Why Ancient Rome Matters to the Modern World

Versions of ourselves.

You Have Exactly Six Weeks

Prepare to be dazzled.

Colonies of Growing Bacteria Make Psychedelic Art

Israeli physicist Eshel Ben-Jacob uses bacteria as an art medium, shaping colonies in petri dishes into bold patterns.

The West Left. The Taliban Reloaded

The sorry state of Afghanistan after the troops went home.

What Old Age Is Really Like

As people age, they tend to move the goalposts that mark out major life stages.

New Cover for Upcoming Print Edition of ‘Stories of the Southern Sea’

ebook still available here.

Wiener Cello Ensemble 5+1: Bolero

Excellent.

High Hitler

A look into the megalomaniac’s drug addiction.

Putin dares, Obama dithers

The danger of Russia’s intervention, and America’s timidity.

The Trouble with Theories of Everything

There is no known physics theory that is true at every scale—there may never be.

Digital books stagnate in closed, dull systems

While printed books are shareable, lovely and enduring.

The Real Reason People Don't Save Enough for Retirement

America’s lousy savings plans.

China’s Stereotypes of Africa

From ‘Chaotic’ Somalia to ‘Awesome’ Gambia.

A Facelift for Shakespeare

A new translation effort aims to make all of Shakespeare’s plays comprehensible. 

Japan's Yakuza

Inside the syndicate, inside Samurai Road.

The Future of Retirement

Meet the tontine.

The Master Algorithm

How the Quest for the Ultimate Learning Machine Will Remake Our World.

Making Adult Friends Is Easier Than We Think, Harder Than It Should Be

Your brain can only remember about 150 people meaningfully.

Charles Lam’s Blood Moon

An Unteachable President

For Obama, it isn’t the man in the arena who counts. It’s the speaker on the stage.

The Return of SETI

Worked on it in the 1970s.

Islamophobiaphobia

You’re not paranoid if they’re really out to get you. 

Last Laughs in Europe

Part of the job description. 

Niall Ferguson Interview

Public life these days is a cascade of abuse.

The Young Chekhov

A comedian in spite of himself.

Feeling into Action

Humanity is the problem.

Banned Books Week Is a Crock

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2015/09/banned_books_week_no_one_bans_books_anymore_and_censorship_of_books_is_incredibly.single.html

No one bans books anymore. 

Making a Point: The Pernickety Story of English Punctuation Review

Hissy fits about apostrophes.

NASA Confirms Signs of Water Flowing on Mars, Possible Niches for Life

Wow.