praise of history’s famous first words

While death-bed utterances are more famous, baby’s first words have influenced us too.

A human hand reaches toward a robotic hand, which includes a speech bubble with mathematical code. A pixelated pink background completes the scene.

The Future

AI chatbots may ease the world’s loneliness (if they don’t make it worse)

Man seeking meaningful relationship at the intersection of on-demand empathy and Rule 34.

Ancient stone structure with stairs under a blue sky with scattered clouds, surrounded by vegetation.

The Past

A beginner’s guide to sociopolitical collapse

How (not) to end up in the ash heap of history.

A collage depicting a radio telescope on the left and an abstract celestial body on the right, separated by a vertical band of black and white dashes.

Hard Science

The case for stopping efforts to contact aliens

Since 1962, humanity has been sending messages into space with the intent to make contact with intelligent extraterrestrials. Are those efforts worth the risks?

Up Next

Guest Thinkers

Students Debate “Internet & Community,” Part B

This spring in the sophomore-level course I teach on “Communication and Society,” we spent several weeks examining the many ways that individuals and groups are using the internet to alter […]