It turns out that a computer running a mathematical formula can more accurately predict patients’ wishes than family members can. But should a computer be allowed to override a human in a life-or-death situation?
Author Archives: Mikki Gibson
Why Getting to Know Your Neighbors Is More Important Than You Realize
In some neighborhoods, people barely make eye contact before locking the door behind them. Here are some of the benefits of taking a different approach.
Elizabethan Theatre Conventions
A longtime drama teacher spells out the most important conventions of drama to understand when reading Shakespeare.
High-tech approach to taming New Mexico’s wild horses
While taming wild horses is every bit a tricky as it was when Sabine Ulibarri wrote “My Wonder Horse,” at least one thing has changed—now technology can lend a hand.
The Japanese Festival of the Dead: Obon
Learn about traditional lantern festivals in Japan.
Take It from ‘Hamilton’: Why Unyielding Ambition Is a Blessing and a Curse
An entrepreneur applies themes from a hit musical to his career choices.
The Aleppo Project
Stay on top of the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Syria.
How I stopped the Taliban from shutting down my school
Sakena Yacoobi’s education gave her the opportunity to live comfortably in the United States, but she felt called to educate girls in her homeland despite daunting challenges. Hear about her heroic choice in her own words.
The teenage brain on social media
A recent study digs into how susceptible teens are to peer pressure online.
Four Pulitzer-winning takes on the rise of Adolf Hitler
Read four articles written during the 1930s for a glimpse of how a dictator’s growing power was perceived at the time.
First Proof That Wild Animals Really Can Communicate With Us
It’s no surprise that we communicate with our pets, but now there’s evidence that humans actively communicate and cooperate with wild animals, to the benefit of both species.
Was There a Trojan War?
Read about what archaeologists excavating a site in modern-day Turkey have determined.
Phobia Makes Spiders Appear Larger Than They Are
Believe it or not, fear actually alters the way we perceive things!
The Decline of Violence
We may perceive the world as being increasingly violent, but a look at long-term trends reveals the opposite. Why is our view of violence at odds with reality?
Fake-Nature
Technology imitates nature in creative ways designed to benefit and inspire humans. Learn about several innovative fake-nature projects.
Why Shakespeare’s English is still relevant today
A professor shares her approach for teaching Shakespeare’s works to students whose first language is not English.
Macbeth Defeated at Dunsinane
Dig into the history of the real-life Macbeth.
Texas teenager creates $20 water purifier to tackle toxic e-waste pollution
Learn how one teenager pursued his fascination with technology to develop a solution to a difficult modern problem.
I survived a terrorist attack. Here’s what I learned.
The bombing of a London subway station in 2005 may have been meant to drive a wedge between people, but one survivor feels that it brought her closer to the rest of humanity.
9/11 hero’s actions become a lesson in character
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, shocked the nation but may seem like ancient history because they happened before you were born. The family of one of that day’s countless heroes is working to help today’s students understand the decisions that mattered on that day.