Posted inScience Matters

Why Do So Many Still Reject Evolution? A Look at the USA and Beyond

When looking at the chart comparing national wealth with belief in evolution, one country stands out in a troubling way: the United States. Among the wealthiest nations in the world, the U.S. ranks near the bottom in terms of belief in evolution. Only around 40% of the U.S. population answered “true” to the statement: “Human beings, as we know them, developed from earlier species of animals.” This puts the U.S. far behind its economic peers and even behind many countries with significantly lower GDP per capita. But what’s even more concerning is that the U.S. is not alone. Other relatively…
Posted inOnline & Digital

Mac App Recommendation: ControlPlane

Who hasn’t been there? You take your MacBook with you wherever you go—work, home, a friend’s place, university, or the library. But each of these places has different needs: you might need different apps, network settings, or audio volumes depending on where you are. To solve this hassle, a clever developer created a free Mac app called ControlPlane. ControlPlane lets you define contexts (like “Work,” “Home,” or “Library”) and detect them using evidence sources—things like the Wi-Fi network you’re connected to, the time of day, or whether an external monitor is plugged in. Based on this evidence, ControlPlane automatically switches…
Posted inOnline & Digital

How to Start a Blog: A Friendly Guide for Beginners

Thinking about starting a blog but not sure where to begin? This beginner-friendly guide walks you through everything you need to know — from choosing the right platform and design, to writing engaging posts, growing your audience, and avoiding common mistakes. Learn how to blog with confidence, build a loyal readership, and turn your passion into a rewarding online presence.
Posted inOnline & Digital

Why the iPhone 5 Will Be a Success

As some of you know, I’m a bit of an Apple fan. But don’t worry—this isn’t going to be a sales pitch for the latest gadget from Cupertino. I simply want to share why I still believe the iPhone is the best smartphone on the market—and how the iPhone 5 only reinforces that view. A Big Step Forward Last week, Apple officially introduced the long-awaited iPhone 5. Unlike past launches, many details had leaked ahead of time—whether intentionally or not. And yes, as a longtime Apple follower, I couldn’t help but think, “This never would’ve happened under Steve.” That said,…
Posted inOn the Screen Science Matters

Is Warp Drive Actually Possible? Even NASA Is Taking a Closer Look

What if faster-than-light travel wasn’t just a sci-fi fantasy? In Star Trek, starships like the Enterprise cruise through the galaxy at "warp speed"—a term that became iconic for faster-than-light travel. This is made possible by a fictional technology called the warp drive, which bends or "warps" space-time itself, allowing a ship to move vast distances in the blink of an eye without violating the universal speed limit set by Einstein’s theory of relativity. Instead of pushing a ship through space, the warp drive moves space around the ship. In theory, the space in front of the ship is contracted while…
Posted inCan We Talk About This Please?

Customer is King!

Has Germany become a service desert? What is service, and do I have a right to it? Recently, I placed an order in an online shop. Somewhat surprised, I had to realize, after the order—yes, I could have checked before—that the shop only accepts advance bank transfers. In my opinion, a bit outdated and already not very customer-oriented. But, well, said and done. I ordered and transferred the money. This was at the beginning of calendar week 36. In calendar week 37, I was on vacation and hoped that upon my return, my package would have arrived at the office.…
Posted inOnline & Digital

Podcasts

I have been an enthusiastic podcast listener for several years. Now, some might be wondering again, "What is a podcast?" A podcast is an audio piece that can be subscribed to and obtained over the internet. The creators of these works upload them to the internet, and they can usually be subscribed to via RSS feeds. For example, Apple iTunes supports the automatic subscription and download of podcasts. However, it's essential to understand that subscribing is more of a technical term than an actual "subscription" because the vast majority of podcasts are free. The name "podcast" is a portmanteau of…
Posted inScience Matters The Homeopathy Myth

The Skeptics

I would like to briefly introduce "The Skeptics" to you. They have helped me see things more clearly and question them in a "skeptical" way several times in the past. However, being a skeptic does not mean being a scientist or a know-it-all. I understand it as a mindset to question things and break them down to their core components. Why is it like that? Where does it come from? How can it be? Asking the right questions often makes all the difference. An example: If someone asks a skeptic, "Are there 100-meter tall green aliens on Mars," they will…
Posted inCan We Talk About This Please? Science Matters The Homeopathy Myth

Can sugar heal?

The answer is: No! (Unless you eat enough to get full.) Always, I encounter people in my everyday life who take homeopathic remedies and spend a fair amount of money on them, believing that homeopathy can make them healthy. Is that really the case? What is homeopathy? Why does it work, and why not? Often, I find myself in discussions with advocates of the sugar pill. Why do people take homeopathic remedies? Why Schüssler salts? Right from the start, I am not the absolute homeopathy expert, but I have read into the subject to some extent and would like to…
Posted inIn the News Politics & Opinion

Bank crisis? Euro crisis?

For more than three years, the banking crisis has been on everyone's lips. In recent months, it evolved from a banking crisis to a financial crisis and ultimately to the Euro crisis, continually expanding. Besides Greece, Spain and Portugal also teeter on the brink of financial collapse, with the Federal Republic seemingly always having to contribute and pay. Wouldn't it be easier to exclude these countries from the Euro? Or even better, reintroduce the Deutsche Mark? Is it a EURO crisis or a BANK crisis? I admit, despite regularly reading and watching the news, I long ago stopped understanding everything.…