Surprising Science — January 31, 2011

Can We Retrofit Our Cities?

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

A core aspect of the Living PlanIT business model is the “urban operating system,” which could be used in existing urban environments as well as it is in new cities.

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Black and white image of a classic flying saucer-shaped object in the sky, tilting to one side with a faint cloudy backdrop.

Books

Science fiction, Project Blue Book, and the beginnings of the UFO craze

In this preview from “The Saucerian,” author Gabriel McKee explains how the combination of fantastical stories and obscure bureaucracy launched the “space age of the imagination.”

Cover of "Target Earth" by Govert Schilling shows a meteor entering Earth's atmosphere, hinting at cosmic catastrophe. The book explores the world of meteorites, asteroids, and comets. Text reads "an excerpt from.

Books

How scientists unearthed the cosmic catastrophe that paved the way for humanity

If an asteroid hadn’t killed off the dinosaurs, humans would almost certainly have never walked the Earth.

People in early 20th-century attire gather outside a building, as an intriguing green geometric pattern overlays the scene. This blend of classic and modern elements evokes the innovative spirit of AI art.

High Culture

The cinematograph, the “noematograph,” and the future of AI art

Hugo-winning author Ken Liu explores what early cinema and Chinese poetry can teach us about AI’s potential as a new artistic medium.

In a futuristic setting, a medical professional in scrubs interacts with a holographic heart and data display, showcasing their understanding of AI to enhance patient care.

Business

Why all companies should think beyond Large Language Models

By looking outside the current wave of hype, we can create a framework for weighing up the practical impact of AI on any business.

Starts With A Bang

How has cosmology changed from 2000 to 2025?

25 years ago, our concordance picture of cosmology, also known as ΛCDM, came into focus. 25 years later, are we about to break that model?

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