Safe Alternatives to Pesticides for the Environment & Your Health

A wide shot of a farm field with a barn as an alternative to pesticides.

Are there safe alternatives to pesticides? Can we use predators as pest control? Rachel Carson argues that while pesticides use chemicals to control plant, insect, or animal populations, many biological control methods are just as effective, less expensive, and less harmful to the environment. While she does not advocate eliminating pesticides entirely, she suggests using them in more targeted ways. Check out Carson’s suggestions for alternative methods of pest control.

The 3 Challenges in Data Science When Using Dangerous Models

A graph representing the challenges of data science with bars going up and down.

What are the main challenges in data science? How can mathematical models be dangerous? A mathematical model is a mathematical simulation of a real-world event. Three characteristics make them dangerous: they’re opaque, they don’t incorporate feedback, and they operate on a large scale. Keep reading to learn more about the challenges in data science and math models.

How to Evaluate Your Relationships to Improve or End Them

A couple talking at a restaurant and evaluating their relationship.

Are your relationships getting in the way of your self-improvement? How do you evaluate your relationships? Sarah Knight argues that as an adult, you have a choice about who you spend your time with. She explains that in every relationship, you have three choices for how to move forward: Maintain the relationship, improve it, or end it. Continue reading to decide what to do with the relationships in your life.

The 2 Components of the Traditional Economics Theory

A hand holding a pink piggy bank in front of coins in a field.

What is the traditional economics theory? What two claims does the efficient market hypothesis consist of? In Misbehaving, Richard H. Thaler discusses two key components of traditional economics to back up why he’s against it. These components are the premise of constrained optimization and the efficient market hypothesis. Learn more about the foundations of the traditional economics theory below.

The Best Silent Spring Quotes Exposing Dangerous Pesticides

A young man reading a book outside in a field.

What are the most insightful Silent Spring quotes about pest control? Do pesticides pose a threat to humanity? In Silent Spring, biologist Rachel Carson condemns the widespread use of pesticides in the 20th century, arguing that these chemicals threaten to devastate the natural environment and poison animals and humans alike. Carson advocates stricter regulation of pesticides by the US government, limited spraying, and the use of biological controls. Below we’ve provided a few Silent Spring quotes for better context.

Is Society Collapsing? Signs of the West’s Potential Downfall

Is Society Collapsing? Signs of the West’s Potential Downfall

Is society collapsing? What’s pointing to a potential downfall of Western civilization? A societal collapse refers to the theoretical idea that a human civilization and its cultural identity will either become primitive or disappear. While no one knows for sure whether Western society will collapse, there are shocking signs that raise the question. Keep reading to learn about four signs that could point to a future societal collapse. 

The Dangerous Effects of Statistics Being Misused

A woman pointing out the effects of statistics on a screen of charts and graphs.

What are the dangerous effects of statistics? How do statistics perpetuate social bias? Believe it or not, dangerous math models can have a grave impact on society. According to Cathy O’Neil, dangerous statistics disproportionately harm poor people, reproduce social bias, and make harmful self-fulfilling prophecies. Learn more about how statistics can negatively affect people and society when used incorrectly.

Constrained Optimization in Economics: The 3 Arguments Against It

An illustration of constrained optimization in economics as a graph with a downward trend.

What’s constrained optimization in economics? What are the arguments against this economic process? In Misbehaving, Richard H. Thaler focuses on the arguments against the premise of constrained optimization, highlighting three types of counterexamples to this premise. This is to show the salience of non-economics factors in our decision-making process. Continue reading to dive deeper into why Thaler is against constrained optimization.

The Top 3 Disadvantages of Pesticides (Rachel Carson)

A hand holding a dying plant next to a poison bottle, demonstrating the disadvantages of pesticides.

What are the disadvantages of pesticides? Why wasn’t the public properly informed about pesticides in the 20th century? Much of Silent Spring is dedicated to describing the damage done by pesticides to various species. Many pesticides have been linked to cancer, nerve damage, blood diseases, impaired thyroid function, and birth defects. Check out why biologist Rachel Carson worries about the use of pesticides.

Why Asking Questions Is Important: 6 Reasons to Be Curious

A man thinking and wondering in front of a city.

Why is asking questions important? What are some ways to ask questions without overwhelming your conversation partner? If people never asked questions, we’d likely never make breakthroughs. On a smaller scale, questions open opportunities for further discussion that’ll teach you more about other people. Read more about why asking questions is important, from learning new things to avoiding assumptions.