First Derivative [34]
forgetfulness–quantum mechanics–Google–civic virtues–Puerto Rico–corruption–Kurdish nationalism–ancient guilt–rockets
Enjoy!
Forgetfulness: the dangers of a modern culture that wages war on its own past
In a pervasive modern view, which seems to most people so obviously true that they can think in no other way, the past is a burden that must be shed in order that a new kind of life can come into being. Modern human beings are always in transit to another place, which seems only more distant the longer they have been travelling.
^very ironic, considering the subject. Interesting book review by philosopher John Gray—TK
This Overlooked Theory Could Be The Missing Piece That Explains How The EM Drive Works
Ever since the EM drive first made headlines, science lovers have puzzled over how the propulsion system seems to produce thrust, despite the fact it's 'impossible' according to one of the most fundamental laws of physics - Newton's third law of…
Always fascinating how far from our intuitions and perceptions the physical nature of reality is—TK
Google Is So Big, It Is Now Shaping Policy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic. And It's Screwing It Up.
A snap decision by Google has begun to reshape the drug treatment industry, tilting the playing field toward large conglomerates — the precise opposite outcome Google had hoped to achieve. The fateful decision was made September 14. Google…
Really, really interesting and a great example of how vital parts of modern life are hijacked. We treat Google like a neutral utility but that isn't how the incentives work—TK
'What are you going to do for society today?'
I had a chance to speak with Bob Driscoll, a former member of the Department of Justice during George W. Bush's administration. Our conversation covered our duty to society, the limits of government, and what each side of the political aisle needs…
Check out this brief but great interview. Part of my friend’s project traveling around America interviewing a diverse range of people about their views on citizenship today—TK
How Google's Quantum Computer Could Change the World
Hartmut Neven believes in parallel universes. On a recent morning outside Google's Los Angeles office, the 53-year-old computer scientist was lecturing me on how quantum mechanics—the physics of atoms and particles—backs the theory of…
really cool—TK
1 million Americans without drinking water
After Hurricane Maria toppled the bridge that connects him to the rest of civilization and ripped…
I can't believe this isn't getting more attention. Where is the Kanye/Katrina equivalent?—TK
Malta car bomb kills Panama Papers journalist
The journalist who led the Panama Papers investigation into corruption in Malta was killed on Monday in a car bomb near her home. Daphne Caruana Galizia died on Monday afternoon when her car, a Peugeot 108, was destroyed by a powerful explosive…
nec aspera terrent. RIP—TK
As Iraqis and Kurds Square Off Over Kirkuk, City Life Goes On
For a city rumored to be under siege and on the brink of war, Kirkuk seemed resolutely ordinary on Sunday. Hawkers sold vegetables. Pedestrians strolled to work. Shops opened. Traffic hummed. But south of the city, Kurdish…
From Ancient Times to the Present: Transferring Guilt Makes a Mockery of Justice
One of the foundations of modern ethics is crumbling. Having rights is about being respected as a human individual who shapes his or her life through choices. Whether with respect to original sin, honour based violence, the burqa, or…
These Giant Printers Are Meant to Make Rockets
Tim Ellis and Jordan Noone are both in their mid-20s, and it shows. The two aerospace engineers are energetic, optimistic, and so ambitious they can't help sounding a little bonkers. In a small factory a couple of miles from Los Angeles…