We needed a working definition of the word “scoundrel”. For that, we headed to lexicographer Erin McKean. She’s the founder and CEO of the online dictionary Wordnik. She was also the Principal Editor of The New Oxford American Dictionary. Steve Paulson sat down with her.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
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The average American voter is NOT smarter than a 5th grader, doesn't understand basic political facts and should probably not be allowed to vote. Philosopher Jason Brennan makes the case for an epistocracy: the rule of the knowledgeable.
Neuroscientist David Eagleman says most of the brain's real action happens below the level of the conscious mind. He calls the brain "a team of rivals," since different parts of the brain compete against each other.
Anthropologist Alia Gurtov was one of the first people to crawl into the Dinaledi Chamber to see the Homo naledi fossils. She describes the harrowing climb into the cave, where she had to crawl through tiny passages to retrieve the bones.
In 2006, Barack Obama was the new darling of the Democratic Party and was considering a Presidential run in 2008.
Nicholas Felton transforms data into something beautiful. As a self-described "information designer" and extremely dedicated life logger, he tracks aspects of his life over the course of the year and then publishes them as "annual reports."
E.O. Wilson may know more about ants than anyone else on the planet...
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