An analysis debunking claims about extremely high IQ scores (160+) reveals that such measurements become increasingly unreliable and meaningless at higher ranges. Historical genius figures like Einstein likely had more modest IQs around 120-130, with test scores being highly variable and practice-dependent. The correlation between IQ and real-world outcomes diminishes significantly beyond certain thresholds.
A deeply personal account chronicles the author's transformative year at age forty, marked by her husband Jake's death from cancer and the birth of their daughter Athena, exploring how grief and motherhood have fundamentally altered her brain, body, and identity. The narrative weaves together scientific insights about neurological changes in grief and motherhood with raw emotional experiences, while examining the complex nature of loss and new beginnings.
Historical examples demonstrate how anticipatory obedience enables authoritarian regimes to expand their power, illustrated by events in Nazi Germany and Austria. Stanley Milgram's famous psychological experiments revealed humans' surprising willingness to comply with authority figures, even when asked to harm others. The text explores how voluntary compliance and adaptation to new rules can lead to rapid societal transformation and devastating consequences.
Publishing content without an immediate audience still holds inherent value by forcing clarity of thought and serving as a record of personal growth. Like street photography, blogging is valuable for the act itself, helping structure thoughts and potentially reaching the right person at the right time.
A detailed analysis comparing large language models to psychic cold reading techniques reveals striking parallels in how both create illusions of intelligence through statistical responses and subjective validation. The author argues that LLMs are mathematical models producing statistically plausible outputs rather than demonstrating true intelligence, suggesting many AI applications may be unintentionally replicating classic mentalist techniques.
A discussion between Rachel Feltman and Tanya Lewis explores 'outrage fatigue', a phenomenon where constant exposure to moral transgressions leads to emotional numbness and disengagement. Research shows that while outrage can help identify problems, excessive exposure through social media can lead to withdrawal from public discourse and increased spread of misinformation.