“What best distinguishes our species is an ability that scientists are just beginning to appreciate: We contemplate the future. Our singular foresight created civilization and sustains society. It usually lifts our spirits, but it’s also the source of most depression […]
I’ve been pretty critical of QR codes for a long time. The next version of the iPhone camera will be able to read them, so it’s time to re-evaluate the possibilities. | learn more
“In February 2003, Notarbartolo was arrested for heading a ring of Italian thieves. They were accused of breaking into a vault two floors beneath the Antwerp Diamond Center and making off with at least $100 million worth of loose diamonds, […]
“Bank robberies are great case studies for the economics of crime. They’re premeditated affairs in which a perpetrator has evaluated (consciously or not) the rationality of proceeding. The gains are quantifiable. They also come with a built-in dilemma: every minute […]
We’ve all seen times where brainstorming leads to narrowing of ideas rather than the opposite. University of Texas professor Art Markman offers advice for how to get better results from brainstorming sessions. | learn more
The Atlantic definitely grabbed my attention with this headline. The article is all about how websites (and even vending machines) are using dynamic pricing to capture as much of the price/demand curve as possible. | learn more
UK-based Tokamak energy’s fusion reactor has reached plasma temperatures in its core for the first time. It’s on track to produce temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius by 2018, and its CEO “says to expect fusion energy ‘in years, not […]
Professors from Princeton University and UW-Madison use the latest genetic evidence to clarify that racial divides as we know them are completely BS. “The genetic distance between East Asians and Europeans is shorter than the divergence between Hazda in north-central […]
This interesting infographic gives you a glimpse into how much code is used in various technologies, including the F-35 Fighter jet, the Large Hadron Collider, and a modern car. | learn more
Cartography expert Justin O’Beirne created a fascinating post diving into the nuanced changes in Google and Apple maps over the past year. This is way more interesting than it sounds! Thanks to Alex S for the link. | learn more