The Universe According to Albert Einstein: Relativity
When Einstein, born 139 years ago last Wednesday, came onto the science scene, physics was in crisis. New ideas were badly needed — it was the perfect moment for a trailblazer.
March 20, 2018
A Scientific Search For A Ghost (Particle)
Scientists put a lot of effort into uncovering the history of these tiny bits of matter, in the hopes that it will tell us something about the universe.
February 21, 2018
From Myth to Science: Can We Make Sense of the Origin of All Things?
It may be that to explain where the universe came from is an impossibility for our causally-based, logically-oriented, experientially-functioning minds, but we must keep trying.
June 7, 2017
What Does an Expanding Universe Really Mean?
Cosmic expansion stretches space itself, as if space were made of some kind of stretchy rubber material; there is no physical border, only stretching space.
May 31, 2017
Reality Is Not What We Can See
Carlo Rovelli's new book is a gem: It's full of wonderful analogies and imagery — and is a celebration of the human spirit, in "permanent doubt, the deep source of science."
February 8, 2017
Taking Stock of the State of the Universe
As a species, we can be proud of our remarkable scientific prowess: This is an ongoing effort, a narrative we build slowly, gathering data and ideas that stretch our imagination.
December 27, 2016
Can Science Crack the 'Hardest' Question?
Where did the world come from? Unless future physicists make new observations from the Big Bang, it's hard to contemplate any science coming from the first originating event.
September 7, 2016
The Madness of Humanity Part 4: Science vs. Religion
Science is not out there to kill people's faiths: Science is out there to make sense of the world we live in — and when science gets pitched against religion, everyone loses.
August 16, 2016
New Physics Beyond The Higgs?
There's nothing more interesting for a scientist than to have the unexpected show up, as if nature is trying to nudge us to look in a different direction, says Marcelo of new CERN data.
June 21, 2016
Why Is 'Theory' Such a Confusing Word?
Many people interpret the word "theory" as iffy knowledge, based on speculative thinking: It is used indiscriminately to indicate things we know and things we aren't sure about.
April 5, 2016
Seeing The World Like a 9-Year-Old
Marcelo visited a fourth-grade class — and said the kids showed him the best in humanity. "I'll go back next year and the year after. Not to teach them — but to let them teach me."
March 15, 2016
The Equation That Banged the Cosmos
As Albert Einstein's Theory of General Relativity turns 100, the scientist would surely be pleased with the revolution he started, a source of wonder and inspiration for all.
December 8, 2015
Could All Really Come From Nothing?
In examining the universe's origins, maybe we need a way of depicting the laws of nature as emerging behaviors that unfold and take hold as time elapses.
October 27, 2015
Moving From Creation of the Cosmos to Human Life
What makes up your body are the remains of stars long gone. That this star stuff got organized to the point of becoming animated, thinking matter is nothing short of wonderful.
September 22, 2015
'Unity': Are We There Yet?
The upcoming documentary Unity is a wake-up call to humanity on the moral duty to respect the diversity of life, which is born from the same seed.
August 11, 2015
Lessons From The Beginning Of Time
The fact that science opens a window for us to peer into our deep past should be a cause for celebration, irrespective of what we find when we are able to look.
February 18, 2015
Space, Time, Love and Stephen Hawking
The Theory of Everything celebrates the spirit of a man who has fought for all of his adult life to uncover the mystery of time.
December 23, 2014
A Liberal Arts Curriculum in 2 Minutes
This short video tells the story of humanity, from beginning to end. Marcelo says it invites us to reflect on who we are, where we came from and how we will chart our future.
October 8, 2014
Cosmic Confusion: It's How Science Gets Done
Recent results cast doubt on claims that a much-hyped experiment has detected signals from the Big Bang itself. Marcelo says that's just another example of science in the making.
July 9, 2014
What Universe Is This, Anyway?
Evidence of ultra-fast cosmic expansion forces us to confront the possibility that the multiverse exists. But how will we ever know? It's a problem that could leave us tangled up in knots.
April 16, 2014