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Short Reads


When AI Discovers Something, What Is Left for Humans?
AI can produce remarkable scientific results. OpenAI's latest announcement raises a bigger question: what do humans choose to understand, explore, and do next?
2 min read


Is It Too Late to Start Something New?
The difficulty is the whole point. What to look for in a new thing, and how to survive being visibly bad at it.
3 min read


Why Can’t I Relax Without My Phone?
A quiet pause can feel uncomfortable at first. Giving it a little room may help you discover what you actually want to do next.
3 min read


Does GPS Weaken Your Sense of Direction?
Turn-by-turn directions get you there every time. Your sense of where you are is a separate skill, and it stays sharp when you use it.
3 min read


Does Writing by Hand Still Do Something for You?
Typing is faster. A pen does something different, and a few moments in your week are worth the two minutes it costs.
3 min read


How to Spot an Overhyped Science Claim in 30 Seconds
A useful metaphor and a measurement are different things. Here is a thirty-second way to tell them apart. Physics has a reputation for making ordinary life sound more impressive. A cup of tea cools because of thermodynamics. So does a very small computer made of DNA, published in Nature this week. What the researchers actually builtA team at Maynooth University demonstrated a Scaffolded DNA Computer: a molecular computer programmed to solve problems by relaxing toward thermod
3 min read


Is Curiosity a Trait or a State?
Curiosity has both trait-like and state-like qualities. See why it changes from day to day and try one question that makes room for deeper attention.
3 min read
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