Feelings that one is a fraud who doesn’t deserve their success, known as imposter syndrome, is an extremely common phenomenon. Why can’t so many of us shake feelings that our ideas and skills aren’t worthy of others’ attention?
Author Archives: wesleyb
How Ads (and People) Persuade You
If you can recognize when you’re being persuaded, it’s a lot easier to make sure your opinions are actually your own.
Talos the First Robot
There’s a lot of talk in the news these days about advances in robotics and artificial intelligence. But, while the technology is new, the ideas for it are not. Many scholars consider the Greek myth of Talos to be the first representation of a robot in literature and art. Watch this video to learn more about this ancient, and powerful, mechanical man.
The zombie fungus from ‘The Last Of Us’ is real — but not nearly as deadly
There’s been a lot of fungus talk in the news after the popular Last of Us video game became a popular TV show. In the show, people are turned into zombies by a new form of fungus that takes over their brains. And guess what? It’s real! Well, sort of–it’s only real for insects. Should we be worried? Or do fungi do more to help humans than harm them?
Adventures in 21st Century Copyright — AI-generated comic artwork loses US Copyright protection
It seems artificial intelligence is everywhere these days, and the world of art is no exception. This has led to many questions, such as “can AI-generated art be copyrighted?” Courts have started to weigh-in and so far, the answer seems to be that machine generated art should not get the same protections as human-created images.
Why Australia Bottles Up Its Air
Land is one thing, but is it possible to explore the very air of the past? Thanks to some forward-thinking scientists in Australia, it is!
And it is all because of the Cape Grim Air Archive, which has been capturing samples of some of the most pristine air on the planet for nearly 50 years.
Theater Experience in Shakespeare’s Lifetime
Today we study Shakespeare in school and often see his plays in formal settings, but is that how they were meant to be experienced? Learn more about what going to see a play was really like when Shakespeare’s theater company put them on stage for the first time.
Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Lake’
Many people know Edgar Allen Poe for his short stories, but did you know he was a poet, as well? Many of his poems play with the same themes as his stories, including one he dedicated to an unknown person and that scholars believe was written about a real-life haunted lake…
Half Human, Half Beast: Mythological Figures of Ancient Times
Mythology from around the world is full of creatures that are half-animal and half-human. It is the perfect blend of mankind and nature. Here are 10 examples of half-human monsters from mythology and how they originated.
What Inspired ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’?
Some legends are ancient, but others have risen more recently. Read the history and inspiration of one of America’s first–and most enduring–ghost stories, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos)
Often, the best way to deal with a fear is to confront it directly. That is why so many cultures have holidays dealing with the idea of our mortality. Learn more about the Mexican Day of the Dead festival–el Día de los Muertos–that takes place every November 1st and 2nd.
15 Unexplored Corners of the Earth
Think everything on Earth has already been thoroughly explored? Think again. From uncontacted tribes to massive underground caves, this list catalogs some of the least explored places still remaining on Earth.
Why is Being Scared so Fun?
Every year in America, nearly 30 million people visit haunted houses and horror movies bring in over half a billion dollars at the theater. Why do people like to be scared? Watch this video with Margee Kerr about the biology and psychology of being scared—and why being scared can be a good thing.
The Irish Myth of the Giant’s Causeway
Every culture has used myths and legends to explain the natural world around them. Watch this short video on the story early Irish residents used to explain a particularly strange rock formation on the northern coast of the island.
China to complete ‘Heavenly Palace’ and break world record for space launches in 2022
As China’s space program heats up, they aim to launch 60 missions in 2022 alone, breaking the world record of 55 missions set just last year.
Archaeologists Discover Temple in Egypt Inspired by Greek God Zeus
How far did the stories of ancient gods and heroes spread? New evidence suggests that many ancient cultures may have overlapped even more than we realized.