Once upon a time, university lectures were accompanied by the sound of pens scribbling on paper. But if you go into a lecture hall today, you will hear students tapping on laptops. Devices are now an accepted and important part of modern learning. But this does not necessarily mean students should forget the old-fashioned ways of […] … learn more→

Not long ago I attended a concert. It was a band that I had been waiting a while to see and so I was excited to be there in the crowd. Part way through, they played my favourite song and I noticed that I felt something different. It felt like a pinnacle moment where the […] … learn more→

A few years ago, when a child or teenager arrived home, and while they remained there, we knew that there were a number of dangers to which they were no longer exposed. Today, with widespread access to the Internet and social networks, children and teenagers can be physically safe in the comfort of their home, […] … learn more→

Those who wrote and wrangled over America’s Constitution might be troubled by the second presidency of Donald J. Trump. While almost all modern presidents flex their muscles in the initial stages of their administration, the first weeks of the second Trump presidency have seen a rapid-fire, often dizzying array of executive actions that have sparked heated, even virulent, disputes […] … learn more→

Can you imagine if the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima was due to a translation error? Well, this is something that has been speculated about a lot: whether the interpretation that the Japanese made of the ultimatum sent by the Americans and the use of the Japanese word “mokusatsu” influenced the course of events. Much has […] … learn more→

Americans hold on to their “freedom of expression”, a marker of their history , which is distinct from French freedom of expression. Historically, freedom of speech in the United States was coupled with freedom of the press, since it was essentially through the latter that one could express oneself publicly. The First Amendment stipulated as early as […] … learn more→

Badly behaved artificial intelligence (AI) systems have a long history in science fiction. Way back in 1961, in the famous Astro Boy comics by Osamu Tezuka, a clone of a popular robot magician was reprogrammed into a super-powered thief. In the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, the shipboard computer HAL 9000 turns out to be more sinister […] … learn more→

In the wake of Donald Trump’s reelection, the United States has lurched further toward a democratic crisis. Institutions once considered stable now feel precarious. The assault on truth — already well underway — has intensified, with political leaders openly flouting constitutional principles, suppressing dissent and dismantling democratic safeguards. The rhetoric of grievance and retribution has become the […] … learn more→

It’s been a very busy fortnight. I’ve been immersed in a very deep research hangout. So what is a deep research hangout I hear you ask, and why was I in one? Well, even though I am currently in Australia I am still working with a team in England on a big research project looking at the […] … learn more→

The school choice movement received a major boost on Jan. 29, 2025, when President Donald Trump issued an executive order supporting families who want to use public money to send their children to private schools. The far-reaching order aims to redirect federal funds to voucher-type programs. Vouchers typically afford parents the freedom to select nonpublic schools, including faith-based ones, […] … learn more→