TED 2018: Emily Levine’s “How I Made Friends With Reality”

The charming philosopher/writer/comedian discusses serious truths with lighthearted humor

Somehow, beginning her TED Talk “How I Made Friends With Reality” by announcing she has stage four cancer, yet making the entire crowd laugh, the inimitable and charming Emily Levine immediately hooks her audience. The writer/philosopher/comedian discusses how she avoided reality for a long time, only to find out—through her diagnosis and coping mechanisms—that she and reality were always on great terms. By figuring that …

The Secret Behind Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” Move

For decades viewers have watched Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” leaning dance move in awe. The “biomechanically impossible” act (which Jackson debuted in 1987) has the dancer leaning at a remarkable 45-degree angle—from the ankle—all the while keeping his body straight. No bending at the knees, nor the hips, it was (and remains) a beguiling sight. Unveiling the magic, however, neurosurgeons at Medical Education and Research …

Massive Attack Album to be Stored in DNA

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Massive Attack’s Mezzanine, the band has worked with scientists from ETH Zurich in order to preserve the record in DNA. Once it’s coded in DNA, the record could last up to thousands of years—yet the result cannot truly be seen with the naked eye. In order to store the 11-track record, the team believes they will need some “5,000 …