How our explanation of the world is increasingly simplistic. — We live in a paradoxical age of reasoning. Despite an increasing abundance of easily accessible information, our desire and ability to grasp nuance have been slowly diminishing. Complex problems are withered down, and lazy thinking prevails. We’ve entered an era of everythingism — the unhealthy practice in which a simplistic…

One indicator of how broken our nation is the continual, visual erosion of trust. Trust in the government has plunged. After two years of remote work, workers’ faith in their colleagues has dropped significantly. Experts are seen as less reliable. Religious institutions, once known as beacons of hope during crises…

There is a famous Nietzsche quote that states, “beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster… for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you.” …

Last week the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to Ardem Patapoutian, a brilliant neuroscientist at Scripps Research in La Jolla. Patapoutian discovered the receptors that make us sense heat, cold, pain, and sound. Dr. Patapoutian’s research on touch, however, has garnered the most media attention. The Lebanese immigrant discovered…

As we slowly emerge from the pandemic for many the fog of loneliness appears to be lifting. Social avenues like coffee shops, bars, and restaurants are open for friends to congregate and catch up. Those wanting to be around crowds can attend concerts and movies. …

So often during sheltering in place, only the bright red floral shirts of Trader Joe’s staff broke up the monotony of my pandemic funk. The usual 30 minute wait was enough time to salivate in anticipation over the array of goodies such as dark chocolate peanut butter cups, dried mangos…

How my in-person connections forever shaped me — For all those who speak about the wonders of remote work, I wonder if they’ve ever considered its impact on our everyday relationships, big and small. Remote work is becoming more of a norm than an exception. …

From the start of his tenure, President Joe Biden has made it clear that he plans to center his foreign policy around climate change. With the president appointing veteran diplomat John Kerry, as well as seasoned public servants such as Gina McCarthy and Samantha Powers, he clearly indicated his intention…

One of the first people I met while living in New York was a funeral director named Michael Fengullo. The Brooklyn-born, broad-shouldered, fifty-year-old man has made his living burying the dead for over three decades. The life-long Italian bachelor has helped thousands send off and put away their loved ones…