Science as remembering – the case of Roman concrete

It is a common mistake to think that modern methods of production are superior to what has come before, or that we are, in our time, at the pinnacle of knowledge. A lot of knowledge has been lost or forgotten over the years, and rediscovering old knowledge can be as powerful as producing entirely new… Continue reading Science as remembering – the case of Roman concrete

The US returns to the endless frontier?

The organization and funding of science is a key geopolitical competitive advantage - and badly underrated across most economies. The European Union has failed at organizing tightly around scientific challenges, relying on large flagship programs that fragment into systems for distributing money across member states and the US has lost track of the post-world war… Continue reading The US returns to the endless frontier?

Can money buy you happiness? On comfort science.

In what has become the accepted wisdom, income does not increase your happiness over some level - usually at around 75000 USD / year. But in a recent paper on PNAS that claim was shown to be false...or was it? The debate that has been raging about the paper since it came out has been… Continue reading Can money buy you happiness? On comfort science.