People in Glass Houses: The Strange (and Only Slightly Scientific) Story of Biosphere 2
Twenty-five years ago, a bunch of people with dreams of exploring space locked themselves in the giant terrarium known as Biosphere 2. But not everything was as it seemed.
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Numbers Man
Nicholas Felton chronicles the minutiae of everyday life, and makes some quietly affecting bar graphs in the process.
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The Birds and the Bees
When it comes to understanding quantum mechanics and six-dimensional hyperspace, these creatures may be way ahead of us.
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Things I Believe: an Interview with George Saunders
The best-selling author on empathy, bad jobs and the benefits of swimming in monkey shit.
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Cards Against Humanity
It takes a lot of people to make an atom bomb. Here are their business cards.
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Ten Things I Believe: an Interview with Jill Tarter
The SETI astronomer and professional alien hunter talks stardust, getting what you want and listening to the cosmic dial tone.
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It’s a Trap
The mystery of North Carolina’s disappearing Venus flytraps leads to some unexpected places.
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Rocket Man
Jack Parsons was the father of modern rocket science and co-founder of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He was also an occultist who practised dark magic with L. Ron Hubbard and Aleister Crowley.
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Element of Surprise
Red mercury doesn’t exist. That hasn’t stopped ISIS scouring the globe for it.
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Watch the Skies
Aboriginal astronomy fuses 60,000 years of Indigenous knowledge with theoretical physics – and modern street maps.
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Setting the Scene
How the steamy opening credits for an HBO hit came out of a studio in less-than-steamy Sydney.
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So Long, Farewell
My final editor’s letter for Smith Journal, in which I attempt to say goodbye without crying. RIP to a real one.