SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " ix " 14,952 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Christmas Standings: How the Penguins sit after a December fall
The Penguins got to Thanksgiving holiday and the end of November with the fourth best points percentage and similar spot in the division. December didn’t go as smoothly, they leave in seventh place in points, and barely sixth in points%, thanks to a 1-5-4 slump that saw losing every which way you can go. We’ll […]
Challenges lie ahead for Trump. Six key hurdles he's facing in 2026.
With the new year's arrival, Trump must navigate lingering impasses over spending and health care.
There's no silver bullet to the US Navy's shipbuilding woes: report
The US Navy is struggling to compete with China due to a spate of failed ship classes. A new report warns there's no easy fix.
Before This Physicist Studied the Stars, He Was One
Brian Cox once toured as a keyboardist in major rock and pop bands. Now he’s a particle physicist on a new world tour with a dazzling show he designed in an era of science disinformation and denial.
Skyrim Meets Stardew Valley in New Free RPG, Out Today
Ethernia is a new pixel-art fantasy RPG that's available from today on PC via Steam for free.
QNX Self-Hosted Developer Desktop Brings QNX 8.0 To A Wayland + Xfce Desktop
Announced earlier in December but flying under the radar until now is the initial reoease of a QNX Self-Hosted Developer Desktop
Six Brilliant Brain Science And Psychology Books From The Year
A selection of science-based books from the year that together shine new light on who we are and why we think and act as we do.
Seniors taking multiple medications may face unexpected health effects
New study reveals older adults on six or more medications struggle more during rehabilitation recovery, especially those over 80 seeking independence.
Call Your Grandparents This Holiday Season—for Their Health
Call Your Grandparents This Holiday Season—For Their Health: Everyday conversations across generations may boost older adults’ sense of purpose
Doctors at Baptist Health help deliver the best Christmas present to several parents
Baptist Health said close to 10 babies were born on Christmas Day at several of the health system's locations around Northeast Florida.
Why This 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Needs A New Battery: P1AA700 Issue Explained
Some early-model 2025 Ioniq 5s may experience charging issues. Don't worry, though: The fix is usually a free battery replacement.
Xiaomi's New 17 Ultra by Leica Phone Looks and Acts Like a Real Camera
Xiaomi really care about photography.
Rockets return home off morale-boosting win to face Cavaliers
In dire need of a performance more in line with their early-season successes and an effort that could mask the stench of three overtime losses during their just-wrapped six-game road trip, the Houston Rockets produced a result on Thursday that made their recent struggles appear aberrant.
Small Town Politics: WALB investigates allegations of election fraud; several South Georgia counties being investigated by the state elections board
Across South Georgia, small town politics can divide communities, neighborhoods, and even families. That’s why we are launching a new segment...Dedicated to uncovering and unpacking stories about local corruption, confusion, and conflicts. Beginning in the city of Nicholls where the November election led to a recount.
Event Recap: 2025-26 Sports Academy National Cup
In the latest edition of ‘P.I. Pulse’, Pro Insight’s Tyler Glazier highlights prospects who stood out at Sports Academy National Cup after spending the weekend at Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, CA for Session One of the annual event
I tried setting up my first-ever NAS, and this budget UGREEN model did everything I needed with my old HDDs — now I'm falling down a home media server rabbit hole
The UGREEN NASync DH2300 is a best-selling NAS with a low price tag, but can its Arm-based Rockchip processor be strong enough for a self-made Netflix replacement?
NFL Christmas clunkers and NBA kryptonite, plus a holiday streaming guide
The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Today: We present a cornucopia of viewing options, and you can find all the latest sports news here. When the NFL handed the Christmas streaming keys to Netflix and Prime last offseason, it initially looked like a must-watch crusade. Put on your August expectations hat and consider these teams: Dallas! Washington! Detroit! Minnesota! Denver! Kansas City! We refuse to apologize for the excessive exclamation points. Those six teams...
These were the 10 hottest shows of the year — how many did you watch?
2025 served up some television monoculture moments
Everybody's Business: The Year, According to Tracey Alloway, Felix Salmon, and Robert Smith
Listen Everybody's Business Podcast
Ars Technica’s Top 20 video games of 2025
A mix of expected sequels and out-of-nowhere indie gems made 2025 a joy.
Where Is All the A.I.-Driven Scientific Progress?
A tech C.E.O. explains why A.I. probably won’t cure diseases anytime soon. Hint: You still need humans.
A new superconductor breaks rules physicists thought were fixed
A shiny gray crystal called platinum-bismuth-two hides an electronic world unlike anything scientists have seen before. Researchers discovered that only the crystal’s outer surfaces become superconducting—allowing electrons to flow with zero resistance—while the interior remains ordinary metal. Even stranger, the electrons on the surface pair up in a highly unusual pattern that breaks all known rules of superconductivity.
Ubuntu's Rust Infatuation, New Optimizations & Other Ubuntu Linux 2025 Highlights
It was a very interesting year for Ubuntu Linux
New Runtime Standby ABI Proposed For Linux Akin To Microsoft Windows' "Modern Standby"
An exciting post-Christmas patch series out on the Linux kernel mailing list this morning is proposing a new runtime standby ABI that is similar in nature to the 'Modern Standby' functionality found with Microsoft Windows.
Read the pitch deck Scribe used to raise $75 million to fix how companies adopt AI
Workflow software startup Scribe has raised $75 million and achieved unicorn status, as it aims to reimagine AI integration for businesses.
Snoop Dogg Headlines Netflix’s NFL Christmas Entertainment Spot With Huntr/x, Andrea Bocelli & More: Watch
Netflix’s NFL Christmas Gameday Live featured an all-star lineup for 'Snoop’s Holiday Halftime Party.'
A Grip on Sports: Whenever you think about those folks who have to work Christmas Day, don't forget the athletes who do so to entertain us
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Where were we? Oh, yes. Thinking about gifts, Roberto Duran and the weekend’s TV schedule. Eclectic? Sure. Electric? Nope.
Christmas loss reveals Lakers have problems that need fixing
With the Lakers now on their longest losing streak of the season, some tough questions are about to be asked.
The Top 10 political developments in Florida in 2025
Choosing the top political stories in an “off year” when no statewide elections took place is challenging — although jockeying for the 2026 elections is well under way. Property taxes and gun rights, meanwhile, have emerged as issues likely to dominate the 2026 legislative session, which kicks off in a little more than two weeks. […]
Political Fix: Quizmas special
George Parker puts the FT panel to the test
‘We won, the president lost,’ Jimmy Kimmel says in Christmas message
Jimmy Kimmel gave a Christmas address on British broadcaster Channel 4 poking fun at the state of America under President Trump.
Bo Nix, Broncos survive scare in Kansas City on Christmas to maintain lead in AFC race
7-year-old donates her business proceeds to Angels for Animals
CANFIELD — Ellie Kaley, a 7-year-old student at West Branch Elementary School, marked her first six months in business by celebrating with a few dozen kittens at Angels For Animals. The Mahoning County-based animal adoption nonprofit is in the midst of a campaign to upgrade its facility. While Ellie didn’t walk away this week with […]
Broncos vs. Chiefs score, live updates from Christmas: Bo Nix looks to build AFC West lead amid speculation of Travis Kelce's last home game
Asus could produce DDR5 RAM to ease memory shortage and keep laptop prices reasonable
With DDR5 RAM prices out of control, Asus may have a strategy that will benefit laptop buyers and gamers. A new report suggests that it will begin manufacturing DRAM as soon as 2026. Even with this development, Asus would struggle to open factories without the help of Samsung, Micron, or SK Hynix.
NFL Christmas winners, losers: Cowboys, Netflix get yuletide victories
The league's Holiday tripleheader produced a mixed bag of footballs.
Beloved social media dog Raffie dies from heart attack amid vicious assault
Beloved social media influencer dog Raffie of the Bundleofbullies TikTok account has died after a reported heart attack amid a vicious assault from another dog.
Our Favorite Science Stories That Stuck With Us From 2025
The list below is a mix of the pieces we loved most and the ones you couldn’t stop reading.
Arch Linux Powered CachyOS To Develop A Server OS
The Arch Linux based CachyOS has been quite popular with Linux gamers and enthusiasts for offering leading out-of-the-box performance, especially following the shutdown of Intel's Clear Linux
Pacers vow to 'keep fighting' ahead of rematch with Celtics
The Indiana Pacers will try to find their scoring touch and end a six-game losing streak when they meet the Boston Celtics on Friday night in Indianapolis.
Tribe prioritizes doing business with Cherokees
The Cherokee Nation offers bidding preference to more than 1,000 certified Native-owned businesses through its Tribal Employment Rights Office, more commonly known as TERO.
Breaking free from ESG: Financial investment and politics don’t mix
The quiet retreat from ESG and DEI activism is more than a shift in corporate trendlines. It’s a course correction and a return to disciplined, fiduciary-based stewardship.
Let nurses fix NC’s health care shortage
NC is one of only 12 states that still requires advanced practice registered nurses to maintain a costly, physician‑supervised collaborative practice agreement before they can see patients on their own.
See 'Malcolm in the Middle' family reunion on the bathroom set of sitcom revival
The 'Malcolm in the Middle' family reunited on set in a preview of the series revival, with Bryan Cranston, Frankie Muniz, and Jane Kaczmarek joining together in a sneak peek at the family bathroom.
Who is in the NFL playoffs so far? Who’s clinched, division winners, bracket update
With two weeks left in the 2025 regular season, only one team has clinched a division title. Here's a look at the NFL playoff picture in Week 17.
Final Benchmarks Of AMDVLK vs. RADV AMD Radeon Vulkan Drivers
One of the pleasant surprises this year was AMD ending the AMDVLK driver development with AMD dropping their proprietary OpenGL and Vulkan driver components on Linux at long last for their Radeon Software for Linux packages.
Google's Qi2 implementation is a disaster for anyone who owns an old charger
Google's Qi2 rollout breaks wireless charging for millions
Houston hailed as one of America's 10 best cities for startups
Houston's favorable economic climate is enticing entrepreneurs.
Got a new Google Pixel? Here are the first settings you should change
The Pixel series is one of the best Android devices available. Even though Android’s guided setup process does a fine...
I refuse to use a new Android phone without installing this free app first
It fixes Android's biggest everyday usability gap
The Death Of Clear Linux, Other Intel Linux Engineering Setbacks In 2025
When it came to the most viewed AMD Linux/open-source news of 2025 there were a lot of accomplishments for the company this year both on the CPU and graphics side of the house and from consumer to server hardware
What's new to streaming this week? (Dec. 25, 2025)
What’s new on Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ for Christmas 2025? We've got you covered.
Who are the announcers for the NFL Christmas games? Netflix, Amazon full list
The NFL is featuring a tripleheader of games on Christmas. Here's a look at the full list of broadcasters on Netflix and Amazon for each game.
Former employee accused of stealing over $215,000 from Metro Detroit moving service business
A former employee of a Metro Detroit moving services business is accused of misappropriating funds and transferring the company’s money to her personal accounts.
Netflix's Christmas NFL games are part of a trend. This chart shows how much streamers are spending on sports.
Amazon, YouTube TV, and Netflix dominate US sports streaming, accounting for 65% of the $6.5 billion spent by streamers on sports rights.
Netflix's Christmas NFL games are part of a trend. This chart shows how much streamers are spending on sports.
Amazon, YouTube TV, and Netflix dominate US sports streaming, accounting for 65% of the $6.5 billion spent by streamers on sports rights.
With Trump in Power, Democrats Try to Redefine Themselves as Disrupters
Since President Trump’s rise, Democrats have served as defenders of a political system many Americans believe is broken. Now the party is trying a new approach.
T.J. Watt returns to practice with Steelers weeks after surgery to fix partially collapsed lung
Bausch Health (BHC) Is Up 5.3% After US$1.6 Billion Debt Exchange - Has The Bull Case Changed?
Bausch Health Companies recently completed fixed-income exchange offers, issuing US$1.60 billion of new 10.00% Senior Secured Notes due 2032 to refinance existing senior secured notes under Regulation S and Rule 144A. This large-scale refinancing reshapes the company’s debt profile and may influence how investors assess its balance-sheet resilience and long-term obligations. Next, we’ll examine how this large US$1.60 billion debt exchange reshapes Bausch Health’s investment narrative and...
Scientists found a way to restore brain blood flow in dementia
A new study suggests that dementia may be driven in part by faulty blood flow in the brain. Researchers found that losing a key lipid causes blood vessels to become overactive, disrupting circulation and starving brain tissue. When the missing molecule was restored, normal blood flow returned. This discovery opens the door to new treatments aimed at fixing vascular problems in dementia.
Local sports teams triumphed in 2025 - The Chestnut Hill Local
So they aren’t from Northwest Philly -- surely just a technicality -- but we would be remiss in not starting this annual review without noting that the Eagles won Super Bowl LIX in February.
Holiday barks sold at Aldi recalled over potential undeclared pecans, wheat: FDA
Silvestri Sweets recalled Choceur-branded holiday bark sold at Aldi stores after a packaging mix-up led to undeclared allergens in the popular treats.
High school girls hockey All-Star game highlights growth of the sport on Long Island
"It's such a great thing for women's hockey," Zoe Varkaris said. "It's taken a while to get this far."
Pixel Camera brings Photo Sphere-esque Panorama mode to Pixel 8
With the Pixel 9, Google introduced a new Panorama mode, and the latest Camera update brought it to the Pixel 8 series.
2 Texas Longhorns staffers fired over sports betting violations
Two of the six people involved were "immediately" fired after the violations came to light.
Cowboys-Commanders Preview
This is not exactly what the NFL and Netflix had in mind when they thought they would be getting big-name quarterbacks Jayden Daniels vs. Dak Prescott and a high-stakes matchup of NFC East rivals Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys in the Christmas Day spotlight.
Snadragon X Elite Laptop Performance On Linux Ends 2025 Disappointing
As part of my various end-of-year benchmarking comparison articles for looking at the performance evolution of Linux is a fresh look at the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite laptop experience when using Ubuntu 25.10 with the latest X1E Concept packages, which includes taking the X1 Elite optimized kernel to the latest Linux 6.18 stable series.
The Business of Watches Podcast: Audemars Piguet CEO Ilaria Resta Drives Double-Digit Sales Increase For Brand's 150th Anniversary Year
How AP managed to grow sales amid an industry downturn and how its Chief Executive is positioning the brand for the next century.
Your TV's USB port has a forgotten feature that can revitalize an old system for free
Updating your TV's firmware can boost performance and fix bugs - even without internet.
The Year in Entertainment 2025: The TV that was top
The small screen took us everywhere from the shores of Cousins Beach to the emergency room at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center this year. Here's a look at the shows and limited series that defined 2025:It was the medical procedural drama The Pitt that scored the top prize at the Emmys this year. Led by Noah Wyle, who won the best actor in a drama Emmy for his portrayal of Dr. Robby in the new series, The Pitt's first season followed the challenges faced by health care workers on the front lines over the course of a single, 15-hour shift at the hospital. Other big winners at the ceremony included Seth Rogen's new comedy series The Studio, as well as the Netflix limited series Adolescence.Many prestige shows captured the cultural zeitgeist in 2025. Fans traveled to Thailand to check in for season 3 of The White Lotus, while the mystery at Lumon Industries continued to unfold as Severance season 2 rolled out. The Last of Us viewers mourned a fan-favorite character during its sophomore season, while Star Wars fans returned to a galaxy far, far away to bid farewell to Andor as it debuted its second and final season.Nobody could stop talking about The Summer I Turned Pretty. Whether you were team Conrad or team Jeremiah, fans couldn't keep their eyes off the dramatic third season of the teen romance series, which spanned from the U.S.'s East Coast all the way to Paris. While the series ended with Belly finally picking which brother she wanted to be with, the story isn't quite over. A feature film that will end the romantic saga has been greenlit by Prime Video.Finally, the year ended with the release of the fifth and final season of Stranger Things. It turned Netflix's streaming records upside down, accumulating 59.6 million views in its first five days and becoming the best-ever premiere week viewing numbers for an English-language series on the streaming platform.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
The best shows and movies to stream on Netflix in 2025
From the end of Stranger Things and Squid Game to the surprise hit KPop Demon Hunters.
Trump is talking about Greenland again
The fixation on Greenland once looked eccentric. Now, it seems like the distillation of his whole foreign policy.
The 6 big Wisconsin political stories to watch for in 2026
From legislation to upcoming elections and court decisions, here are six issues to watch in 2026.
Health inspectors shut down 6 Central Florida restaurants last week
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation shut down six Central Florida restaurants for health code violations during the week from Dec. 14-20.
Texas Longhorns report 6 NCAA violations related to sports betting
The Texas Longhorns have reported six more NCAA violations related to sports betting this year, bringing the 18-month total to at least 11.
Karl Mecklenburg says loss will get Broncos' attention
"It’s awesome to have a 12-game winning streak, but nothing will get your attention more fully than a loss," Karl Mecklenburg wrote.
Local business openings and closings to know
Plus, 18 ways to ring in the new year from Phoenixville to Kennett Square.
The Most Beautiful Science of the Year
The Most Beautiful Science of the Year: Insights from Nautilus in 2025
Northwestern Aims for Sixth Straight Bowl Win in GameAbove Sports Bowl
DETROIT — Northwestern football will play its second bowl game in three seasons as it takes on Central Michigan in the GameAbove Sports Bowl, hosted at Ford ...
The Velo Best Innovations of 2025: From E-bikes to Valve Cores
From the radical Also TM-B e-bike to a new standard for tire valves, these are the six technologies that pushed the boundaries of cycling in 2025.
'Palace fight will have delighted Glasner'
Former Crystal Palace forward Glen Murray says Oliver Glasner will be "delighted" with the spirit shown by his side despite their Carabao Cup quarter-final exit on Tuesday evening. The Eagles fought back after Maxence Lacroix's late own goal to equalise deep into stoppage time and force penalties away at Arsenal, before the Gunners eventually progressed by winning the shootout. "When you take into consideration the way they lost the game at the weekend against Leeds, coming away to the Emirates in the quarter-final of a cup competition and digging in in the manner that they did showed character," Murray told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
Lakers' defensive identity vanishes into Phoenix air in loss
The Lakers surrendered 45 points in a quarter in a journeyman's revenge game. A team that once knew itself is now strangers in its own locker room.
Ohio health department investigates Legionnaires’ outbreak at Christ Hospital
Three deaths reported among six cases since October
Bart Story, Entertainment Research Executive at SAG-AFTRA and MarketCast, Dies at 63
Bart Story, a veteran entertainment research executive who worked at SAG-AFTRA and MarketCast, died on Tuesday. He was 63.
Redacted Material in Some Epstein Files Is Easily Recovered
The ease of recovering information that was not properly redacted digitally suggests that at least some of the documents released by the Justice Department were hastily censored.
Hays businesses allegedly scammed out of $5,000 in online purchase
Courtesy of Pixabay By TONY GUERREROHays PostA Hays business was alleg
The Pixel 10, our favorite Android phone, is nearly 50 percent off right now
Coupon codes FTW.
Christmas 2025 entertainment roundup: 'Marty Supreme,' NFL Christmas...
This episode of Yap Session is all about the Holidays! From must watch Christmas movies to Snoop Dogg’s NFL Christmas halftime show to the highly anticipated release of “Marty...
The battle for control of Warner Bros.: A timeline of key developments
Netflix wants to buy Warner Bros. and HBO, but Paramount refuses to go away, launching a hostile bid. Here's a timeline of key developments.
Boston health officials urge flu shots as cases jump 114%
Officials said the surge is occurring a month earlier than last flu season, when similar levels were not reached until January.
Wisconsin judge sends Slender Man attacker back to mental health institution after group home escape
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin woman who almost killed her sixth-grade classmate to please the fictional horror villain known as Slender Man was ordered back to a state psychiatric hospital Tuesday after she escaped from her group home last month.
Lemon Slice nabs $10.5M from YC and Matrix to build out its digital avatar tech
Digital avatar generation company Lemon Slice is working to add a video layer to AI chatbots with a new diffusion model that can create digital avatars from a single image.
CDT Environmental Technology Reports 2025 Unaudited Interim Financial Results and Provides Business Updates
Revenue of $7.3 million and loss per share of $0.11 impacted by reduced project activity due to a slowdown in the PRC economySHENZHEN, China, Dec. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CDT Environmental Technology Investment Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: CDTG) (“CDT”, the “Company”, or “we”), a leading provider of waste treatment systems and services throughout China, today reports its unaudited interim financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2025, and provides updates on key business development
Economic growth surges in late summer, the highest in two years
“This was the strongest six months of growth since late in 2023, but it certainly didn’t feel that way for most people,” one analyst said.
The disunity of science is a feature, not a bug
Mathematical models wield miraculous power, but mistaking them for reality has trapped science in a destructive quest for a “Theory of Everything.” Physicist and philosopher Ragner Fjelland argues that this leads to bloated, Frankenstein theories kept alive by clumsy, ad-hoc amendments, which reduce rather than boost science’s power. Fjelland calls for a radical shift in our attitude: we must reorientate towards creating entirely new theories, celebrating rather than lamenting disunity and diversity in science. Science, from the scientific revolution in the seventeenth century to the present day, has more or less developed in a “reductionist” way. The fundamental assumption is that all sciences may be ordered in a hierarchy that can be represented as an upside-down pyramid. At the top we find the human sciences, and at the bottom physics. Strong (or “ontological”) reductionism maintains that all theories at one level can be completely reduced to the lower level, all the way down to theories of atoms and elementary particles, or whatever is “at the bottom.” In the end, all diversity in the world can be unified in one fundamental theory. Hence it is called a final theory, or a Theory of Everything.One of the central figures in developing the idea of a Theory of Everything is the Dutch theoretical physicist Gerard 't Hooft, who received a Nobel Prize in physics in 1999 for his work. He emphasizes the non-empirical status of the theory:There exists no closely resembling alternative theory. This means that any slight change brought about in the rules would make the theory unlikely or inelegant. The theory will be a "package deal": take it, or leave it. This should hold both for the local laws and for the boundary conditions.This endeavor is not new. On the contrary, it goes all the way back to the birth of Western philosophy 2,500 years ago. The Babylonians made regular astronomical observations during a period of 600 years, from 747 BCE until 150 ACE. They developed mathematical techniques to predict astronomical phenomena, but they made no attempts at explaining them. However, the Greeks developed models, both material and theoretical, to explain the observed phenomena.The best example is Plato’s late dialogue Timaeus. Here he introduces a divine craftsman, the Demiurge, who has constructed the universe according to an original plan. Plato seems to have thought that the original plan is what is actually real, while the material world is merely an imperfect realization of it. He therefore does not, in the Timaeus, reconstruct the material universe, but the original plan, which can then be used to explain the material universe.Plato’s aim in producing a theoretical model is to reconstruct the original plan. That is what he carries out in Timaeus—and some modern physicists have embarked on the same project. For example, Einstein’s basic attitude is reflected in the title of Abraham Pais’ biography: “Subtle is the Lord...,” echoing Einstein’s comment, “Subtle is the Lord, but malicious He is not.” In an interview Einstein compared our situation to a child who enters a huge library. The child knows that someone has written the books, but he does not know the languages in which they are written. He suspects that there is a mysterious order, but he does not know what it is.___“We have all been working in what Husserl called the Galilean style; that is, we have all been making abstract mathematical models of the universe to which at least the physicists give a higher degree of reality than they accord the ordinary world of sensation.”Steven Weinberg, Nobel Prize in Physics (1979)___This Platonist view is contrary to a widespread impression of science, symbolized by the picture of the “father” of modern science, Galileo Galilei, with his telescope. According to this impression, Galileo liberated himself from the dominating metaphysics of his day—basically Aristotelian philosophy—and constructed a telescope that he directed towards the sky, showing that Jupiter has four moons. He also performed experiments with bronze balls rolling down inclined planes and found the law of freely falling bodies.However, in other cases Galileo emphasized the unreliability of our senses. It is easy to see why. He defended Copernicus’ heliocentric hypothesis. According to this hypothesis, we are not at rest at the center of the universe, but moving at a tremendous speed through space. Why don’t we observe this motion? Galileo praises Copernicus because “with reason as his guide he resolutely continued to affirm what sensible experience seemed to contradict.” In other places he directly refers to Plato. SUGGESTED VIEWING The quest for a final theory With Michio Kaku Galileo’s Platonism goes back to his early writings. In The Assayer, published as early as 1623, Galileo compared the universe to a grand book that is written in the language of mathematics, and “its characters are triangles, circles, and other geometric figures without which it is humanly impossible to understand a single word of it.” Therefore, things that cannot be described by mathematics—for example, colors, smells and odors—are not real. They are merely subjective.This division into subjective and objective, advocated by Galileo and his younger contemporary René Descartes, is normally associated with a mechanistic world view, which is regarded as the opposite of Platonism. When we reduce something to, for example, molecules and atoms, we move “downwards.” In contrast, the Platonist moves “upwards,” to abstract entities. However, it only shows that when we address fundamental questions, we should be careful in applying everyday spatial metaphors like “up” and “down.”___Nature is complex, and we cannot in general construct mathematical models that adequately describe the world.___The endeavor of finding a Theory of Everything has been heavily criticized. In 2006, the theoretical physicist Lee Smolin published “The Crisis in Fundamental Physics.” He argued that one of the most fundamental principles of science is that we should only regard theories as scientific if we have the possibility to show that they are false by experiments. Although he did not refer to Karl Popper, other critics have referred to Popper and argued that a theory is not scientific if it cannot be falsified (see for example Ellis & Silk 2014).These were not the first physicists to be anti-reductionists. In 1972, the journal Science published an article by the physicist Philip Anderson with the title “More Is Different.” This is the kind of article a scientist would normally write only after he has won a Nobel Prize. However, Anderson won the Nobel Prize for physics five years later, in 1977. The article is amazing, not primarily because it argues in favor of anti-reductionism in general, but because it argues for anti-reductionism within physics itself. Anderson’s conclusion was:At each stage entirely new laws, concepts, and generalizations are necessary, requiring inspiration and creativity to just as great a degree as in the previous one. Psychology is not applied biology, nor is biology applied chemistry.We may say that Plato started the “unity of science movement,” based on Euclidean geometry as the model of all knowledge. A distinguishing mark of geometry is that all possible constructions can be reduced to a few fundamental principles. We have to acknowledge that this approach has limitations. In general, we can easily model technological systems. In addition, we may construct simplified and idealized models that capture important aspects of systems, from various perspectives and for various purposes. But nature is complex, and we cannot in general construct mathematical models that adequately describe the world. In a complex system, each level has its distinct, emergent, properties that are characteristic of this level. Therefore, a complex system should be investigated at different levels and from different perspectives. Instead of exclusively pursuing a scientific ideal based on the unity of science, we should acknowledge the diversity—or even the disunity—of science.
NYT Strands Hints for Dec. 24, 2025
Scroll down for hints and conversation about the puzzle for Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025.