The New Age of Ignorance
Tim Adams was interviewing James Watson one day when he innocently remarked upon the "perfect simplicity" of Watson/Crick's revelation of the genetic code.
The New and Improved Godchecker
I devoured mythology when I was a young'un. I remember being shocked when Marvel began publishing the adventures of the mighty Thor in Journey Into Mystery #82, since the Thor I knew from Norse myths was kind of a dim lout—smart aleck that I was, I identified more with Loki, completely missing how malevolent the trickster god was.
The New Bold
Linguist John McWhorter casts a kindly eye on quotation marks conveying emphasis. Fine, but when he defends "impact" used as a verb, I suggest he goes too far. "Quite simply, the verbs view, silence, worship, copy, and outlaw all began as nouns. No one has a problem with them."
The New Buffalo
Once united by poverty and marginalization, American Indians are now confronting success and wealth, thanks to their new casinos. How can that be a bad thing?
The New Girl Order
"The globalization of the SYF reflects a series of stunning demographic and economic shifts that are pointing much of the world—with important exceptions, including Africa and most of the Middle East—toward a New Girl Order. It’s a man’s world, James Brown always reminded us. But if these trends continue, not so much."
The Next 50 Years
For its 50th anniversary, The New Scientist asked 70 of the world's "most brilliant" scientists to predict the biggest breakthrough in our next 50.
The Nordoff-Robbin Music Therapy Foundation
The Center treats children with autism and other severe physical, intellectual, and emotional disabilities using a technique based on the belief that music provides a universal language and that every human being has the capacity to respond to music.
The North Star's a Triplet
NASA announced Monday that Hubble reveals Polaris to be a triple star system.
The Only Way to Look Upon People
At least, according to Bagheera, is down. Preferably from a height.
The Oops File
Mistakes—we all make 'em. Why, just yesterday a kindly friend corrected my typo "Little Deuce Coop" before it appeared in print under my byline. But what if your oops involves a thermonuclear device?