Brad Mathews, Author

Category: Science

  • Manufacturing Fear

    On the NASA Voyager mission in 1977, Carl Sagan curated content for a golden record that was affixed to the space probe, which would eventually reach interstellar space. Hoping to share some details about our celestial neighborhood and the human experience, Sagan chose the material for the record should any spacefaring alien species intercept the…

  • Learn Like an Egyptian

    Science has given humanity many gifts over the centuries. Denying that fundamental truth is like cutting out a piece of our souls and banishing it to oblivion to suffer a tragic death, yet many continue to criticize it. I like to say that science isn’t what you know—it’s what you don’t. To put a finer…

  • Bad Ideas for Bad Times

    We live in a world where problems are plentiful, solutions few, and agreed-upon actions virtually non-existent. Our society has not always been this way. Our nation has shared many triumphs over the years since its founding and few of us would disagree. Big solutions for big problems require unity. Some problems have good ideas and…

  • Reflections on Truth

      If you have a tile or hardwood floor in your home, I have an experiment for you to try. If you are familiar with the visual trick where you close one eye to view something and then close the other eye and the thing you’re viewing appears to move, you will have the basis…

  • Dr. Jehovah in the House

      Whenever science and religion clash, we expect the internet to explode into bouts of fiery anger and vitriolic name-calling. While these reactions are not unexpected, they are counterproductive in that they press the debate until it is not a debate at all. Ire and finger-pointing accomplish nothing but collectively raising our blood pressure. I…

  • Changing the Discussion

    Lost somewhere amidst the swirling torrent of news surrounding the current COVID-19 madness lies another disaster, lurking just beneath the surface as our society grapples with a major crisis. If you are familiar with the way the news industry operates, it is easy to see why one issue is ignored in favor of covering the…