Cyclone Nargis is not the first tragedy to befall the Burmese. The oppressive, violent rule of the military junta has been under international scrutiny for the past twenty years. Now, after Cyclone Nargis, that same regime is responsible for providing … Lire / Read
Mirroring Minds
Social interaction depends on the ability to recognize the beliefs, knowledge and experiences that determine the actions of others. How we gather this abstract information was largely unknown before the last decade,when researchers discovered mirror neurons in the monkey brain. … Lire / Read
The Most Imperfect Mirror
Scientists in New York have recently constructed a blanket of carbon nanotubes shown to be the blackest material ever made, or, put another way, a nearly perfect anti-mirror. Nanotubes seem to have found their way into the spotlight yet … Lire / Read
The Sound Mirrors: A History of the Future of War Noises
In an effort to detect oncoming enemy aircraft by means of acoustic amplification of the propellers’ drone, Britain built a series of concrete Sound Mirrors between 1915-1935. Primitive, massive and accidentally sculptural, the Sound Mirrors represent a lost link in … Lire / Read
The End of Suburbia, or the Return to Centrality?
Social trends and consumer preferences appear to spell the end of the suburbs and the resurgence of downtown living, but for many, suburbia is not a lifestyle choice. In Toronto, the suburbs are only now becoming what they have long … Lire / Read
Authentic Art and Creative Preservation
Authentic artworks compel recognition, respect, and protection. Unless mistaken for the real thing, forgeries typically don’t. Philosophers have provided numerous accounts of the importance of aesthetic authenticity, conceptions of what constitutes authenticity in art, and suggestions for how the art … Lire / Read
The Soundtrack to the Revolution
Throughout the 20th century, protest music had been the backbeat of anti-war movements from West to East. But response to the Iraq War has not generated a sustained protest within the spectrum of popular music today. Has a new type … Lire / Read
Learning One Language is Good, Learning Two is Better
Parents and educators often debate and struggle with the decision to raise a child bilingually or whether to focus on one language first. I spoke with Dr. Fred Genesee, a leading expert in the domain of bilingualism and child development, … Lire / Read
Is There a Link Between Biodiversity Loss and Economic Inequality?
By examining economic distribution in various countries, can we better understand the impact these countries have on their indigenous plant and animal species? Recent research suggests that we can1. A consideration of income inequality may improve our ability … Lire / Read
Politics and Sport: An Incompatible Duo
With time running down to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, international political pressure has increased on China to assume accountability for its poor human rights record, domestically and abroad. While the media contemplates the appropriateness of sport and politics … Lire / Read