Philip Ball
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Cursive Handwriting and Other Education Myths
Teaching cursive handwriting doesn’t have nearly the value we think it does.
Yes, Life in the Fast Lane Kills You
New insights into mitochondria reveal how life expends energy.
Why Physics Is Not a Discipline
Physics is not just what happens in the Department of Physics.
Why Nature Prefers Hexagons
The geometric rules behind fly eyes, honeycombs, and soap bubbles.
Describing People as Particles Isn’t Always a Bad Idea
Using physics to describe social phenomena can work—if it’s the right physics.
How Big Can Schrödinger’s Kittens Get?
Scientists are slowly scaling up quantum effects from atomic to human size.
Will ET Drink Water?
The intricate compatibility of water and life on Earth may not extend to other planets.
The Strange Inevitability of Evolution
Good solutions to biology’s problems are astonishingly plentiful.
The Scientific Problem That Must Be Experienced
To understand turbulence we need the intuitive perspective of art.
Why Physicists Make Up Stories in the Dark
In unseen worlds, science invariably crosses paths with fantasy.