Science & Nature

Science & Nature

Thinking in a Pandemic

The latest on COVID-19 from Boston Review

Class & Inequality, Science & Nature

Alone Against the Virus

Decades of neoliberal austerity will make it harder to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, more than ever, we must rebuild our social safety net and forge a New Deal for public health.

Amy Kapczynski, Gregg Gonsalves

Philosophy & Religion, Science & Nature

The Robots Are Coming

In the overhyped age of deep learning, rumors of thinking robots are greatly exaggerated. Still, we cannot leave decisions about even this sort of AI in the hands of those who stand to profit from its use.

Kenneth A. Taylor

Gender & Sexuality, Science & Nature

Science Won't Settle Trans Rights

Appeals to the biological facts conceal a deeper contest over political equality—and scientific authority itself.

Anne Fausto-Sterling

Philosophy & Religion, Science & Nature

Science Hasn't Refuted Free Will

A growing chorus says that science has shown free will to be an illusion. But it actually has offered arguments in its favor.

Christian List

Science & Nature

Science for Sale

By using a variety of ploys to manufacture doubt, a whole industry of science-for-hire experts helps corporations put profits over public health and safety.

David Michaels

Politics, Science & Nature

Technology Can't Fix Algorithmic Injustice

We need greater democratic oversight of AI not just from developers and designers, but from all members of society.

Annette Zimmermann, Elena Di Rosa, Hochan Kim

Science & Nature

What Is Medicine For?

In place of the hype over personalized medicine, we need a more sober evaluation of the meaning of health and health care.

Robert A. Aronowitz

Philosophy & Religion, Science & Nature

What Makes Science Trustworthy

The “scientific method” of high school textbooks does not exist. But there are scientific methods, and they play an essential role in making scientific knowledge reliable.

Philip Kitcher

Politics, Science & Nature

What the Health Care Debate Still Gets Wrong

Atul Gawande helped popularize the idea that health care spending is high because we use too much medicine. He was wrong: it’s the prices, and who pays them.

Adam Gaffney

Science & Nature

Global Warming, Market Opportunity

On the lure of climate entrepreneurism.

Troy Vettese

Reading Lists, Science & Nature

“Listen to the Science”

Are scientists more virtuous than the rest of us? Can religion and science be happily reconciled? 

Matt Lord, Boston Review