The total federal debt of the United States passed a new milestone on October 21, 2025, reaching $38 trillion for the first time, with $30.4 trillion in federal debt held by the public, which is equivalent to about 100 percent of our gross domestic product (GDP). This is the highest level it’s been relative to… Continue reading The U.S. Tackled Crippling Federal Debt Before. It Can Do So Again
A $100-Million Mission to Another Star Just Disappeared
In 2016 billionaire Yuri Milner hosted a press conference at One World Observatory, the atrium topping the slick skyscraper at the center of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex. Milner had grown rich investing in tech start-ups, and now he wanted to spend some of that money on sending a spaceship to the stars. He… Continue reading A $100-Million Mission to Another Star Just Disappeared
In Europe, the Problem Is Deterrence, Not Drones
This op-ed originally appeared in Defense News. Defense News is the authoritative, independent, professional news source for the world’s defense decisionmakers. Since multiple Russian drones crossed into Poland last month, European leaders have expedited the idea of a “drone wall” and rushed to discuss the need to invest in countering drones. But when it comes… Continue reading In Europe, the Problem Is Deterrence, Not Drones
What Is a Manifold? | Quanta Magazine
Standing in the middle of a field, we can easily forget that we live on a round planet. We’re so small in comparison to the Earth that from our point of view, it looks flat. The world is full of such shapes — ones that look flat to an ant living on them, even though… Continue reading What Is a Manifold? | Quanta Magazine
Towards a New Axis of Security?
As Russia’s aggression continues to unsettle Eastern and Northern Europe, few countries can empathise more than South Korea. Confronting its own nuclear-armed neighbour across one of the world’s most militarised borders, Seoul has long relied on a dual strategy: reinforcing deterrence at home while cultivating strategic partners abroad. The United States remains its most comprehensive… Continue reading Towards a New Axis of Security?
He’s Spent 40 Years Studying Dead Trees—Here’s What He’s Found
Mark Harmon crouches low next to log number 219: a moss-covered western hemlock tree trunk, five meters long, lying dead on the ground in the lush green woods. It’s marked by a thin aluminum tag. The forest ecologist leans in close, his unruly white beard nearly brushing against the decomposing cylinder. Dark, flaky patches on… Continue reading He’s Spent 40 Years Studying Dead Trees—Here’s What He’s Found
Historical Parallels Highlight the Challenges of Implementing Phase II of the Gaza Peace Plan
The world can rightfully celebrate the Gaza ceasefire, the return of the living hostages, and the delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid. Although the agreement reflects the acceptance of hard realities by both sides, it is hard to imagine reaching this step without the personal intervention of President Trump. The challenge now will be to… Continue reading Historical Parallels Highlight the Challenges of Implementing Phase II of the Gaza Peace Plan
October 2025: Science History from 50, 100 and 150 Years Ago
September 16, 2025 3 min read October 2025: Science History from 50, 100 and 150 Years Ago Charming quarks; the first Batman signal By Mark Fischetti 1975, Advent of Tomography: “Medicine is making the internal structures of the body far more accessible by noninvasive procedures. One, called reconstruction from projections, is coming into service. A… Continue reading October 2025: Science History from 50, 100 and 150 Years Ago
Using Local Advantage: How Small Forces Can Overcome Insurmountable Odds
Picture yourself on a battlefield. It’s cold, the snow covers the ground, yet the sun shines brightly overhead. You gaze over the landscape and at your fellow soldiers. The prospects for the future seem grim. Your enemy outnumbers you in troops and equipment by more than two to one. Options are limited, and a single… Continue reading Using Local Advantage: How Small Forces Can Overcome Insurmountable Odds
Carlo Rovelli’s Radical Perspective on Reality
Sitting outside a Catholic church on the French Riviera, Carlo Rovelli jutted his head forward and backward, imitating a pigeon trotting by. Pigeons bob their heads, he told me, not only to stabilize their vision but also to gauge distances to objects — compensating for their limited binocular vision. “It’s all perspectival,” he said. A… Continue reading Carlo Rovelli’s Radical Perspective on Reality