Asterisk

The Sweet Lesson of Neuroscience

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Scientists once hoped that studying the brain would teach us how to build AI. Now, one AI researcher may have something to teach us about the brain.

The Institute Behind Taiwan’s Chip Dominance

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

TSMC (and most of Taiwan’s chip industry) spun out of one government research institute. How did ITRI implement one of the most successful industrial policy programs of all time?

Seeing Like a Sedan

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Waymos and Cybercabs see the world through very different sensors. Which technology wins out will determine the future of self-driving vehicles.

Rethinking High-School Science Fairs

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

America’s earliest science fairs gave students the chance to do independent research. Today, they’re a competitive gloss to glorified internships. It’s time for a new format.

Language Birth

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Since 1960, the world has lost hundreds of languages — and gained thousands.

AI After Drug Development

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Coming up with drug candidates isn’t the bottleneck on finding new treatments. Can AI help with the things that are?

Factory Logic

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Xinyan Yu’s Made in Ethiopia documents the growth of a Chinese factory complex in the Ethiopian countryside. The director has much more to say on how it reflects the path of industrialization in China — and America.

A Brief History of the History of Science

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

What do Works in Progress and Social Text have in common?

The Fight For Slow And Boring Research

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

As federal research funding shrinks, scientists are looking to other sources of support. Can they learn to sell their work without selling out?

Justified True Belief

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

When I decided the theme for this issue, I had one particular article in mind. I've tried to commission it many times over the past six months, but I never did get anyone to bite. In retrospect, I realize that the question I really wanted to ask isn't answerable, at least not in a form that would be interesting to any of you.

Reading Lolita in the Barracks

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

What does it take to turn South Korea's mandatory military service into a literary retreat?

The Message in the Medium

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

A love story told in books.

You Aren’t In The DSM

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Five editions on, the DSM shoulders more responsibilities than it was ever intended for. How did we get here?

Where’s My Orbital Habitat?

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

NASA has always balanced the fantastical against the sensible. What happens when the scales start to tip?

The First Prophet of Abundance

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

David Lilienthal’s account of his years running the Tennessee Valley Authority can read like the Abundance of 1944. We still have a lot to learn from what the book says — and from what it leaves out.

The Dream of the Universal Library

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

The Internet promised easy access to every book ever written. Why can’t we have nice things?

The China Tech Canon

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

How does the paideía of the Chinese tech elite differ from their counterparts in Silicon Valley?

Reputation (FDA’s Version)

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Can the agency that invented modern drug development survive so many assaults on its reputation? A former FDA insider reads an 800-page book to find out.

Jung’s Memories

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Jung was born 150 years ago. In a special anniversary edition of his biography, all we can see is his shadow.

The Perplexing Appeal of The Telepathy Tapes

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Telepathy Tapes claims that autistic children have the ability to read minds. Where do their claims come from — and why do so many people believe them?