Video: A View of a Breathing Earth
In this visualization, based on data collected by scientists, we see Earth changing — its plants, surface winds, and sea currents responding to the energy coming from the sun.
December 4, 2017
The Interdependence of Humanity and Earth
We owe our existence to little photosynthetic bacteria — but there is much more to this story, as life can only mutate and adapt when the planet offers the right conditions.
November 15, 2017
Hurricanes: A Science Primer
We know how damaging and costly, in many ways, such natural phenomena can be — but the devastation is not surprising, once you know how much energy is involved.
September 13, 2017
Why Is Time In A Hurry?
In reality, Earth's days are getting longer. To change our perception that time goes more quickly as we age, we need to carve in a bit of time to just be.
April 19, 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
An Issue That Should Bring Us Together: The State Of Our Planet
Thoughts of colonization of other planets aside — stuff that stands far away in the future — our problems are right here and right now, affecting us globally.
November 8, 2016
The Madness of Humanity Part 2: Planetary Predation
Even with all the uncertainty in the numbers, we seem to be marching towards a point of saturation, where our current practices and needs will exhaust what the planet can offer.
August 2, 2016
Are Life's Seeds From Outer Space?
Even if chiral molecules are part of the ingredients of new planets, the choice of chirality could vary randomly from star-forming region to star-forming region.
July 5, 2016
Evaluating Our Importance In The Universe
The next time you hear a scientist say something like "The more we know about the universe, the less important we become," beg to differ: The reality is precisely the opposite.
February 16, 2016
Locating the Cradle of Life
Given that there are trillions of worlds in our galaxy alone, circling hundreds of billions of stars, it would be a true statistical fluke if Earth were the only harbor for life.
February 9, 2016
'Planetary' Calls for a Global Vision Shift for Earthlings
In honor of Earth Day, Marcelo points us to a trailer of the new movie, which calls for a change in perspective — a new way of relating to each other and to the planet.
May 6, 2015
Should We Be Afraid Of Aliens?
The notion that other intelligences exist in the universe is pervasive in popular culture: Aliens are often portrayed as evil invaders. Marcelo ponders whether we should worry.
February 25, 2015
Was 2014 The Hottest Year On Record — Or Not?
Our planet is getting steadily warmer — and ignoring this fact is like stepping in front of a train and hoping that if we close our eyes, it won't hit us.
February 4, 2015
What the World Needs Now Is a New Enlightenment
New human possibilities materialized with the arrival of the the Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th centuries. Marcelo says its time to pick up the banner and move forward again.
July 30, 2014
Unruly Children Of Earth: Grow Up
We don't often think about it but we are deeply connected to the universe and deeply indebted to mother Earth. Marcelo thinks its time we treated her with respect.
June 1, 2014