Science
Models v. Evidence
COVID-19 has revealed a contest between two competing philosophies of scientific knowledge. To manage the crisis, we must draw on both.
Hydroxychloroquine and the Political Polarization of Science
How a drug became an object lesson in political tribalism.
Recessions often improve population health, but COVID-19 may be different
Mortality rates typically fall during economic downturns. But the unprecedented features of the COVID-19 shutdown suggest that trend might not hold this time.
New Pathogen, Old Politics
We should be wary of simplistic uses of history, but we can learn from the logic of social responses.
Eight Needed Steps in the Fight Against COVID-19
In addition to masks and ventilators, doctors demand a fundamental transformation of our health care system.
Markets v. Lives
Claims that the cure is worse than the disease rely on a false tradeoff between human needs and the economy.
Alone Against the Virus
Decades of neoliberal austerity will make it harder to fight the pandemic. We must rebuild our social safety net and forge a New Deal for public health.
The Robots Are Coming
Rumors of thinking robots are greatly exaggerated. Still, we cannot leave decisions about even lesser AI in the hands of those who stand to profit from its use.
Science Won’t Settle Trans Rights
Appeals to the biological facts conceal a deeper contest over political equality—and scientific authority itself.
Science Hasn’t Refuted Free Will
A growing chorus says that science has shown free will to be an illusion. But it actually has offered arguments in its favor.
Science for Sale
Using a variety of ploys to manufacture doubt, a whole industry of science-for-hire experts helps corporations put profits over public health and safety.
Technology Can’t Fix Algorithmic Injustice
We need greater democratic oversight of AI not just from developers and designers, but from all members of society.
What Is Medicine For?
In place of the hype over personalized medicine, we need a more sober evaluation of the meaning of health and health care.
AI’s Human Problem
Two new books about machine creativity mostly reveal how little appreciation we still have for the full range of human creativity.
What Makes Science Trustworthy
The “scientific method” of high school textbooks does not exist. But there are scientific methods.
What the Health Care Debate Still Gets Wrong
Contrary to the Obama administration, U.S. health care spending isn’t high because Americans use too much medicine. The real culprit is our fragmented and privatized system.
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