Are you a war pessimist? Odds are you are. For almost a decade now, I’ve been asking people if they think war will ever end. I’ve surveyed thousands of people, young and old, liberal and conservative, hawks and doves, male and female. Almost nine times out of 10, the answer to my question is “No,” and often, “Hell no!” as if the question itself is silly. Of course war will never end! It’s part of human nature! In our genes! It’s the inevitable consequence of our religious/ethnic/economic/political differences, of male competition for females/land/oil/prestige/power. And so on. I wrote The End of War , published last month by McSweeney’s Books, to challenge this fatalism, which I believe is wrong empirically and morally. Empirically because research into war’s roots shows that deadly group violence is a relatively recent cultural “invention” an especially vicious, self-perpetuating meme that culture can help us overcome. Morally because our fatalistic acceptance of war as a permanent part of the human condition can impede efforts to achieve enduring peace. [More]

This article is the fourth ( see the first , second and third articles here) in a miniseries of six articles (yes, I added one) that will be posted over six days about civilization, fungus, and alcohol. The first four articles are already determined, but just how this series finishes up will be chosen by the comments and ideas of readers. Several years ago my friend Kenji Matsuura discovered termites have balls. It took careful inspection, but they were there. Now, along with his student, he has published a new study revealing more of the story of said balls. [More]

Have a great weekend! - Bora Zivkovic – Can We Ask Presidential Candidates about Science? [More]

This article is the third ( see the first and second articles here) in a miniseries of six articles (yes, I added one) that will be posted over six days about civilization, fungus, and alcohol. The first four articles are already determined, but just how this series finishes up will be chosen by the comments and ideas of readers. One Gin for me, One for the Cholera –A life can be unpredictable. It can begin one place and end another, or begin one place and end up in the same place but with a very different point of view. Janet Guthrie was working as a scientist in her hometown of Inverness, keeping an eye on water quality. It was a good job. She was happy, but maybe a little restless. Restlessness has killed people. Restlessness will send you off to war. Restlessness sent Janet Guthrie to graduate school. She decided to get a masters degree from the Department of Microbiology at the University of Aberdeen, while continuing to work during the day. She would have to continue to work full time, but would make time. Then things changed. She started reading about health around the world but also in her place, where she walked around every day, the place she knew, Inverness, Scotland. Inverness is a peaceable city, at least now, a city known for its spirits. It was not always. Beneath the stonework and busy streets lurk ghosts. [More]