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I have a joke about the Nobel Prize, but only white men will get it

World / /

In 1895, Swedish scientist and industrialist Alfred Nobel drafted a will stating that most of his fortune be reserved as prizes “to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind.” Presented within the categories of Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economics, the Nobel Prizes have come […]

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Re-envisioning quantum physics: The curious saga between gravity and superposition

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One of the tenets of quantum physics is the concept of superposition, which, like in the oft-lectured case of Schrödinger’s cat, occurs when a particle exists in multiple states and locations at once. A common misinterpretation of the phenomenon remains that particles seemingly maintain this dual existence until observed. In fact, the particle’s collapse of

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Music, math, and the mind: Why do we perceive musical chords as good or bad?

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A symphony resounds, stirring feelings of peace and fear, sadness and joy, all in one piece and all without words. This absence of words in a classical symphony, or any instrumental piece, leaves just musical properties as the cause of an emotional response. Intuitively, most would say that fast tempos and loud dynamics create energy

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A method to madness: The mathematical basis for the butterfly effect

Environment, World / /

In the blockbuster hit “Jurassic Park,” fan-favorite Jeff Goldblum stars as the eccentric Ian Malcolm. As a critic of the magnificent park, Malcolm often claims that nature is best in its most primal form, untouched, as even small artificial changes can have dire consequences. This notion is known as the butterfly effect, a small piece

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STEM for BLM, Part 4: Diversity in Academia

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This article continues a series on anti-racism in STEM co-authored by Northeastern alum Claire Williams. A fully collaborative effort, see the list of authors, contributors, as well as the series in its entirety at the following website: https://antiracisminstem.wordpress.com/ See other installments in this series: [ 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 ] 6. “Diversity initiatives are unfair to non-minority students/faculty; it’s reverse discrimination.”

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STEM for BLM, Part 3: The Myth of “Merit”

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This article continues a series on anti-racism in STEM co-authored by Northeastern alum Claire Williams. A fully collaborative effort, see the list of authors, contributors, as well as the series in its entirety at the following website: https://antiracisminstem.wordpress.com/ See other installments in this series: [ 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 ] 4. “I only hire/award/cite based on merit; I

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The Fermentation Revolution: How Noma Is Transforming the Future of Food

Biology, World / /

“I came all the way across the sea to learn something I can’t learn in the States,” Victor Eng tells me. “This is the place to create new products. We’re creating the standard right now. No restaurant in the world is doing this.” Eng is studying the formulation of new flavors at Noma, in Copenhagen,

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Miyazaki’s masterful meals: Adding meaning to food in film

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What comes to mind when you imagine an appetizing spread? Vivid colors, thoughtful plating, perhaps some steam rising off the table. Zoom out and think of some other components. Deep aromas fill the room, perhaps with some ambient music and light chatter. Are you enjoying this meal with family and friends? Or are you eating

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