EDITOR'S PICK SCIENCE The Mystery Of Horse Domestication Key Takeaway: Horse domestication remains a mystery, despite its significant impact on human civilization. The Indo-European or “Kurgan hypothesis” suggests that horse domestication began on the steppes of western Asia, specifically among the Yamnaya people. However, recent advances in technology have revealed that the horses from the Botai culture were not the ancestors of today’s […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
EDITOR'S PICK SCIENCE The Hidden Power Of Underwater Avalanches Key Takeaway: A study examining an ancient underwater avalanche off the coast of Morocco has challenged our understanding of these powerful events and their potential to disrupt global communications and infrastructure. These avalanches, also known as turbidity currents, are difficult to observe and measure, but their impact is undeniable, particularly on the intricate web of […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
EDITOR'S PICK SCIENCE The Human Heart: An Evolutionary Puzzle Key Takeaway: Researchers have discovered that the human heart is an outlier, distinctly different from the hearts of great apes. The human heart evolved in response to specific challenges faced by our species, such as an upright posture and larger brains. The smooth interior wall of the left ventricle of the human heart allows it […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS EDITOR'S PICK The Brewing Storm In The Coffee Industry Key Takeaway: The coffee industry is facing a potential reckoning as rising prices threaten to slow its expansion. Giuseppe Lavazza, the head of the iconic Italian coffee brand, suggests that consumers in the U.S. might see prices increase by 20%-25% over the next year. The price of a latte or flat white is becoming pricier, […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
ART & DESIGN CULTURE EDITOR'S PICK How Great Was Beethoven Really? Key Takeaway: On its 200th anniversary, the Ninth Symphony, premiered in Vienna in 1824, was praised as the greatest master of Western classical music. However, the lionization of Beethoven never sat well with some, leading to a backlash. The author reframed Beethoven’s greatness within the context of historic ideals of whiteness and patriarchy, arguing that […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS EDITOR'S PICK Panda Diplomacy: What We Can Learn About Chinese Economics Key Takeaway: San Diego Zoo and China’s Wildlife Conservation Association signed a deal in February 2024 to return Chinese giant pandas to the US by the end of the summer. This move signifies a warming of relations between the US and China, as well as a bid by China to help repair its struggling economy. […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
EDITOR'S PICK SOCIOLOGY The Maths Of Societal Collapse Key Takeaway: The author, a historian and complexity scientist, has been studying history for over a decade, noticing patterns in the past. They have been working on cliodynamics, a new field that uses statistical methods and computational simulations to understand how complex systems change over time. The Seshat: Global History Databank, a collection of over […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
EDITOR'S PICK SCIENCE The Real Emotions Of Spiders Key Takeaway: Spiders have evolved creative strategies to thrive in habitats worldwide, but their ability to charm humans is elusive. Research has uncovered surprising insights about spider behavior around humans, such as the Jorō spider, which has a tendency to play dead. This is known as thanatosis and is a response to threats used by […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
EDITOR'S PICK SCIENCE A Visual Journey Through Multi-Dimensions Key Takeaway The author imagines a world where humans lived in vast landscapes, but they only knew a small portion of reality. They believe that we are part of an expansive cosmos, possibly containing alien life. String theory suggests that the true building blocks of our universe are vibrating strings, which unify quantum mechanics and […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
CULTURE EDITOR'S PICK SCIENCE The Scientific Truth Of Ancient Mythologies Everyone loves a good story, especially if it’s based on something true. Consider the Greek legend of the Titanomachy, in which the Olympian gods, led by Zeus, vanquish the previous generation of immortals, the Titans. As recounted by the Greek poet Hesiod, this conflict makes for a thrilling tale – and it may preserve kernels of […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
The Science Behind Our Perception Of Time Key Takeaway: Time perception can vary greatly, with some experiencing it as a constant elasticity, while others experience it as a sudden shift. These “time expansion experiences” (Tees) are rare and profound shifts that alter our perception of time, often occurring in high-stakes situations or through heightened consciousness. Theories suggest that time perception correlates with […] Written by Empirics Asia January 8, 2025January 8, 2025 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
The Biological Cost Of Loneliness Key Takeaway: A study by the University of Cambridge and Fudan University has found that loneliness is a significant health risk, with 25% of older adults and 15% of adolescents suffering from it. The research identified five proteins, including GFRA1, ADM, and FABP4, that are significantly elevated in individuals experiencing loneliness, which play key roles […] Written by Empirics Asia January 7, 2025January 7, 2025 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Is A.I. Redefining Business Success? Key Takeaway: Generative AI is revolutionizing the business landscape by providing instant, high-quality results without high costs or delays. It allows small businesses to create professional menus, provide round-the-clock customer support, and analyze social media trends. AI also reduces infrastructure investments, making it more accessible and cost-effective. This shift has redefined the equation for success, […] Written by Empirics Asia December 31, 2024December 31, 2024 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
The Enigma Of The Moon’s Age Key Takeaway: Researchers are challenging long-standing theories about the Moon’s formation by examining its history through a collaboration between physicists, chemists, and planetary scientists. The team proposed that the Moon’s apparent age might reflect a later event, such as intense tidal heating during its journey away from Earth. This new framework suggests that the Moon’s […] Written by Empirics Asia December 30, 2024December 30, 2024 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
The Hidden Perils Of Mirror Molecules Key Takeaway: Scientists warn that within a decade, humanity may be capable of creating “mirror-image life forms” composed entirely of enantiomers, posing both revolutionary potential and catastrophic risks. Mirror bacteria could evade immune systems, cause infections, and destabilize ecosystems. The urgency lies in establishing governance frameworks and international collaboration to mitigate potential hazards. Imagine looking […] Written by Empirics Asia December 27, 2024December 27, 2024 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Are We Born With A Moral Compass? Key Takeaway: A large-scale replication effort by the ManyBabies consortium has cast doubt on a groundbreaking study that claimed infants could differentiate between “helpers” and “hinderers,” preferring those who assisted others over those who obstructed them. The original study, led by Kiley Hamlin, involved showing six- and ten-month-old infants a puppet show, and 88% of […] Written by Empirics Asia December 24, 2024December 24, 2024 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
The Rise Of Western Computer Chips? Key Takeaway: Intel’s CEO, Pat Gelsinger, has resigned amid boardroom discontent, signaling the fading of a once-dominant American technological legacy. Intel’s strategic missteps during the rise of mobile technology led to financial reliantness on older technologies and delayed investment in next-generation manufacturing processes. The company’s struggle is emblematic of a larger challenge for the U.S. […] Written by Empirics Asia December 20, 2024December 20, 2024 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Rethinking Education Key Takeaways: The Industrial model of education that fueled the modern era and its dizzying reach did its job incredibly well. In his writing, Flynn illustrates study after study, spanning nations and decades, in which modern educational gift of abstraction — a transcendent sign of intelligence, as we saw in Raven’s Matrices — has been […] Written by Anthony Fieldman March 2, 2022October 19, 2022 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
How China Is Transforming Its Economy Through Learning I highly recommend reading the McKinsey Global Institute’s new report, “Reskilling China: Transforming The World’s Largest Workforce Into Lifelong Learners”, which focuses on the country’s biggest employment challenge, re-training its workforce and the adoption of practices such as lifelong learning to address the growing digital transformation of its productive fabric. How to transform the country […] Written by Enrique Dans February 1, 2021February 1, 2021 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Why You’re Not Seeing Success With Influencer Marketing With the new year around the corner, now is a good time to re-evaluate your past marketing strategies and gear up for the year ahead. For some businesses, influencer marketing has simply not seemed to live up to its lofty promises of genuine engagement, credibility, and transparency. Some have claimed that it has been failing […] Written by Michael Tan January 14, 2021January 15, 2021 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
A New Philosophy of Business I’m about to ask you to take a mental leap. For the next 8 minutes, suspend your notions of what a business is, and I’ll propose a new lens for you to look through. There are a lot of questions asked around what “community” means for business. “Where should community fit in my organization?” and […] Written by Empirics Asia September 5, 2018September 5, 2018 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked