Do We Live in a Simulation? Chances Are about 50–50

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October 13, 2020

Physics Do We Live in a Simulation? Chances Are about 50–50 Gauging whether or not we dwell inside someone else's computer may come down to advanced AI research—or measurements at the frontiers of cosmology By Anil Ananthaswamy

Behavior & Society Confronting Misinformation Viral lies, overwhelming uncertainty, and leadership that amplifies falsehoods and fear: no wonder we feel anguished by our information environment. During an election season of great consequence, what would make society less vulnerable to division?

Policy & Ethics How to Get Through This Election Stop arguing with people about what is true. Instead ask how they are voting By Claire Wardle

Evolution Why the World's Biggest Dinosaurs Keep Getting Cut Down to Size Debate erupts over how best to estimate the sizes of the largest creatures ever to have walked the earth By Riley Black

Natural Disasters Natural Disasters May Push Global Finances to the Brink In the past 20 years, 20 climate-fueled disasters have caused damage to countries worth more than 10 percent of their GDP By Corbin Hiar

Evolution Play Helped Dogs Be Our Best Friends The ancestors of today's dogs already exhibited some playfulness, which became a key trait during domestication. 03:16

Policy & Ethics The Whitewashing of Black Genius Frederick Douglass, Antonio Maceo and the outrages of "racial science" By Griffin Black

Medicine Lab-Made 'Miniproteins' Could Block the Coronavirus from Infecting Cells Synthetic peptides that mimic human antibodies for COVID-19 could be cheaper and easier to produce By Zoe Cormier

Mental Health What if a Pill Can Change Your Politics or Religious Beliefs? A new mental health treatment using the psychedelic compound psilocybin raises questions about medicine and values By Eddie Jacobs

Evolution Neandertal DNA May Be COVID Risk A stretch of Neandertal DNA has been associated with some cases of severe COVID-19, but it's unclear how much of a risk it poses. Christopher Intagliata reports.  By Christopher Intagliata | 02:20

Policy & Ethics COVID Misinformation Is Killing People This "infodemic" has to stop By Amir Bagherpour,Ali Nouri

FROM THE STORE Special Editions Volume 29, Issue 4s

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QUOTE OF THE DAY "Rather than 'muting' friends and family members when they post conspiracy theories on Facebook, start a conversation about the serious damage that rumors and falsehoods are doing to our lives, our health, our relationships and our communities." Claire Wardle, Director of First Draft

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