12 Great Articles by Steven Johnson
Essential articles about history, technology, psychology and information, all free to read onlineHistory
How Humanity Gave Itself an Extra Life
Between 1920 and 2020, the average human life span doubled. How did we do it?Change Of Seasons
Our ancestors may have shifted back and forth between different work routines and social structures, often in tune with the seasons. Would that be a better way to live?When Dynamite Turned Terrorism Into an Everyday Threat
In early 20th-century America, political bombings became a constant menace — but then helped give rise to law enforcement as we know it50 more articles about history
Science & Technology
The Brilliant Inventor Who Made Two of History’s Biggest Mistakes
A century ago, Thomas Midgley Jr. was responsible for two phenomenally destructive innovations. What can we learn from them today?A.I. Is Mastering Language. Should We Trust What It Says?
OpenAI’s GPT-3 and other neural nets can now write original prose with mind-boggling fluency — a development that could have profound implications for the future...Why Inventors Misjudge How We'll Abuse Their Creations
On possibilities that somehow escaped our field of vision but that, in retrospect, seem glaringly obvious...100 more articles about science & technology
Psychology
The Human Brain Is a Time Traveler
When people were told to sit and do nothing, the PET scans showed a distinct surge of mental energy in some regions. The resting state turned out to be more active than the active state...Dome Improvement
Pop quiz: Why are IQ test scores rising around the globe? (Hint: Stop reading the great authors and start playing Grand Theft Auto.)TV Makes You Smarter
How sophisticated TV programming may be driving up our IQs100 more articles about psychology
Information
Greetings, E.T. (Please Don’t Murder Us.)
Is it irresponsible to tinker with interstellar outreach when such gestures, however noble their intentions, might lead to the destruction of all life on earth?Own Your Own Words
The ubiquity of Google has made it easy to gain control of a word or phrase, what effect is this new power having?The Creative Apocalypse That Wasn't
In the digital economy, it was supposed to be impossible to make money by making art. Instead, creative careers are thriving — but in complicated and unexpected ways40 more articles about information
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