The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research. Even though x is one of the least-used letters in the English alphabet, it appears throughout American culture – from Stan Lee’s X-Men superheroes to “The X-Files” TV series. The letter x often symbolizes something unknown, with an air of mystery that… Continue reading The Mysterious Origins of ‘X’ in Algebra
Stacking Certificates and Degrees
In the minds of most Americans, going to college means pursuing a bachelor’s degree with a major in a traditional academic field like psychology, history, or mathematics. But in the last 10 to 15 years, many public community colleges and regional universities have greatly expanded their applied and technical programs, particularly in fields like health… Continue reading Stacking Certificates and Degrees
Exoplanets Could Help Us Learn How Planets Make Magnetism
For decades, astronomers have been perplexed by planetary magnetic fields. In our own solar system, there is no rule that explains which worlds generate these magnetic sheaths: Earth, for example, has one, but its sister world — Venus — does not. Astronomers suspect that one of the best ways to understand the mysteries of magnetism might be… Continue reading Exoplanets Could Help Us Learn How Planets Make Magnetism
The Russo-Ukrainian War Has Bolstered Ukraine’s Nonstate Alliance Network
President Vladimir Putin and Russia have given Ukraine an excuse to provide a haven for organizations aimed at destroying the current Russian state and its allies in Chechnya and Belarus. Since 2014, militant groups from Russia, Belarus, Chechnya, and elsewhere have established themselves as allies of Ukraine in its fight against Russia and its aligned… Continue reading The Russo-Ukrainian War Has Bolstered Ukraine’s Nonstate Alliance Network
Most Americans Support NASA—But Don’t Think It Should Prioritize Sending People To Space
The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research. Most Americans (69%) believe it is essential that the United States continue to be a world leader in space. But only a subsection of that group believes NASA should prioritize sending people to the Moon, according to a new… Continue reading Most Americans Support NASA—But Don’t Think It Should Prioritize Sending People To Space
Why DoD Needs Greater Focus on Nonlethal Weapons, Intermediate Force Capabilities
Nonlethal weapons (NLWs) can play a critical role in military operations. Diverse systems that emit long-range sounds, create dazzling glare, disable engines, entangle propellers, or cause heating sensations can enable mission success in a variety of non-combat contexts. When facing gray-zone confrontations with rival powers, such as standoffs at sea, nonlethal capabilities can push back… Continue reading Why DoD Needs Greater Focus on Nonlethal Weapons, Intermediate Force Capabilities
The Gambling Strategy That’s Guaranteed to Make Money and Why You Should Never Use It
Beneath the varnish of flashing lights and free cocktails, casinos stand on a bedrock of mathematics, engineered to slowly bleed their patrons of cash. For years, mathematically inclined minds have tried to turn the tables by harnessing their knowledge of probability and game theory to exploit weaknesses in a rigged system. An amusing example played… Continue reading The Gambling Strategy That’s Guaranteed to Make Money and Why You Should Never Use It
Shapiro Could Be the First Prominent Democrat to Deliver School Choice
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro could still be the first in his party to provide genuine school choice for his constituents. Part of Shapiro’s original allure was his ability to think and act for himself. When, as a gubernatorial candidate, he expressed his support for Lifeline Scholarships, Shapiro captured the attention of voters and pundits alike. Bucking… Continue reading Shapiro Could Be the First Prominent Democrat to Deliver School Choice
Leo Taxil’s Masonic Revelations (Freemasonry, Satanism)
Podcast: Download MYS272: In 1885, when Leo Taxil, a former Freemason, reverted to the Catholic Church, he made some startling revelations about Freemasonry. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine who Taxil was, what he revealed, and how he was embraced by Church leaders, including Pope Leo XIII. Get all new episodes automatically and for free:… Continue reading Leo Taxil’s Masonic Revelations (Freemasonry, Satanism)
Even Synthetic Life Forms With a Tiny Genome Can Evolve
The new evolution experiments are starting to provide insights into how the smallest, simplest organisms might evolve — and how principles of evolution unite all forms of life, even genetic novelties developed in labs. “Increasingly, we are seeing evidence that this [minimal cell] is an organism that is not something bizarro and unlike the rest… Continue reading Even Synthetic Life Forms With a Tiny Genome Can Evolve