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Watching Rome Burn & Hell Freeze
The fun physics of global cataclysmPosted in For Your Consideration
What do record fire seasons in the West, record hurricane seasons in the Atlantic, record winter storms in the South and the hottest years in history have to do with each other? Everything.
This article originally appeared in the December 2019 issue of my Astronomy Magazine column, For Your Consideration.
Schools in the Time of COVID
The Decision Will Ultimately Make ItselfPosted in Thoughts
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape. You don’t spit into the wind. Yes, schools are desperately important to kids. No, COVID-19 doesn’t care, and COVID is making the rules right now. Attempts to open schools this fall will fail of their own accord. The relevant question is how to meet the needs of children, families and the community in the face of that reality.
COVID-19 Arrives
The Humanitarian Disaster is HerePosted in Thoughts
Currently new cases of COVID-19 in Arizona are doubling every 7 days. ICU beds in the state are already full. The rest of the country isn’t that far behind us. You do the math.
Correctly Predicting Failure
It’s time for scientists to get loudPosted in Thoughts
Now is not the time for scientists to be circumspect and silent. We are on the short end of a battle over whether truth even matters. If scientists do not stand up for what is real, who will?
Typhoid Mary on Two Wheels
Spreading COVID one lap at a timePosted in Thoughts
The morning cyclist in my neighborhood may not be standing in the Michigan Statehouse carrying a gun and demanding her right to spread contagion far and wide, but she may as well be.
Pine Boxes
Invest now, the numbers are going upPosted in Success & FailureThoughts
You know those nice charts and graphs that make it look like we are over the hump of COVID-19 and that things are about to get better? Those predictions are dead wrong, with an unfortunate emphasis on “dead.”
Scientists Stuck Inside
Curiosity in the Time of COVIDPosted in For Your ConsiderationThoughts
Imagine three gregarious scientists, each with the gift of the gab, all coping with stay-at-home orders. Of course we started a livestream/podcast talk show! What else would we do? Welcome to the kickoff episode of Scientists Stuck Inside.
After COVID’s First Wave
No getting back to normalPosted in Success & FailureThoughts
Even after COVID-19 kills hundreds of thousands in the U.S. over the coming weeks, we will still be almost as vulnerable to the pandemic as we are today. We’d all love to “get back to normal” after that, but the price could be a second wave, worse than the first. Some see us facing either economic Depression or allowing vast numbers of preventable deaths, but that is a fool’s choice. There are better options if we have the will to find them.
COVID-19
Cutting through the confusionPosted in Success & FailureThoughts
There is a lot of information about COVID-19 out there, much of it misleading. When looking at the future, start with what the science really says.
Great Deceiverism 101
Explanation or Theory? Therein lies the rub.Posted in For Your ConsiderationUnreasonable Faith
If someone can’t tell you how they would know that they are wrong, they don’t have a clue whether they are right.
This article originally appeared in my Astronomy Magazine column, For Your Consideration.
One Step at a Time
The not-so-mysterious origin of lifePosted in For Your ConsiderationUnreasonable Faith
Once seemingly incomprehensible, the origin of life no longer seems such a mystery. Most of what once appeared as roadblocks are turning out to be superhighways.
This article originally appeared in my Astronomy Magazine column, For Your Consideration.
The Mind’s Siren Call
Being certain is a primrose pathPosted in For Your ConsiderationUnreasonable Faith
Being certain lights up our brains like a junkie’s next hit. Literally. Unfortunately, being certain and being right are two very, very different things.
This article originally appeared in my Astronomy Magazine column, For Your Consideration.
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Watching Rome Burn & Hell Freeze
The fun physics of global cataclysmPosted in For Your Consideration
-
Schools in the Time of COVID
The Decision Will Ultimately Make ItselfPosted in Thoughts
-
COVID-19 Arrives
The Humanitarian Disaster is HerePosted in Thoughts
-
Correctly Predicting Failure
It’s time for scientists to get loudPosted in Thoughts
-
Typhoid Mary on Two Wheels
Spreading COVID one lap at a timePosted in Thoughts
-
Pine Boxes
Invest now, the numbers are going upPosted in Success & FailureThoughts
-
Scientists Stuck Inside
Curiosity in the Time of COVIDPosted in For Your ConsiderationThoughts
-
After COVID’s First Wave
No getting back to normalPosted in Success & FailureThoughts
-
COVID-19
Cutting through the confusionPosted in Success & FailureThoughts
-
Great Deceiverism 101
Explanation or Theory? Therein lies the rub.Posted in For Your ConsiderationUnreasonable Faith
-
One Step at a Time
The not-so-mysterious origin of lifePosted in For Your ConsiderationUnreasonable Faith
-
The Mind’s Siren Call
Being certain is a primrose pathPosted in For Your ConsiderationUnreasonable Faith
-
What do record fire seasons in the West, record hurricane seasons in the Atlantic, record winter storms in the South and the hottest years in history have to do with each other? Everything.
This article originally appeared in the December 2019 issue of my Astronomy Magazine column, For Your Consideration.
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape. You don’t spit into the wind. Yes, schools are desperately important to kids. No, COVID-19 doesn’t care, and COVID is making the rules right now. Attempts to open schools this fall will fail of their own accord. The relevant question is how to meet the needs of children, families and the community in the face of that reality.
Currently new cases of COVID-19 in Arizona are doubling every 7 days. ICU beds in the state are already full. The rest of the country isn’t that far behind us. You do the math.
Now is not the time for scientists to be circumspect and silent. We are on the short end of a battle over whether truth even matters. If scientists do not stand up for what is real, who will?
The morning cyclist in my neighborhood may not be standing in the Michigan Statehouse carrying a gun and demanding her right to spread contagion far and wide, but she may as well be.
You know those nice charts and graphs that make it look like we are over the hump of COVID-19 and that things are about to get better? Those predictions are dead wrong, with an unfortunate emphasis on “dead.”
Imagine three gregarious scientists, each with the gift of the gab, all coping with stay-at-home orders. Of course we started a livestream/podcast talk show! What else would we do? Welcome to the kickoff episode of Scientists Stuck Inside.
Even after COVID-19 kills hundreds of thousands in the U.S. over the coming weeks, we will still be almost as vulnerable to the pandemic as we are today. We’d all love to “get back to normal” after that, but the price could be a second wave, worse than the first. Some see us facing either economic Depression or allowing vast numbers of preventable deaths, but that is a fool’s choice. There are better options if we have the will to find them.
There is a lot of information about COVID-19 out there, much of it misleading. When looking at the future, start with what the science really says.
If someone can’t tell you how they would know that they are wrong, they don’t have a clue whether they are right.
This article originally appeared in my Astronomy Magazine column, For Your Consideration.
Once seemingly incomprehensible, the origin of life no longer seems such a mystery. Most of what once appeared as roadblocks are turning out to be superhighways.
This article originally appeared in my Astronomy Magazine column, For Your Consideration.
Being certain lights up our brains like a junkie’s next hit. Literally. Unfortunately, being certain and being right are two very, very different things.
This article originally appeared in my Astronomy Magazine column, For Your Consideration.
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.

Saving Capitalism from Itself
IV. Three Cheers for Small Business
Free market capitalism is a remarkable system with a host of benefits. Economic freedom is key to political freedom. Capitalism is an efficient system that encourages and rewards innovation. It has the flexibility to respond quickly to changing conditions. It spurs economic growth. I am a big fan of capitalism!
But as we have seen, no system is perfect, including capitalism. Thomas Piketty’s argument is that in an unregulated capitalist system income inequality grows. It’s kind of hard to avoid the conclusion that he is right.
The question is whether that is good or bad, not just for individuals, but for the economy itself.
A Question for the Small Business Owner
I have a question for you. Suppose that you live in a town of 10,000 people, and own a restaurant. Somebody hands you (figuratively, at least) $10 million, and says that you have a choice. You can either use that $10 million to put an extra $1,000 into the pocket of everyone in town, or you could deposit that $10 million into the bank account of the richest family in town.
What would you do?
Would You Rather See Money in the Hands of Your Neighbors…
Let’s look at the practical effects of the two alternatives. If you put $1000 into the pocket of each of your neighbors, they’ll have more money to go out to eat. More customers means more business for you. Perhaps you will need to hire some more staff. Maybe you will get to take that vacation you’ve wanted, or treat yourself to a few more nights out.
Of course, your neighbors will also spend some of that money at the grocers or having some work done on their homes. The grocer will have more money to spend, and will have to hire more clerks. Contractors will have to hire more carpenters. Those grocers, clerks and carpenters like to eat at your restaurant, too, and now they have more money to do it.
Now you need to hire even more staff! Maybe it’s time to think about opening that second restaurant on the other side of town. You really are doing well! And with the money you are paying your employees, the grocers and contractors are also doing well.
If you put money into the hands of your neighbors, they spend it, and the people they spend it with spend it, too. Its economic effects are amplified.
…or Money in the Hands of a Few?
On the other hand, if you put that money into the bank account of the wealthiest family in town, they will still eat at your restaurant – but no more often than they would have anyway. They will still buy groceries, but no more than they would have. They can only eat so much. Yes, they might invest in your business – and don’t get me wrong, having piles of money around to fuel investment is important – but only if they can expect to get their money back, with interest.
Consumer Spending and a Healthy Economy
That story could be told from the perspective of the grocer, the contractor, or any other small business owner. Consumer spending directly accounts for roughly 70% of economic activity in the United States. It indirectly accounts for most of what is left. Capitalism is a wonderful system, but it only works as it should when money flows through the hands of those who spend it. If you want to create jobs and demand for good and services, put money in the hands of those who buy goods and services!
Your Self Interest may be Different than you Think That It Is
Of course, it is highly unlikely that anyone is going to walk through the door and hand you $10 million to distribute as you see fit. But every time you go to the polls you make decisions that can have exactly that effect. Everyone knows that taxes and government spending are bad for small business, right? After all, that’s what millionaire pundits on cable news and talk radio tell you all the time.
But are they right?
In any wholly unregulated capitalist economy income inequality grows unchecked. That inequality undermines the health of the economy. Government policies designed to reign in that growth in inequality are not creeping socialism or bleeding heart liberalism. Such policies are necessary for the health of capitalism itself.
Saving Capitalism from Itself: An eight part series exploring ideas from Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century
Saving Capitalism from Itself ^ IV. Three Cheers for Small Business ©
Dr. Jeff Hester
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