Things We Love for Spring | 20.13.16

Since the 1950s, discussions about AI have largely revolved around a big, tantalizing question: What can machines do, and where might they hit a wall? Will they ever truly think, understand, or maybe even become conscious? Could they reach the so-called “heights of human intelligence”?

REVIVING a beloved series from our archives, we’re bringing back our curated collection of recent discoveries. Previously known as “10 Things We Loved this Week” and later evolving through various iterations like “(Five) Things We Love Lately” and “Things in my Saved Folder /001,” this edition offers an eclectic mix of cultural curiosities.

Why do rocks fall? Before Isaac Newton introduced his revolutionary law of gravity in 1687, many natural scientists and philosophers thought that rocks fell because falling was an essential part of their nature.

The art of gifting lies in finding those special pieces that feel both thoughtful and unexpected. As the holiday season approaches, we’ve curated two carefully considered gift guides—one for the men in your life, and another featuring elevated essentials for yourself or those close to you.

On a languid, damp July morning, I meet weed scientist Aaron Hager outside the old Agronomy Seed House at the University of Illinois’ South Farm. In the distance are round barns built in the early 1900s, designed to withstand Midwestern windstorms.

It isn’t every day that psychologists identify a hot new character archetype. Human design doesn’t usually generate media stories about “the most-talked-about personality trait for autumn/winter”. And yet, something close to this is unfolding with the current fascination with so-called “dark empaths”.