Liars And Life

'Are Most People Liars and Fakes?'

Heather Havrilesky | Ask Polly | 9th July 2026

Agony aunt defends the desire to remain earnest and kind in the face of cynicism and cruelty, using the musical evolution of Robert Plant and Jimmy Page as her case study. "Don’t shrink away from where you are, even when it disappoints you. Sway under the golden spotlights and believe for a moment that someone out there understands exactly what you’re trying to say. Show yourself in spite of the pain" (2,100 words)

Puzzle: Play Nomido, the Browser’s daily word game.

Is Life Just Different?

Philip Ball | Quanta | 8th July 2026

We can scan the cosmos for light and radio waves that indicate the presence of life, but cannot agree on what makes something "alive". One possible definition to pursue is that of biological agency: "living organisms are different because they do stuff for reasons". This, too, is a hotly contested topic among scientists, but a more philosophical approach could unlock new understanding about existence (3,000 words)