It’s Genetic
Returning engineering to its roots
Genetic algorithms are revolutionizing our world by reconnecting engineering with its four-billion-year-old roots.
Republished from my monthly Astronomy Magazine column, For Your Consideration.
Our Roots in the Cosmos
There’s nothing mythical about this creation story.
For the first time in history we can tell the story of our existence beginning with the origin of the universe, and ending with you sitting there reading this article. And an amazing story it is!
Republished from my Astronomy Magazine column, For Your Consideration.”
Good, Bad & Hubbled
The Dangers of Wishful Thinking
An error in Hubble’s primary mirror had the mission on life support from the very beginning. There are technical answers to exactly what happened. But the real culprit was plain, everyday wishful thinking.
Think Before You Tweet
It can feel really good to call someone out when they cross a line. But if you want to accomplishing something positive, tweeting from the hip is probably the wrong way to go.
Saving Capitalism from Itself
VIII. Win-Win or Lose-Lose, Our Choice
Much of the economic discussion between liberals and conservatives is an argument over how to arrange the deck chairs on the Titanic. The only question that really matters is how to keep the whole ship from going under. (The final installment in an 8 part series on Thomas Piketty’s “Capital in the Twenty-First Century.”)
The Good, The Bad & The Hubbled
Stories from the front lines of a wild ride
After 30 years of being associated with the Hubble Space Telescope I’ve picked up some fun stories. I’ve also learned a few things about the sometimes fine line between success and failure in complex, rapidly changing, high stakes times. This is the first in what will be an ongoing series of articles where I share a bit of what I picked up along the way.
Saving Capitalism from Itself
VII. What is Wealth?
Whether as inherited capital, high incomes or the coffers of corporate “persons,” money begats money as never before. In a modern capitalist economy, that is really all you need to know. (Part 7 in a series on Thomas Piketty’s “Capital in the Twenty-First Century.”)
Saving Capitalism from Itself
VI. Economic Fairy Tales
For 60 years, policy-makers have looked to the Kuznets Curve for evidence that a rising tide lifts all boats. It is a lovely thought, if only it were true. (Part 6 in a series on Thomas Piketty’s “Capital in the Twenty-First Century.”)
Saving Capitalism from Itself
V. Inequality in a Growing Economy
A single simple idea can change the terms of a conversation. The core of “Capital in the Twenty-First Century” is that kind of idea. It shifts the paradigm. Instead of trying to explain correlations, Piketty makes testable predictions. For those who take the time to understand him, Piketty changes the way people see. (Part 5 in a series on Thomas Piketty’s “Capital in the Twenty-First Century.”)
Saving Capitalism from Itself
IV. Three Cheers for Small Business
Anyone who owns a small business knows what they rely on more than anything else: customers with money in their pockets! (Part 4 in a series on Thomas Piketty’s “Capital in the Twenty-First Century.”)
Over his 30 year career as an internationally known astrophysicist, Dr. Jeff Hester was a key member of the team that repaired the Hubble Space Telescope. With one foot always on the frontiers of knowledge, he has been mentor, coach, team leader, award-winning teacher, administrator and speaker, to name a few of the hats he has worn. His Hubble image, the Pillars of Creation, was chosen by Time Magazine as among the 100 most influential photographs in history.