Culture & Religion — December 12, 2011

Behind Kremlin’s Thaw on TV Coverage of Protests

Facing the largest antigovernment protests in more than a decade, the Kremlin has, for now, softened its hard line against opponents. But is it simply digging in to wait them out?

bigthinkeditor

What’s the Latest Development?

Amid the biggest antigovernment protests in more than a decade–sparked by allegations of widespread fraud in the recent parliamentary elections–the Kremlin has, at least for now, softened its hard line against opponents. But some speculate that the sudden coverage of the rallies on state television, and the absence of a police crackdown, is because the authorities are digging in to wait out their opponents.

What’s the Big Idea?

In a Facebook comment, President Dmitry Medvedev said people had a right to express their position, but he didn’t agree with the slogans or statements made at the demonstrations. Initial reaction from the Kremlin and the ruling party seemed to suggest the Kremlin would allow opponents to let off steam but not make any major changes.

Image from www.kremlin.ru.

a computer generated image of a human brain.

Thinking

The great free will debate featuring Michio Kaku and Steven Pinker

Who — or what — really controls your mind?

Building destroyed by the Halifax Explosion. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.

The Past

The largest accidental explosion of all time

More than a century ago, Halifax suffered an accidental blast one-fifth the size of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

a collage of photos of a man with a hat and a book.

High Culture

6 great books with wildly unreliable narrators

Dive into the twisted truths and concealed realities told by literature’s most unreliable narrators.

a group of five matches on a pink background.

The Well

Signs you’re burned out — and how to bounce back

If you don’t feel better after the weekend, the “burnout paradox” could explain why.

▸

7 min

—

with

Laurie Santos

Starts With A Bang

The trick to instantly identifying JWST images

If you can identify a foreground star, the spike patterns are a dead giveaway as to whether it’s a JWST image or any other observatory.

Up Next

Surprising Science

China’s Skill in Stealing America’s Secrets

The intriguing case of China’s success in obtaining the secret design of the American W-88 nuclear warhead illustrates the expertise of its espionage service—one that rivals the C.I.A..