Category: Science and Technology
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Humanity’s Top 10 Unanswered Questions
8–12 minutes·
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Humanity’s most profound inquiries tackle the core of our existence, the nature of the universe, and our technological future. At the forefront is the search for life’s meaning, a question addressed by philosophy, religion, and science. Another major enigma is the nature of consciousness—our subjective awareness—which remains a “hard problem” for neuroscience. We persist in…
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For centuries, we wondered if we were alone. Then, an alien ship visited, had a good look at our little planet, and simply left without a word. This is the story of what happened next: how humanity dealt with the cosmic sting of being ghosted, and how the ultimate grudge became our greatest motivation.
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Silence Is Golden
5–7 minutes·
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The universe is unnervingly quiet. We call this the Fermi Paradox, but what if the silence isn’t a sign of absence, but of fear? This article explores a chilling theory: that advanced civilisations lay cosmic tripwires for species like us, and our astronomical achievements are simply a dinner bell.
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Is our reality a sophisticated computer simulation or a universe nested inside a black hole? Scientists are seriously exploring these possibilities. This article delves into the theories and the potential ways to test them, before arriving at the most important question: does the fundamental nature of our reality really matter?
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In an age of information overload, overconfidence is a paradox. The text argues for epistemic humility: the vital practice of recognising our knowledge is limited and fallible. This awareness of cognitive biases and the nature of science fosters intellectual honesty, better dialogue, and wiser navigation of our complex world.
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From Solid Trees to Quantum Ghosts
10–15 minutes·
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Physics presents two conflicting realities. General Relativity perfectly describes the large, predictable world of trees and planets. In contrast, Quantum Mechanics governs the bizarre, probabilistic subatomic realm. These successful but incompatible theories clash when explaining black holes, driving the search for a single, unified “Theory of Everything”.
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The universe, once believed to be static, is expanding. Evidence like galactic redshift and the Cosmic Microwave Background confirms a Big Bang origin. This expansion is now accelerating, driven by mysterious Dark Energy. Our cosmos is mostly this energy and Dark Matter, challenging our significance and dictating an isolating future.
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Earth’s magnetic north pole is accelerating and the overall field is weakening, signalling a potential future reversal. This slow process poses little threat to life. However, a weakened magnetic shield would leave modern technological infrastructure, such as power grids and satellites, critically vulnerable to damaging solar radiation.
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Interstellar travel is unfeasible with chemical rockets due to immense distances and physical laws. Plausible future solutions include laser-pushed sails for tiny probes, nuclear fusion rockets for large payloads, and theoretical antimatter drives. Each presents monumental engineering challenges, demanding systemic, multi-generational advances in science and technology.
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Not for everybody, not even for most bodies or even somebody, but definitely for BIG bodies. Sorry terrible pun. Astrophysics decodes the universe’s fundamental “operating system” through interdisciplinary science, diverse observations, and computation. Evolving from ancient stargazing, it redefines our cosmic place and drives technological innovation, exemplified by GPS and CCDs. The field explores profound…
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Lost languages and scripts hold silent histories. Decipherment, a human endeavour to reconnect with ancestors, involves detective-like analysis using clues like bilingual texts. Breakthroughs with Egyptian hieroglyphs, Linear B, and Mayan glyphs reveal past civilisations, with computational tools now aiding this quest to make ancient voices speak again.
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Science provides powerful tools for understanding how things work, but philosophy tackles deeper questions about what we are, the nature of reality, and knowledge itself. It critically examines assumptions, complements scientific inquiry, and helps us understand the implications of our discoveries, proving essential in our quest for understanding.
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Large Language Models (LLMs) are rapidly evolving, impacting work, creativity, and societal systems. While offering automation and educational benefits, they pose risks like misinformation, ethical biases, and intellectual property issues. Addressing these challenges through careful governance and adapting societal structures is crucial for managing their transformative power and future.
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Panspermia proposes that life’s cosmic origin, with “seeds” travelling between planets. This ancient idea, supported by organic molecules in meteorites and resilient microbes, challenges Earth-centric life origins. While not explaining life’s ultimate genesis, it suggests life may be widespread, arriving here rather than originating on Earth.
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Ancient civilisations, like those at Stonehenge and Chichen Itza, possessed remarkable astronomical ingenuity without modern technology. These sites, aligned with celestial events such as solstices and equinoxes, served as calendars and ritual centres, revealing early human efforts to comprehend the cosmos and its profound influence on their lives.
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