Is neuroscience rediscovering the soul?
The idea that neuroscience is rediscovering the soul is, to most scientists and philosophers, nothing short of outrageous. Of course it is not. But the widespread, adverse, knee-jerk attitude presupposes the old-fashioned definition of the soul — the ethereal, immaterial entity that somehow Read More...
Research: Deep sleep may act as fountain of youth in old age
As we grow old, our nights are frequently plagued by bouts of wakefulness, bathroom trips and other nuisances as we lose our ability to generate the deep, restorative slumber we enjoyed in youth. But that does not mean the elderly need less sleep, according to Read More...
Guernica: The town that became a symbol for peace
Past the handgun factory that has become an arts centre, behind the rebuilt station with its shiny statue of the first Basque president, there’s a long blackened tunnel with a padlocked door. Begoña unlocks it and we step inside. It smells of weeds. Eighty years ago this month it would Read More...
Are electric airplanes finally ready to take off?
Fasten your seat belts, ensure tables are stowed—and check the batteries for charge. At least, that’s what the preflight checklist might be for a pair of plucky new startups promising to build passenger electric Read More...
The end of coal: EU energy companies pledge no new plants from 2020
Europe’s energy utilities have rung a death knell for coal, with a historic pledge that no new coal-fired plants will be built in the EU after 2020. The surprise announcement was made at a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday, 442 years after the continent’s first pit was sunk by Read More...
If Dubai can become a green city, all cities can
Dubai is easily one of the most unsustainable cities in the world. You can ski (indoors) in the desert city! And yet a sustainable city is precisely what Dubai’s government says it aims to create. Here’s a feature of National Geographic describing how Dubai is setting an example for any major Read More...
Scientists ‘melt down’ old clothes to make fibers for new ones
We like to buy new clothes. And, we feel good when we give our old one away. But, ultimately, most unwanted clothes end up in landfills. Recycling of textile is not easy. However, Finnish scientists have devised a method of "melting down" old clothes to make new Read More...
Tidal wave energy is finally taking off
Tidal wave power has enormous potential. Experts estimate that movement in the planet’s waters could generate 300 gigawatts of electricity by 2050 if harnessed properly. That’s the equivalent of 250 nuclear reactors. A big new project off the coast of Scotland is aiming to prove that the Read More...
The mayor of Paris wants to create the first post-car megacity
“Unparalleled challenges like air pollution require unprecedented action,” says the mayor of Paris. She wants to clean the city’s air and lower its carbon footprint. The solution: more walking, more bikes, more public transport—and fewer cars. “These policies are based on the urgency of Read More...
Self-esteem may boost your ego, self-compassion opens your heart
We want to feel good. The problem is that our ego needs to feel good in comparison with others. And there are always people doing better than we do. As a result, we easily conclude that we’re not good enough. There’s a better way: Stop judging and evaluating yourself altogether. Stop trying to Read More...