According to historian Thomas Laqueur, neither sanitation nor the soul fully explain the rang of rituals we've developed for caring for dead bodies. For him, there is a deeper anthropological truth at work: caring for the dead marks the human transition from nature into culture.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
Emily Parker bookmarks Mario Vargas Llosa's "Conversation in the Cathedral."
Anthony Zuiker, creator of "CSI", tells Steve Paulson that getting the science right in “CSI” is crucial; remembers how great it was when the Mob ran Las Vegas; and admits he’s the show’s gambling expert.
Daniel B. Smith tells Anne Strainchamps that both his father and grandfather heard voices, but led perfectly ordinary lives.
Psychiatrist Darold Treffert regards savants as "islands of genius." He talks about a lifetime of studying savant syndrome.
You can also listen to the EXTENDED interview, and read the extended transcript.
Science researcher and author Clifford Pickover tells Steve Paulson that God may exist on the fringes of human perception.
There are lots of ways to amplify our senses, from hallucinogens to cochlear implants. A few people are taking it further, creating original sensory experiences by implanting new technologies in their bodies.
Artist Neil Harbisson is greyscale color blind. He designed a new electronic body part that would help him experience color.
If you want to hear about the art Neil makes thanks to his new sense, here's his extended interview.
David Gessner wants to change the way people write about nature. Instead of the traditional stories about wild animals in pristine landscapes, he calls for a style of nature writing that's messy, even raucous.
Pages
