In 1896, the Swedish physicist Svante Arrhenius realized that carbon dioxide (CO2) traps heat in Earth’s atmosphere — the phenomenon now called the greenhouse effect. Since then, increasingly sophisticated modern climate models have verified Arrhenius’ central conclusion: that every time the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere doubles, Earth’s temperature will rise between 2 and 5… Continue reading Physicists Pinpoint the Quantum Origin of the Greenhouse Effect
Will AI Ever Have Common Sense?
Ask a question of ChatGPT and other, similar chatbots and there’s a good chance you’ll be impressed at how adeptly it comes up with a good answer — unless it spits out unrealistic nonsense instead. Part of what’s mystifying about these kinds of machine learning systems is that they are fundamentally black boxes. No one… Continue reading Will AI Ever Have Common Sense?
Taylor Swift and Bach Can Thank Ancient Temples for Modern Music
Where did Western music come from? Most historical accounts credit composers with the first formations of simple tunes, which eventually led to “early music” and later classical music and the many popular forms that have since sprung up. But acoustic ecologists and musicologists have been talking lately about a different foundation: the earliest temples and… Continue reading Taylor Swift and Bach Can Thank Ancient Temples for Modern Music
The Reckoning Has Come for K-12 Sex Abuse, and You the Taxpayer Are on the Hook
Second in a SeriesPart 1: Forbidden Fruit and the Classroom By James Varney, RealClearInvestigationsAugust 6, 2024 The teenage female athletes at California’s Pomona High School said they felt special when a handful of coaches there took them under their wing, spending more time with them than others, providing extra encouragement, sharing personal stories and, sometimes,… Continue reading The Reckoning Has Come for K-12 Sex Abuse, and You the Taxpayer Are on the Hook
How to See Stars, Satellites, and More in the Daytime Sky
How to See Stars, Satellites, and More in the Daytime Sky It’s possible to see celestial objects during the day, but it’s not always easy By Phil Plait It seems pretty obvious that you can’t see any stars in the daytime. If you were to say that to me, however, I would gently take you… Continue reading How to See Stars, Satellites, and More in the Daytime Sky
Florida Women Facing Unexpected or Difficult Pregnancies Need Resources
Women facing unexpected or difficult pregnancies need resources, support, and especially intensive, holistic medical care. As the executive director of LifeChoices Family Medical in the Tampa Bay area, Florida, I’m proud to say our work goes a long way in improving women’s health and supporting babies and moms. From its inception, our center’s goal was to… Continue reading Florida Women Facing Unexpected or Difficult Pregnancies Need Resources
Honeybees Will Literally Slap Ants That Try to Invade Their Hive
Honeybees Wing-Slap Ants That Try to Invade Their Hive Japanese honeybees use their wings to slap back ants trying to invade their hive By Gennaro Tomma A Japanese honeybee uses its wing to slap a way an ant attempting to invade its hive. “Wing-Slapping: A Defensive Behavior by Honey Bees against Ants,” by Yugo Seko… Continue reading Honeybees Will Literally Slap Ants That Try to Invade Their Hive
Extreme Heat Kills Hundreds of Thousands Worldwide Each Year
Extreme Heat Is the Deadliest Weather Disaster Hundreds of thousands of people die from extreme temperatures every year, more than any other type of weather disaster By Chelsea Harvey & E&E News People cool off at a fountain in the Madrid Rio park amid heatwave conditions in Madrid on July 23, 2024. July 21, 2024… Continue reading Extreme Heat Kills Hundreds of Thousands Worldwide Each Year
Lost Scripture: The Book of Enoch
Podcast: Download MYS323: Who was Enoch, what is his book, and why is it a “lost scripture”? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the mysterious Enoch, the references to him in the New Testament, and what makes his book so fascinating and mysterious. Get all new episodes automatically and for free: Follow by Email |… Continue reading Lost Scripture: The Book of Enoch
The CDC’s Test for Bird Flu Works, but It Has Issues
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a glitch in its bird flu test hasn’t harmed the agency’s outbreak response. But it has ignited scrutiny of its go-it-alone approach in testing for emerging pathogens. The agency has quietly worked since April to resolve a nagging issue with the test it developed, even as the… Continue reading The CDC’s Test for Bird Flu Works, but It Has Issues