The rule of law demands that similar cases have similar outcomes. Otherwise, the law won’t be equitable and fair. And the public won’t accept arbitrary court rulings that lack sound reasoning. So, lawyers use reasoning when they urge juries and judges to rule for their clients. And judges must use logic to explain their decisions.
法庭控、辩中的逻辑推理 Continue reading »
Amanda was three years old and had no interest in learning to use the bathroom. Her father, Steven Levitt, decided to try something new. He told his daughter, “Amanda, every time you go pee pee in the potty, I’m going to give you M&Ms. Okay?” Amanda loved M&Ms. At first, the plan seemed to be working perfectly. Amanda started going to the bathroom to pee. Levitt was very pleased with himself. But just a few days later, things changed. A few minutes after Amanda went to the bathroom, she said she had to go again! Every few minutes, she wanted to try to pee – just so she could get her candy reward. This wasn’t what Levitt had in mind at all.
为什么我们要关注经济学 Continue reading »
“Everyday, theWorld Mind churns out new inventions. It cures diseases,finds new ways of making things,builds new robots andother machines, and even creates new forms of art, music, drama, and sport. It hasslowly reversedclimate change, backing Earth away from the brink of environmentaldisaster… The World Mind protects all the animals and plants in the world and has foundways to make and distribute food,clothing,andshelter so that no one experiences poverty. It has built and launched starships to explore the galaxy. It has also established societies and governments that keep everyone at peace. War belongs to thedistant past. “
As you’re learning, there are many amazing techniques available to modern archaeologists. These involve detailed study of small areas of ground, but how do people know where to start looking in the first place?
I didn’t set out to become a science writer. I wrote fantasy stories about magic portals and imaginary worlds all through grade school, high school, and college. But then I got an internship at a children’s magazine group, and all of their magazines were nonfiction. Toward the end of my internship, the science magazine’s editor wanted to profile a biometrics expert in one issue, and she asked me to do the interview. I agreed, but I was terrified. Would this person agree to talk to me? Would she know I’d never done this before? I knew nothing about biometrics . Would I sound stupid?
一名科普作家的写作经验 Continue reading »
Wild nature seems to be the opposite of a human city. In nature, curvy and messy lines dominate, while in a city, most lines are straight and neat. In nature, the weather changes from rain to heat to cold, while in a city, roofs and heating and cooling systems keep people comfortable. In nature, growth happens chaotically, while in a city, growth is planned and controlled. In a city, people often pave over nature or fence it in. They tame it to the point that it may be hard to notice. But nature is always there. In fact, it is essential.
When you think of a city, you probably think of busy streets and towering skyscrapers . But the city doesn’t just reach up into the sky. It also extends down below the earth. Hidden beneath buildings and roads, a complex network of wires and pipes brings residents electricity, water, and gas and also removes their waste. Underground tunnels house subway systems, storage rooms, or other structures. In many cities, space above ground is so precious and crowded that engineers are finding new, creative ways to use underground space. Singapore is one of those cities. Here, the underground is already used for many purposes, and the city government is looking into ways to build even more underground structures. “You can build up, but there is a limit,” said John Keung when he was CEO of Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority. “The only thing left is to go underground.”
