Neurosurgeons are typically portrayed in one of two ways in popular culture. One is as a brilliant, if arrogant, boffin. These doctors are intellectuals (it is brain surgery, after all) who have very little social life. Think of Dr Jack Shephard, th
What Kind of Writer Is ChatGPT?
Last spring, a graduate student in social anthropology—let’s call him Chris—sat down at his laptop and asked ChatGPT for help with a writing assignment. He pasted a few thousand words, a mix of rough summaries and jotted-down bullet points
More Children Are Depressed and Anxious. Is Social Media Really Behind It?
America’s children and teens love social media. But concern is growing that using it is causing more harm than good, and lawmakers and parents are calling for limits. The problem? No one really knows how significant
Could life exist on one of Jupiter’s moons?
Besides Earth itself, Mars is the most-studied planet in the solar system. The 47 missions that have been launched since the start of the space age have put probes in orbit and landers on the surface from half a dozen space agencies. One reason
The secret behind the world’s happiest country
For the seventh year running Finland has just been declared the world’s happiest country by the World Happiness Report, launched in 2012 to promote the sustainable development goals of the United Nations (UN). Those surveyed were asked to evaluate t
In praise of magical thinking
One humid afternoon, I accompanied my friend Amadou Gano to the Central Market in Mali’s capital, Bamako. Amadou needed to buy some lion fat, which he would rub on his joints, for arthritis. A decade ago, before war had swallowed up central Mali
The sport in which nine-year-old prodigies are world-beaters
The Grandmaster sits at the pinnacle of chess. The title evokes excellence and experience, a garland for someone who has mastered the game and all its many intricacies. The term was first used in 1838 to describe a British player, William L
How Will You Measure Your Life?
Don’t reserve your best business thinking for your career. by Clayton M. Christensen Discover - How Will You Measure Your Life?:- Editor’s note (2010): When the members of the class of 2010 entered business school, the economy was strong and th
Should You Just Give Up?
Sisyphus couldn’t stop pushing his boulder—but you can. By Joshua Rothman Discover - Should You Just Give Up? :- Around fifteen years ago, an old college friend of mine had a close call in the mountains. He and a companion were on a ski trip when
The disruption nexus
Moments of crisis, such as our own, are great opportunities for historic change, but only under highly specific conditions. Discover - The disruption nexus: Polycrisis. Metacritic. Omnicrisis. Permacrisis. Call it what you like. We are immersed i