Blog Archives

AI cannot automate science – a philosopher explains the uniquely human aspects of doing research

AI cannot automate science – a philosopher explains the uniquely human aspects of doing research

Consistent with the general trend of incorporating artificial intelligence into nearly every field, researchers and politicians are increasingly using AI models trained on scientific data to infer answers to scientific questions. But can AI ultimately replace scientists? The Trump administration signed an executive order on Nov. 24, 2025, that announced the Genesis Mission, an initiative to build […] … learn more→

Science is best communicated through identity and culture – how researchers are ensuring STEM serves their communities

Science is best communicated through identity and culture – how researchers are ensuring STEM serves their communities

Lived experiences shape how science is conducted. This matters because who gets to speak for science steers which problems are prioritized, how evidence is translated into practice and who ultimately benefits from scientific advances. For researchers whose communities have not historically been represented in science – including many people of color, LGBTQ+ and first-generation scientists – identity is […] … learn more→

What the hyperproduction of AI slop is doing to science

What the hyperproduction of AI slop is doing to science

Over the past three years, generative artificial intelligence (AI) has had a profound impact on society. AI’s impact on human writing, in particular, has been enormous. The large language models that power AI tools such as ChatGPT are trained on a wide variety of textual data, and they can now produce complex and high-quality texts of […] … learn more→

“Small” things we owe to Albert Einstein

“Small” things we owe to Albert Einstein

If we were to ask people on the street for the name of a scientist, the answers would mostly be divided between Albert Einstein , Marie Curie , Isaac Newton , Stephen Hawking and local scientists, such as Santiago Ramón y Cajal , or those who appeared in films, such as Robert Oppenheimer . According to some polls , the first four would get approximately between 60% and […] … learn more→

Science has always been marketed, from 18th-century coffeehouse demos of Newton’s ideas to today’s TikTok explainers

Science has always been marketed, from 18th-century coffeehouse demos of Newton’s ideas to today’s TikTok explainers

People often see science as a world apart: cool, rational and untouched by persuasion or performance. In this view, scientists simply discover truth, and truth speaks for itself. But history tells a different story. Scientific theories do not simply reveal themselves; they compete for attention, credibility and uptake. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. once suggested […] … learn more→

Do we have free will to follow technological innovations?

Do we have free will to follow technological innovations?

The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, awarded notably to Philippe Aghion, has brought renewed emphasis to the benefits of technological innovation and its crucial role in economic growth. But are there not also forced innovations? The philosophy of Ivan Illich can shed light on this question. In theory, we […] … learn more→

Simply knowing about open science is not enough to prevent unethical research behavior

Simply knowing about open science is not enough to prevent unethical research behavior

Open science awareness alone is not enough to create an ethical research climate, especially without the support of an adequate research ecosystem. Publication pressures and quantitative incentives often lead to unethical research practices. A change in research culture based on quality and transparency is needed to create a healthy research ecosystem. Awareness of open science does not […] … learn more→

Many US states are rethinking how students use cellphones − but digital tech still has a place in the classroom

Many US states are rethinking how students use cellphones − but digital tech still has a place in the classroom

Across the United States, more schools are implementing policies restricting cellphones as concerns about digital distraction, mental health and academic performance rise. The scale of the issue is significant. According to a 2023 report from Common Sense Media, 97% of students between the ages of 11 and 17 use their cellphones at least once during the school day. These students spend […] … learn more→

The robotic mirror: Are we humans so good that we want copies?

The robotic mirror: Are we humans so good that we want copies?

Robots make headlines when they imitate us: they converse in almost human voices, write texts that sound like ours, or “read” emotions on a screen. But the truly important leap is another: to stop copying us and start complementing us, designing capabilities that fill in our gaps—attention, biases, fatigue—and valuing machines for their impact on […] … learn more→

What if we used screens to be closer to nature?

What if we used screens to be closer to nature?

For some years now, children have been spending more and more time at home or indoors, staring at a screen, and less time outdoors or in natural spaces. This loss of contact with the natural environment has consequences for their development. Among the many concerns raised by this increase in screen use ( sedentary lifestyle, isolation, overexposure, and even addiction ), […] … learn more→