What makes something popular? Why do some ideas catch fire, while others wither in obscurity? In Hit Makers: The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction, Atlantic senior editor Derek Thompson argues that becoming a word-of-mouth success in today’s crowded media environment is not simply a matter of luck. Applying cutting-edge science to stories […]
Is DNA testing a triumph of modern medicine or a Pandora’s box of complications? In The Gene Machine: How Genetic Technologies Are Changing The Way We Have Kids—And The Kids We Have, award-winning local journalist Bonnie Rochman explores the new frontiers of gene technology and how it has forever changed medicine, bioethics, and the factors […]
Imagine a robotic stuffed animal that responds to a child’s emotional state or an electronic ad that changes based on the facial expression of the viewer. In Heart of the Machine: Our Future in a World of Artificial Emotional Intelligence, futurist Richard Yonck explores technological advancements that could give computers the ability to recognize, respond […]
Welcome to the age of behavioral addiction. We obsess over our emails, Instagram likes, and Facebook feeds; we binge on TV episodes and YouTube videos; and we spend an average of three hours each day using our smartphones. In Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked, Adam Alter, a […]
The crowdfunding industry has generated several billions of dollars in funding in recent years. But the harsh reality is that around 60 percent of Kickstarter campaigns fail. In The Crowdsourceress: Get Smart, Get Funded, and Kickstart Your Next Big Idea, Alex Daly, a crowdfunding expert who has raised over $20 million for her clients’ campaigns, […]
The media landscape is changing. Yet, clear, compelling communication about science has never been more important. Join us in Seattle in April to learn from innovators in the field. Compelling Science Storytelling: A Pacific Northwest Workshop for Science Communicators is a one-day workshop and networking opportunity in Seattle. The workshop will include a keynote presentation […]
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Siddhartha Mukherjee returns to Town Hall to discuss his newest book The Gene: An Intimate History. Mukherjee weaves together exhaustive scientific research with intimate biographical stories to explore human heredity. Using the story of his family’s history of mental illness, Mukherjee translates the science of genetics from the laboratory to the real […]
“Animation isn’t merely decorative—it’s an invaluable tool for creating a better web. Start with science: by understanding the human visual processing system, you can design delightful animation that works to ease cognitive load. Rachel Nabors guides you through the anatomy of web animations, patterns, and communication decisions across teams. This book will prepare you to […]
What’s invisible, ubiquitous, and has an epic story to tell? New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean provides us with a curious history of the air we breathe. In a tale as artful as it is scientific, Kean’s Caesar’s Last Breath: Decoding the Secrets of the Air Around Us, places air center stage in the […]
