James' World 2

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Philosophy has come a long way since Thales argued the universe was made of water. Philosophers have produced new ideas that enrich the world around us, give us a better understanding of the universe we live in, and help us find the good life. However, philosophy is often more about the questions and methods than the answers — and in some cases, old problems remain unanswered.

Here, we look at four unsolved problems in philosophy, and for each, we ask these questions: Why is the problem so difficult? And why are the proposed solutions so unsatisfying?

The hard problem of consciousness

The hard problem of consciousness asks why any physical state creates conscious mental states at all. While we can understand physical systems very well, the hard problem goes further than merely asking “how” questions: “Why is the performance of these functions accompanied by experience?” For example, we can understand how our bodies physically feel pain, but why those physical reactions create the personal, subjective experience we call pain is unsolved.

While variations of this problem go back centuries in European, Indian, and Chinese philosophy, the current version of the problem (quoted above) was written by Australian philosopher David Chalmers in 1995. Several theories have been put forth or dusted off as possible solutions. None of them have proven decisive

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“FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways. We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor,” a statement by the conservative network read.

The cable news giant said that Carlson’s last program was Friday, April 21 and that starting Monday evening, the network will air its show “Fox News Tonight” as “an interim show helmed by rotating FOX News personalities until a new host is named.”

Fox News did not say why it’s parting ways with the host, who has become known for his strident racism, homophobia, xenophobia and misogyny, and for leaning increasingly into white nationalist talking points. The company did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s query about why Carlson is no longer at the network.

Carlson gave no apparent indication on Friday’s program that it would be his last show. The host ended his segment by saying he and his show would “be back on Monday.”

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Tucker Carlson

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Dr. Stanley built a significant national profile through his church and his television ministry, and in 1984 he was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.

He brought staunch beliefs — among them that the Bible was infallible and that women should not be ordained — to a continuing battle over control of the convention between conservatives, who were in ascent, and moderates.

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The Rev. Charles Stanley said he took a stand against abortion and in favor of prayer in public schools as a “strong Christian citizen and not a right-winger.”Credit…via In Touch Ministries

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Maybe you didn’t get enough sleep last night, but chances are you’re still doing better than the typical northern elephant seal.

Scientists have discovered the massive creatures — so named because the males sport a distinctive trunk-like nose — are often getting less shut-eye than most others in the animal kingdom.

Everything about the animals is “pretty much extreme,” says Chris McKnight, an ecophysiologist at the Sea Mammal Research Unit in Scotland.

Adult females weigh upwards of 1,300 pounds, while adult males tip the scales at more than two tons.

And it’s not just their size that sets them apart.

For months at a time, they go on long voyages where they migrate thousands of miles off the Pacific coast and back again as they forage for food. While out at sea, they’re constantly diving more than 3,000 feet underwater.

“So there’s a bit of a conundrum,” explains McKnight. “If you’re diving all the time if you’re spending 90% of your time at sea underwater without access to air, when the hell do you sleep?”

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A new simulation of millions of galaxies has shown just how powerful the forthcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (Roman) will be when it opens its eye to the universe. 

NASA says that the telescope will turn back the “cosmic clock” and allow astronomers to see space in a way they never have before. This should help scientists understand how the universe evolved from a sea of densely packed particles into the cosmos we see today full of stars and galaxies.

Set to launch no sooner than May 2027, Roman’s power to revolutionize astronomy lies in the fact that it will have the ability to capture vast regions of space in a single image. As a startling example of this boosted observing power, the simulation demonstrates how in just 63 days Roman can image an amount of sky that it would take the Hubble Space Telescope 85 years to capture. 

The real benefit of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will be felt when it is teamed up with its fellow space telescopes, with Hubble able to see a broader spectrum of light and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) offering deeper observations.”The Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes are optimized for studying astronomical objects in-depth and up close, so they’re like looking at the universe through pinholes,” leader of a study describing the simulation and postdoctoral fellow at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, Aaron Yung, said in a NASA statement (opens in new tab). “To solve cosmic mysteries on the biggest scales, we need a space telescope that can provide a far larger view. That’s exactly what Roman is designed to do.”

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An illustration of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope in deep space. (Image credit: NASA)

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Like a mighty bulldozer that has thrown a track, the Donald Trump campaign for president has lost its forward momentum, causing analysts and Trump foes to speculate on what will happen if the Manhattan mogul fails to drag himself over the 1,237-delegate hump required to win the Republican Party’s nomination on a first ballot.

If Trump stalls, the Republican convention could enter brokered mode. (See this Boston Globe piece for the specifics, especially this piece on the intricacies of Rule 40.) Ohio Gov. John Kasich is almost banking on a convention that would free delegates pledged to candidates—by virtue of primary or caucus victories—to cast their subsequent ballots for a candidate of their choosing, namely Kasich. At this point, the struggling Marco Rubio is lullabying himself to sleep with the vision of a brokered convention, and Ted Cruz is probably humming the tune, too.

The free-for-all of a brokered convention would unleash the greatest display of political back-stabbing and double-dealing since the 1924 Democratic National Convention, which took a record 103 ballots and 16 sweaty days to select a nominee. For the journalists amassed in Cleveland for the Republican convention, it would be like covering a small war, a tsunami, and a mass shooting simultaneously, and nearly as dangerous.

The parallels between the Democrats’ 1924 convention and the Republicans’ upcoming one are there for a columnist’s taking. The 1924 Democratic Party was as divided as the Republican Party is today, maybe more so. The convention is often called the “Klanbake” because one of the front-runners, white shoe lawyer, and former Wilson Cabinet member William G. McAdoo, was supported by the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan was a major source of power within the party, and McAdoo did not repudiate its endorsement. The other front-runner, New York Governor Al Smith, a Catholic who represented the party’s anti-Klan, anti-Prohibition wing (McAdoo also backed Prohibition, which was then the law of the land), and his faction failed by a slim margin to pass a platform plank condemning the Klan. The convention, which was held in Madison Square Garden, had no black delegates.

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Contributor: CEAshby

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The Lyrid meteor shower, a bright and fast meteor shower, is expected to peak this weekend. The Lyrids have lit up the sky for the past 2,700 years and potentially dozens of meteors could be seen per hour.

The shower comes each April and the best time to watch this year will be between April 21 to 23. The peak is expected at 1:06 UTC on April 23 — or 9:06 p.m. EDT Saturday, April 22 — according to EarthSky. 

This year, there won’t be a full moon, and with the sky dark enough, stargazers may be able to see 10 to 15 Lyrids per hour. Sometimes they have surges that produce up to 100 per hour. 

Those who want to see the meteor shower won’t see long trails streaking through the sky. Instead, Lyrids may look like fireballs, according to NASA.

The best time to view the Lyrids is in the Northern Hemisphere after moonset but before sunrise in an dark area without streetlights, NASA advises. Lying flat on the ground to view as much of the sky as possible will give you the best chance to see the shower, which should last until dawn. 

The shower is named after where they originate from: the Lyra constellation. This is the shower’s radiant point, and NASA says you shouldn’t look directly at this part of the sky to see the best view of the Lyrids. Instead, they will appear longer if you look away from the radiant point. 

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Startrails are seen during the Lyrids meteor shower over Michaelskapelle on April 20, 2020, in Niederhollabrunn, Austria.  Thomas Kronsteiner / Getty Images

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Species are disappearing faster than ever before—and it’s because of humans. We’re destroying habitats and disrupting fragile ecosystems in a new wave of mass extinction that threatens Earth’s incredible biodiversity. That loss is sometimes overlooked in environmental discussions, as the focus rests on climate change. But our lives depend on the extraordinary variety of natural life around us.

To help slow this trend, turn to one of these 10 organizations below. They are just a few of the many working to protect the plants and animals that make up our world—from the colorful corals to the dense forests, from the largest whales to the smallest beetles. Donate to them, advocate with them, and learn from them.

Find even more environmental action inspiration in our How to Help the Planet collection, with advice on coexisting with creatures, making your wardrobe more sustainable, and more.

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Image by Doug Stratton / EyeEm / Getty Images.

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