Ablinger Franz

Two new papers based on data from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft scrutinize the complex chemical activity on the surface of Saturn’s moon Titan. While non-biological chemistry offers one possible explanation, some scientists believe these chemical signatures bolster the argument for a primitive, exotic form of life or precursor to life on Titan’s surface. According to one … Read more

Today, more than two thousand years after Heraclitus wrote those words, science has shrunk the boundaries of the soul considerably. A soul that can transcend space and time, survive death, and even possess others, is considered intellectually passé. In its place we have the brain – “a teetering bulb of dread and dream” as the … Read more

Dx1W is calling artists, designers, tinkerers, makers, and thinkers born in and living right now in a Developing Country (as defined by the IMF) to design solutions for four main First World problems. Developing into what, exactly? Developing countries are on their way toward development, and we assume that’s a great thing. But let’s stop … Read more

The idea is simple: Design a laser cutter and make the building process repeatable for others. Link

By Thomas Barfield; Princeton Studies in Muslim Politics. Afghanistan traces the historic struggles and the changing nature of political authority in this volatile region of the world, from the Mughal Empire in the sixteenth century to the Taliban resurgence today. Thomas Barfield introduces readers to the bewildering diversity of tribal and ethnic groups in Afghanistan, … Read more

Scientists are usually a realistic bunch—our salaries depend on proposing projects that are doable with the tools we have in our hands, and our plans usually involve prudent small steps rather than aiming for risky big leaps. But we sometimes dream too, and when we dream, we dream big, even if we dream very seriously. … Read more

When the first warm rays of springtime sunshine trigger a burst of new plant growth, it’s almost as if someone flicked a switch to turn on the greenery and unleash a floral profusion of color. Opening a window into this process, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and collaborators at … Read more