Science & Society
Murray Gell-Mann’s ‘totalitarian principle’ is the modern version of Plato’s plenitude
The ancient principle of plenitude is reborn in the modern belief that whatever can exist must exist.
Context
Science past and present
More Stories in Context
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Science & SocietyThese are the top 10 landmarks in the history of making measurements
Little appreciated but vastly important, metrology celebrates a long history with the adoption of new definitions for key units.
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Science & SocietyBlack hole image validates imagining the unimaginable
Human creativity conjured up the most extreme of astronomical phenomena long before they could be seen.
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Science & SocietyThis Greek philosopher had the right idea, just too few elements
The ancient Greek philosopher Empedocles wrongly believed matter to consist of just four elements, but he grasped the basic idea of forces governing unchanging matter.
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Science & SocietyTop 10 science anniversaries to celebrate in 2019
Top 10 science anniversaries in 2019 include expeditions, treatises and tabulations.
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Science & SocietyBefore his early death, Riemann freed geometry from Euclidean prejudices
The originator of Riemann’s hypothesis died young, but he provided the geometry needed for modern view of spacetime.
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Science & Society5 decades after his death, George Gamow’s contributions to science survive
George Gamow, irreverent physicist and prolific popularizer, died half a century ago.
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AstronomyPluto’s demotion ignores astronomical history
A historical review of asteroids’ planetary status suggests Pluto’s demotion was not justified.
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Science & SocietyIn honor of his centennial, the Top 10 Feynman quotations
Nobel laureate Richard Feynman left many quotable observations on science and life.
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Science & SocietyA celebration of curiosity for Feynman’s 100th birthday
Richard Feynman, born a century ago, was a curious character in every sense of the word.