Science & Health
Success without substance
New Zealander Nigel Richards has won the French Scrabble championship twice. What’s more remarkable than double wins is that Nigel doesn’t …
In defence of nudging
Nudging – the idea that simple changes to how a choice is presented can lead people to make better decisions …
Behavioural science and its complications
Nudge theory offered a wonderful alternative future in which governments could nudge people to do the right thing and thereby …
Science experiments at school can be fun, inspiring and safe
To a young mind, science can be magical. Perhaps you remember a visually striking or seemingly inexplicable scientific demonstration from …
From ‘Blind Watchmaker’ to seeing watchmakers
For most of the first 15 years of the 21st century, there was a fierce debate between rationalist supporters of …
How the world’s fossil fuel addiction compromises our health
Climate change threatens to undermine the health of people around the world, with more intense and frequent extreme weather events, …
New ‘ethics guidance’ puts science publishing under the microscope
The British journal Nature was founded in 1869 and is one of the world’s most influential and prestigious outlets for …
Misinformation: The common thread between pandemics
Since health officials confirmed the first COVID-19 cases, misinformation has spread just as quickly as the virus. Social media may …
Authentic mindfulness in the era of ‘wellness’
Meditation and mindfulness practices in Western nations are booming. One report estimates that 55 million Americans engaged in meditation in …
Can telehealth be used for effective palliative care?
If ever there is a time when you really do need to see a doctor in person, as opposed to …
The question of conscientious objection in the voluntary assisted dying debate
Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) has been legal in countries such as Switzerland and the Netherlands for more than a decade. …
Mapping climate policy
As the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions becomes increasingly urgent, governments of all levels, as well as private businesses …