DM This morning I've water on my mind.  Not literally, but in the realm of hydrology (and perhap beyond). I've a modest understanding of Bejan's Constructal Law (CL), ...at least in a two dimensional context. Today I'm pondering it in a three dimensional context, both in contexts of evaporation and absorption.  Are CL phenomena taking place as "currents" of evaporation into the air around and above us from bodies of water (creeks, springs, brooks, rivers, lakes and oceans)?

Human psychology has burdened us with anxiety about the future and regret about the past. It may be fruitful to look outwards. Excerpt: " The psychologist B.F. Skinner (1904-90) is remembered for his principle of reinforcement. His idea was simple. When our actions are rewarded by their consequences, we tend to repeat them. When they are not, we don’t. One day a friend of mine witnessed Skinner rushing into an elevator at Harvard. The elevator was programmed, as signs indicat

What if you really did live every day as if it were your last? That was Brian’s plan.

We conclude our month-long You 2.0 series with a look at the hidden power of doubt — not as weakness or indecision, but as a tool that helps us make better choices and navigate an uncertain world. Researcher Bobby Parmar explores how doubt can sharpen judgment, and makes a case for why the ability to sit with uncertainty may be one of the most important skills of all.

DM I noticed Montaigne in one essay referred to Troglodytes living on the west side of the Red Sea. Who were they, and were they homo sapiens? This is a wonderful question that touches on classical geography, ethnography, and the way ancient writers categorized peoples they considered exotic or peripheral. The Troglodytes of Classical Literature The "Troglodytes" Montaigne references were a real population that ancient Greek and Roman writers described living along what they

For years, my mother and father hid painful truths about their young lives. After digging into their pasts, I discovered that some secrets are meant to protect.

Existing measures of AI “exposure” overlook workers’ "adaptive capacity"—i.e., their varied ability to navigate job displacement. Related: The A.I. Skills Gap

The timeless quest to go beyond competence and achieve excellence.

DM Please provide your perspectives on Lucretius, particularly any guidance as to what we should be curating today from his thinking. Lucretius (c. 99-55 BCE) wrote "De Rerum Natura" (" On the Nature of Things" ), a philosophical poem presenting Epicurean philosophy, particularly the atomistic physics of Democritus as developed by Epicurus. Key aspects of his thought: Atomism - everything is composed of atoms moving through void Anti-supernaturalism - natural explanations fo

Try my protocol for a happy start to the day and see what works for your own well-being.

DM I ponder if there are "cognitive spark plugs" which may ignite greater humility, thus leading ideally more sustainable curiosity. (I realize some folks are said to occasonally achieve this by experiencing awe-inspiriing moments; but I seek to go beyond a reliance on "situational serindipity followed by personal recepitivity." As you recall, I envisioned Pantakinesis as one means of launching a mind upon a trajectory of expansive creativity, fueled by radically increased hu

The pace of change can paralyze some adults. It’s time to develop a more dynamic relationship with risk-taking and failure.

I laughed when a clinical psychologist first told me she suspected I had the disorder. Once I understood it better, my life made more sense.

Most of us spend some part of our lives feeling bad about ourselves and wanting to feel better. But this preoccupation is a surprisingly new one in the history of the world, and can largely be traced back to one man: a rumpled, convertible-driving California state representative named John Vasconcellos who helped spark a movement that took over schools, board rooms, and social-service offices across America in the 1990s. This week, we look at the rise and fall of the self-est

If calls for radical change aren’t given a political outlet, violence will always return. Somewhat related: why many defend ICE's mistakes

Essentially, AI is replacing tasks many people have grown reluctant to do themselves – thinking, writing, creating, analysing. But when we don’t use these skills, they can decline. Excerpt: " The retirement of West Midlands police chief Craig Guildford is a wake-up call for those of us using artificial intelligence (AI) tools at work and in our personal lives. Guildford lost the confidence of the home secretary after it was revealed that the force used incorrect AI-generated

These cultural lies make normal struggle feel like failure. A habit of experimentation makes it feel like progress

Suiseki stones from Japan are arranged as objects of worship. Crystals within the Manhattan schist link urban modernity to deep antiquity.

Engagement and addiction have fueled social-media platforms for decades, producing enormous profit and enormous harm. AI labs appear to be on the same track—but there’s a better alternative.

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