Columns / Science Matters

Human harm to climate is clear; why wait to act?

My wife and I recently returned from a vacation in Patagonia. One thing that struck me were the repeated reminders people in this southern South American region gave us to keep covered and apply sunscreen liberally.

Human progress tied to evolution of our brains

The neural circuits and hormones that give rise to the functions of the human brain were optimized for the survival of our ancestors.

Ideas Darwin synthesized brewed for centuries

Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection was a synthesis of ideas that had been brewing for centuries, indeed millennia, about the origins of and relationships between the organisms inhabiting the planet.

Evolutionary theory grows stronger with age

As all good theories should, the theory of evolution has grown to account for new discoveries.

Ocean currents set stage for world's weather

The world’s ocean currents play a critical role in climate. Those currents are influenced by atmospheric conditions. These interactions between the oceans and atmosphere determine how vital rain and snow are distributed around the globe.

Political pressures twist science to fit agendas

The past two decades have seen ever increasing efforts to distort science in support of one political agenda or another.

Feynman's joy in discovery a lesson for us all

One of the greatest minds and most intriguing personalities of the twentieth century was Richard Feynman.

Feynman's joy in discovery a lesson for us all

One of the greatest minds and most intriguing personalities of the twentieth century was Richard Feynman.

Science valid, even when unpopular

Sadly, science is coming under increasing attack from those who would like the world to be different from what science demonstrates it to be. In doing so, critics attempt to turn one of science's greatest assets into a liability.

SCIENCE MATTERS - Scientific principles explain stability of universe

From the perspective of the very short recorded history of humankind, the world we live in seems pretty stable. Our experience is of a physical existence having constancy and predictability. Why this rather than a universe ruled by wild, chaotic, unpredic