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The 17th-C. plague in London: now we know. How DNA (and Daniel Defoe) reveal the killer bacteria's identity in one of history's longest cold cases. From the article: Testing in Germany confirmed the presence of DNA from the Yersinia pestis bacterium - the agent that causes bubonic plague - rather than another pathogen. Some authors have previously questioned the [...]
Humanities Watch Do you find more need these days to voice the value of the humanities? A new website and newsletter offers help. Who watches the watchmen, who guards the guardians? If the humanities are central to the history of our schools, and thus our way of life, do they stand watch over our leading [...]
A letter about writing: a correspondent argues against the mania for writing Editor’s note: The following letter, printed below in its entirety, was written in response to an earlier post, Against Reading. The editorial staff does not typically sanction the placement of readers’ letters in the monthly Observations, yet found that the author’s candor [...]
An encounter with Renaissance art, and its consequence: Boris Pasternak reflects on culture and individual genius. The chief thing that everyone carries away from an encounter with Italian art is the sensation of the tangible unity of our culture, whatever he may have seen this in, and whatever name he may give it. How much [...]
Looking toward the past, and the future, on New Year's Day
Seamus Heaney, Jeanette Winterston and others discuss the life and work of T.S. Eliot. Erwin Schrödinger reviews the history of philosophy and science in considering "do electrons think?" Gary Radke speaks on art history and seeing beyond first impressions. Bertrand Russell's interview with the BBC, at [...]
Grundlos: Watch out, you almost ran me over! Where are you rushing off to? Magnus: I'm off to give a talk and I'm in a hurry. Grundlos: What is the talk about? You're not very dressed up. Magnus: Look, that's not necessary. It's about the meaning of STEM. Grundlos: What is STEM? Magnus: Don't you [...]
